PITTSBURGH, Pa.—DuPont has announced that the packaging industry’s longest running, independently judged global innovation awards program has added a special emphasis on sustainability. Innovation in the journey toward sustainable packaging will now be a key consideration in addition to innovation in delivering quality packaging solutions. The call for entries for the 20th DuPont Awards competition was announced at the Sustainable Packaging Forum in Pittsburgh, Pa., by William F.Weber, vice president, DuPont Packaging. “Today there are strong drivers toward sustainable packaging including increasing consumer awareness, pull from brand owners and retailers, legislation and other factors. As a global leader in packaging materials and technologies, DuPont
DuPont Co.
WILMINGTON, Del.—DuPont Tyvek, a nonwoven material that provides barrier protection, durability and breathability, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Combining the best characteristics of paper, film and fabric, Tyvek is lightweight but still strong, and breathable while resistant to water, a wide range of hazardous materials, chemical degradation and tears. “DuPont Tyvek revolutionized the selective barrier as the first nonwoven that is not permeable to particulates, mold, and bacteria, while still letting beneficial elements like clean air pass through,” said Matthew L. Trerotola, vice president and general manager for DuPont Nonwovens. “DuPont has a strong tradition of delivering Tyvek innovations to meet the changing
What hath computer-to-plate (CTP) wrought? Consider “in-the-round” imaging or ITR. The term refers to digitally imaged, continuous polymer printing sleeves that arguably are the future of flexography, and that already are opening up a number of attractive opportunities to printers and end users. Flexo sleeves not only work well with less expensive substrates, such as tissue, napkins, and paper towels, but provide excellent lay-down of solid and metallic inks. Advances in flexo sleeve technology are yielding similar opportunities in markets traditionally dominated by other processes—paper or foil gift-wrap (rubber flexo or gravure), folding cartons (offset or gravure), and shrink sleeves (gravure). In compiling
CHARLOTTE, N.C.—The fourth annual Phoenix Challenge Fund Raising Luncheon, organized to support the 2007 Annual International Phoenix Challenge Flexo Skills Competition and the brand new PC College competition, took place at the Doubletree Hotel in Charlotte, N.C., and boasted a record attendance of more than 100 participants. Five speakers addressed the genial group of flexo industry professionals. “We are very grateful for a terrifically successful luncheon,” said Bettylyn Krafft, Phoenix Challenge Foundation (PCF) chairman, of the event. “We appreciate the generous benefactors who sponsored full tables at this luncheon, as well as the loyal backers who support us in smaller numbers.” Krafft opened the
Agfa The Sherpa 43 Inkjet System for contract proofing offers multi-density ink capability, optimal color accuracy, and a digital workflow. Write 196, Visit www.agfa.com J ANDERSON & VREELAND Digital proofing systems include digital halftone proofers and digital inkjet proofers from leading-edge manufacturers. Write 197, Visit www.anderson vreeland.com, See Ad p. 8 Artwork Systems Products support multiple output devices, including all common proofers, imagesetters, and platesetters. Write 198, www.artwork systems.com J BETA INDUSTRIES The full line of magnifiers, loupes, and microscopes from 5x to 300x fill every requirement in the film, plate, and print
DuPont Packaging Graphics’ portfolio of products includes Cyrel brand photopolymer plates (analog and digital), Cyrel platemaking equipment, Cyrel round sleeves, Cyrel plate mounting systems, and the Cyrel FAST thermal platemaking system. Analog plates include the durable Cyrel EXL low durometer capped plate; Cyrel HIQS for very fine screen and line work; and the Cyrel NOW flexible plate for fine halftone, line, screen, and sold printing. The company describes its DuPont Cyrel round Classic and Cyrel round Thin as “a complete digital sleeve production solution” consisting of a family of ready-to-image printing sleeves supported by complementary equipment for UV exposure, processing, drying, and finishing. From
When it comes to flexo plates, there’s just one evolving story to tell. It concerns the growth in computer-to-plate (CTP) technology, including its slow-growing acceptance among flexo trade shops, many of which remain skeptical that digital imaging technology has all that much to offer them—yet. Historically, the biggest disadvantage of flexo plates, especially when compared with the litho variety, has been quality, and this perceived disadvantage is largely responsible for the rapid development in CTP flexo. In fact, these developments have resulted in a quality advantage for image reproduction with digital dots vs. film-plate dots. There are dissenters, however. The future may
