CHARLOTTE, N.C.— HS Crocker Co. Inc, the Huntley, Illinois (USA)-based supplier of self-adhesive labels, flexible packaging and cartons, has signed a deal to install Stork Prints’ multi-process Helios 6010 engraver, for highly productive imaging of letterpress plates at Crocker’s pharmaceutical label converting operation in Pennsylvania. Gene Proffit, managing director at Stork Prints America, comments, “The direct laser engraving systems will completely transform the pre-production workflow, with printing forms being engraved on an on-demand basis. The greater flexibility, reduced running costs, and improved printing quality offered by these systems will be a major strategic benefit to HS Crocker, strengthening their competitiveness in North America’s high-end
Flexographic Printing - Narrow Web
WEST HARTFORD, Conn.—Matik North America, the exclusive distributor for Edelmann Graphics GmbH, has launched the latest generation of narrow web presses from Edelmann in North America. Matik has appointed an Edelmann specialist, Chris Davis who has moved from the UK to raise the profile of the Edelmann press line in the North American market. Tackling a variety of market sectors, the Edelmann press line offers cost effective production solutions for a number of substrates which include Film, PS, PP Clear Box, Aluminum foil and paper. Printed products include, commercial print, packaging (flexible and folding carton), labels, security and half web heat set applications. There
Shorter print runs, green technology, the emergence of flexible packaging and UV inks, shorter makeready times, globalization—we’ve heard them all of late. Talk to almost any converter or print industry manufacturer and these buzz terms are likely to come up. Whether you’re a high- or low-volume converter, these issues impact the packaging industry in a variety of ways. Perhaps the most important result is that they push press manufacturers to continually evolve their products to keep up with the rapidly changing package-printing market. The challenges are the same for narrow- or wide-web press users. Shorter print runs are converters’ new realities, making shorter makeready
Relationships are critical in any business. Relationship building takes time, but the benefits of such investments pay huge dividends over time. These relationships are with your vendors, your customers, your suppliers, and your employees. Also critical for a successful mix is the best equipment for your operation. Valdese Packaging and Label’s (Valdese, NC) business is built on this philosophy. “Our operating philosophy has been to surround [ourselves] with the best employees and equipment on the market, and develop long-term partnerships with [our] accounts,” says Darren Little, president. On the equipment side, Valdese recently purchased its first servo-driven press, using technology that Little says represents
CHARLOTTE, N.C.—HarperScientific, the printing and coating supplies division of global anilox supplier Harper Corporation of America, developed UV Re-Leez, a product formulated especially for removing UV ink from narrow web presses, anilox rolls and all equipment, with on-press use in mind. “But we were thrilled to get reports from customers that they found great success using UV Re-Leez as a solvent ink cleaner for anilox and gravure cylinders in ultrasonic tanks,” said Jim Doedderlein, technical sales specialist for HarperScientific. “We’ve had reports that customers are cleaning press sleeves in ultrasonic tanks and cleaning the between-station dryer assemblies the same way. In a case where
Many a superhero has relied on the power of advanced equipment—such as Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth, Green Lantern’s power ring, and Captain America’s shield—to help perform their extraordinary feats. For today’s narrow-web printers, technical heroism is often required to meet print-job demands, and advanced equipment can also hold a pivotal role in “saving the day” for a customer. At Rotocolor Inc., playing the hero—through a willingness to go where other printers won’t—has helped the 16-year-old flexo printer become master of its own unique corner in the narrow-web universe. “We find a way to get it done when everyone else says, ‘We can’t do
CINCINNATI, Ohio--In an exclusive Labelexpo Americas preview, Nilpeter USA has showcased its FB3300A press at an open house in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company introduced its new FB3300A inline flexo press to the Americas with a demonstration that used 200 line screen photopolymer plates. Nilpeter partnered with Enovation Graphic Systems and MacDermid Printing Solutions, who demonstrated Digital MLT: a digital plate which was processed on the MacDermid LAVA thermal plate processing system. The resulting 200 line screen photopolymer plates were then used to print labels on the FB3300A. This is the highest line screen plate that MacDermid has ever developed. Nilpeter engineers demonstrated the versatility of the
ABETOS/INFLEXCO, S.A. Visit www.intermach.com Model Print Width (in.) Colors Self-adhesive flexo presses Power 7, 10 4, 6 Leader 7, 10 2, 3, 4 SUPER Power 16-6 16 6 Flexo central impression presses Master 400 16, 24 4, 6 Junior 16, 24 4, 6 Write 471 on Reader Service Form J AQUAFLEX Visit www.aquaflex.com Model Web Width (in.) Max. Printing Width (in.) Speed (fpm) ELS Servo 10,13 10,13 750 Instaprep 10,13 10,13 500 LX 26 13,16,18,20,24,26 500 FPC Servo 20-32 32 1,000 Write 472 on Reader Service Form, See Ad p.46 Bell-Mark Visit www.bell-mark.com Model Width Repeat Speed (fpm) 1234 HS-FD 4˝ 12˝ 275 1238 HS FD 8˝ 12˝ 275 1834 HS FD 4˝ 18˝ 375 18310 HS FD 10˝ 18˝ 375
It’s a virtual war out there and converters are on the front lines. Striving to stay one step ahead of the competition, converters need to know they have a support system that they can seek out and use for appealing product innovations, especially when it comes to the building blocks of the printing world—printing presses. Narrow-web press manufacturers are listening closely to what printers are asking for, and are developing new and better equipment all the time. To do this well, they must know what converters are demanding from their presses. Mac Rosenbaum, vice president, sales and marketing, Aquaflex (A division of F.L. Smithe
In today’s packaging markets, constant change is just the starting point. Technology is moving rapidly, with flexible packaging now playing a major role—in the form of pouches, often barrier-coated—as the container of choice for many snack foods, drinks, and other consumer products. Molded packaging is a major feature on supermarket shelves, as are all rigid plastics; and metal containers are also showing growth. Increasing awareness of the good environmental characteristics of paper-based products has led to a resurgence of interest in cartonboard as a packaging medium. In the product-decoration field, sleeving in all its forms, is growing fast. Print technologies have also
