Labelexpo Europe: news and technology round-up

Labelexpo Europe: news and technology round-up

Use this page to keep updated about the new products and technology developments on show at Labelexpo Europe, taking place in Brussels on September 28 to October 1, 2011. The page will be updated regularly with further news and links.

Click on the company names to find out what leading suppliers will be exhibiting at the show:

Ahlstrom, Alphasonics, Avery Dennison, basysPrintCheshire Anilox Technology, ColordyneConvertec, Dalim SoftwareDr. Hönle, Edale, ETI Converting EquipmentFinatFlint Group, Focus Label MachineryFujifilm, GallusGSE Dispensing, Herma, HP Indigo, Innovia FilmsIST MetziSys LabelKugler-Womako, LabelmenLabel Traxx, Lintec Europe, Mark Andy, MPSNikka Research, Nilpeter, Pulse Roll Label Products, Revolution Transfers, Rogers CorporationRotocontrol, RotatekSmag GraphiqueSmooth MachinerySoma Engineering, Taghleef Industries, UPM RaflatacWinkXeikon

Labelexpo Europe news in brief:

3M will announce the recognition of UL/cUL approval of most core global Performance Label Materials on a variety of digital inkjet print systems. The company will showcase many products that have been approved as well as showing new films and adhesives for security and industrial applications, compatible with digital print systems. The new Smooth Cling Films with the new 1200 and 1250 removable adhesives for rapid self-wetting will also feature. Applications include super clear overlaminating films and have fewer bubbles than standard pressure sensitive adhesives. Another new adhesive is the SE100, used in the automotive industry for labeling on difficult surfaces. 3M will also show 76717 polypropylene that is used in demanding environments where chemical resistance is paramount. For narrow web screen printers and specialty die-cutters 3M will also have two new products on display: 360 Quick Bonding Adhesive, used for reverse printed label applications, and the 91022 silicone adhesive transfer tape that is used on challenging substrates. Stand 11Q110.

On the AB Graphic stand, Netherlands-based Geostick will convert a variety of job orders – destined for delivery to customers directly from the exhibition – on a Vectra turret rewinder which the label printer has recently purchased. Stands 6F70 and 6F75.

First-time exhibitor acpo will show its self-wound overlaminate film ranges on stand 12T155. It will display its original linerless pressure sensitive adhesive film as well as self-wound polyester and polypropylene overlaminate films in clear and matte finish in various mil thicknesses. Specialty PSA films include easy release, FDA compliant, photoluminescent, removable adhesive, thermal transfer printable, UL recognized, UV screening and overlaminates specifically designed for digital print equipment. In addition, acpo offers PS laminate on liner, form/tag reinforcements in narrow width rolls and paint mask.

Aero, a producer of Aerotac branded self-adhesive materials, will show its new linerless labelstock on stand 11P35. Linerless labels offer benefits such as more labels per reel, less time for reel changes, less storage space required, lower transport costs, lower costs of label and no release liner waste.

Agfa will show its Dotrix Modular digital press on stand 12W13, which can be integrated with all commonly available units for varnishing, slitting, die-cutting and sheeting. The machine’s modular design can be configured with any combination of tooling units, hot foiling, hot stamping, lamination etc. The heart of the system is the single pass inkjet color engine which houses a high speed and high quality UV inkjet system. The Dotrix itself turns out over 1200 square meters per hour at full speed and can run a wide range of substrates, from the thinnest of 25µ foils up to 450gsm heavy paper.  

Apex Group of Companies, on stand 11P105, will show its Genetic Transfer Technology for the UniFli anilox roll, as well as its other anilox roll product lines. The company recently received HD-flexo certification from EskoArtwork.

API Foils will showcase its new range of metallic foil and holographic decorative solutions on stand 6F12. Holonique is a bespoke holographic design which can combine numerous holographic patterns with an almost unlimited number of styles, effects and colors to provide customized 3D product enhancement. With mock ups produced in a matter of days and at reduced costs, Holonique allows companies full control over the whole holographic design process. API will also highlight the benefits of its new double embossing machine which can produce ‘shim free’ designs and patterns. 

French company Armor will show its ranges of thermal transfer ribbons on stand 6F120, with a particular focus on the environmental sustainability of its products. Live demos of the company’s Extranet system will be run.

Ashland Performance Materials will unveil a new portfolio of varnishes, adhesives and coatings for narrow web printing on stand 11S85. Benefits of Ashland’s Pureseal 23322E water-based synthetic cold-seal adhesive for flexographic food packaging printing are said to include shorter specialized runs, which are of particular importance in the confectionery bar market, and that the product can be applied as an overall coat or pattern. It seals packages comprised of biaxially oriented polypropylene, white-oriented polypropylene (OPP), metalized OPP, polyester and other substrates suitable for food packaging. It also releases from release-treated films or release lacquer-coated substrates and complies with US Food and Drug Administration regulations for food packaging. Other new technologies are Ashland’s UV curable low-migration varnishes and laminating adhesives for food packaging applications. The products are designed specifically for flexographic printing but are also suitable for other application methods including gravure and multi-roll coating equipment. Ashland’s UV curable low migration varnishes and laminating adhesives are suited to use with many different types of substrates such as packaging films, foils and papers.

Atlantic Zeiser will demonstrate its drop-on-demand (DoD) inkjet printing technology in security and commercial label printing on stand 11R95. On a Digiline Web 300, the company will highlight the technology’s versatility by using a high-speed Delta 105i grayscale printer, a Gamma 70 P four-color inkjet printer and a Vericam camera-based verification system. The company will demonstrate specific applications, showing visitors how to code tax labels and excise stamps with common, individual barcodes and plain-text information at speeds of up to 150 m/min, always on the same transport unit.

AV Flexologic introduces the new Aqualine processor for digital water washable flexo polymer plates. The Aqualine operates according to the ‘flat washout’ principle. Due to maximum brush contact, the wash out results are fast and of high quality. Thanks to the inline system, continuous plate processing is possible and compared to conventional processing equipment capacity is increased. During Labelexpo, Cosmolight QS will be processed live on the Aqualine. Toyobo will also show a new generation Cosmolight NS. In addition AV Flexologic will demonstrate the AquaSuper 500x700 and the AquaSupreme 800x1050 for processing water washable flexo printing plates and the Mount-O-Matic Table Top for mounting flexographic plates in the narrow web industry. A demonstration on the Sleeve Service Station will be done for mounting and de-mounting variable repeat offset plates. Stand 11P38.

AVT will present its new Braille inspection technology on stand 6H60, which enables printers to inspect both print and Braille using the same system and interface.  Concurrent with print inspection, the system is able to inspect 100 percent of the printed Braille dots, and detect evolving problems by matching the dots against the original PDF file. The new European Union legislation for adding Braille to every pharmaceutical product requires label printers to add printed or embossed Braille to all labels or packages so that blind or partially-sighted people can identify medicine names and dosages.

