Industry News - April 2014

The Coming Out Party at Mark Andy
Mark Andy’s recent 3-day Open House at its St. Louis headquarters was the coming out party for the company’s new Digital Series, the first truly integrated hybrid production digital press. It combines highly configurable in-line converting and processing with high-quality digital printing at production-level speeds. According to Mark Andy, the result system is designed to deliver the best total cost of operation and flexibility over other solutions on the market.
Because digital and flexo technologies are destined to coexist, the Open House also featured several converter-filled panels that provided candid insights and shared individual experiences around implementation of both flexo and digital technologies. Live demonstrations showed end-to-end workflows encompassing press room operations from plates to output. In addition, Rotoflex finishing equipment, Mark Andy Print Products, and Mark Andy University combined forces to create the key takeaway of Mark Andy as a Total Solutions Partner and a source for presses and end-to-end workflows for digital, hybrid and conventional operations alike.

Jeff Clarke Elected 
CEO of Kodak
The Board of Directors of Eastman Kodak Company has elected Jeffrey J. Clarke as Chief Executive Officer and member of its Board of Directors. Prior to joining 
Kodak, Clarke was a Managing Partner of Augusta Columbia Capital, a private investment firm focused on middle market technology and technology-enabled businesses that he co-founded in 2012. Clarke earned an MBA from Northeastern University, where he serves as a Trustee. and holds a B.A. in Economics from SUNY Geneseo. He grew up in Hamilton, N.Y.

The Esko Experience
The Esko Educational Summit is a series of free educational meetings about the latest in flexo imaging and prepress technology.

Topics will vary by location and will include color management, workflow automation, structural design, flexo platemaking and tips and tricks for energizing packaging and label concepts.

For a list of venues and to register visit: http://www.esko.com/en/Campaign/2014/US_Roadshow/.

Spectrol Adds New Gallus ECS 340 Flexo Press
Spectrol, Inc., of Mississauga, Ontario recently took delivery of a new Gallus ECS 340 flexographic label printing press to augment their high-end food and beverage, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food labeling business.

“We started our business 25 years ago with a Gallus letterpress,” said Ray Kapoor, president of Spectrol. “Since then, we’ve migrated much of our work to larger flexo presses. Because of our recent growth, we needed something faster and more efficient. What really sold us was the press’s extremely short web path and quick set-up.”

Nilpeter Rolls Out Smart Inline Box Solution
Nilpeter’s FB-3300S smart inline box solution, provides roll-to-finished-product in one working process, with front-side printing, substrate turning, reverse-side printing, curing, and die-cutting. According to Nilpeter, conventional sheet-fed printers, visiting Graphics of the Americas in Miami showed interest in the prospect of eliminating numerous time-consuming processes, yet obtaining the same result.

Menasha Packaging Wins at GlobalShop
Competing in a field of 460 entries from 70 competitors, Menasha Packaging won 14 Outstanding Merchandising Achievement (OMA) Awards at GlobalShop 2014 the retail merchandising industry’s largest awards contest. Menasha received three gold, five silver and six bronze awards in categories including: Aisle/Category/Department Redesign, Cosmetics and Fragrances, Drug Store, Food, General Merchandise, Healthcare, Mass Merchandise, Snack Products, Soft Drinks and Supermarket.

Forge Guard Security Label has 
Full-color Hidden Image
FORGE GUARD is a unique security label offering manufacturers in the garment, machinery and automobile parts industries a new alternative for brand and anti-counterfeiting protection requirements. Utilizing Fujifilm technology, FORGE GUARD security labels are hidden full-color images and text that are nearly impossible for counterfeiters to copy due to their range of colors and complex resolutions. Fujifilm’s proprietary chemicals and process equipment combined with strict process controls enable FORGE GUARD labels to retain their hidden color and information even after exposure to heat, humidity and harsh chemicals. The graphic and text is invisible to the naked eye, yet the product’s authenticity reveals instantly itself when the handheld proprietary FORGE GUARD Viewer is passed over the security label.
www.FujifilmForgeGuard.com.

Global RFID Adoption Accelerating in Apparel Retail
“Of the top 30 retailers in the US, two out of three have something going on with RFID. If you’re not doing it now, you’re already behind, and if that doesn’t scare you, it should,” says Dr. Bill Hardgrave, Dean of the Harbert College of Business at Auburn University and founder of the RFID Research Center. “RFID is about sales growth and improving the customer experience,” agrees Pam Sweeney, Macy’s SVP of logistics, systems and technology. “We’re moving forward with additional categories and penetration into existing categories. The greater the penetration of RFID throughout the supply chain, the greater the benefits we see. Retailers around the world are piloting and adopting RFID due to the return on investment it delivers in inventory accuracy and the simplification of implementation.”

Menges Roller Partners with 
Delta T Systems And Paratherm
Menges Roller Company will now represent Delta T Systems, a leading manufacturer of chillers & temperature control systems and Paratherm, a respected name in heat transfer fluids. These partnerships will support Menges’ flagship line of high-performance heat transfer rolls.

Menges will be the sole representative of Delta T Systems for supply chillers and temperature control units which cool/heat the fluids used in Menges’ liquid-filled heat transfer rollers. A similar agreement with Paratherm allows Menges to offer its thermal transfer fluids to the converting sector. The agreements let Menges provide a “one-stop” point of purchase for converters seeking heating and cooling solutions.

Juergen Grimm to Head Heidelberg Americas
Juergen Grimm has been named to succeed outgoing president Harald Weimer as president of Heidelberg Americas, effective April 1. Weimer has been appointed to the Executive Management Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, replacing Marcel Kiessling as head of the worldwide Heidelberg Services business segment. Grimm most recently led the worldwide Business Area Sheetfed for Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG. In his new role, he will have responsibility for Heidelberg USA, Heidelberg Canada, Heidelberg Mexico and Heidelberg Brazil.

Dover Flexo Electronics Announces FireGuard2
Dover Flexo Electronics, is releasing FireGuard2 Intrinsically Safe Tension Indicator, a direct replacement for its retired FireGuard Tension Indicator.The FireGuard2 is a UL listed electronic device for measuring process tension from a Class I Division I or 2 manufacturing area. FireGuard2 connects to tension transducers and a tension display installed in the hazardous area. By limiting energy delivered into the area below the level required for spark ignition, FireGuard2 significantly reduces the risk of fire and explosion when used with Dover’s UL approved tension transducers.Eeasily adjusted via push-button zero and calibration circuitry, the indicator is protected in a compact, steel enclosure.
http://www.dfe.com/products/fireguard2.html.