Nilpeter, Inc.

Ones and zeroes seem to rule the roost—digital is everywhere. In the printing world, digital has a firm grip in the commercial arena where variable-data printing is the “killer app.” According to Jeff Wettersten, director, Digital Print Solutions for Sun Chemical, “Digital printing has gained a strong position in commercial printing due to its variable-data capability. The ability to personalize messages in printed media where they are reaching an audience of one has transformed the use of the product.” In package printing, it’s not so simple; variable-data printing doesn’t have the same play as it does in the commercial sector. “Variable data

ROCHESTER, NY—Hammer Packaging has recently installed an advanced, narrow-web 10-color Nilpeter UV-Flexo Press. This cutting-edge technology in flexographic printing is targeted to complement Hammer’s customer base and expand its presence in pressure sensitive markets. This investment, along with the recent installation of the Drent Goebel Variable Sleeve Web Offset Press earlier this year, reinforces Hammer’s commitment to re-investing back into the company with customized, innovative, stateof- the-art printing technology. The new servo-driven press is ideal for handling an extremely broad range of multisubstrate packaging materials and features extensive printing options that packaging companies are looking for in today’s competitive marketplace; high quality flexo print,

KILMARNOCK, Scotland—Macfarlane Labels recently commissioned a Nilpeter FA-4 UV-flexo combination press with 10 colour units to meet a growing sales demand. It increases the capacity of the company’s principal plant in Kilmarnock, Scotland, where production is centred on about a dozen narrow web combination presses. These include two Nilpeter MO-3300 offset presses printing up to 8 colours and several Nilpeter UV-flexo presses. The latest press has a web width of 420 mm (16.5 inches), direct servo drives, and incorporates Nilpeter’s recently introduced sleeve/plate technology. The company is part of the Macfarlane Group, one of the UK’s largest suppliers of PSA labels and packaging for

The use of combination printing/processing is not a rarity in package printing—not by a long shot. A printer that has the need could combine any of the printing processes, in addition to converting operations such as foil stamping and embossing. The value provided by combination printing is that each printing process can bring its own specific attributes to the party, says Andy Colletta, president/CEO of Nilpeter USA. “Flexography and offset printing provide the lion’s share of the coverage on a signature, including the text and four-color images,” he explains. “Rotary screen is often used to provide an opaque background prior to printing, while

SLAGELSE, Denmark—Nilpeter in Denmark and UK-based FFEI have signed a development and distribution agreement, focused initially on the launch of a modular digital print solution for labels and narrow-web packaging using 4-color process UV inkjet technology. The solution, called Caslon, will be introduced at Labelexpo in Brussels. The first commercially available product will be in 330- and 420-mm web widths, with 508 mm and 559 mm available later. Designed jointly by Nilpeter and FFEI, Caslon is based on a systems approach from FFEI, drawing on the company’s extensive software, color management and imaging experience. “From our origins as Fujifilm’s prepress imaging division, we have

Beau Label Corporation has purchased a new Nilpeter FB-3300-S servo-driven press in response to the increasing demand for high quality flexographic printing. The new press will be an important addition to the company’s diverse compliment of equipment, said President V. J. Melapioni. The new press is expected to improve production and print quality on substrates from self-adhesive paper stocks to foils and films. Beau Label produces custom labels, tags, point of purchase materials, instant coupons, extended content labels and variable data products for the industrial, commercial, health and beauty, food, beverage, and nutraceutical markets. Beau Label also produces digitally printed labels for high quality,

BRUSSELS, Berlin—Labelexpo Europe 2007, taking place on 26-29, is expected to attract more than 23,000 visitors to Brussels from all over the world. With the ongoing growth of the label industry, more companies are exhibiting this year and an additional hall will make the show even larger than in 2005. With 90 percent sold, of exhibitor space sold, six halls will be packed with international suppliers unveiling their new machinery and innovations on this special global stage. With the global label industry continuing to grow steadily at a rate of 5-7 percent each year, Labelexpo Europe provides the opportunity for manufacturers to showcase their

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

Responding to a greater interest in rotary UV-offset, especially among high-end converters in the EU-countries, Nilpeter plans to boost spending on its UV-rotary offset press sales budget by 50 percent in the current trading year. “Most interest has come from European converters, but that’s not surprising since their customers expect them to meet demanding quality standards, especially at the high end of the consumer market,” says Jakob Landberg, Nilpeter’s sales and marketing director. “Quality tends to be less of a market determinator in the USA, which depends largely on water-based flexo printing. However, several of the large label converters with global accounts are showing

HOD-HASHARON, Israel—Advanced Vision Technology (AVT), a manufacturer of automatic inspection solutions for printing applications, announced the signing of a distribution agreement with Nilpeter China. This agreement was established to support AVT’s growth in the Chinese market, particularly targeting the label and narrow-web sectors. Nilpeter is a global manufacturer of high-performance narrow-web presses. Its combined press solution that integrates flexo, gravure, and offset technology is recognized as the best-of-class in the industry. Nilpeter launched its China operation in 2004, with offices in Shanghai and Shenzhen. From the very first opening day, Nilpeter China has been aiming to provide a total solution to its customers, in