Bar Graphic Machinery will show its latest digital finishing converting line on stand 6G128. The BGM Elite FDTR Flexo Die Cut is able to start and stop without producing waste. Other standard features are being able to print to re-register, die-cut to print re-register and print to print re-register; the servo-driven print stations are equipped with self-positioning print cylinders enabling automatic print registration set up. The machine is fitted with interchangeable UV and IR curing cassettes, while dual servo-driven die stations with removable anvils enable all converting options to be achieved. Other models to be exhibited from the Elite Range will be a filmic inspection slitter rewinder, inspection slitter rewinder, rotary die-cutting rewinder and die-cut to register slitter rewinder. 

On booth 6F50, bielomatik, a supplier of RFID converting machinery, will provide RFID consulting resources for visitors of the show. Highlights include a live demonstration of the smart label laminating and testing machine – Qualifier T-165 – for production of smart labels from low-cost die-cut aluminum antennas, UHF chip modules via the company’s RF-LoopTag, and pre-printed labels. Consulting resources for the entire process chain through bielomatik partners will include RFID application specialists, read/write technologies for RFID, RFID antenna design and simulation, Application related RFID performance measurement, and RFID for challenging environments (metals, liquids etc).

BST International will show its ranges of quality insurance systems for the web processing industry on stand 11Q100. Thecompany will offer consultancy, communication and information aboutthe BST products for web guiding, video web inspection, 100 percent print defect detection, register control andcolor measurement. It will run live demonstrations of products like Shark4000 LEX and Shark1000LEX (100 percent print defect detection), CompactGuide, CLSPro600 (web guiding), PowerScope4000, SuperHandyScan4000 (video web inspection), AR 4000 (register control) and IDM4000 (color measurement).

Calor and Regma will be showing their range of thermal transfer ribbons on stand 7N35. New colors have been added to the range, enabling the offering of 75 different colors and qualities, ready to be shipped as finished ribbons in standard dimensions or as jumbo rolls to be slit to measure. Specific colors can be developed according to pantone requirements for a minimum quantity of 10,000 square meters. The companies will present a new high resistant resin quality for applications demanding good smear and scratch resistance.

On stand 5B10, Cartes will show a number of machines from its HS CombiLaser Series, which includes integrated technologies such as laser converting and die-cutting, varnishing and primer, silkscreen printing with automatic feeding system, hot stamping, embossing, lamination, hologram application. The Co2 Cartes Laser allows everlasting laser source, constant power, high speed, precision, accuracy and low maintenance costs. Laser cutting speed can reach up to 700 meters a minute, while the web speed can run up to 80 meters a minute. The laser unit can be supplied inline with a variable data printing unit.

Codimag will show its Viva 340 and 420 presses with Aniflo print units on stand 11R30. The Viva 340 will run several offset jobs every day to show live job changes, including plate-making. A digital color proof will be available for print result evaluation. The Viva 420 will run Aniflo units in combination with hot-foil. The company reports over 15 installations of its Aniflo technology. New developments include a color management system, and an increasingly multi-color process system. As there is no ink key control or roller setting, and no ink/water balance, the Aniflo unit offers a predictable and repeatable print system. Codimag will also have a ‘Waterless Corner’ on the booth, in cooperation with Toray, a supplier of waterless offset plates. It will be an opportunity to demonstrate the various applications of waterless offset in the graphic industries: plastic cards, newspaper printing, commercial and security printing. Codimag will have Le Figaro on its stand every day – the first French newspaper to be printer on a KBA Cortina waterless press.

Collano will present adhesives for labels, adhesive tapes and specialty packaging on stand 12U75. The company will be focusing on new product lines for transparent film labels and tapes, a printable pressure-sensitive adhesive, the latest generation of deep-freeze adhesives and a specialty adhesive made from renewable sources.

Color-Dec will show two new doming machines on stand 11Q65. The 6070WBR is a three axis full automatic model designed with the latest CAN-BUS technology, including production-reporting capabilities permitting to track the cost of every drop of resin dispensed. It has a stainless steel construction and a vacuum working table 700x400mm. The 300M is designed to drop resin onto regular shaped labels. It has been integrated into a vacuum table of 460x360mm to ensure all labels remain flat during production, avoiding resin overflow.

ColorGen will unveil two new UV flexo ink ranges. CG Flex FLM is the company’s flagship UV flexo low migration ink system. CG Flex FLM inks are free from all low molecular weight/highly mobile components and use only raw materials listed as low migration under EuPia (Group 1A and 1B) and Swiss Ordinance Annexe 6, making them appropriate for food packaging where a low migration profile is essential. Also on show will be the CG Flex XF700 range, which exclusively contain photoinitiators that comply with EuPIA and Swiss Ordinance guidelines. Both of these ranges have been developed for use on low volume anilox rollers; their increased strength means that ink mileage can increase by as much as 30 percent, says the company. Improved reactivity means that press speeds in excess of 200mpm can be achieved. ColorGen will be recruiting distributors to allow further expansion into the global market.

India-based Convertech Equipment will launch its Sureprint Excel line of doctor blades, which is claimed to offer a long blade life and excellent properties to eliminate streaks and drag outs. The range is suitable for gravure and flexo printing. Stand 6G150.

Germany-based CSAT will show its digital printing systems for in- and offline printing of blister packs, labels and leaflets, including variable data and anti-counterfeiting features, at an image quality of 1200 dpi x 1200 dpi. Its latest model, iTS 6oo, is designed as an all-in-one machine to be run in-line or as stand-alone for a wide range of applications. Utilizing the most advanced DOD-technology coupled with UV-LED curing, application highlights of the iTS 6oo include 600 dpi x 600 dpi resolution with a print width of up to 420 mm at speeds of up to 50 m/min. Stand 9F10.

Daco Solutions will launch the Spectrum servo-driven single color flexo press with re-register capabilities on stand 7K135. The Spectrum can take digital print from a variety of digital presses, apply a varnish or overlaminate and die-cut to register. It is also capable of producing single color flexo labels and die-cut or using the re-register system add further colors, or just simply die-cut plain labels. The company’s DTD250 table-top finishing machine has had various upgrades, with an air mandrel for the unwind, a new draw / nip roller configuration, guarding modification enabling RotoMetrics Hydra Jacks to be fitted at a later date by the client and a Daco designed back scoring system.  A PLD250 semi-automatic turret rewinder will also be on display with upgraded software.

Daetwyler SwissTec, on stand 11P7, will show its One Step, Soft and Goldstar doctor blades that are specifically designed for label printers. The company will also show its ranges of consumables, such as end seals and a new cleaning product line for anilox, plates and gravure cylinders.

DCM Usimeca will display a non-stop sleeve seaming machine and a quality control machine on stand 6H140, alongside a Serval narrow web slitter rewinder and a sleeve perforating and sheeting machine, SleeveCut.

Delta Industrial will run live demonstrations of an integrated web converting and packaging line on stand 6J130. The system will show a variety of processes such as island placement, tight tolerance die-cutting, vision inspection and heat seal pouching. The Delta Mod-Tech can incorporate many additional features, allowing the user to create a custom manufacturing and/or packaging system. Delta offers technology for a variety of medical, pharmaceutical, label, security, RFID, packaging and cosmetic products. Engineers will be on site to discuss specific application requirements.

