Supplier News - July 2011
Heidelberg Fights Counterfeiting
HEIDELBERG, Germany—The 1-TAG technology from Heidelberg offers brand goods manufacturers protection against product piracy, and a simple way for end-use customers to check the authenticity of products using a smartphone. 1-TAG security labels are comprised of a pattern of randomly generated copper threads and an accompanying unique 2-dimensional quick response (QR) code. The combination of these two elements on the product itself or on the packaging creates a unique identity for each product, comparable to a human fingerprint.
Free mobile software (app) specifically developed for this technology allows end users to check the authenticity of the labeled products quickly and easily using a smartphone. The check takes place directly on the user's phone without the need for a network connection. Consumers can download the relevant apps free of charge from the Apple Store and the Google Android Market. To check the authenticity of a product labeled with 1-TAG technology, the software scans the security label and detects immediately whether the content of the QR code matches the pattern of the neighboring copper threads.
"We designed 1-TAG primarily as a security system for brand goods manufacturers and their end customers to provide better protection against counterfeit products," says Stephan Plenz, member of the Heidelberg Management Board responsible for Equipment. "For the first time, this technology allows brand goods manufacturers to incorporate their customers into the process of counterfeit protection. Thanks to its high level of security and simple user handling, 1-TAG offers extremely effective protection, particularly for health- or security-critical products."
Flex Essentials, Flexo Wash Announce Distributor Agreement
CALEDON EAST, Ontario—Jim Waslowski, President of Flex Essentials Inc., and Michael Potter, CEO of Flexo Wash LLC, announced an agreement for Flex Essentials to be the exclusive agency to represent Flexo Wash products in Canada and Western New York State.
Waslowski states, "We have been searching at length for the best washing equipment to provide to our customers, which demonstrates the utmost in value and performance in this area of expertise. These [Flexo Wash products] are great value products to add to our equipment line."
"This relationship with Flex Essentials gives us a much stronger representation in Canada, which is one of the focus areas for our growth in this decade," says Potter.
Ferrostaal Mexico to Represent Mark Andy
ST. LOUIS, Mo.—Mark Andy Inc. announced the signing of Ferrostaal Mexico, S.A. de C.V. to represent Mark Andy press and Rotoflex finishing equipment brands in Mexico.
A global provider of industrial solutions, the Mexico office of Ferrostaal has been providing support to Central American converters for more than 50 years. Through the graphic arts division of the group, Ferrostaal will provide sales and aftermarket expertise for Mark Andy and Rotoflex equipment.
"We are excited to enter into this relationship with Ferrostaal," states John Cavey, sales manager for Latin America, Mark Andy Inc. "Their experience and knowledge of printing and converting makes them an ideal fit for our equipment. The Ferrostaal sales and support staff is top-notch and we are looking forward to a long-lasting partnership."
Recyclable Liner for Labels
MILLS RIVER, N.C.—UPM Raflatac announced the launch of ProLiner PP30 for the Americas market. ProLiner PP30 is an ultra-thin, easily recyclable polypropylene (PP) liner for paper-faced labels. It can significantly enhance paper labelstock productivity and profitability, and offers advantages for the entire labeling value chain. These include:
- A thinner construction that results in 30 percent more labels per roll compared to products constructed with a 2.5 mil Kraft liner, which enables the use of longer rolls and reduces the number of roll changes.
- This robust PP liner offers high-speed converting and faster dispensing with fewer web breaks.
- Reduced transportation and packaging costs, thanks to the thin, lightweight construction of the liner.
As part of the ProLiner PP30 launch, UPM Raflatac also provides a sustainable solution to the challenge of siliconized liner waste disposal. The company's new RafCycle™ program collects and reuses ProLiner PP30 waste and ensures that it is reused and recycled into PP-based materials or new products, like UPM ProFi™, a wood-plastic composite used in outdoor decking materials. Participation in the RafCycle program provides brand owners the opportunity to further demonstrate a commitment to pro-environmental packaging solutions, while capturing savings on waste removal and disposal-related costs.
"UPM Raflatac's ProLiner PP30 products and the RafCycle program are innovations that will have a meaningful impact on the entire industry, providing both labelstock converters and brand owners with cost savings and a compelling alternative to liner waste disposal," says Patrick Goss, prime business director, Americas, UPM Raflatac.
Sustainable Alternative to Film
CHICAGO—GPA introduced the latest addition to its product line: InCycle™ Expanded PET, a sustainable alternative to traditional films and synthetics.
