June 2005 Issue
CMM Showcase
As always, companies exhibiting at CMM International 2005 put on a display of impressive new products and technologies for converters and package printers. A SUCCESSFUL TRADE show is always measured on an individual basis—foot traffic, promising leads, or signed contracts. While attendees weren't exactly carried down the aisles in a swell of people, CMM International 2005 still offered a wide array of new products and technologies from the exhibiting companies. The following is a small sampling of what CMM International had to offer. Company news Enercon and Ciba Specialty Chemicals announced a joint development agreement which will combine Enercon's surface modification Plasma3™ technology
Dot's Okay - Output Devices for Proofing
Presentation is everything—up to a point and down to a dot. WITH RESPECT TO proofing, package printers must be prepared to be all things to all customers, or nearly so, and still be able to assure their customers that the proof they receive will reproduce accurately and consistently on both plates and press. To accomplish this, the printer will choose the technology or technologies that will provide him the tools to keep that promise. Few would argue that packagers have special proofing needs. These include: • Ability to proof on a wide range of packaging substrates, whether coated or uncoated, glossy or flat,
Extra! Extra! Extra!
Thanks to servo and sleeves, today's wide-web presses are a far cry from similar technology produced only a few years ago. THE LAST FIVE years have seen significant innovation in technologies in nearly every arena. The first commercially-available hybrid car was introduced in North America. DVD players were given the capability to record. A camera was added to cell phones—anything and everything that could in some way give consumers extra benefits and capabilities has become the goal of R&D departments, and not just in the car and electronics industries. Wide-web presses have also undergone advances. The shift in technology incorporated in wide-web presses
Intruder Alert!
Holograms can do more than just attract consumers. They can also protect against counterfeiting, diversion, and product tampering. ACCORDING TO MARTY KELEM, sales and marketing manager, Spectratek Technologies, a consumer travels at seven miles per hour down store aisles, which only allows a product one-tenth of a second to make its impact. An impulse purchase occurs half of the time when a consumer visually notices the product, but that rate raises to 85 percent when the product is touched by the consumer. This is one of the main reasons for all of the product displays at the checkout aisles of retail stores.
It's Gotta Be Good
UV and EB curing are catching converters' attention and here's why. IT SEEMS TO be all the rage in the converting world—ultra violet (UV) and electron beam (EB) curing. There are plenty of benefits of the two sciences—the curing is safe, environmentally friendly, and instantaneous. But along with those comes a few negatives, such as the initial cost of capital. So packagePRINTING spoke with a few converters who recently completed a curing equipment shopping spree to see why they chose the equipment they did. New ownership Becoming a new owner of a converting company is like becoming a parent for the first time—neither
Pliant Buys Two Infiniti Flexo Presses
GREEN BAY, Wis.—Pliant Corporation, one of North America's largest producers of plastic films, has announced the purchase of two 65" Infiniti™ gearless flexographic printing presses from Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC) of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Pliant is a Schaumburg, Illinois based firm that is a leading supplier of value-added plastic films for flexible packaging, food, personal care, medical, agriculture, and industrial applications. According to Pliant officials, the new presses will be located at plants in McAlester, Oklahoma and Macedon, New York. Tom Bowden, Vice-President of Manufacturing at Pliant says, "When it came time for Pliant to purchase two new 10-color presses, we took the
Pressing Quality Ever Forward
A new Mark Andy LP3000 flexo press helps Western Shield Label build on a foundation of quality work, and reach new heights in efficiency, reliability, and market presence. By Susan Busch Contributing Editor IT'S NEARING THE end of another hectic business day, and Frank Connelly, president of Gardena, Calif.-based flexo converter Western Shield Label, is recharging with an afternoon cup of coffee. The challenges Connelly and his team have navigated throughout the day—rounding up vendor resources to ensure a client's printed-material needs can be met, and exploring press configurations to arrive at the best way to run a custom job—illustrate the culture of responsiveness
Smart Labels USA 2005 offers RFID education
BALTIMORE, Md.—Smart Labels USA 2005, to be held June 27-30 in Baltimore, is the global event for all those looking to hear about the latest developments from adopters across the full range of RFID applications including retail, logistics, healthcare, military, transport, and post. The event offers an inside to the complete know-how on how to manufacture, apply, and benefit from RFID technology. In addition to learning and networking with early adopters of the technology, dedicated sessions will cover current and emerging technologies and systems—from implementing EPC systems to the latest developments of fully printed RFID tags. To register, log onto www.smartlabelsUSA.com or
The Magic of One
How important is it to have just one person in charge of cleaning, certifying, and inventorying anilox rolls? Very, according to experts. "ONE" MAY BE the loneliest number, but it's also the magic number when it comes anilox roll cleaning. Regardless of the kind of cleaning system employed, the key to well and properly cleaned rolls is charging one, and only one, person with the responsibility. Ask any roll cleaning system manufacturer. "The print quality of an anilox roll is only as good as the operator who's cleaning and maintaining it," said Dave Moulder, technical sales representative, Solutions Division, Pamarco Global Graphics. Having one
Tributes and Trials
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