DG press Services will introduce the Vi-SOP for short runs of foil printing with offset quality on stand 11P132. Based on the Drent Vision, Vi-SOP is a narrow web offset printing press with a width of 520mm, enabling printing on paper and foil with short changeover times and high speed printing. The Vi-SOP provides offset quality for food and non-food packaging, bottle wrappers, shrink sleeves and in-mold labels in markets with speed and just-in-time ordering on demand. 

DigiFlex will launch its Flexojet1724 inkjet computer-to-plate system for flexographic and letterpress plates on stand 11Q119. The FlexoJet1724 inkjet CtP jets DigiFlex bi-component ink on any flexographic analog plate.

Domino, on stand 9H10, says it will confirm its transition from supplier of part-personalization technologies to fully-fledged digital press manufacturer. Domino will display the K600i single color modular print bar, which can be integrated into an existing press or finishing line, or supplied as a stand-alone roll to roll machine, and its N600i 4-color 13” (333mm) web UV inkjet digital label press. Both systems are based on UV curable inkjet technology and operate between 50 and 75 meters per minute, printing 600dpi. Exhibiting for the first time in the digital press area (Hall 9), the company will demonstrate the latest technology for fast and efficient digital label personalization and short to medium run printing.

Dow Corning will showcase its pressure sensitive products on stand 6F110, including the Syl-Off Advantage Series, a low-platinum, solventless release coating system; Syl-Offthermal-cure release coatingsfor filmic substrates; and Syl-Off Advantage emulsion release coating systems.

Dragon Foils will show its newest cold foil on stand 7L135. The China-based company manufacturers customized holographic cold foils and other special effect cold foils.

Drello will show its Drelloscop V5000 video-web inspection system on stand 6F35, alongside Drelloscop 5118, a universally applicable stroboscope suited to visualizing fast mechanical processes on production and printing machines. Also on display will be the Drelloscop 5125 compact stroboscope for homogeneous light sensitive illumination, designed for label inspection slitter rewinders.

DuPont will show developments in its Cyrel round and Cyrel Fast round ranges of sleeve technology and Tyvek lines of materials on stand 11Q25.

On stand 9H57, Durst launches the Tau 150 8C UV inkjet label press and the new digital printing modules for Rotoworx 330 finishing systems offering digital varnish and VDP capability. Tau 150 8C is designed for short- and medium run narrow web applications, reaching a printing speed of 48 m (157 ft) per minute. The press can be configured with up to eight color modules, with an additional module for spot varnish applications also available. The Rotoworx 330 is a modular finishing system aimed at the short run label print market and supporting all print-processes with a width up to 13in. Based on semi-rotary die-cutting technology the HS version (High Speed) has a top speed of up to 160 ft/min. The machine features the Diva digital varnishing module which provides customers with the ability to produce different gloss levels as well as special effects with one single fluid in one single pass.

EDP Europe’s ATM/Colorflex division will be showing its range of on-demand labeling and filing systems using computer generated, sequential, color and barcode label printing on stand 11P80. Its on-demand strip label software has evolved and the latest version, the web based LabelsAnywhere.com, makes it possible to print color strip labels from any workstation to a standard color inkjet or laser printer. ATM/Colorflex also offers the modular MasterTrak Plus tracking software package. MasterTrak Plus can be integrated with the latest RFID and barcode technologies. MasterTrak Plus offers document imaging and also has a module that allows it to control vertical carousels from manufacturers including Kardex.

EFI says it make a major new product announcement on the first day of Labelexpo Europe 2011 on booth 9H55. The company will also run demonstrations of its Jetrion 4830 UV inkjet system. The recently developed white ink is the industry’s first single-pass, overprintable white to offer opacity and brightness rivaling flexo, and is superior compared to other digital devices. EFI will also unveil developments in its workflow software, which includes its EFI Radius product range. The company’s Fiery XF software series, used in the Jetrion series, has been upgraded to include cutting-engine support, powerful RGB print workflow and latest spot colour enhancements.

Electro Optic will show its Gold-Line extra sharp magnetic dies on stand 7M90. Thin liner materials such as PE or PET with dimensions of 20µ and less demand highest standards of precision from all the components involved in the cutting process. Gold-Line extra sharp is designed to face this challenge. Best height parallelism due to the patented back grinding system and optimized cutting ability ensure best possible cutting results on ultra-thin liner materials. Also on show will be its Dura-Line Special C, which due to an extremely resistant black ion coating provides long life performance and is suitable for materials like Tyvek, laminations and cutting through abrasive colors.

eltromat will show its twin check narrow on stand 11S114, which combines 100 percent print inspection with web monitoring of the complete narrow web print repeat.

Emax, a new joint venture between Chiasa and MultiStiq, will present its ranges of label materials for garment, mattresses, carpets and shoes, with a special focus on digitally printable materials, on stand 9F31. The company combines the label industry activities of Spain-based Chiasa and Netherlands-based MultiStiq, and will open branches in Turkey, Mexico and Bangladesh this year, followed by Hong Kong, China and Brazil in 2012.

Emis will show its Flexor line of inspection slitters, rewinders and die-cutting machines on stand 11Q60. Flexor STACRW4-12 is a fully servo four spindle turret rewinder with a width of 410mm. Flexor 440IS is a 440mm wide inspection machine equipped with the latest NIkka D1 camera system. Flexor 380 2C+ is a 380mm wide machine equipped with a double die-cutting unit and a re-register module to die cut pre-printed labelstock. Flexor Lexjet 350 is an industrial inkjet machine for printing low volume jobs or variable data, equipped with the latest Konica Minolta KM1024 heads and GEW UV curing.

Emmendinger Maschinenbau (EMB) will show its high speed punching and embossing machine on stand 12U130. The company says the machine is being used by customers in the packaging, dairy and beverage industries. It punches small shapes out of unprinted and printed aluminum, paper and plastic foils directly from reels, which may then be used as sealing lids or labels. Applications include sealing lids for yoghurt and pro-biotic drinks and beer bottle neck labels. The machine brings capabilities for embossing, perforating, pin-perforating and doming, and quick changeovers between tools enable easy handling and increased production. The company has developed a shredder, which can be optionally added to the machine, for crushing waste foil into small pieces, allowing for easier suction and collection of the waste.  

Enercon will display its wide range of surface treating systems for narrow and mid-web applications on stand 11R120. Compact designs offer powerful treatment levels for integration into any narrow, mid or wide web OEM press. These Compak power supplies rely on the latest IGBT technology and are loaded with features that optimize productivity for any output requirement. For difficult-to-treat materials and surfaces requiring stringent surface specifications, Enercon offers its Plasma3 surface treater. Plasma3 can improve hydrophilicity and surface coating performance. This atmospheric plasma web treatment system is also adept at improving the performance of adhesives.

