Set to be the largest in the show’s 33 year history, Labelexpo Europe 2013 returns to Belgium between September 24-27. "There is nowhere better to see the latest product launches, compare technologies, network and do business," said Lisa Milburn, managing director of the Labelexpo Global Series.
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.
Featured Products for the the flexographic, narrow-web and package printing industries, including EskoArtwork, Agfa Graphics, Anderson & Vreeland, Flint Group, Dupont, MacDermid, Heidelberg, Presstek and PRPflexo.
Anderson & Vreeland (A&V), a leading supplier of flexo prepress equipment and materials, marks a milestone in January, 2011—a half-century of supplying platemaking equipment and materials to the flexographic industry.
Labelexpo Americas 2008 should have left little doubt in attendees’ minds that digital printing has made major inroads in the package-printing market. This influx is not necessarily representative of other print processes losing market share. Rather, digital printing’s emergence can be attributed to changes in brand owner preferences for shorter runs and the recent surge in regional packaging. Ken Stack, vice president/general manager of EFI Jetrion, stated in his presentation at Labelexpo that four factors are driving label printers toward digital printing: targeted marketing, localization, time to market, and the supply chain. All four factors cause brand owners to migrate toward shorter print runs.
RFID and printed electronics—these two emerging technologies represent a tremendous amount of potential growth for package printers and label converters across the globe. Neither technology has hit the mainstream yet, so usage is not widespread. However, package and label printers should be watching each. Why? If, as Peter Harrop, chairman, IDTechEx predicts, we are only 10 years away from RFID being as ubiquitous as bar codes (only printed on labels), then label printers will have to integrate RFID tags into their workflows. And, once RFID is printed, watch out! The global market In “Vibrant RFID -Markets,” a publication issued by IDTechEx, Harrop states that
BOXMEER, Netherlands—A new intermittent screen printing unit, designed by Stork Prints for AB Graphic International’s 330 mm-wide Digicon Series 2 modular converting line, is proving to be a resounding success, with several orders placed in the first months of its launch. A special feature of the unit is Stork’s patented intermittent-contact squeegee system. This eliminates the problem of mesh-stretching, by only applying downward pressure against the screen, while the mesh makes contact with the substrate. When the screen assumes the off-contact position, the squeegee pressure is immediately disengaged. Intermittent printing systems enable substantial savings in tooling costs and changeover time. Between impressions, the web
BOXMEER, Netherlands—Wim Claassen, application specialist at Stork Print’s Technology Centre, has found the answer to applying high dots of paste on a substrate without the problem of smearing. He discovered this while working in a situation where the required dot height was causing the pre-flow problem of paste pouring through the screen before the substrate reached the application point. “I found that we could solve this problem by using special screens, and extra rollers to guide the substrate around the screen. This way, the substrate itself stops the paste from dripping through, at the exact spot where it should be applied anyway,” he explains.
BOXMEER, the Netherlands—Stork Prints, the inventor of rotary screen printing technology, may have found a solution to a problem that the coating and printing industry has been coping with for a long time—how to apply high dots of paste on a substrate without the problem of smearing. Wim Claassen, application specialist at Stork’s Technology Centre, found the answer while working in a situation where the required dot height was causing the pre-flow problem of paste pouring through the screen before the substrate reached the application point. “I found that we could solve this problem by using special screens, and extra rollers to guide
Netherlands—Stork N.V. and Bencis Capital Partners B.V. have reached an agreement on the sale of 60 percent of the interest in the Stork Prints Group to Bencis. Stork Prints will continue to operate under its current name and, supported by Bencis, the existing management will continue to focus on expanding graphic activities while maintaining its leadership position in the worldwide textile market. Some 1,350 employees will be involved in the takeover. There will be no negative consequences for current employment levels at Stork Prints, according to the company. Dick Joustra, president of Stork Prints, said, “We are looking forward to new ownership with great
