Business Management - Industry Trends

Is the increased use of shrink labels affecting the use of release liners? Release liner manufacturers say no and offer different reasons why pressure-sensitive labels are the way to go. ONE THING IS certain, your typical consumer doesn't give any thought to release liners as he or she travels up and down the packed isles in the local grocery store. But package printers know that release liners are a very important component in the world of labeling, one that can impact their bottom lines. packagePRINTING spoke to some release liner manufacturers to see what's new and what impact the growing use of shrink labels

Pouches have come a long way over the past few years, but the sky is the limit and converters need to stay abreast of the business opportunities that pouches can offer. The pouch market has been strong for many years now and like everything else in the realm of package printing, it's still a tough-go for converters to understand what new technologies are out there to best compete for jobs. In addition, consumer product companies (CPCs) continue to ask converters to come up with new and different ideas because of the competition they face within their own marketplace. "The acceptance of the premade flexible

With favorable trends in the use of plastics and pouches, flexible packaging converters are set for success. FLEXIBLE PACKAGING CONTINUES to cast a shining glow over the package-printing landscape. The category has at least two very positive forces filling up its sails (could be spelled "sales"). One is the continuing industry trend toward the use of plastic materials and, along with this, the growth of pouches as a preferred packaging method. In a study released last October titled "Paper versus Plastic in Packaging to 2008," The Freedonia Group projected plastic materials used in packaging to increase 3.1 percent annually through 2008. At

Are synthetic label materials really the best choice for converters to use for their products? Some manufacturers seem to think so. YOU CAN'T JUDGE a book by its cover, and in some instances that old adage is true. Consumers are bombarded with products on the grocery store shelves everyday and typically, they have to make up their minds within just a few seconds. So to get them to even look under the cover, the label has to convey the quality of the packaged product—and synthetic labels can do just that, if used properly. Key factors when choosing synthetic There are many pros and

Is ink price not important? Are metallics losing steam? Industry experts explain the results of packagePRINTING's Ink Usage Survey. PACKAGEPRINTING'S 8TH ANNUAL Ink Usage Survey asked tag & label, flexible packaging, and folding carton printers, as well as ink suppliers, about everything from general ink usage/sales, to hybrids, specialty inks, and more. For a better understanding of the survey tallies, packagePRINTING asked ink suppliers to give their views on the results, many of which reflect a growing and evolving ink industry. Issues that matter On-press predictability and ink price have battled it out for the top spot on the list of package printers' main

Surface treating technology makes printing on plastic substrates possible, but not just any off-the-shelf equipment will do. PRINTING ON FILMS without first treating the substrate surface is a lot like skydiving without a parachute. It's possible, but the result is going to be a mess. Luckily, there are several surface treating options, each with advantages for different applications. Of the three main kinds of treaters, corona treaters are the most common, according Tom Gilbertson, Enercon Industries Corp.'s vice president of applications engineering. They are used for most applications and are less expensive alternatives compared to atmospheric plasma and flame treaters. Atmospheric plasma

A singular focus on sleeve labels, from design through application, is at the heart of SleeveCo's success as a flexible packaging converter. SHRINKING IS GOOD for SleeveCo—that's what they do best. Since the company's inception in 1988, this Dawsonville, Ga.-based flexible packaging converter has been completely dedicated to sleeve labels, both shrink and stretch. This singular focus on sleeve labels is what makes the company distinctive, says Martin Wilson, vice president of sales and marketing. He also says it's the reason why SleeveCo has been able to work with some of the world's largest and most innovative consumer goods companies on many

The market will see continued growth, driven mostly by an increasing demand for stand-up pouches. FLEXIBLE PACKAGING FACES a bright outlook for 2004. Currently, flexible packaging—a $20 billion industry—is the second largest packaging category in the United States, according to the Flexible Packaging Association's Web site. Furthermore, industry experts and studies only expect the market to see continued growth over the next several years, despite a slowly recovering economy. "There's going to be continued growth in the market," said Dennis Calamusa, president of ALLIEDFLEX Technologies, Inc. and a sales and marketing consultant providing global flexible packaging machinery to the North and South American markets.

Synthetic labeling materials are grabbing the attention of converters with their durability and versatility. WITH ITS UNIQUE shell, the nine-banded armadillo is the only mammal in the animal kingdom with armor. Made from plates of bones, its armored shell is coated with a layer of horny skin, protecting the creature from most impending harm. Even with the armored shell, this seemingly awkward animal is very versatile, able to run and even swim. Within the package-printing industry, there is a similar anomaly. Like the armadillo, synthetic labeling materials provide durability and protection for tough applications, along with added versatility. Synthetics Converters are increasingly

Package printers want ink options for less, according to the 2004 packagePRINTING Annual Ink Usage Survey. by Kate Sharon PACKAGE PRINTERS WANT one ink supplier with superior products, and plenty of options, at bargain prices, according to the 2004 packagePRINTING Annual Ink Usage Survey. That's not a novel concept, but it's one of many areas where 2004's survey results differed from last year's. Other areas where most of this year's respondents had a different point of view than last year's included the most important ink issues and capabilities, and what specialty inks they employ. With help from industry ink suppliers, packagePRINTING set out