Printer News - November 2011

Pet Food Flex Pack

ATLANTA, Ga.—Star Packaging Corp. has introduced a new line of packaging solutions for pet food and treats applications that improves product sealing, offers a variety of convenient size and format options, and enhances in-store shelf presence.

Pet food and treats include a variety of vitamins and organic ingredients that must be protected through packaging to preserve product freshness. Star Packaging's new line of flexible pouches for pet food and treats features integrated, advanced barriers and organoleptic properties that keep contents fresh, without impacting texture or flavor profile.

Packaging styles range from stand-up to lay-flat to single serve, helping consumer packaged goods companies meet varying consumer needs. "We know that certain pet owners purchase packages to meet dietary restrictions, and we know that other pet owners prefer a reclosable large food package," says Fred Crowe, president and CEO of Star Packaging, "so we have developed a packaging line that is flexible to consumer needs."

Brand integrity is of key importance when developing packaging for pet food and treats. From high-end graphics to high-barrier laminates, the new line of packaging maintains the integrity of the product, while also providing shelf differentiation. "We design packages that uphold a brand's reputation visually," Crowe adds. "We strive to make our products stand out on the store shelf."

Atlantic Zeiser Attains 3M UL Certification

EMMINGEN, Germany—As an extension of its product safety and quality guarantee, Atlantic Zeiser Group announced its OMEGA and GAMMA printing systems, as well as the corresponding UV inkjet inks developed in-house, now hold UL certification on 3M materials. The certification guarantees that using 3M's high-quality label material with Atlantic Zeiser printing modules and inkjet inks will maintain a consistently high level of product quality.

"Atlantic Zeiser and 3M, have been working closely together for some time. The basis for this newly attained UL certification is our common interest in developing new products and solutions for label applications in UV inkjet printing," says Cathrin Becker, market and product manager of digital printing and coding solutions at Atlantic Zeiser. Initial tests for the certification process began in 2010 on the OMEGA and GAMMA printer ranges in combination with OMEGA 10000 and OMEGA 20000 inks.

The 3M range includes high-strength white and silver polyester films with matt or gloss surface coatings that are ideal for digital UV inkjet printing. The films have a high level of durability and are resistant to the effects of a large number of chemicals. As these materials represent a real challenge in printing, 3M certifies only a selected number of printer technologies.

Hooven-Dayton to Relocate, Expand

DAYTON, Ohio—Hooven-Dayton Corp. will be relocating and expanding into new a facility in Miamisburg, Ohio. The relocation is the culmination of several years' work to identify a building that will allow consolidation of the two existing Hooven-Dayton facilities in Vandalia and Huber Heights and allow for future growth.

Christopher Che, Hooven-Dayton CEO and president says, "Our company has grown tremendously the past three years. We are excited to continue our aggressive growth with this new facility as our foundation. The great news is we will be able to keep all our current staff and add more equipment and people without constraints."

Hooven-Dayton is leasing 103,000 square feet of a 196,000 square feet facility. Miamisburg City Manager Keith Johnson says, "The City of Miamisburg is pleased to welcome Hooven-Dayton as our newest corporate neighbor. The company has a long history in the Miami Valley and we look forward to helping grow the company in return."

Hooven-Dayton will take occupancy December 1 and will immediately begin to move equipment, raw materials, and people. Hooven-Dayton's Director of Operations Jeff Spahr notes, "The planning for the move has been underway for several weeks. A detailed plan is required to avoid any service disruption to our customers. Our objective is to seamlessly provide our high level of quality and responsiveness to all our customers during our move."

Spot Color Alternative

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Impressions Incorporated has introduced spotfree™ printing technology. spotfree™ expands the color gamut beyond traditional 4-color process by allowing for color builds of 5, 6, or 7 colors. According to company President Mike Jorgensen, the increased gamut allows for more vivid images and eliminates the need for spot colors, while providing potential cost savings.

Proprietary computer software is used to read the color values of a PMS (Pantone Matching System) color, and spotfree™ then builds a similar color using a mix of the seven colors available (cyan, magenta, yellow, black, orange, green, and violet). The elimination of spot colors is particularly useful in the private label industry where packaging efficiency is increased with the ability to combine multiple items on the same press sheet, reducing the need for set ups.

