By: AGH Labels North America

(Coppell, TX)   AGH Labels, headquartered in Leon, Mexico, is excited to announce industry veteran , Dan Muenzer, has joined AGH Labels North America as its Director of Market Intelligence.   Mr. Muenzer spent over 25 years in senior management positions within the label industry, including VP of Marketing for Spear and Constantia Flexibles Label Division along with his last position as President of TLMI, the North American label association.   He has spent the last three years coaching cross-country and track at Cincinnati St. Xavier High School while being an active grandfather to his four grandchildren.

Mr. Muenzer adds,

“I absolutely love the label industry and emotionally have never really left.  AGH Labels is one the Americas’ preeminent cut & stack label suppliers and they continue to invest in state of the art converting technology in what is still the world’s leading label technology.  It is ironic that I spent my career growing the pressure sensitive label industry at the expense of other label technologies, but after spending time with AGH’s Roger Barba and executive team, joining AGH Labels was the easiest decision I ever made.  My best and most cherished friends continue to move the label market forward and I am excited to rejoin the quest with AGH Labels.”

AGH Labels North America is rapidly expanding its presence in the USA market.  Based in suburban Dallas, AGHL NA currently offers its industry leading cut and stack and roll-fed label technologies.  AGH continues to invest heavily in these label formats with a special emphasis on UV graphic enhancements and metallized finishes.

By: ID Technology

FORT WORTH, Texas, April 22, 2024 – ProMach, a worldwide leader in processing and packaging machinery and related solutions, announced today that it has acquired Etiflex, a leading producer of pressure-sensitive and RFID labels. The addition of Etiflex further expands ProMach’s labeling and coding capabilities throughout North America and represents the company’s first acquisition in the Mexican market.

Based in Mexico City, Mexico, Etiflex and its team of more than 500 employees will join ProMach’s Labeling & Coding business line led by Group President Alan Shipman. With go-to- market product brands that also include ID Technology, EPI, Panther, Code Tech, and Greydon, ProMach’s Labeling & Coding business line provides broad solution offerings to customers throughout North America. The company’s vertically integrated product portfolio includes both labels and machinery, which are supported by an extensive network that includes seventeen regional sales and service offices, as well as eight existing label converting facilities. The company’s label converting facilities provide decorative labels for both high volumes or short runs via flexographic and digital capabilities, blank and shell labels, RFID labels, specialty labels, and more.

“The Etiflex team brings a trusted industry reputation for providing exceptional quality products, and their geographic footprint will provide tremendous benefits to our current and future customer base in Mexico,” said Shipman. “This acquisition also increases the number of our label production facilities from eight to nine locations in North America. That, along with our six equipment manufacturing facilities, underscores our goal of providing a complete and comprehensive range of label products, equipment, and support to our customers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.”

Mr. Shipman continued, “With our growing international presence in Mexico, our Labeling & Coding product brands will serve our multinational customers in an even more responsive and comprehensive manner, while also providing them an ability to consolidate vendors for greater efficiency. The result of this is tangible bottom line benefits for our customers due to faster response times and shorter shipping distances.”

Founded in 1981 in Mexico City, Etiflex is one of the leading converters in Mexico for variable information-printed labels, tickets, and RFID labeling. The company has an extensive portfolio of label converting solutions that serve a broad range of industries, including food & beverage, textile, automotive, personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and retail & logistics. Additionally, Etiflex produces tickets, badges, and bracelets for events and transportation.

Sergio Shor and Ari Vonderwalde, Co-Director Generals of Etiflex, will continue leading the Etiflex team. Shor will serve as VP and General Manager, and Vonderwalde will assume the role of VP of Operations.

“Joining ProMach’s Labeling & Coding group is an exciting opportunity to continue and expand our original vision that has guided us for over 40 years”, said Shor and Vonderwalde. “Our philosophy has always been rooted in being a true business partner with strong employee connections and development. We are also proud of our long-standing relationships with our customers and suppliers, and this opportunity will reinforce that effort,” they offered. “ProMach has a proven track record of success and a reputation of investing in its companies to leverage everyone’s strengths, offer more complete solutions, and better serve its customers.”

