Labelexpo Asia 2015 preview
Labelexpo Asia 2015, the 7th edition of Asia's largest dedicated labels and package printing exhibition, will be held on December 1-4 in Shanghai at the New International Exhibition Center (SNIEC). This year the total number of exhibitors will be around 300.
L&L looks at some of the new products and key technologies which will be seen at the show. The following is an alphabetical guide of highlights to be seen at Labelexpo Asia 2015.
New is Polyart Inkjet, a polyethylene film coated one-side, dedicated to water-based inkjet printing. Its special waterproof inkjet coating is fast drying and compatible with most pigmented and dye-based inks. Ideal for all labels that must stand up to tough environments, Polyart Inkjet resists water, grease and chemical products and tearing. It is designed for outdoor use at low temperatures (-60 degrees C). Also shown is a range of iridescent coatings, especially designed for wine and spirits labels, that combine a luxury appearance with water resistance.
Avery Dennison introduces a range of technologies to the Asia-Pacific market. Aqua Opaque addresses wet opacity issues in wine and spirits labels. The new technology allows uncoated paper to withstand submersion in an ice bucket without discoloration. AeroDress is a pressure-sensitive technology for aerosols, which opens up new markets for converters as it helps brand owners increase flexibility for late stage differentiation and reduce obsolete stock without compromising on shelf-appeal. For the industrial/VIP sector the company shows a new linerless direct thermal product with 33 percent thinner construction. This product offers 50 percent more labels per roll and fewer roll changeovers on thermal printers. The thin construction also requires less storage space throughout the supply chain and helps lower transportation costs. Avery Dennison also shows a flame-retardant labeling solution for mobile phone batteries where the full construction (facestock+adhesive) of the PET label now meets UL 94 (the Standard for Safety of Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances testing) flame classification of VTM-0. The label offers a broad temperature application range and does not release halogen fumes. Looking at sustainability and product safety issues, Avery Dennison will introduce apparel label materials with APEO-free adhesives. A group of major brands and retailers have committed to reaching zero discharge of hazardous chemicals (ZDHC) by 2020. This includes the elimination of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APE or APEO) from all of their products and production processes. In addition, Avery Dennison has added a bio-based PE film to its range of sustainably sourced materials. This filmic facestock is made entirely from sugar cane ethanol. This film can easily be exchanged for fossil-based PE and is available in white and clear.
AVT will showcase its broad array of solutions – including the company’s new cutting-edge Helios S Turbo inspection system and several new inspection products from the joint E+L and AVT portfolio. AVT will also showcase its new quality control engine for inkjet digital presses, as well as extended automation solutions such as its Offline Setup tool and SolidProof off-line proofing technology.
Following the recent acquisition by Bobst of the majority shares of Nuova Gidue, the Italian press manufacturer for the labels and packaging industry changes name and will attend the upcoming Labelexpo Asia 2015 under the name Bobst Firenze. Bobst Firenze confirms its full commitment to the Revo Digital Flexo system, aimed at proving that digital and flexo are compatible process for short run production. A new set of technologies and procedures will be unveiled at the show for printing flexible packaging with UV inks.
Best Label will showcase its environmentally friendly recycled fabric label materials RS217wst and RS120wst, which use materials extracted from recycled PET bottles. Also on display are biodegradable fabric labels and thermal transfer printable fabric capable of incorporating two-dimensional barcodes and electronic labels.
Brady will showcase a range of its core products including: ultra-durable high temperature labels，flame-retardant labels, outdoor labels, tamper evident and brand protection labels，vulcanized labels, HMI overlays，RFID and ESD labels.
The company shows industrial release liners, double-side coated tapes and paper
DNP Business Consulting (Shanghai)
DNP will exhibit a serises of new products including a wax/resin smudge and scratch resistant grade; a new resin grade giving high grade IPA resistance; a new TTO ribbon: and ribbons with a high boiling point resistance, and for PP films used in food packaging applications.