Environmental Award for Label World

GLOUCESTER, Mass.—Rochester, N.Y.-based Label World was honored with an Environmental Leadership Award at the recent Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI) annual meeting. This award recognizes TLMI member companies that have consistently demonstrated a commitment to progressive environmental practices across a wide range of areas.

Label World received the award for Process Improvement in Environmental Leadership. The company's initiatives include the diversion of all waste from landfills to energy generation in 2009, the use of renewable energy credits to offset 100 percent of electricity and natural gas consumption, a range of internal initiatives to reduce waste and energy consumption, and the collaboration with key customers to divert more than two billion square inches of liner material from landfill to recycling.

John McDermott, president of Label World, commented, "We began our journey toward sustainability just a few years ago as a result of my engagement with TLMI and the encouragement of key people like Environmental Chairman, Cal Frost, and association President, Frank Sablone. Now we are seeing the results in terms of more motivated associates and new customer opportunities for whom sustainability is a corporate commitment. L.I.F.E. has been a key driver in our transformation."

Frost commented, "The decision for these leadership awards has always been made by an independent panel of judges comprised of industry peers who recognize and grade the specificity of the submitted applications. Once again, this year's entries demonstrated a commitment of time and research. An enormous effort is required and I would like to congratulate this year's winners, and all of the companies who submitted entries for their contributions."

RR Donnelley Expands Packaging Capabilities

CHICAGO—R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company announced that it has acquired Lemont, Ill.-based Genesis Packaging & Design Inc., a full-service provider of custom packaging, including designing, printing, diecutting, finishing, and assembling.

"We continue to expand our capabilities to serve our customers' packaging and merchandising needs," said John Paloian, RR Donnelley's chief operating officer. "The addition of Genesis complements our platform with a centrally located facility, a superb range of capabilities, and deep experience. Genesis enhances our ability to serve packaged food and beverage producers, pharmaceutical companies, consumer electronics manufacturers, retailers, consumer packaged goods producers, educational publishers, and a range of other customers."

Menasha Expands 
Pre-Print Capabilities

NEENAH, Wis.—Menasha Packaging Company announced a series of improvements to its pre-print facility in Neenah, Wis. The investment, designed to streamline the company's platemaking process, includes a newly constructed 2,800-square-foot facility, and new equipment and software. The project began in March, 2011 and was completed in the third quarter.

The improvements give Menasha's Folding Carton Group the ability to break down files, separate, proof, and assemble plate-ready files, which are sent to the PrePrint Group where printing plates are produced in-house. Previously, the company purchased all components, plates, and separations from suppliers. The new equipment includes an Esko 5080 Spark with HD Flexo (CDI) digital imager, a DuPont Cyrel 3000 ETL-I lift top exposure unit, and a DuPont Cyrel 3000i Inliner Plate processor.

PEOPLE

PITTSBURGH, Pa.—Label Printing Industries of America (LPIA) announced that Mark Glendenning, CEO, Inland Label and Marketing Services, LLC, is the 2011 inductee to the LPIA Hall of Fame. This honor is conferred to a converting industry executive who has reached an unsurpassed level of excellence and achievement in the industry.

NEENAH, Wis.—Menasha Packaging announced that John Van Driest has been promoted to sales manager of its Neenah Complex, which includes corrugated manufacturing facilities in Neenah, Green Lake, and Hartford, Wis.

MEQUON, Wis.—Kendall Packaging Corporation has named Jay Bergevin as its new area sales manager. His responsibilities include establishing sales goals, developing and implementing sales strategies, building strong customer relationships, and managing the Area Customer Focus Team.

LAKE FOREST, Ill.—Prolamina Corp. announced that Matthew Conlin and Paul Schabow, two industry executives have joined the company. –Conlin, VP of sales, was most recently with Ampac Packaging where he was national accounts manager in the Flexibles Business. Schabow, VP of procurement, brings more than 16 years of procurement leadership experience with global sourcing expertise and petrochemical industry knowledge in the flexible packaging and plastics industry. pP