The partnership reportedly aims to enable greater penetration into the expanding UK water-based flexo ink market with the Van Son Aqua Base Plus range of flexo inks and Plastotype’s own Aqua Gem Extra range of water-based flexo inks. These cover such applications as paper, cardboard, napkins, paper towels, gravure, labels, envelopes, films, foils and PE coated cups.

The partnership came to fruition as a result of Van Son streamlining its UK operations and the movement of manufacturing capabilities to Plastotype’s facility in Birmingham.

Derek Pomeroy, managing director of Pomeroy Pressroom Products, commented: ‘Many customers are already benefitting from the new partnership, both Plastotype and Van Son have a wealth of knowledge and experience, all backed with fully qualified ink technicians.’

Click here for more stories about Rotocontrol on L&L.com.

Managing director Gary Seward commented: ‘The overall requirements for food packaging are that the materials used to formulate inks must be in compliance with good manufacturing practice. This means that under their normal or foreseeable conditions of use, they do not transfer constituents to foodstuffs in amounts that could endanger health, or cause an unacceptable change in the composition of the product or affect its taste or smell. Our PM and BB range of inks for food packaging are the result of working closely with raw materials suppliers and end users. They offer customers two strategies in UV ink formulations that address changes in EC regulations and EuPia guidelines on packaging inks.'

Pulse Roll Label Products has been supplying the global label converting and packaging industries since 2000 and is part of the Pulse Group of companies. The company’s portfolio includes UV curable and water-based inks, coatings and adhesives, special effect inks, pressroom products and cleaning solutions.

Click here for more stories about Pulse Roll Label Products on L&L.com.

One main screen contains all commands for easy setup and operation, while data is automatically graphed upon test completion with pertinent data points highlighted for easy reference. Up to five graphs can be overlaid for comparison purposes and up to 99 tests can be tabulated for statistical analysis. A new graph cropping feature provides more detailed analysis and selected views 

Files are automatically saved in the root directory for security purposes and may also be saved anywhere on a local network. Test data files are transferable across networks and the internet. Test results can also be shared in Adobe PDF file format, and EZ-Lab files can be converted into Microsoft Excel files with one click

Click here for more stories about ChemInstruments on L&L.com.

Troika Systems

‘Most flexo printers know that good anilox measurement and management is the logical move towards a healthier balance sheet,’ said the company’s managing director Phil Hall. ‘Poor management of a printer’s anilox inventory is a guaranteed way to increase press downtime. A significant percentage of print problems in the flexo sector are down to anilox roll issues, and with press time costing typically 400 euros per hour, it doesn’t take too many anilox problems causing density variations or job re-runs to show how cost effective an investment in anilox measurement and management with an AniCAM can be.’

The latest enhancement has led to the company releasing two versions of the specialist camera-based unit, AniCAM-P and AniCAM-M. The two new variants are targeted at specific markets – AniCAM-P for flexographic print producers and AniCAM-M for anilox roll manufacturers. ‘Our research and our experiences with the first generation of AniCAM product has shown us that the requirements of anilox manufacturers differ slightly from printers needs,’ said Hall.

With regards to anilox roll manufacturers, Troika already has 19 of the 40-plus suppliers worldwide using its AniCAM products. The new AniCAM-M product provides many additional features, including the ability to read more complex engravings such as trihelical, emerald and HVP, as well as ‘Press-O-Film’ aluminum foil cell profiling materials.

No worldwide standard

‘Perhaps the most significant enhancement for manufacturers, however, is our ability to be compatible with their current system of measurement,’ stated Phil Hall. With no universal system for measuring anilox rolls, manufacturers have historically developed their own standards. Hall explains: ‘As the number of anilox manufacturers grew over time, so anilox measurement evolved. Each manufacturer adopted the method of measurement they knew best and could afford. Consequently there is often a large difference in ink released from rolls from different manufacturers, despite the rolls being marked up as having the same volume.’

Troika conducted its own research into these issues in 2007. It took an anilox roll with 12 bands (from 40 lpcm – 480 lpcm) to 15 anilox manufacturers in Europe and North America where the manufactures were asked to measure the bands using their standard method of measurement. ‘The results were stunning. We found the minimum variation on one of the bands was 27 percent and the most extreme band had a 141 percent volume variation,’ explained Phil Hall. ‘This makes life particularly difficult for the manufacturer of anilox volume measurement tools, as each anilox manufacturer will, of course, defend its own standard of measurement and will not want to change the standard which they may have used over the past five, 10 or 15 years. Our solution is to calibrate the new AniCAM-M to translate readings to any manufacturer’s standard. This means that roll suppliers can either translate AniCAM readings to their own internal system, or use our standard readings. This will help us to overcome a major objection.’

AniCAM-P for printers

Effective anilox roll management has the potential to save a flexo printer a significant amount of press downtime. Measuring and archiving volume readings for each roll helps to monitor cleaning issues as well as wear of the roll – both major causes of press downtime. By reducing machine downtime by just 2 percent, Troika says, the owner of three presses running double-day shift could save over 300,000 euros over a three year period.