Epson will showcase its latest innovations in digital label printing and packaging proofing technologies on stand 9H50. In its label production area of the booth, the highlight will be Epson’s industrial digital label press – the SurePress L-4033A – featuring the EskoArtwork digital front end and printing high-value labels on a variety of textured substrates for luxury items such as wine, cosmetics and chocolates. Finished labels will be produced using a GM DC330 Mini converting line. Epson will also give practical demonstrations of its large format print technologies: packaging proofing capabilities, highlighting the benefits of Epson’s white ink in the latest Stylus Pro WT7900 inkjet printer, will be demonstrated by partners such as EFI, GMG, CGS, Esko and Isi Graphics Systems; and creative production printing and cutting techniques will be demonstrated by Spandex using the Epson Stylus Pro GS6000. In its desktop labeling area, Epson will demonstrate a range of desktop label printers offering fast, high quality, on-demand color labels suitable for the healthcare, manufacturing and retail markets. On show for the first time will be Epson’s LabelWorks range. Addressing both mobile and desktop labeling needs, the range offers models that are ideal for office labeling; mobile labeling in almost any environment; and fast, high-quality desktop label creation via a PC or Mac.

Italian company Errepi, a manufacturer of narrow web flexo printing presses and finishing machines for the label industry, will show its automatic cores cutter machine, Vittoria, suitable for plastic or cardboard cores of various diamaters and lengths; and its Leonardo 350mm automatic non stop turret rewinder. The company will launch a new flexo printing unit, Flexoturbo, which will be shown on a two-color modular machine. Stands 12Y90 and 12W90.

Erhardt + Leimer will show its improved TubeLight illumination system on stand 11S65. Due to the new LED light, homogenous illumination is possible even in the wide web sector. TubeLight features have been improved for better inspection of difficult printing and web conditions like embossing, screen printing, metalized materials, and holograms. The company also shows its Nyscan range of inspection systems. During pre-press the Image:Inspector checks the press proof from a production process against the customer’s PDF file to make sure there are no deviations. During the printing process the 100 percent inspection system Web:Inspector detects defects and reduces waste. In addition, the Roll:Scheduler allows accurate positioning of the detected defects on the finishing machine.

EskoArtwork demonstrates the latest version of its HD Flexo high resolution digital plate imaging system on stand 5B30. HD Flexo 2.0 improves the screening to deliver enhanced printing quality throughout the tonal range including highlights with gradients down to zero, stable mid-tones, and higher ink density solids, according to the company. Also demonstrated on the stand is a CDI 2530 digital flexo plate imager and Kongsberg cutting table. EskoArtwork also previews new 3D design tools in its Studio Toolkit for Labels, while Store Visualizer allows users to envision packaging embedded in ‘hyper-realistic store shelf simulations’. 

Evonik will showcase Tego RC 702, a new 1-component UV curing silicone system, on stand 12U110. Tego RC 702 is a ready-to-use product with the photoinitiator already included. Because there is no silicone mixing required, it is of special interest for label printers and converters who want to capitalize on in-house siliconizing with Evonik's TegoRC silicone technology.

Fag Graphic Systems will show its Flex³Pro flexo plate analyser on stand 7N129, jointly developed with Peret, which can analyse all types of flexo plates. The companies have also developed a sleeve station accessory for the Flex³Pro, called Rount, which is equipped with two transmission light sources compatible to the transmission light source of the standard device. The Flex³Pro software is used to capture and analyze images; Rount works for all sleeve formats.

Flexo Wash will exhibit its latest developments in its wide range of fully automatic cleaning equipment for parts, anilox rolls, screens, sleeves and plates on stand 7L45. The FW Handy XLA anilox roll cleaner is now made in a version to wash print sleeves as well as anilox rolls like the company’s other anilox roll cleaners. The machine will leave the print sleeves ready for immediate use after the washing. Within parts washing, the Flexo Wash Parts Washer PK Eco has been made into an XL version, making it able to wash larger press parts.

Francis Bühler will show its range of Big-Jet printers, which provide coding and marking with HP technology, on stand 9F48. The systems, which can be installed directly onto a web press, produce coding with text, graphics, codes, lottery numbers and addresses on labels, packaging, tickets and newspapers with up to 600dpi at up to 2m/sec.

Fraser Antistatic will launch new static generator models on stand 11S95, including the increased power 7360 and the economical OEM 7333 model, which both feature remote controlled switching and output adjustment. In addition, the company will launch the Jupiter, a long range static control bar, plus a new range of balanced output ionised fan blowers aimed at the RFID market.

GEW will exhibit the latest version of its VCP UV lamp head on stand 6H36. The VCP will be shown with an infra-red cassette system for water-based inks. For the first time, the new stand-alone power supply system, an enhancement to the company’s e-Brick, will be on show. It is claimed to be the smallest available on the market for multi UV lamp applications. GEW’s integrated on-line UV monitoring system, which ensures continued UV performance by providing a method to determine the onset of any deterioration in curing, will also feature. It permits appropriate maintenance and spare parts planning and avoids premature lamps replacement.

GMG, a supplier of color management software, will be exhibiting on the Epson booth, 9H50, as a software technology partner. GMG’s focus at the show will be on its color management software for the packaging and label markets in conjunction with the Epson Stylus Pro WT7900 white ink printer. GMG proofing software GMG ColorProof and GMG FlexoProof supports the Epson printer in terms of producing contone and halftone contract packaging proofs. The GMG/Epson combination is said to give maximum color quality and excellent detail definition on transparent film or metal foil. The printer's extended gamut makes it possible to reproduce 98 percent Pantone GOE spot colors. High quality remote proofing is another core application due to GMG’s calibration and profiling technology.

Graficon Maschinenbau will show on stand 12V160 the new Graficon RPS 220 booklet and processing machine, demonstrating the inline production of booklet labels. A new feature on the machine is the merging of three different pre-printed materials in register. Also on display will be the sheeting machine, Graficon BSM 340, for processing from roll to sheet, with new options and extension possibilities such as intermediate cut, waste shift and stacking options. As a supplier of overhauled Gallus machines, GM’s program of spare parts, units and services will also be presented.

Grafisk Maskinfabrik shows its new Digital Converting Line 500 (DC500) on stand 9H52, which is capable of web widths from 100mm up to 515mm. The die-cut station is fitted with optional GapMaster by Kocher+Beck. Print-to-cut registration in just one rotation, no station movement or mechanical set-up required; semi and full-rotary die cutting. Adjustable repeat lengths from 2” - 22.5”; line speeds up to 72 meters per minute in full rotary. The DC500 comes with UV flexo-varnish station with registration and super-gloss varnish capabilities. It’s also fitted with the optional semi-rotary hot foil station with GapMaster that will be demonstrating high quality gold- and silver-printing during the show. GM will also be running various jobs on its smaller digital converters, the DC330, fitted with Zenna laser die-cutter, and the DC330-mini. The entire range of GM digital converters as well as other finishing machinery – re-/unwinders, core cutters, roll lifters/turners, sheeters and waste management machines – will be available for testing at the show.

