Schober USA

Standards and RFID Converting Equipment Standards and their impact on smart label converting equipment is questionable, according to machine manufacturers. Much of today’s RFID converting technology can produce tags and labels of a variety of frequencies. However, there are a few points to consider when looking to purchase RFID converting apparatuses. First, it’s important to remember that, while notable advances have been made in smart labels and their construction, RFID in general is still a developing technology. This means converters need equipment that can develop along with the progress made in RFID. “Converters should purchase converting equipment that permits them to evolve with the on-going evolution of

By definition, “standards” is “fulfilling specific requirements as established by an authority, law, rule, custom, etc.; a guiding principle.” However, I can state without equivocation that sometimes the pursuit of standards can literally go to the dogs. When discussing this matter with TAGSYS’ Chief Technology Officer, Alastair McArthur, he instantly recalled his experience with his children’s pet bulldog, Oscar. It seems Oscar has had an encounter of the closest kind with RFID. As an unsuspecting pup, the French bulldog was injected with an RFID tag. The use of RFID for the identification of companion animals, referred to as micro-chipping, is a very mature

PRINT 05 & CONVERTING 05 drew an international audience to the Windy City for a week of new technology demonstrations. THE STATISTICS ARE in from the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC). PRINT 05 & CONVERTING 05, held last month in Chicago, was a big success by many of the reported metrics. Attendance was in the neighborhood of 62,000. The number of exhibitors, 954, was up from the 893 at the last PRINT show in 2001. The international flavor of the show was demonstrated by the more than 7,200 international attendees from 99 countries, up from 75 in 2001. Clearly, the show had the

RFID in the converting industry is full of advantages and pitfalls, but experts say it's time for converters to get involved in the technology. RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)—those three words present both challenges and opportunities to converters today and will for years to come. On one hand, there's the ugly beast made up of high short-term and long-term expenditures, a steep learning curve, and the fact that the technology is continuously developing. On the other hand, there's a huge customer base yet to be tapped, which is only going to grow over the next several years. This is due to mandates from Wal-Mart and

ACTION ROTARY DIE Manufacturing and retooling of engraved rotary dies and print cylinders. Includes adjustable, air-eject, removable blade sheeter/perf, multi-level including slit over perf, and thermal cutting dies. Specializes in deep engraved dies. Introducing vacuum dies and molecularly enhanced tool steels. Write 387, Visit www.actionrotary.com Adams Technologies Automated steel rule bending systems, laser dieboard systems, routers for strippers and counter cutters, water-jet rubber-cutting systems. Write 388, Visit www.adamstechnologies.com, American Die Technology A complete line of CNC and EDM dies. Our cryogenic treating process extends the die life of the Marathon dies. The Thermalizer holds up to abrasive materials. To aid press operators, we designed

Rotary die makers are finding that package printers and converters want their dies bigger, better, and faster. IT'S NO SURPRISE in today's world when a customer asks for a new die, he wants it practically yesterday. Short of putting a drive-through window in their manufacturing plants, rotary die vendors are feverishly working toward finding new technologies and processes to help speed up turnaround time, from conception to delivery at the customer's front door. It takes two to tango The implementation of faster turnaround time doesn't lie just in the hands of the rotary die vendor alone—the customer also plays an intricate role in the

ACTION ROTARY DIE Manufacturing and retooling of engraved rotary dies and print cylinders for the narrow-web printer. Includes adjustable, air-eject, removable blade sheeter/perf, multi-level including slit over perf, and thermal cutting dies. Specializes in deep engraved dies. Introducing vacuum dies and molecularly enhanced tool sheets. Visit www.actionrotary.com For Action Rotary Die Write 388 ADAMS TECHNOLOGIES Automated steel rule bending systems, laser dieboard systems, routers for strippers and counter cutters, water-jet rubber-cutting systems. Visit www.adamstechnologies.com American Die Technology A complete line of CNC and EDM dies. Our cryogenic treating process extends the die life of the Marathon dies. The Thermalizer holds up to

Stamping and embossing experts reveal how to get the best results from the package-enhancing processes. by Kate Sharon, Associate Editor THE VALUE OF stamping and embossing equipment is well known. In today's retail world, where it's hard to walk down a grocery store aisle without seeing several packages enhanced by the glimmer of foil, stamping and embossing capabilities are a converter's key to value-added products. "Increasingly competitive markets create a larger demand for differentiation in product, packaging, and promotion, which is perfect for foil stamping and embossing," according to Jim Hutchison, senior vice president of sales of Universal Engraving Inc., a foil stamping and

Check below for this *Web exclusive* listing of companies supplying such corollary press accessories as temperature control systems, cleaning solutions and equipment, replacement knives, and grinders: AAA Press International Web cleaners, corona treaters, auxiliary dryers, print stations, roll handling devices, tension controls, strobes, slitter assemblies, static neutralizers, rewind tables, platemounters, etc. Visit www.aaapress.com Adheso-Graphics Manufactures and distributes pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes—sticky back, transfer, and D/C—to the printing industry. Visit www.adheso-graphics.com Alliance Knife Straight and circular machine knives for paper converting, graphic arts, business forms, pulp and paper, plastic, rubber, metalworking, and woodworking. Andantex USA Your complete source for high-precision motion control

Adheso Graphics Manufactures and distributes pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes—sticky back, transfer, and D/C—to the printing industry. Visit www.adheso-graphics.com Alliance Knife Straight and circular machine knives for paper converting, graphic arts, business forms, pulp and paper, plastic, rubber, metalworking, and woodworking. Autogrind Complete range of grinders for in-house sharpening of all types of circular knives and perf wheels. Automatän The Automatän Inkontrol (TM) systems automatically check, monitor, and adjust flexo ink pH and viscosity through print runs to ensure that correct pH and viscosity are being maintained. Windows-based for maximum versatility. Visit www.automatan.com AWS Div., Grafix North America Supplies process cooling and temperature