Epson will showcase its SurePress L-4033AW short-run digital press at Labelexpo Asia. Equipped with Epson’s Micro Piezo technology, the L-4033AW uses a seventh white ink to print the transparent no-label look, as well as metallic labels catering mainly to the cosmetic, health and beauty markets. This press comes with automated print head maintenance, and ink cartridges that can be replaced without stopping the press. The L-4033AW can use a wide variety of off-the-shelf substrates at variable web widths up to 13in. Epson’s SurePress also features RIP and Max Print Pro workflow from ISI Graphics. Optional is the X-Rite photo-spectrometer, which enables the creation of custom ICC profiles for a specific substrate.
FMS Force Measuring Systems shows the FMS webMASTER steering frames. The BKS 015 and BKS020 are small steering frames for narrow to medium web widths. Features include manual and motorized sensor adjustment, splicing tables, bus interface and material sensors.
Global PS launches the LP-812W high-speed 2-color thermal-transfer label printer targeted at GHS compliant applications. The printer, which operates at a speed of 8in/second, is designed to print on weather-resistant synthetic papers.
Guangzhou Prius Printing Technology
Prius, a Chinese manufacturer of inspection machine, will show its AIM-520S system, which uses servo tension drives and will detect a wide range of defects including hot foil,l excess glue and scratches.
Guangjun Engineering (Shanghai) Ltd
Will show its UV curing system for web presses with curing power up to 600W/inch on widths from 150mm to 1,500mm. UV power auto adjusts to suit the speed of the web press. It can be either air or water cooled.
Gold East Paper will show a one-side coated art paper (C1S) which includes water resistance with no curling, and is suitable for offset, rotogravure and flexo printing methods, as well as various post-printing processes. Key end use markets include wine labels, can labels, bottle labels and cigarette labels.
HuZhou Hengxin Label Manufacture
HuZhou Hengxin will exhibit its series of label fabric and tapes, which are widely used in the apparel, shoes, bags, gift packing and related industries. The products have been certified Oeko-tex100, CE and ISO 9001.
Iwasaki launches a new intermittent drive flexo press, the IF330. Web width is 50-330mm and maximum printing width is 310 x 254mm, and optionally 310 x 300mm, with a maximum repeat length of 254mm. Maximum speed is 250 impressions/minute. The press at Labelexpo Asia will be configured with six colors and a rotary die cut.
Jinjian Machinery will exhibit its JK380 intermittent waterless offset press, which can also make use of letterpress plates.
Labelmen launches an off-line roll-to-roll coating machine. The RFW-360UI RFW is good for labels, films and carton coating before and after printing. The machine is equipped with a flexo printing station, corona treater and web guide system. A key application is printing opaque white or other coating effects on material surfaces as well as varnishing after printing. Curing can be by IR and UV, simultaneously or separately.
Lohmann Adhesive Tape Technologies (Tianjin)
Shows the Lohmann Luo Man, DuploFLEX 3 and DuploFLEX 4 series of adhesive tapes.
Luster will be launching two machines: the LabelRoll-H series off-line quality inspection system and a LabelRoll-R series inspection machine. The LabelRoll-H with 100% defect inspection software, can detect down to 0.03mm2 size defects. In addition to inspection of common defects, it will also measure color variation and variable information inspection. 3D inspection is optional to detect defects like bubbles, creases, scratches and excessive glue. Applications include pharmaceutical, electronics labels and other self-adhesive labels. LabelRoll-R can be used for both on-line and off-line inspection. It can reach a maximum speed of 150m/min and can include slitting and counting modules.
Martin Automatic will run demonstrations of the MBSC automatic splicer and STR automatic turret rewinder at Labelexpo Asia. The MBSC shares the same features as Martin's popular MBS splicer, but has been specifically designed for narrower web widths up to 330mm (13in). It is frequently paired with the STR rewinder to provide continuous roll-to-roll label production. Running speeds are up to 152m/min (500ft/min).