Grafotronic will show its new Converting Line 380 CL in a modular design that includes two flexo units, die-cutting and a new automatic turrent rewinder on stand 11P70. Each module is servo driven and works independently. Extra units, such as lamination, inkjet, labeling, 100 percent inspection, hotfoil and varnishing, can be added. The company also launches a new high speed slitter with a Nikka 100 percent inspection system and a new servo-driven automatic turret rewinder with core and tail glue systems. Also on display will be the 550mm wide die-cutting machine, 280mm wide printing and die-cutting machine, and more.

Graphi Mecc Group, on stand 7N105, offers consulting, project design, in-house software development, machinery production (reel to reel, reel to sheet and sheet to sheet) and after sales support relating to numbering and variable data applications in the fields of product identification, authentication, traceability, anti-counterfeiting and security printing.

Graymills will show a variety of ink pumps, cleaning systems, filtration and cooling systems for every press environment on stand 5E75. The company says: ‘Today’s pressroom needs to manage all “four C’s” of total ink dynamics – condition, clean, circulate and control – to reduce job changeovers, increase productivity, reduce operating costs, maximize quality and minimize downtime.’

GSB Wahl shows its range of printing inks, varnishes and adhesive for all label applications on stand 5D65. A variety of UV inks for offset, letterpress, flexo and screen printing machines will be demonstrated, as well its newest formulations of water-based flexo inks. Water- and UV-based varnishes for applications such as food packaging will be on show, while the company also launches a metallic ink for offset, letterpress and flexo.

H.B. Fuller will show its range of label and tape adhesives on stand 7K100.  H.B. Fuller’s range of Fulltakwater-based products will be on display, with a focus on the launch of the company’s SE75 range of dispersions, which are free of alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEO) to minimize environmental impact, and FDA and Bfr compliant for indirect food contact applications. H.B. Fuller’s range also includes Fulltak solvent-based adhesives. With excellent aging properties and good UV resistance, these adhesives are suitable for applications including book coverings and protective coatings, over laminating films for photographs and heat seal applications, and peelable PE foam pads for separation of window glass during transportation. Also on show will be H.B. Fuller’s range of Lunatack and Lunamelthot melts, which are said to offer excellent adhesion, melt stability and heat resistance.

Hanita Coatings, on stand 6H122, will introduce a variety of specialty label face films, including novel water indicative and tamper indicative products; high security films; overlaminate films with scratch resistant and anti-graffiti properties, and a range of new films for digital print. Hanita's new water indicative PET label face films reveal a clear color change from blue to white on immersion or dampening, without reacting to ambient humidity. Hanita will also show new overlaminate films, including a 23 micron UV stabilized clear polyester film with a proprietary dry-erase coating that retains gloss, clarity and dimensional stability also in harsh external environments. 

Heights UK will launch the Heights 660 letterpress and water wash flexo processor on stand 7N20. The unit is fully equipped and has an optional black mask removal system, main wash section, finishing wash section for flexo and drier post exposure unit all built inline for increased productivity and consistent platemaking. The unit can be made to wash any type of water washable letterpress or flexo plate on the market today with the ability to easily change brush types and wash parameters. The company will also launch a 950 unit in January 2012.

Hip-Mitsu will be showing its range of adhesive systems on Stand 7K22. The systems enable a reduction in production costs and costs related to complex waste material; full independence from major label stock producers in terms of purchase volumes and price increases; and an adhesive application without the need for an adhesive neutralization system.

Poland-based HKM will show its 380 and 280 ranges of rewinders on stand 11R7. An additional rotary die-cutting station on the HKM 380 inspection rewinder enables production of clean and printed labels, while modular construction offers a wide range of options. The HKM 280 rewinder can automatically stop after counting down a defined number of labels regardless of the machine’s speed, a function which increases speed and productivity.

China-based Huzhou Siny Label Material will show its label fabric materials on stand 11S120. Among the range are a number of specialty products, including fire retardant, stone wash, garment dye, non-fluorescence, security and environmentally friendly. The company says it chooses environmentally sustainable raw materials such as recycled polyester, cotton and linen, for customized applications, and its products are certified to the Oeko Tex Class 1 international standard.

On stand 7L125, Hybrid Software will show its Order Lifecycle Management concept for integrating existing pre-press equipment and workflows with systems such as planning, accounting, administration, databases etc. OLM allows inexpensive and fast integration across one or multiple sites. 

Impression Technology Europe will show the Rapid Label Printing Systems on stand 12T75, as well as launching a new Rapid finishing line. Built around the Memjet printhead, the table-top X1 and the floor-standing X2 printers both produce full color labels at a rate of 18m/min. As the machines run from a standard PC, each label can be unique, making them suitable for applications such as tracking or stock control. With virtually no set-up cost, the unit production cost per label remains the same whether printing 1 or 1,000 labels. The new Rapid finishing line currently details is expected to include a varnishing and semi rotary re-registering system.  

Innovia Films will be promoting its existing product range alongside the European launch of two additions to its squeezable BOPP film range – non-top coated clear and white films for home and personal care applications; low-distortion IML films; Rayoface NB films for linerless label applications; films for the returnable glass bottle market and developments in durable BOPP films for the PSL market. Stand 5A05.

On stand 11Q22, IRAC will show its range of equipment for the washing and regeneration of solvents: Ultrawash ultrasonic anilox washing; Rollclean for printing machine ink washing; LC Electra Evolution and SRLC flat and vertical plate washers; Bikwash Inline bicarbonate washing unit; Rotojet closed chamber washing unit; and MAV-AV and Micro-BS single-batch or automated multi-batch solvent distillers.

Isra Vision introduces the new ProofStar inspection system on stand 11Q59. Everything that matters in packaging printing will be inspected – the print, hot foil or varnish, matt or glossy or combined. The customer´s PDF file from the pre-press stage is used as master for the comparison to the first printed sheets. At the same time immediate feedback and visualization of damages to the printing plate or cylinder is provided. The company will also how the PrintStar inspection system for premium printing products, which offers 100 percent monitoring and documentation of the print quality, in-line or off-line, for each repeat, for the entire web or for a production batch. PrintStar may be installed directly on a narrow web press and used in conjunction with the Rewind Manager system to remove the waste at the slitter. For off-line inspection, PrintStar can be installed on the slitter or doctor machine.

J M Heaford will demonstrate its range of TT Cobra plate mounters with sleeve dedicated, cylinder only and combination mounters on stand 5E85. The company will also show a new plate mounter for those who prefer to mount plates flat. 

Jujo Thermal will display its new thermal label facestock produced without phenols on stand 6H25. These new non phenol eco grades offer the same properties as their predecessors, and are thus suitable for various label uses. The new AP58KM-NL grade enables high printing speed and guarantees good fine texture and readability of barcode information. Also the new non biphenol topcoated AL60KT-ML offers high definition printouts – even with full varnishing and overprinting. Specifically developed resistance compositions give strong protection in challenging conditions, such as food labeling.

