Industry News - February 2015
Prolamina Gets Safe Quality Food Certified
The Neenah, Wisconsin facility of Prolamina Corp., a packaging company serving the food, medical and specialty markets has received the Safe Quality Food Certification–Code Edition 7.2 Level 2. The Neenah location is Prolamina’s first to receive this certification, and the company has plans to be fully certified by the end of the year.
“SQF certification allows Prolamina to enhance assessment consistency,” says Prolamina President Dave Hopkins. “Our customers expect us to meet stringent food safety guidelines, so going through the SQF certification process is critical to providing our customers with industry leading solutions at an exceptional value manufactured in a safe, controlled environment.”
Amcor Goes Global With its Awards
Amcor has recently received awards for its packaging innovations at competitions in London and Tokyo. At the UK Packaging Awards on November 12, Amcor P-Plus received a Highly Commended award in the ‘Flexible Plastic Pack of the Year’ category. This technology has been shown to increase the shelf life of strawberries to at least four days from packing.
A reverse printed design on an Amcor P-Plus pack earned a silver award at the Tokyo Pentawards in the Food/Fruit and Vegetables category. The package was produced for Special Fruit, a Belgian company that imports fruits, vegetables and herbs in Europe.
Harper Corp. Hires Former Big League Pitcher
Harper Corp. of America has brought former Major League pitcher Brian Rogers on board as its wide-web technical account manager for the southeast region. Rogers played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2006 and 2007. After retiring from baseball, he enrolled in the sports management program at Troy University.
Pamarco Adds Sales Rep for Latin American Market
Anne Lander is the new technical sales representative for the Pamarco Global Graphics Flexo Division. Pamarco is an international manufacturer of anilox rolls for the corrugated, flexible packaging and paper converting industries. Lander, a former Pamarco intern and recent graduate of Clemson University in graphic communications and Spanish, will help the company strengthen its position in Mexico and Central and South America.
Print UV Conference Heads to Vegas
The Print UV Conference, now in its eighth year, heads to Las Vegas for three days of UV Printing networking and educational sessions. The conference will be held from March 1 to 3 at the Encore by Wynn Resort and is dedicated to the growth of UV printing in the international graphic communications industry. This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Robin Wright of 3M, who will discuss UV’s history and what lies ahead for this technology in his presentation titled “Past, Present and Future: New UV Technology Impact!”
DRG Technologies Adds Another Mark Andy
DRG Technologies, an Arizona-based producer of pressure sensitive labels, insert cards and tags, and other product identification solutions, has brought in a second Mark Andy Performance Series P7 press. DRG received its first P7 in 2012 and has used it during three daily shifts to produce pressure sensitive labels and insert cards. With the second press, DRG has increased production of prime labels and pressure sensitive film labels.
“The acquisition of the second P7 and the opportunity to create a dedicated ‘cell’ approach allow DRG to offer our clients ‘best in class’ flexographic product manufacturing,” says DRG President and COO Paul Forsythe. “Quality and competitiveness is unsurpassed.”
Talking Packaging at the Home of the Packers
Converters Expo heads to Lambeau Field, the home of the Green Bay Packers for a one-day conference on April 16. The conference will be held in the Lambeau Field Atrium and will feature more than 90 companies.
Attendees will be able to meet and network with converters, view the latest coating and laminating materials, and check out some of the latest technology in equipment and automation.
See www.ConvertersExpo.com for more information.
Spartanics Introduces X-350 Laser Die Cutting Module
The X-350 laser cutter from Spartanics is a modular laser station that can cut material up to 350 mm wide with an infinite length. It is capable of speeds up to 100m/minute, comes standard with Spartanics’ Fastline and Optimization Control Software, and is available with either a 200-watt laser or 400-watt laser. Its modular configuration enables it to be integrated into a converting solution with partner SMAG Graphique’s
E-Cut Semi-Rotary Converting System, a label finishing solution that can be equipped with the X-350 laser die cutter, a semi-rotary die cutting station, a flexo varnish station, lamination and a slitter.
MacDermid Opens New Plate Production Line
MacDermid Printing Solutions has nearly doubled its current production capacity with the opening of a new facility in Morristown, TN. The new operation features a 100-foot fully enclosed photopolymer plate production line, which includes a twin-screw extruder, tank farm, calendar, inspection system, laser marking machines, and UV lighting/treatment.
“Package printing is the fastest growing segment within the printing industry, and we are excited to show our continued commitment to the package printing industry with this new investment,” said Timothy Gotsick, vice president and general manager at MacDermid. “The next logical step for us was to expand our manufacturing capacity.”
Multiple Awards Marked a Banner 2014 for Highcon
Throughout 2014, awards were given to multiple companies that use the Highcon Euclid digital cutting and creasing machine.
Glossop Cartons received the WorldStar Award for Packaging for a wine box that demonstrated the flexibility of digital finishing with intricate cutouts and cuts over creases. Pringraf SRL won the 2014 ECMA Pro Carton Award for a Gelato Box with a package that also won the Luxury Packaging Best in Show award, and the Earth Island 2014 Solutions Award in the Environment Category. The judges agreed this was an excellent way to pack ice cream snacks. It featured micro cutting through which it was possible to see the contents, giving the carton an attractive look and feel. As one judge remarked “I just cannot stop playing with it—it is excellent.”
And at Graph Expo 2014, the Highcon Euclid won the Best of Category in the Future of Print category in the 2014 Must SeeEms Awards.
Sun Chemical Mobile App Enhances Online Troubleshooting
Sun Chemical has enhanced its online troubleshooting guide by making it available as an app for mobile devices.
Designed to help customers resolve common technical defects that can arise during a press run, the app provides solutions to help customers solve many challenges they may be facing with flexographic, sheetfed, paper packaging, gravure, and/or energy curable printing equipment.
After choosing the printing process, the app uses both photos and defect terms (dot gain, pinholes, feathering, comets, etc.) to help identify which technical problem they are facing. They can then read the solution provided by Sun Chemical to resolve their particular challenge.
To learn more about how the online troubleshooting guide works, visit http://Inktsa.sunchemical.com or download the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Anderson & Vreeland Launches 4-Part Educational Initiative
Anderson & Vreeland will present a four-part “Converging Technologies Affecting Flexo” educational webinar program focusing on improved performance and profitability, beginning Wednesday, March 11th.
The four events will run the second Wednesday of March, June, September and December at 2:00 P.M. EST. Subjects to be addressed by the educational webinars include:
- Computer-to-Plate Technologies: March 11th
- Extended Gamut Flexo: June 10th
- Digital Printing—When to Invest: Sept. 9th
- Integrated Digital Front Ends for Flexo: Dec. 9th
For more information and to register go to: http://andersonvreeland.com/webinar.
All webinars will be available on-demand the day after original airing for those unable to attend the live broadcasts.
Colordyne 3600 Prints up to 275 Feet per Minute
An Aspen Memjet engine upgrade allows Colordyne Technologies’ CDT 3600 Sprint, CDT 3600 Rotary Pro and CDT 3600 Laser Pro presses to run at speeds of up to 275 feet (84 meters) per minute with a resolution of 1,600 x 1,375 dpi. Actual speed is dependent on inks, drying, substrate, operating adjustments, and relevant job limitations.
To learn more visit www.colordynetech.com.
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