“We are very grateful for all of the support, passion, and dedication the entire Etiflex team has delivered over the past 43 years that took us to this exciting and promising moment,” Shor and Vonderwalde added.

By: SCREEN Americas

KYOTO, Japan—SCREEN Graphic Solutions Co., Ltd., also referred to as SCREEN GA, announces the launch of its new high-density Truepress SU ink. The advanced black ink is designed specifically for use with the various uncoated papers handled by its high-speed roll-fed Truepress JET 520HD mono inkjet system.

SCREEN GA initially released its Truepress JET 520HD mono and Truepress SC inks as a set in 2020. All-purpose SC inks can be used on many different substrates including coated, IJ-treated, and uncoated or untreated paper. Today, the press is also able to meet a variety of needs in the monochrome printing segment thanks to its combination with SCREEN GA’s new and improved Truepress SC+ ink.

Demand for monochrome printing continues to be the strongest in publishing applications, which is creating increasing opportunities for high-speed roll-fed digital inkjet presses such as those in SCREEN GA’s Truepress JET series. These black-only applications require optimum print quality, high optical density print and no bleed-through on uncoated papers. In response to this trend, SCREEN GA has focused the performance of the SU ink to deliver on these attributes while also lowering the total cost of ink.  

Moving forward, users of the Truepress JET 520HD mono systems will be able to choose between SC+ inks, which are suitable for a variety of papers, and the SU ink, which delivers superior quality printing on uncoated papers. This will give users greater flexibility when meeting the individual quality requirements for different monochrome materials. With these advances, SCREEN GA will offer its customers the next generation of printing production systems by combining the convenience and productivity of high-speed roll-fed digital inkjet presses with digital workflows and the ability to select inks that deliver higher quality.

As a leader in the printing world, SCREEN GA is dedicated to enriching lives and continuing to make the world more colorful through print. This commitment underpins its goal of helping to create better lives and a more sustainable society for everyone.

By: Beontag

Brazil, Jun. 2024 – Beontag, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of pressure-sensitive adhesives and smart tags such as RFID and NFC, initiated its expansion into North America in 2022 by acquiring Technicote and is now moving forward to consolidate the brands. Beontag is already one of the world’s largest manufacturers of pressure-sensitive adhesives and smart tags (RFID and NFC) with a commercial presence in more than 40 countries.

As a milestone in this new phase, the company announced that Technicote has officially become Beontag, forming a single, fully-integrated company with global reach and access to a wide range of innovative solutions. In addition to brand unification, Beontag will integrate individuals into a global network, fostering collaboration and connection across continents.

Beontag is planning to invest over USD $60 million in a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, equipment, machinery, and tenant improvements over the next two years as part of the company’s expansion strategy in the USA. This investment has already been announced and is currently underway, aiming to bring the US operation up to the highest international operational standards for which Beontag is renowned globally.

The state-of-the-art factory will allow the scale up of the production volumes through the utilization of more productive machinery, such as coaters, slitters, and sheeters for roll label stock, servicing the roll converter market. In addition, RFID and Linerless operations will be integrated in the same building.

By: Maxcess

Oak Brook, Illinois – Maxcess, a global leader in innovative products and services for automated web handling applications, today announced a new RotoMetrics’ Flexible Die portfolio offering. The new RotoMetrics’ Flexible Die line combines the best manufacturing and operational processes of RotoMetrics, Electro Optic and MLC Brazil to offer the right solutions for each and every application.

“We spent a significant amount of time asking our customers the biggest converting challenges they were trying to solve,” noted Kiki Chosid, Regional Vice President of Sales. “And, our customers told us they needed flexible dies specifically engineered for today’s materials, including thinner liners, abrasive materials and inks and the growing use of small blade spaces and intricate patterns, as well as for the sheet fed rotary die cutting markets. We automated and enhanced our manufacturing processes to better manufacture flexible dies to improve blade consistency to ensure reliability and eliminate potential die strike issues. We streamlined our durability and chroming processes to improve flexible die longevity converting abrasive materials and inks.”