K2 Flexo will show a 440mm wide FastAction flexographic printing press for label and film production on stand 11Q55. The press will feature full UV curing and IR drying at each printing station and includes chill drums to permit a wide range of thermo-sensitive films to be processed. A fully automatic register control and servo assisted drive system ensure accurate print registration even on very fine extensible films. Equipped for high speed operation, the FastAction press includes die station with side adjustment and rotary crush cut slitters, print cylinders driven by helical gears, inks pumps, de-laminating and re-laminating with turn bar, video web inspection and Corona treating system.

Karlville Development will show its SteamBox portable steam tunnel for shrink sleeve prototyping on stand 7N130. The SteamBox simulates the shrink tunnel process by using a progressive steam pulverization system along the container in a transversal movement. The portable unit works for full body applications, half body applications, tamper-evident applications and multipacks, and can be adapted to different sizes of containers.

KG Digital Solutions will introduce new products for label application businesses on stand 9F36. The KGdigital Desktop Inkjet Color Label Printer (one of the Swift Color printer series) features high speed printing with single pass, high-resolution and a variety of applications. It can change all monochrome labels to color. The EM-250A Label Printing System adopts a high-resolution and single-pass inkjet technology from Iwatsu, and realizes print resolution of 600dpi or 1,200 dpi with a maximum printing speed of 50 meters per minute.

As well as demonstrating itsFlexcel NX Plate system, Kodak introduces its Flexcel Direct technology on stand 9F70, which removes the need for chemical processing and is claimed ideal for in the round applications. Also demonstrated are Kodak’s letterpress and analogue plates, Prinergy Powerpack workflow system and its Packaging Layout Automation software. The Insite Prepress Portal System will be demonstrated, providing secure web access for remote job submission, progress tracking and approval. For private label-based brand owners in particular, Kodak will feature Design2Launch, an end-to-end digital workflow for marketing and creative teams that organizes assets across brands, departments and suppliers. Kodak also shows a suite of products to protect, track and secure high value products in the field.

Kongskilde will show its pneumatic trim and waste removal systems for the labeling industry on stand 6G110. The company, whose background is in the paper and plastic industries, has developed a system with non-stick components and simple design which is targeted specifically at the label sector.

Labelform Graphics will promote its ranges of used label printing and converting machinery on stand 7K57. No presses will be displayed, but the company will offer advice and knowledge on technical and production requirements. Flexo, offset, screen and letterpress machines are all available. The company reports sales in recent months of an MPS EPW560 to South Africa; a Nilpeter MO3300 to the Far East; a Nilpeter FA3300 to Russia; a Kopack 250 to the Philippines; and a Gallus EM280 to Vietnam. 

Labelmate will launch its P-300 reel-to-reel inkjet label printer on stand 12T33. The machine uses a standard HP inkjet cartridge and can print texts, logos and variable data at speeds of up to 150cm a second at 300dpi and up to 250cm/sec at 150dpi. The print height is 12.7mm. The printhead can be placed to print anywhere on a label of up to 8cm by 14cm.

Lemmaco, the Central European hot stamping and TTR confection center, will offer its service of high quality products and wide range of product series on stand 11P142.

LeoMat will show the latest model of its digital finishing machine, Digitakt 330 SFR, on stand 7K110. The Digitakt 330 SFR has a matrix rewind, printing unit, semi-rotary die-cutting unit, an AVT camera inspection system, cutting unit and rewinding unit. The machine is assembled modularly and allows the simple subsequent integration of additional modules like hot and cold stamping, screen printing, additional die-cutting, in-mold delivery system, label dispensing systems etc. LeoMat will also show its Practice 430 I inspection machine with a new concept on the AVT booth 6H60. The Practice 430 I has a matrix rewind, AVT camera inspection, inspection table, cutting unit, two rewind stations and two web advance devices (also suitable for thin and sensitive materials).

Leonardus will be showing its range for holographic production on stand 5E50. It offers patterns on different materials such as paper (70-80gsm/m2), polypropylene film (20-30-40mi) suitable for food contact and polyester (12mi) film, which are mainly supplied in reels for flexible packaging, converting and decoration applications. The products can also be supplied and laminated to paper or cardboard or self-adhesive for labels and stickers application.

Leviteks will exhibit a wide range of textile label products on stand 6J35, including label fabrics such as polyester, nylon, satin and cotton suitable for various printing methods, jean labels and consumables like thermal transfer ribbons, hot stamping foils water wash plates and more.

Mactac Europe will present materials for a wide variety of market segments on stand 5C20. Velvet EF and Maccoat EF are the first FSC semi-gloss coated face paper grades including 60 percent of recycled fibers. They are complemented by the Mactab Biodegradable / MP198 adhesive (compliant with ISO14855 and EN13432 norm onto compostable packaging). A large selection of new products aimed at digital printing technologies will be on show, including the proprietary Indie range of HPIndigo certified paper and filmic materials as well as the range for Xeikon type dry toner presses. Other products include Mactac-Bemis U Coex55, the first thin film of a range of synthetic face materials jointly developed within the Bemis group. MP318N and MP318N UV are new versions of adhesives approved for some of the most demanding labeling applications in the pharmaceutical industry, now also available with a new 30 µm PET liner. To serve the food industry, FA103 is a special adhesive for direct contact with fatty food, available with several paper and filmic face materials.

Marabu is to unveil its new low-migration, silicon-free ink, UVSF 174, on stand 11Q80. Opaque and versatile, the product can be used as a white base or to print text on product labels on cosmetics packaging. The ink is the latest addition to Marabu’s UVRS and UVSF ranges, which the company will also be exhibiting. Marabu will be showcasing selected products with its partner Paragon, which will be available to answer visitors’ questions about its UV flexo inks offering. Marabu has also prioritized the development of LED UV inks for flatbed and rotary screen printing, and the company is now ready to market its finalized formula after successful tests with industry partners.

Martin Automatic will show a MBS butt splicer and LRD rewinder on stand 7K90. The MBS has become an industry standard for non-stop splicing in narrow and mid-web processes of a variety of substrates from labels to flexible packaging and cartonboard. Fitted with a built-in roll loading device, the MBS has a maximum splicing speed of 305 m/min on web widths up to 660mm. Maximum roll diameter is 1270mm. The LRD rewind features a moving cantilevered spindle arrangement that allows rewinding and automatic doffing of rolls as small as 203 mm in diameter, with only two spindles. The AC vector drive package, with dancer tension control, adds tension accuracy and flexibility.  The LRD is designed to minimize cycle time and is compatible with a variety of substrates.

Matho will show its upgraded CB-100.1 mobile waste extraction system in combination with a die-cutting and slitting line on stand 11R75. The machine, part of the company’s Cuttobag series, gathers self-adhesive label matrix waste and edge trims in plastic bags or small containers, which ensures easy handling. 

