Specialty Printing is a label manufacturer dedicated to the design and conversion of forms, labels and packaging products for the government, medical and retail industries. The facility implemented a recycling, conservation and cost savings project that boasts a significant positive impact on the environment. 

Specialty Printing underwent its project to become a better steward of the environment and in response to the demands of its customers and suppliers. This was combined with the company’s effort to cut costs by utilizing more efficient methods that increased productivity while reducing the waste of natural resources (electricity, water and paper), and reducing the amounts of waste produced as a result of manufacturing. As a result of this program, Specialty Printing was able to reduce running waste an average of one million feet per month, reduce set-up times by more than half, and significantly reduce water consumption. This further amounted to an increased employee understanding and participation with conservation processes. 

Robbie Fantastic Flexibles produces bags, pouches and packaging films for a variety of markets. The company, a certified SGP printer, developed a sustainability program using the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership criteria as the framework. Robbie implemented a continuous improvement project resulting in 15 percent landfill reduction by December 2009 and a goal of another 15 percent by December 2010. 

Awards were presented at the National Environmental, Health & Safety Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

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The new press is to be used for flexible packaging and self-adhesive labels on a range of substrates and was purchased in order to capitalize on a growing domestic market, which relies heavily on imported labeling. 

In addition to the UV varnish unit, the press is equipped with standard dryers, which combine infra red lamps with forced cold air, allowing faster drying speeds without heat build up. The removable print cassettes can be interchanged or removed from the press in a few seconds, allowing fast job changes and clean ups. 

Faizal Khamboo of Flexible Packaging Industries said: ‘We had been looking for a compact press which was capable of producing self-adhesive labels and wet glue labels as well as filmic products and light carton board. We first saw the Centraflex at Drupa 08 and were very impressed with the quality and versatility of the press. A few months afterwards, we placed our order and started to prepare our plant in Malawi. The Centraflex press is now fully installed and is already producing high quality labels for our local and export markets. Focus has been very helpful and given plenty of technical assistance in all aspects of this project. I’m sure that we will soon talking to them about our next press.’ 

Focus sales manager Antony Cotton said: ‘Flexible Packaging Industries needed a versatile press, capable of producing a wide range of different products. With its central impression design, our Centraflex press met with all their requirements, whilst remaining compact and sensibly priced. In addition, we were able to provide our customer with a complete package, including all the ancillary equipment they needed to begin production. We look forward to building a good working relationship with Flexible Packaging Industries in the future.’ 

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BioCor executive director Mike Centers explains that BioCor will pay recyclers an economically attractive price for PLA in any packaging format and work with recyclers to achieve efficient separation of post-consumer PLA from other plastics. BioCor provides recyclers with a market for any post-consumer PLA they process. The company will also collaborate on PLA recycling pilot projects and work with federal, state, and municipal entities, non-governmental organizations, consumer groups and recycling organizations.

‘Greater sustainability in plastic packaging depends on decreasing the carbon footprint of the plastics used and on recapturing and re-using a greater percentage of post-consumer packaging,’ said Centers. ‘Plastics made from renewable plant sources such as PLA, which is 100 percent bio-based, offer a means to achieve these goals. I’ve joined BioCor with the intent of making a business out of buying the post-consumer PLA already out there in the market. I believe the economics of selling recycled PLA to a variety of lactic acid end markets are compelling. The BioCor business will conserve nonrenewable resources, lower carbon emissions, and reduce packaging waste.’

PLA can be completely converted back into its fundamental building block, lactic acid, and then reformulated into a biopolymer. PLA can also be commercially composted and used for soil enrichment. BioCor’s primary focus is on supplying recycled PLA to those interested in lactic acid uses.

Centers is a 20-year recycling industry veteran and founder of Titus Maintenance and Installations Services, an installer of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and supplier of MRF maintenance services in the western US. He was also president of CMMA, a California, US-based consultant.

Located in Concord, California, BioCor is currently hiring staff and scaling up its infrastructure to address the North American market. In the meantime, Centers indicates that BioCor has already been approached by several parties eager to sell post-industrial and post-consumer PLA and is in the process of assessing those initial supplies.

All product data, related videos, articles, and support documents can be found in a single location (each product page), with related products to help the user quickly select components and systems that will improve their application. A ‘quick quote’ function for every product allows the user to initiate a request for pricing without a separate email or phone call. 