‘We currently have in excess of 150 installations of our original AniCAM products, and believe that our new enhanced system will appeal to a good number of new customers,’ said Phil Hall. ‘The important thing for the printer is to take the guesswork out of problem situations. If you know that the anilox is doing what it should do, then that reduces the potential problem areas within the press significantly. Certainly printers that are already using the original AniCAM product appreciate the savings that they have been able to make, and the more efficient printing service that they have been able to provide for their customers.’

Click here for more stories about Troika Systems on L&L.com.

Visitors to Labelexpo will also be able to see an MBS butt splicer and an LRD rewinder on the Martin stand.

Click here for more stories about Martin Automatic on L&L.com.

Preco’s Rotary Converting Platform (RCP) is a continuous process, servo-driven system where each rotary station is electronically geared to allow adjustments for optimizing tension as well as making registration correction at every processing point. ‘Converters and manufacturers will appreciate how quick and easy it is to make very precise web-to-die registration changes as well as die-to-die synchronizations,’ said the company in a statement. ‘Preco’s direct drive gearing into the RCP ensures greater die-cutting accuracy by reducing the potential for backlash or swathing in the gearing.’

Easily customized to fit unique processing needs, Preco’s RCP systems are modular for maximum flexibility in registered web converting. They can accommodate web widths from 7” to 20” and multiple processes including metal to metal and registered rotary die-cutting, kiss cutting, top/bottom cutting, laminating, embossing, continuous laser cutting and island placement.

Preco manufactures customized automated processing systems for high speed precision cutting, perforating, welding and other specialized industrial processing applications.

The new division, named Systems Labelling Express, is the result of the company’s recent acquisition of Double R Labels, based in Chelmsford.

Byard commented: ‘I am relishing the opportunity to assist Systems Labelling in their continued growth strategy. Systems Labelling Express will of course develop a personality and place in the market of its own, with the reassurance and flexibility that belonging to a large company provides. Ultimately our customers will have access to an enviable production capability whilst maintaining the customer focused and personable culture that has been built up by long-serving and loyal staff, whom I am pleased to say are all continuing their employment albeit under a new brand identity.’

Systems Labelling’s managing director Steve Pickford added: ‘I am extremely pleased to bring Paul on board, his enthusiasm and knowledge of the industry is exactly what we require to launch this new division. As managing director Paul will deliver a strategy that can work in isolation yet complement the business as a whole.’

Click here for more stories about Systems Labelling on L&L.com.

Norbert McDermott, CEO of Clondalkin Group, said: ‘We welcome David to the Clondalkin Group senior management team. From his original marketing specialization, David has now accumulated over 15 years successful and wide-ranging experience in senior management roles throughout the packaging industry. He is vastly experienced in global packaging markets, both in developed and in emerging economies.

‘Our focus at Clondalkin Group Specialist Packaging Division is to develop our strong leadership positions in the pharmaceutical, personal care, consumer goods, confectionery and luxury packaging segments. In all of these segments, we operate advanced technologies in the manufacture and supply of cartons, labels, leaflets and inserts. David is uniquely well equipped to lead the progressive development of our Specialist Packaging businesses throughout Europe.’

Clondalkin Group is an international producer of packaging products with 45 production locations in 10 countries throughout Europe and North America and annual sales in excess of $1.3 billion.

Click here for more stories about Clondalkin Group on L&L.com.

EskoArtwork

Prudhomme has led EskoArtwork’s consulting services for four years and brings a wealth of experience as CEO, business unit manager, strategic business planner and project manager in various high tech and software related industries, both in Belgium and in the US.

‘I am thrilled to take on this new challenge,’ said Prudhomme. ‘My experience in the software and the consulting business has provided me with good insight into how an effective workflow should be structured. Enfocus has a great set of tools that streamline many different work processes and provide error free output. I’m honored to continue Peter’s life work and to further build on the foundations he laid for the company and the industry over the years.’

Peter Camps joined EskoArtwork in March 2008 when the company acquired Gradual Software. As CEO of Enfocus, Camps pioneered the establishment of PDF as the standard format for interfile exchange through the many PDF tools Enfocus has brought to market. Under his leadership last year, Enfocus successfully introduced PitStop Extreme, a stand-alone PDF editor, enabling quick checking and correcting even the most complex PDF files. 

‘I have experienced challenging and interesting times in the graphic arts industry,’ said Camps, ‘and I had the privilege of making a difference in streamlining the workflow process for many printers and publishers. Now it is time for me to do something different where I will pursue further academic studies within physics and astronomy. I look back proudly on what’s been achieved to date at both Enfocus and Gradual. I am positive the company is in a strong position and will continue to thrive.’

Carsten Knudsen, EskoArtwork president and CEO, said: ‘We thank Peter for his achievements in the graphic arts industry that has made Enfocus into the business it is today. He will be missed, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors. We are pleased to have a leader of Fabian’s caliber as the vice president of Enfocus, and we believe he is the right manager to lead Enfocus to further market growth.’

Fabian Prudhomme will be supported in the Enfocus management team by Elli Cloots, director of services; Saskia Desmet, director of sales; Filiep Maes, director of software development and David van Driessche, marketing director.

Click here for mores stories about Enfocus on L&L.com.