As a result, RotoMetrics, a Maxcess brand, offers a customized solution offering industry leading flex die life performance engineered for each application vs. alternative Universal or Singular Cut offerings. The new portfolio consists of the re-engineered improved value and performance SmartFlex series for paper and film, the increased versatility and longevity of the Prime Series for a wider variety of Paper and Film applications, the improved accuracy and longevity of Dura Series for complex film and abrasive applications. In addition, RotoMetrics also has Specialty Dies like GoldLine Special for thin film liner applications and MicroBlade for small and intricate spacing applications. All dies are engineered to work for any press (digital, flexographic, semi rotary) or web converting process line.

About the New RotoMetrics Flexible Die Portfolio:

Complementing the improved automated manufacturing processes globally, RotoMetrics new flexible die portfolio offers additional enhancements, including.

• Unmatched Press Side Expertise & Support – 6 global manufacturing facilities with enhanced automation and technical service and support in the places you do business. Industry leading in Same Day and Next Day shipping. Additionally, a complete and complementary offering of product solutions and repair services for Dies, Magnetic Cylinders and Anvils.
• Industry Leading Quality – Enhanced automation minimizes deviations in Total Plate Height and Blade Flat resulting in 25-30% improvement in manufacturing consistency for better die performance against the anvil. Optimization of our Electro Optic legacy patented back grinding processes for enhanced reliability and consistent cutting performance.
• Enhanced Durability and Longevity – Longer lasting chroming options and vertically integrated and automated chroming processes provide consistency, quality, and faster delivery. RotoMetrics exclusive chroming formulas and application processes offer dies that can last twice as long as the competition on abrasive materials and inks.  Exclusive performance coatings improve die life on abrasive materials and white inks.  Additionally, adding RotoRepel can increase die life up to 3 times depending on the material being converted.
• Expanded Material Expertise – RotoMetrics offers the largest inventory of raw materials with Flex Die Total Plate Height to 0.060”+ (1.5mm+). Additionally, technical support experts in 92 Gauge (23 Micron) and 75 Gauge (17 Micron) thin film liners.The leader in flexible die innovation. Years of expertise in abrasive materials and inks. All this results in a significantly reduced need for material evaluations with RotoMetrics’ Dies.
• A Complete Portfolio of Die Cutting Solutions – flexible and solid dies, male / female die sets, base and adjustable automated anvils, magnetic cylinders, print cylinders all designed and engineered to work better together with a true precise matching of complementary components. For example,  the new upgradeable AccuAdjust and automated RotoAdjust with industry 4.0 analytics to optimize converting and increase blade life.
• Industry Unique Knowledge of the Press from End-to-End – Single source of press side expertise from unwind to rewind knowing how variables (guiding, tension, vision, etc.) impact the web across the converting line or printing press with flexibility to work with Flexographic, Digital, Semi-Rotary and Digitally Printed Substrates Converted with Semi Rotary Converting Lines.

By: UPM Raflatac

(UPM Raflatac, Helsinki, 11 June 2024 at 13:00 EEST) – Label Life by UPM Raflatac proudly marks 10 years of its life cycle assessment service. Over the past decade, Label Life has been a comprehensive life cycle assessment tool for label evaluation, enabling businesses to make informed, environmentally responsible decisions. Continuously evolving to cover an ever-widening portfolio of more sustainable products, Label Life now accounts for over 90% of UPM Raflatac’s commercial portfolio by sales volume, reflecting the company’s commitment to sustainability.

Label Life provides essential environmental information on label materials, utilizing the standardized method of life cycle assessment (LCA) to calculate their environmental impact from cradle-to-grave. Customers benefit from individual footprints or “product passport prototypes” (PPPs) displaying 25 indicators, as well as focused comparisons of three key metrics—greenhouse gas emissions, energy demand, and water consumption—facilitating a transparent and guided decision-making process.

