Industry News - November 2014

Guinness Taps Constantia Flexibles 
for New Label Production

With the debut of two new Guinness Porters, Constantia Flexibles Label Group has been charged with printing the new labels for the iconic beer brand. The Guinness Dublin Porter and Guinness West Indies Porter will feature labels printed on a pressure-sensitive, coated paper substrate with a matte varnish. The two labels will be diecut into separate distinctive shapes.

Winston Packaging Receives PPC Recognition

Winston Packaging, a Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based company that specializes in folding cartons and roll labels, recently received a 500,000 Hour Safety Award from the Paperboard Packaging Council. The award signifies 500,000 hours of operation with no OSHA recordable incidents. Winston Packaging has not had to record an incident since December of 2008.

Esko appoints Rory Marsoun VP Flexo Business Development

Esko has named Rory Marsoun as VP Flexo Business Development. In his new role, Marsoun will determine the direction of the flexo business in North America, acting as a liaison with the company’s product development staff in Germany.

FTA Releases Newest Edition of Industry 
Best Seller

The Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) has released the newly updated FIRST 5.0 (Flexographic Image Reproduction Specifications & Tolerances).

The new edition is restructured to include the latest international industry standards, practices and terminology and serves as the ideal companion guide for those pursuing FTA’s FIRST Press, Prepress and/or Implementation Specialist Certification programs, For more information on FIRST 5.0 visit www.flexography.org/first.

Small Actuator 
Packs a Punch

The TA actuator from AccuWeb is a new compact actuator with a brushless motor design. The TA actuator provides 200 pounds of thrust at double the speed of MME actuators. Potentiometer feedback comes standard and the TA Actuator is available on AccuWeb web guides and is able to be retrofit to most narrow to mid width applications.

Expansion in Indiana

C&M Conveyor, a provider of industrial engineering and conveyor systems for the corrugated, folding carton, and printing industries, has invested $2.7 million into building an expansion to its Mitchell, Indiana manufacturing location and constructing a new engineering and design center located in Bloomington, Indiana.

IML Labels Adds 
Xeikon 3500

IML Labels, an in-mold label printing specialist based in Saint-Eustache, Quebec, has added a Xeikon 3500 digital color press to its operation. The press uses ICE toner and can accommodate substrate widths of 20.3 inches. IML Labels has installed a UCoat finishing unit, providing inline flood aqueous coating and allowing for cut-to-sheet capabilities.

Color-Logic Joins 
Harlequin Partner Network

Color-Logic, developer of the Process Metallic Color System, has joined the Harlequin Partner Network. Developed for brand managers, product managers, corporations and advertising agencies, the Process Metallic Color System lets licensees differentiate themselves and their clients by simplifying the design and print production process and implementing eye-catching decorative effects into their branded products and associated collateral. The system is compatible with offset, inkjet, flexography, digital presses, screen printing, and gravure processes.

New Secure Tape Line
from Mark Andy

The tesa Softprint Secure plate mounting tapes from Mark Andy Print Products are able to assist narrow webs with plate lift and long run lengths. The double-sided foam tape series features adhesives on the plate roll/sleeve and plate side to eliminate plate lift on small repeat cylinders and sleeves. The Softprint Secure plate mounting tapes are designed for faster speeds, longer print jobs, and where plates are mounted with minimal seams.

Sawa Brings Sales and Flexo Experience as New Director of Sales for Anderson & Vreeland Canada

Sean Sawa is the new Director of Canadian Sales for Anderson & Vreeland Canada ULC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anderson & Vreeland, Inc., leading manufacturer and distributor of flexographic prepress materials, processing and efficiency systems. Sawa will supervise sales and customer support for AVC’s customers throughout Canada. He brings 19 years of sales and management experience in the printing and packaging industry to his new position. Sawa was formerly regional manager for AVC and was responsible for sales of print-related consumables and equipment at Williamson Printing Materials. He holds a degree in Printing Technology from George Brown Technical College in Toronto and is recipient the Polychrome Award of Achievement.

Harper Corporation of America Donates to Phoenix Challenge in Support of Flexographic Education

Global anilox roll supplier Harper Corporation of America is a strong supporter of education, sponsoring and participating in numerous initiatives to raise funds for programs, scholarships, and other causes. The company recently donated the funds necessary for the Phoenix Challenge Foundation to purchase a Mark Andy 830 press for installation at a school seeking to develop its flexo program.

Providing students with the equipment necessary to support hands-on learning in the field is essential. To that end, the Phoenix Challenge Foundation will be installing its new Mark Andy press at Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Illinois. The press will be a step toward starting the flexo program within the college and giving students a way to expand their knowledge and gain hands-on skills by using the press.

Xitron Names Dan MacKillop Manager of Technical Support

Xitron, the leading independent developer of RIP and workflow products for commercial, digital, flexo, and label printing has announced that Dan MacKillop has taken on the role of technical support manager. He will be responsible for the day-to-day oversight of the support department, as well as product testing, and OEM service.

Ampac Re-Introduces AseptiPouch for Aseptic Filling Applications

Ampac is re-introducing the AseptiPouch, a packaging format for cold aseptic applications. The pouches are gamma irradiated (sterilized) and shipped for the filling process. The pre-made stand up pouch features a unique spout fitment with a flip top cap that is removed prior to filling and immediately reclosed after filling. The AseptiPouch system is in distinct contrast to alternative aseptic packaging systems that require the laminate web to be immersed in a peroxide bath prior to forming into a pouch.

Available in 200, 500, and 1,000 gram sizes, the process offers customers an aseptic solution with multiple advantages for food quality, food taste and appearance, because fewer preservatives are used and nutritional vitamins are retained. Products that can be filled aseptically include beverages, soups, sauces, liquid foods, dairy products and desserts, among others.

This process is important to the flexible packaging industry because solutions for filling aseptically provide greater advantages to the marketplace. With a growing number of companies searching for solutions to aseptic filling, the AseptiPouch system is attractive to those looking for pre-made stand-up pouches. www.ampaconline.com

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