The new ‘Ask Max’ live chat feature allows immediate access to a Fife, Magpowr or Tidland customer service representative to help find answers quickly. User accounts enable visitors to return products for service and manage an online profile to receive updates on training opportunities and new technology from one or all brands.

‘Our customers told us what they expect from an industry site; to access information about the products they’re interested in quickly,’ said Stephanie Millman, director of marketing for Maxcess International. ‘The search experience is robust, and the navigation is pretty straight-forward.’ 

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Asahi Photoproducts is a supplier of photopolymer printing plates to the flexographic printing industry, focusing on providing value added products and photopolymer technology for flexographic printing plates and systems.

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‘Shawn has an extensive business development background that will benefit us as our flexible die division continues to grow,’ stated Mike Wilks, general manager of the flexible die division at Bunting. ‘He possesses a detailed knowledge of the flexographic printing industry from a production and sales point-of-view. Those experiences will help Shawn provide complete solutions for our customers with our industry-leading magnetic printing cylinders and our flexible die product lines.’ 

Paul has over 20 years of experience in the tag and label, printing, packaging and other industrial markets. This includes production, business development, technical support and outside sales positions. Prior to joining Bunting, he was a regional sales manager for Surface Shields, based in Orland Park, Illinois. 

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Rako installed its first AVT system in 2001 – a Helios on a Leomat slitter. AVT will now share its new developments with Rako and prioritize integration of its technology at the label converter’s production sites. 

‘Naming AVT a preferred supplier is the next step in our continuing relationship with Rako,’ said Amir Dekel, VP marketing, AVT. ‘Rako has been a strategic partner for a number of years. The strengthening of the relationship means that Rako will benefit from the latest AVT solutions, while AVT will gain the latest information about the requirements of label converters.’ 

Rako has ordered additional WorkFlow Link products to be mounted on more of their Gallus presses and Leomat rewinder. WorkFlow Link gathers quality information from the presses, via PrintVision/Helios II 100% inspection systems, and feeds the data to the rewinder where defective material can be removed. WorkFlow Link takes control of the rewinder, ensuring that defect-free labels are delivered to the customer. 

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‘This new facility represents the continuation of a series of key investments being made by DPM to become a worldwide leader in thermal transfer ribbon production,’ said Jin Kim, president of DPM.  ‘Due to our high revenue growth in a very short period of time, we have added additional production shifts as well as this west coast facility. This new facility was opened to better serve our east and west coast partners by offering same day shipping as well as our BrandOn! custom labeling program. The program is designed to provide our resellers and their customers with the ability to private label their products with custom logos and/or part numbers, allowing them to differentiate themselves and protect their future ribbon business.’

Digital Printing Media is headquartered in West Caldwell, New Jersey, with sales offices in Florida covering the territories of North and South America and US distribution in New Jersey and California. Korim is a coater and slitter of thermal transfer ribbons headquartered in Chung-Ju City, South Korea, with distribution in Asia, Europe, and North and South America.  

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The final product is a card including ten individual exams for immediate diagnosis of HIV. The biological material is laminated with an aluminum layer at the bottom and a thick protecting film on top. 

‘The project included a combination of converting applications,’ said Eliav Silberberg, marketing manager for Suron’s flexible dies and rotary tools division. ‘First, the lamination layers had to be sealed to fully protect the bio material. This specific task required a long process of testing and development as the sealing had to be done at the right temperature to insure perfect sealing, and at the same time we had to make sure the sealing temperature is not affecting the biological properties of the material. After sealing, the material is die-cut to individual cards. The cutting included perforation, cross cutting blades and finally slitting blades.’ 

The machine has been approved after a number of simulations and will be installed at the customer’s plant by mid April. From there it will start production of 1.5–2 million HIV exams per month which will be sent to Africa, South America and other parts of the world. 

‘This project with Ad-Mek is one of many where Suron uses its knowledge and expertise in rotary tooling in further fields other than the label industry,’ said Silberberg. ‘While we introduce new developments such as our NHT hardened gold die, we also supply converting solutions to a wide range of different fields and applications. 

‘We are highly satisfied with the positive results of this complex project, but even more happy to have been involved in a possibly life saving project which may change the future of many people around the world.’  

The machine includes an automatic labeling system to position the biological materials on the aluminum foil; a hot foil station with a sealing cylinder to seal the protecting film to the aluminum foil; and a rotary die-cutting station to perforate and cut the HIV cards. 

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