Manufactured from recycled water bottles (25 to 50 percent post-consumer recycled PET), InCycle uses as little as one-fifth the raw materials of traditional synthetic films and weighs up to 80 percent less than other film products, offering significant savings on freight and shipping costs. It qualifies as a #1 recyclable plastic, which is the most common and easiest type of plastic to recycle.
By using a new technology, InCycle is produced by precisely distributing billions of microscopic bubbles beneath the solid skin surface. This engineered microstructure gives InCycle its characteristic light weight and excellent thermal insulating properties.
InCycle can be used for a variety of applications, including: signage and displays, packaging and boxes, posters and menus, and POP and shelf talkers. It is also suitable for a wide variety of finishing processes, including diecutting, coating, foil stamping, folding, embossing and debossing, and thermoforming.
West Coast Distribution Center for MGX
ST. LOUIS, MO.—Masterpiece Graphix (MGX), a digital material manufacturer and treatment center, is launching a West Coast distribution center in the third quarter of the 2011 fiscal year. The new location will give digital press owners west of the Rockies quick access to the MGX lineup of digital substrates, including HP Indigo-Certified materials, wine label stocks, sheet materials, and custom stocking options. The new location is expected to open by August 1, 2011.
The 130,000 square foot facility in San Leandro, California will give HP Indigo, Kodak Nexpress, Xerox iGen, Xeikon, EFI Jetrion, RapidX, and other digital press users rapid access to numerous MGX digital-ready stocks. Masterpiece Graphix customers on the West Coast will be able to receive their desired digital materials in one to two days. In addition, digital press users who use custom material solutions will be able to use MGX's new facility for warehousing their custom stocks.
"Masterpiece Graphix is thrilled with our new West Coast expansion plans," said Dan Lawellin, national sales manager. "MGX's digital substrate options will be a game-changer for many West Coast digital operations, reducing their freight costs while providing their clients with the latest material options for their press projects."
GMG Americas Taps Nustream Graphic
HINGHAM, Mass.—GMG announced that Nustream Graphic Inc. has become a GMG reseller, representing GMG products throughout Canada. Nustream Graphic serves the Canadian graphic arts industry with complete solutions for print-on-demand, CTP, and proofing, along with a variety of printing supplies.
"We are pleased to be working with Nustream Graphic," comments Jim Summers, GMG president. "Their team is well represented and has the broad expertise required to apply color management in a variety of end-user environments. Their experience in digital, web, and offset printing, along with prepress and color management complements the GMG product line very well. Their ability to touch all these prepress areas in a one-stop shop, with automated software solutions for any prepress environment is impressive. It is also comforting that their customer support team is available to help any print provider, no matter the technology."
PEOPLE
Mark Andy's Richardson Passes Away
CHESTERFIELD, Mo.—Mark Andy announced the death of Michael Richardson, one of the original stalwarts of the label industry in the UK and throughout Europe. He was a visionary to the industry, and instrumental in introducing and building flexo technology into the prominent market position it has today. Richardson founded Mark Andy UK in 1993, and was the driving force behind establishing its leading market position. He retired in 2002. In recent years he fought valiantly in a struggle against cancer.
OAK HARBOR, Ohio—acpo ltd. announced that Thomas McBride has joined its staff as finance director. He will be responsible for the company's overall financial strategy, with focus on business growth and future development.
NEWTON, Kan.—Bunting® Magnetics Co. has added Simon Ayling as its new production manager, and Steve Lacy as a new technical sales executive for its European manufacturing and sales operation center based in Berkhamsted, England. This location is responsible for all sales in the UK, Europe, and the African continent.
GREENWICH, Conn.—Kurt Hamlin has joined Presstek, Inc. as director of strategic accounts. In this role, he will focus on larger printing operations in the commercial printing and folding carton industries.
ROCKFORD, Ill.—Hope Hu has rejoined the Martin Automatic sales team as its regional manager for Asia Pacific. Hu has more than 25 years experience in printing and graphic arts.
GHENT, Belgium—Enfocus has appointed industry veteran Michael Reiher to the newly created position of product manager, North America. The appointment reflects the company's ongoing expansion with a dedicated focus on the North American market.
ATLANTA—To continue to strengthen its Canadian position in the flexographic industry, Pamarco Global Graphics has named Peter Giannandrea as sales manager and Katherine Robinson as inside sales representative for the Canadian Flexo Division. pP
