Mark Andy

Package printers have platefuls of digital printing options to plow through. by Susan Friedman Heads up! Digital printing developments are hurtling past from all angles...aiming for the heart of package printing needs. The quickest way to the heart may be through the stomach, but what mix of ingredients will tempt converters to pick up their forks and truly dig into digital printing with gusto? Here's a look at what's bubbling on the stove in suppliers' test kitchens...as well as what's already served and steaming on packaging's table. Nilpeter's DL 3300, which runs on Xeikon's electrophotographic simplex print engine, has doubled its speed to run

North American First Place Awards 1. Flexo, Line/Prime Northwest Flexo Specialties, Lynnwood, WA Columbia Wine Labels 8 waterbase and matte UV spot varnish colors. 380-440 lpi laser-engraved anilox. 55# metallized silver paper foil. 130 fpm for 6 hours. Double bump red & black for opacity. Passed 2,000 rubs on a Sutherland rub tester Mark Andy 7" 2200; Cyrel .067 plates; RotoMetrics dies/cylinders; AKZO Nobel inks; Fasson substrate; Praxair anilox 2. Flexo, Line & Screen, Tone/Prime Adams Label & Tag, Surrey, BC Kiona, 1997 Cabernet Merlot Varnished on a second pass. 175 line screens; 125 fpm; 3 colors plus gold foil stamp & UV varnish

Quick-change can happen on-line, off-line, or perhaps even somewhere in between. By Susan Friedman Clark Kent may have consistently favored an "off-line" retreat into a telephone booth for his legendary Superman "changeover," but quick-change makeready systems for today's presses are a little more fickle. A supplier's idea of the fastest, most cost-effective job-changeover set-up can range from a completely self-contained system that never leaves the press, to a completely removable system, to one that can move a job off-line, but not away from the immediate printing area. Here's a look at several design rationales. The inside story Propheteer's standard approach to quick-change—an open print

Spectrum Label further establishes its dominance as both a label printer and a narrow-web flexible packaging converter by winning an unprecedented third Best of Show. By David Luttenberger With its entry "Gia Vi Pho Ga," a flexo-printed flexible bag, Spectrum Label Corp., San Carlos, CA, became the first package printer to win three Best of Show titles in packagePRINTING's Excellence Awards competition. Spectrum Label previously won Best of Show honors in 1998 and 1994. Spectrum's entry, which also took First Place honors in the Flexible Packaging, Film/Foil, Flexo (process) category, was selected by judges from among more than 450 entries representing the best and

With the assistance of INX, the Roll Labels Division of Universal Products becomes in demand for "on-demand." Since its inception six years ago, the Roll Labels Division of Universal Products has become the company's fastest growing business unit, converting and diecutting in-line, 4-color process labels. Things are going so well, in fact, that a 300 percent growth target has been projected for this year, and its managers are confident the goal is attainable. Based in Goddard, KS, the Roll Labels Division prints labels for a diverse range of regional and national companies, including such high-profile companies as Intel, Coleman and Excel Corporation. Roll Labels

Family ties that first tested, and now bind Custom Tape & Label have created a new generation of tag and label talent and drive. by Susan Friedman James O. Buckley founded Custom Tape & Label Co. with a dream familiar to many: to provide a better life for his family. He didn't know then that business and family would eventually become one entity—or that the unexpected unification of home- and work-life would fuel a collision of wills. But the dust has long settled from past differences, and Buckley's venture has become a tradition that won't soon fall from the family tree or the tag

Press suppliers discuss the "why" behind buying into mid-web technology. What do press suppliers believe is currently the most compelling argument for package printers to consider mid-web technology? Industry insiders' responses reveal potential benefits for narrow- and wide-web traditionalists, though the definition of mid-web can vary for each segment. Hans Heuchert, President, AapexX Corp., Hot Springs, AR A mid-width press makes it possible to be profitable with short runs. The capital expenditure is much lower. The press is much easier and faster to set up—as fast as 4 minutes, 30 seconds for a 4-color letterpress, and 9 minutes for a 6-color flexo press. The

A thorough understanding of prepress and flexo control enabled Brook & Whittle to make the jump to UV flexo. By Susan Friedman When applicable process knowledge is in place, UV flexo has provided a quick pathway to profits for package printers. The positive experience of label printer Brook & Whittle demonstrates the importance of preparing, clearing the learning curve and finding commonalities from previous experience that can make the leap to UV flexo a shorter one. For this printer, a background in prepress has provided that natural bridge to UV flexo. As owner of U.S. prepress firm ColoTone from 1982 to 1993, Anthony

Will offset-loyal folding carton printers buy into flexo's quality gains and process efficiencies? By Susan Friedman A $4 billion dollar carrot could be dangling in front of folding carton printers interested in pursuing flexo, according to The Future of Flexo Printing for Packaging and Specialty Markets 1996, released by Graphic Arts Marketing Information Service (GAMIS). All but 20 percent of the $5 billion folding carton printing market could potentially be done flexo, the report states, with the exception being high-end packages for cosmetics and other industries. Flexo is more likely, however, to jump from 20 percent to 40 percent penetration within five years, mostly

packagePRINTING presents the tag and label industry's exclusive first look at the winners of the 1997 TLMI Awards competition. By taking Best of Show honors in the Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute's Awards competition, a combination offset-printed/foil-stamped front and back label solidified multi-process printing's reputation for adding value and elegance to printed packaging. Converted by Impressive Labels, Safford, AZ, the "Frescolina" wine label was tagged by the panel of judges as being superior to all 290 entries in this 20th annual competition. Overall, 49 TLMI and 18 FINAT member companies participated. Cited for its extremely exacting registration of two foils put down one