Meech International will highlight its products for web cleaning and static control on stand 6G120. Meech’s web cleaning portfolio includes both contact and non-contact technologies. Labelexpo will see the debut of an enhanced version of Meech’s Tornado contact system. Aimed at label, digital and carton printers, the Tornado is available in two versions, the F4 and F5, featuring compact extraction or vacuum fan extraction respectively. The F4 is capable of single-sided cleaning of webs up to 1,650mm wide and double-sided cleaning of webs up to 750mm wide. The F5 will clean single- and double-sided webs up to 3,900mm. Both versions utilize highly-polished stainless steel faceplates, twin ionizing bars to neutralize static on entry and exit, and brushes to aid breakup of the boundary layer. The ShearClean represents Meech’s non-contact technology. The system is suitable for sectors ranging from narrow web label printing, including litho, gravure and flexo, as well as converting, food packaging and pharmaceutical applications where contact cleaning systems are not feasible due to scratch-prone surfaces such as special coatings or decorative labels on for premium consumer goods. It is available in reel-widths up to 2.1 meters and for web speeds in excess of 450 meters/min.

Melzer will show its SL-600 RFID converting line on stand 6H15. With up to 60,000 products/h, the machine is designed for industrial production of small RFID labels, such as those required for alcohol brand protection, pharmaceutical fraud protection, vehicle identification and other high quality mass applications. The testing and selection of UHF transponders can be performed reliably in a 6-track stop and go process.  

Mühlbauer will show its new TAL 9000 on stand 11S105, a flexible start-up machine for direct chip attachment which is suitable for small to mid-volume inlay production. This mid web system facilitates throughput of up to 5,500 UPH while achieving assembly yields of = 99.7 percent. The key technologies featured in TAL 9000 have already proven successful in Mühlbauer’s TAL 15000, a machine for high volume inlay production with up to 15,000 UPH. The company will also show its CL 60000 RFID label and ticket converting machine, which covers a wide range of applications in one modular system. Mühlbauer is also in the process of developing an RFID label and ticket personalization platform. This modular line will feature leading edge chip encoding as well as digital printing capabilities.

On stand 7L110, Muller Martini will exhibit a VSOP printing unit to show variable size web offset printing and its potential applications. The VSOP web offset printing press features sleeve technology, meaning the print size can be changed quickly: two light sleeves are the only parts that need to be exchanged to change the print size. Another highlight at the show will be information on printing safe foodstuff packaging using electron-beam curing, to be presented by Muller Martini on Sun Chemical’s stand 5E80. The stand will be showing industrially manufactured packaging that has been printed on the VSOP by combining offset and flexo printing techniques. Additionally, Muller Martini will give visitors an insight into how efficiently web offset printing can be used in the package printing segment at the Package Printing Zone (hall 12, stand V10).

On stand 7M110, Newfoil will show the latest addition to its range of label converting and finishing machines: the Newfoil SF330 servo driven flexographic varnishing unit. Designed for varnishing digitally printed webs, the machine will spot varnish in register or flood coat webs up to 350mm wide.  It has optional unwind and rewind units for stand-alone operation or can be interfaced with Newfoil hot foil, embossing and die-cutting machines for inline use. Dual UV and IR drying units are incorporated as a standard feature of the machine, thereby increasing the potential use of the system. 

On stand 5A35, Nicely Machinery will present the latest design of its EG-7008A slitter rewinder with auto knife positioning and advanced twin fork unloading device to reduce machine downtime during each production cycle. EG-7008A can handle minimum slit widths of 50mm and maximum rewind OD of 800mm with auto knife positioning, thereby arranging 22 knife sets within three minutes.

Nordson will show its hot melt application systems for label coating on stand 7L100. The new generation of Nordson application systems, Slot Applicator TCHP TrueCoat Rotating bar, with its quick-change nozzle design, enables simple modification of a flexible, conventional coating system to rotating bar technology for clear-to-clear quality. Full applications and stripe applications are possible with the conventional nozzle as well as with the rotating bar nozzle. The nozzle applicator TCHP TrueCoat is designed for narrow applications up to 500 mm as well as for applications up to 3500 mm. Application widths of 10-100 g/sqm can be achieved.

Novamelt shows newly developed UV curable acrylic hotmelt adhesives with very high tack and peel for security labels, as well as new conventional PSA hotmelts on stand 7L35. Suitable for labels that are applied at very low temperatures far below the freezing point, Novamelt will present two new deep freeze adhesives with excellent adhesion even to difficult surfaces such as cardboard or packaging films. The new adhesives feature an outstanding tack performance in cool condition down to -25 deg C.

Nuova Gidue will show three presses and a static offset module on stand 12X100/110. Firstly, a Combat M1 (370mm 8-color UV) featuring short web path and with several drying configurations and multiple lamination accessories. Die-cutting stations and outfeed are individually servo-driven. A new QN Coupon module will be shown in full operation, producing ‘live’ a 3-layer coupon label. Second is the Combat M3 (430mm 8-color UV), which can print on a wide range of substrates and features servo driven print cylinders, chilled drums and the Gidue ARC Automatic Register Control as standard. Finally, the Master M5 (430mm 8-colors UV, 1 IR) can print on any substrate from film to carton, in four web widths up to 630 mm. The Master M5 can use print cylinders or sleeves – the ‘New Flower’ technology – and features the company’s full Digital Flexo technology to perform fully automated printing and register operations without manual intervention. A module of the Xpannd M7 will also be shown, to preview Gidue’s new Offset Cube technology, a compact, highly automated, movable offset print unit, featuring the new Mini-Cassette, with comparable costs to offset print sleeves. 

On stand 6H90, Omet will show its new XFlex range, featuring the X6 with full electronic sleeve technology and equipped with different finishing units. These include a new moveable hot foil printing system that can be located at any point in the press line, as well as a new high performance waste-extraction unit. The X6 will also preview a new fast change offset unit integrated within the line. The X6 will be joined by the new XFlex X4 line, which features the same electronic register control and has the new impression roll assembly. To complete the XFlex range, the simple X2 model will be on display. The new Varyflex V2 will be shown with a high-speed register control system, known as Vision-2, which is said to offer top performance on waste reduction and speed of changeover. Visitors to the stand will be able to test Omet’s new Machine Management System, designed to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of a printing company. 

Orthotec introduces its innovative TWP3550 label press on stand 11R110, a hybrid machine which can switch between continuous flexo mode and intermittent letterpress mode. The flexo inking stations will run in continuous mode at 100 m/min, while letterpress operates in intermittent mode for medium and short runs. The letterpress stations incorporate a 3-segment inking system with ink volume compensation to give more consistent inking during speed change. There is computerized cylinder pre-positioning in continuous mode, and servo pre-positioning of print stations in intermittent mode, all controlled from a mobile touch panel. Orthotec also shows its intermittent offset press, CFT3536, now incorporating chilled water circulation. The press includes a four segment servo controlled inking system, which the ink kneading section now incorporates circulation of chiller water to maintain consistent ink viscosity. On the print section, Orthotec shows a new touch screen-driven register adjustment system, and the blanket cylinder is now engaged and disengaged automatically. The dampening system includes a plate dirt removal function. The press also incorporates a second pass scanner. 