Nanjing Jia Xu Machinery Manufacturing
Will highlight its DFQ and HDFQ-series high-speed automatic slitting machines; DTB series of coating machines; DYB-series rotogravure presses with auto-register; and DGF series laminating machines.
Nordson will show its coating system for water-based adhesive and hot melt adhesive, along with a new UV curing system
Omet will show its XFlex X4 UV flexo press at Labelexpo Asia 2015, which combines shaft driven with servo-drive technology. The press incorporates Omet’s Vision-1 fully automatic register control system.The press has a short web path and optional chill drum for handling heat sensitive materials. The press can be configured with a wide range of combination processes including cold/hot foil, lamination, screen printing and gravure printing modules.
Precise Print-Pack Machinebouw
At Labelexpo Asia exhibits two new products: a high-speed die-cutting machine and inspection machine.
Process Sensors Corporation (FSC)/Guangzhou Tong Fei
Guangzhou Tong Fei, the Chinese agent of FSC, will show PSC's MCT Series sensors, which can provide on-line, non-contact measurement of moisture, wet end or dry end coat weight, PSA and film thickness.
Screen displays its Trupress Jet L350UV digital press and FX870 II flexo/letterpress CTP system. The Truepress Jet L350UV has a printing width up to 320mm (12.6in) and prints at a top speed of 50m/min (164 ft/min). The single-pass grayscale piezo printheads have a minimum droplet size of 3 picoliters. Printing resolutions are 600 x 600 DPI and 600 x 1,200 DPI. The press uses Screen’s universal Equios workflow and color management system.
Shanghai Lion Inkjet Technology
Will exhibit its K series of high resolution piezoelectric inkjet printing head. The K series can be integrated into a variety of label printing and processing machines, as well as sheetfed printing equipment. It can handle a variety of variable data information, including numbers, letters, Chinese characters, one-dimensional, 2-dimensional codes and graphics.
Korean industrial release paper specialist Taekyung Polymer will showcase its PE release paper and environmentally-friendly Non-PE release paper. The non-PE release paper is Tk Polymer’s patented technology. It is non-toxic and recyclable, has a heat-resistance exceeding 180 degC (356 degF) and uses a solvent-free silicone coating.
Univacco will exhibit cold foil and hot stamping foils. The latest cold foil can be used on most sheetfed offset presses, flexo and letterpress machines. The hot stamping foil is optimised for a wide range of materials including paper and board/ PP/PET/OPP laminated paper.
UPM Raflatac will show its label face papers and release base papers, and particularly VIP labelling materials both in rolls and sheets. APEO-free apparel label material will be shown. Further, UPM Raflatac will highlight product safety through a new food-safe adhesive for direct food contact. The new adhesive applies to various types of food packaging and tolerates moisture and oils. For industrial chemical labeling, UPM Raflatac will be carrying out print on-demand demonstrations in cooperation with iSys. The demonstration will feature GHS-compliant labels and labels approved to BS 5609 standards for marine use. Also at Labelexpo Asia 2015, UPM Raflatac will introduce the Label Life concept, together with a new online tool which helps label printers and brand owners assess the environmental impacts of their label materials. Label Life enables informed choices to reduce the environmental footprint of self-adhesive labels while also improving productivity.
Exhibits the iSys Edge850 LED digital label printer. iSys Eedge850 is a 4-color digital printer which can print variable data on die cut or roll substrates at speeds up to 9.14m/min (30ft/min or 6in/s). The print width is 209mm and repeat length 216mm. The system is designed for the beverage, food and consumer product label printing sectors.
Xeikon launches its Xeikon CX3 press in the Asia-Pacific market, which is based on the company’s Cheetah technology and claimed to be the fastest digital label press in its class. This year Xeikon has increased its focus on the Asian markets by appointing new partners for sales and distribution, and opened regional technology centers in Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur.
Introduces its highly concentrated mono-pigmented ink mixing systems, which can match Pantone or spot colors, solving problems of color deviation, and reducing dot gain in halftone printing.
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