“Label material choice can have a significant impact on packaging sustainability. For the past decade, our Label Life service has been at the forefront of transforming the labeling industry. We are proud of the positive difference the service has created by empowering our customers to measure the impact of their label materials, make informed, more sustainable choices, and reduce their overall environmental footprint,” says Flora D’Souza, Sustainability Manager, Label Life, UPM Raflatac.

In 2023, UPM Raflatac set a new industry standard by receiving a certificate of validity from leading international assurance service provider DEKRA for its Label Life service. The new validation reinforces the credibility of UPM Raflatac’s LCA calculations and supports customers to make better-informed choices, bringing them closer to their own sustainability goals.

By: Flexible Packaging Association (FPA)

Annapolis, MD, June 13, 2024 – The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), the leading advocate and voice for the growing U.S. flexible packaging industry, announces that its long-serving President & CEO, Alison Keane, will step down from her position on August 1, 2024. The organization announced at the same time that it is initiating a search to identify a new leader.

Founded in 1950, FPA’s mission is to amplify the voices of converters, suppliers, trade press professionals, and academics, leading to effective advocacy, unique educational offerings, outstanding networking opportunities, and real growth for our members. 

“It’s been an honor to lead FPA through 8-years of growth and evolution,” says Keane. “During that period, we have been able to expand how FPA helps its members. No organization offers the level of support that FPA offers the flexible packaging industry—one of the fastest growing segments in packaging and provides a wealth of information to its members through focused programs and services. I am very grateful to have been a part of those efforts throughout the last 8 years.” Keane attributes the success and growth of the association to strong, passionate leaders, talented staff, and members who actively participate. “This leadership will continue to drive the association and the industry forward.”

William Jackson, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer for Amcor Flexibles and FPA Chair notes, “Alison has provided the FPA with exceptional leadership over the last 8 years. She has helped us navigate in times of crisis and change. Under Alison’s leadership, we grew the FPA and kept the budget and revenue on track with expectations. Her work with advocacy, particularly around materials of concern and governmental regulations, has been noteworthy. Her humor, positive attitude, and passion for the FPA have been noted across the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and the membership. For the better part of a decade, Alison has done an outstanding job, and replacing her will be difficult.” 

Over the last 8 years, Alison’s leadership has been instrumental in driving the association forward, fostering innovation, and collaboration in addressing key issues related to our industry,” states Russell Grissett, President of Sonoco Flexible Packaging, and FPA Vice-Chair. “She has been a tireless advocate, promoting and advocating on behalf of our members and our industry while championing sustainability within the flexible packaging industry. Alison’s dedication and vision have left an indelible mark on our organization, and we are grateful for her unwavering commitment.”

The association is drawing on the steps in its succession plan to guide the process of selecting a new President & CEO. It formed a search committee to oversee the process and has retained executive search firm Vetted Solutions to coordinate the search. The search will commence in June.

By: EFI

As runs and lead times get shorter for POS materials, the company expects to migrate away from litho due to the quality, better colour fastness, wider colour gamut, less waste and more.

DUSSELDORF, 13 Jun 2024 – Electronics For Imaging, Inc., today reported that UK-based Kolorcraft has acquired an EFI Nozomi 14000 SD single-pass display graphics printer, most recently highlighted at drupa. The EFI Nozomi 14000 SD was designed to specifically meet the needs of the display graphics market, giving users the opportunity to significantly improve speed to market and increase profitability with a wide range of substrates and brilliant colour quality. It also offers sustainability benefits, including a reduction of Global Warming Potential (GWP) by 50% compared to offset printing, according to a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) performed in collaboration with the Clean Agency.

Kolorcraft was established in 1979 in Ossett, England. Michael Atkinson, currently the company’s Managing Director following his acquisition of the company in 2019, started with the company 35 years ago as a trainee estimator, working his way to Commercial Director. Gary Herrington, Operations Director, had left the company, but returned after Atkinson acquired it. The company was operating its display graphics business with a combination of offset, digital and screen-print and had been following the progress of single-pass technology for some time.

