Features

When a customer approached McDowell Label with a challenging shrink sleeve job for a new line of foaming hand soaps, there was never a question the Plano, Texas-based printer would take on the job and produce it to the customer's specifications. In fact, the final product was so impressive, it was among the top entries in the 32nd annual packagePRINTING Excellence Awards, winning first place in the Flexible Packaging - Flexo (Process) category.

Image recognition, near field communication and many other technologies are making packaging a more interactive experience, engaging consumers in new ways. As smart packaging continues to catch on with brands, printers and converters should be prepared to be able to offer these technologies.

For more than 140 years, Smyth Companies has been a pioneer in labels and packaging, tackling new technologies and exploring ways to serve its customers.

packagePRINTING surveyed more than 100 printers and converters about their printing equipment investments and the drivers behind these key business decisions.

Chris Curran of NAPCO Media is working on the front lines to help build PRINTING United, which is a new trade show event that will attract attendees from all printing market segments including garment, graphics, packaging, commercial and industrial. In this article, Chris shares his journey in the printing industry and why PRINTING United is a reflection of the natural evolution of his profession.

With a growing need for short-run flexible packaging across a variety of segments, narrow-web flexographic printers have emerged as a viable platform to shoulder some of this work, which has historically been dominated by dedicated wide-web printers.

Industrial labels may not be as flashy as their CPG counterparts, but they play an essential role in a variety of products, and require the utmost care during the printing process.

There’s no denying the importance of the technical side of the printing industry. But sometimes, it’s important to take a step back for a reminder that human resources are a company’s most valuable resources and are the building blocks for its success.

These generations have different characteristics than those that came before them, and with that varying packaging and product preferences.

Welcome to the third edition of the Road Map of Progress series, which reveals insights that our reporter Patrick Henry learned from subject matter experts in each packaging segment. This week, Jeff Chalovich, president of the corrugated business at WestRock, discusses advancements in the corrugated market.