Jetrion

Rex Lane recalls that when he first joined label and package converter WS Packaging Group as CEO in 2010, he was known in professional circles as "that guy they hired from outside the industry." And Lane is emphatic that the fresh eyes of a newcomer can be the key to effecting far-reaching improvements in operational efficiency.

InfoTrends recently surveyed converters of labels, folding cartons, and flexible packaging in North America, ultimately to ask a few overarching questions: What do converters want when it comes to print technology? What are their pain points? How can digital printing presses help? Our survey, of course, asked many other questions, but those are the key ones.

EFI has acquired MIS/ERP provider Technique. EFI provides a comprehensive set of MIS/ERP solutions and will look to integrate portions of Technique’s leading capabilities with EFI's Monarch™, Pace™ and Radius Solutions. While financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, it is not expected to be material to EFI's 2012 results.

At Labelexpo Americas 2012, a steady parade of show attendees were treated to a wide array of new products and technology demonstrations. A major highlight of the show, the Label Industry Global Awards 2012, took place on Tuesday, Sept. 11 at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. Steve Lee, vice president of technology at RotoMetrics, was honored with the prestigious R Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award.

More than 30 labelstocks for EFI’s state-of-the-art digital Jetrion Industrial Inkjet Systems, including the 4000, 4830 and 4900 series of UV inkjet presses, have now been qualified by UPM Raflatac. “UPM Raflatac is pleased to partner with EFI to offer labelstock converters and their customers a complete digital printing solution,” said Patrick Goss, prime business director, Americas, UPM Raflatac.

ImageTek can now enter the prime label market—including beverage, beer and wine, and food packaging applications—due to new digital technology investements, such as a Jetrion 4900 UV inkjet digital printing system.

EFI Jetrion Industrial Inkjet Systems can print on many of Spinnaker’s standard pressure sensitive products without requiring a special top coating, making material sourcing easy. In addition to facestocks, Spinnaker has also received approval on 40# SCK and 50# SCK liners for one- and two-color backside printing.

Coming out of drupa, I see history repeating itself for digital package printing. In the early 1990s Indigo entered the narrow web labels sector with their Omnius digital press which paved the way for single pass digital printing of labels. Also in those early days Xeikon, offered the DCP/32S a dry toner press and others introduced UV inkjet single pass systems.

After our third day at drupa we are getting more convinced that drupa 2012 is the “we think we have a digital solution for packaging” show.

Digital printing and workflow implementations by package printers, including items on Avery Dennison, EFI and Superior Graphics.