“We knew that single-pass was a technology that people were working on, and we wanted to understand what the benefits were,” Herrington said. “Right from the outset, we were really impressed with the quality we saw from Nozomi. We talked to other potential suppliers and did testing on site at various facilities. And we came to the point of view that EFI was leading the market.”

“We also had the opportunity to visit EFI’s Valencia Customer Experience Centre to see the Nozomi in action there as well as to see how the equipment is manufactured,” Atkinson added. “We were blown away by the visit and saw that we had the opportunity to buy a production-ready machine, more advanced in readiness than any of the other competitors we have seen. It didn’t feel like we were taking a leap of faith with the purchase. And we are seeing continuing decreases in run lengths for what would have traditionally been offset work in our sector, which is ideal for the Nozomi and it will enable us to eliminate offset from our operation.”

Proven industry-leading technology gave Kolorcraft confidence in the investment 

The EFI Nozomi 14000 SD single-pass printer for sign and display applications gives users the opportunity to significantly improve speed to market and increase profitability with a wide range of substrates. Herrington noted, “The Nozomi 14000 SD is a display market targeted machine, and it looked like something that wouldn’t scare away our operators and engineers. It looked more approachable, more user friendly, and it worked in a way that we could fully integrate into our way of working from Day One.” Kolorcraft chose the CMYK + orange ink configuration to increase the colour range of the machine. “We went with the orange because it gives us some really vibrant colours, almost fluorescent colours. In the future, we might add another specialty colour as well.”

The company will be printing anything with the Nozomi, from paper through to polypropylene, Corex, corrugated board and box board, the full gamut of what is required for the retail environment Kolorcraft serves.

Atkinson reported that the company has been having conversations with both customers and prospective customers, adding, “We are already talking with them about commissioning different tests and print samples and discussing the benefits of the investment. It’s generating a real enthusiasm among customers and colleagues, and the knowledge that the machine is being installed has certainly helped conversations with prospective customers.”

Another advantage Kolorcraft saw was the responsiveness of the EFI team, and the ability for technical support to easily travel to their location from Valencia if needed. “The training is the most in-depth, thorough process I’ve been involved in,” Herrington explained. “To be perfectly honest, I’ve commissioned large-scale litho and flexo hybrid machines in the past. And none of those had the same sort of depth of involvement that I have seen from EFI in this process. So it gives us a lot of confidence in the performance of the printer and its future support.”

Entries are now open for the 19th Label Industry Global Awards taking place at Parkway Bank Park in Rosemont, Illinois on 10 September.

The awards recognize those who have excelled in the label and package printing industry through innovation and best practice within the past two years. 

Award categories include the R. Stanton Avery Global Achievement Award sponsored by Avery Dennison which is given in honor of Stan Avery’s values and his innovative breakthroughs. This award recognizes an individual who has made a key contribution to the promotion and growth of the label industry.

The Rising Star Award sponsored by Avery Dennison recognizes the achievements of emerging talent in the label and packaging industry who represent the next generation of leaders.

The Converter of the Year Award is awarded to a label printing or converting company who has encouraged a diverse and inclusive work environment. The award also recognizes the development of a comprehensive training program and a contribution to community or charity initiatives. 

Taking place on the first night of Labelexpo Americas 2024, the awards ceremony will also feature a networking party from 5.30pm – 8pm. Tickets for the networking party are $60.

Tasha Ventimiglia, Group Director, Labelexpo Americas said: “It is always an honor to recognize those who have made an outstanding contribution to the label and packaging industry. We’re looking forward to seeing the high calibre of talent and to celebrate all the achievements of our worthy award winners and finalists at the 19th annual Label Industry Global Awards event in September.”

Entry is free and submissions must be received by 14 June. The finalists will be announced in July and all winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony. Entry forms and full details of how to enter are available at www.labelawards.com.