Netherlands-based Pack Vision will show its ranges of specialty foil products: metallic hot stamping and cold foils in gold, silver and colors, holographic foil, matt/gloss (coding) pigment foils, license plate foil, pearl foils, holograms and special effect foils. Stand 6F25.

Pamarco Global Graphics will show its latest generation of EFlo engraving technology, a precision laser engraved roll branded EFlo-HD, on stand 5E55. The EFlo-HD technology cell structure has been developed and created using custom cell software application that creates a bitmap file which controls how the laser beams create not only the cell shape/profile, but also the inner cell geometry, an application file created exclusively by Pamarco. The EFlo-HD cell geometry is suitable for narrow web and label applications and is an advanced version of the EFlo brand. This cell geometry and angle profile now allows printers to expand on their color gamut and contrast range making images come to life.

Pantec GS Systems will present Rhino, an inline flat-bed system for the hotfoil embossing of labels. With a maximum mechanical speed of 120 m/min, Rhino can be integrated to label printing presses without any loss of press performance. Stand 6F145.

PC Industries shows the Guardian PQV 100 percent print defect detection system and the Guardian OLP offline PDF proofing system on stand 9F32. The combination of Guardian technologies provides complete print quality process control from conceptualization to shipment. Graphic-Vision RX Series web viewers will also be on display, now standard with ultra high-resolution digital cameras and flat panel LCD monitors. Additionally, ANSI/ISO 1D and 2D barcode verification, register controls, repeat length monitors and strobe lights will be shown.

India-based Perfecto will show its G3 and G4 series of label inspection slitter rewinder machines using brushless servo-driven technology on stand 11S5. G4, the newest series, offers maximum slitting speeds of 300m/min and 100 percent inspection at 150m/min. Perfecto LabelSpect (G3 and G4) label inspection slitter rewinder machines complement the 100 percent defect detection system from BST International. Integration of both systems, says the company, results in precise and synchronized stopping of labels on the splicing table and provides ease of operation for the user.

Phoseon Technology will display a wide range of UV LED curing products on stand 9G45, while the company’s technology will also be showcased at OEM partner stands throughout the show. Phoseon builds on the inherent advantage of UV LED technology benefits by maximizing performance, UV energy and reliability.  Phoseon’s range includes both air and water cooled products based on patented Semiconductor Light Matrix technology that utilizes proprietary packaging, optics and thermal design.

Platingtech will show its new PlatinPlate screen printing mesh on stand 11S125. PlatinPlate is a nickel alloy reinforced precision mesh with UV-Diazo coating which is said to enable high variability in product design.

Prati will display eight finishing and converting machines on stand 5C60: four slitter rewinder inspection machines, two Vegaplus converting platforms, the Pharmacheck and the Vegaplus booklet maker. In addition, three other slitter rewinder machines (Type Saturn), equipped with digital inspection cameras, will be demonstrated at the booths of the camera manufacturers AVT, Nikka and BST. 

Praxair Surface Technologies will show its new generation of Novaline open-cell engravings on stand 9F30 – NovaSilver, NovaGold, UVGold and ArtGold. Also on display will be Praxair’s range of Proline rolls, including Lightlox anilox rolls, sleeves and carbon fiber composite anilox rolls. The company will show its URMI-I range of ink volume measuring equipment together with its full range of cleaning products.

Primera Technology will demonstrate its RX900e Color RFID Label Printer on stand 9F72, a full-color, on-demand label and tag printer that also has built-in RFID encoding technology. The company will also show its FX1200e Digital Label Finisher with its partner machine – the CX1200e printer. FX1200e performs all finishing steps including die-cutting, optional laminating, slitting and rewinding to finished rolls. Finishing speeds of up to 6.1 m/min are accomplished with Primera’s QuadraCut technology, using up to four knife blades at a time across the web.

Recyl will show its ranges of cleaning machines for anilox, parts and plates on stand 7l119. The Media’clean 800 automatically cleans an anilox roll in five minutes without water or chemicals; Ultraclean cleans up to six rolls with an ultrasonic system. Also on display will be the Simplex and Flat Plate Cleaner 45 NG units.

Ricoh Industrie France features the new light resistant thermal paper on stand 6F60. The company will introduce this year its new direct thermal paper dedicated to warehouse and inventory applications with a high resistance to indoor lightning. Ricoh will also make a focus on its thermal transfer ribbons range, with a special highlight on the merits of B110CU.

Ritrama will show its ranges of special adhesive papers and ‘no label look’ films on stand 5A12. The company will show new releases of self-adhesive materials based on natural and gloss papers, polyethylene, polypropylene and polyester, in its Wine Range and Digital Roll Range. New products in the Pharma Range include special face materials and adhesives, said to meet the stringent requirements of the pharmaceutical industry, such as the AP 912, an acrylic permanent high tack adhesive suitable for small diameter substrates.The Beverage Range offers a wide choice of PP materials, while the newSoft Touch, a thin and printable laminating polypropylene film of 17µ, provides a velvet feel for personal care products.

RK Print Coat Instruments introduces its new GP100 high speed gravure proofer on stand 7K75. The GP100is a compact bench top device for the production of high quality proofs using gravure inks of press viscosity. With the GP100any flexible substrate can be printed; it incorporates a microprocessor controlled servo drive and offers a high degree of controllability with variable printing speeds of between 1 to 100 meters per minute.

Roland DG will present a range of combined printers/cutters on stand 9G24. All these machines allow proofing, prototype printing and printing of small label runs. Roland DG shows its UV machines that, thanks to LED-UV technology, print on all standard label materials. The lamps don’t produce heat so printing on heat-sensitive materials is possible. The UV printers are available in widths from 76 up to 163cm and feature up to six colors: CMYK, white and transparent. This transparent ink creates matte, glossy and relief effects such as Braille and structures. The company also demonstrates its printers/cutters with metallic silver ink. The VersaCamm VS series is available in widths from 76 to 163cm and the new VersaStudio BN-20 is 52cm wide. All these machines are able to print hundreds of metallic colors. The VS machines use CMYK, metallic and white ink, while the BN-20 only uses CMYK and metallic ink.

On stand 7M105, Rotocontrol will show its flagship RSC vertical inspection slitter rewinder, RSD die-cutting, RSP single pass 100 percent security inspection and the EDM200 over-printing press. Servo drives from Bosch Rexroth assures precise, automatic tension control and high speed. The company will launch its SVS (Sensing and Verification System) option, which features powerful algorithms to detect repeated printed images on most material types including clear on clear, IML and butt-cut labels to provide missing label and matrix detection feedback to the machine. Also featured is the Vacuum Splice Table option enhancing operator efficiency by automatically placing mill-splice/flags, matrix/missing labels and vision detected defects right on the vertical inspection plate for reworking.

Rotoflex displays its most popular models of inspection/rewind equipment on stand 5C10, focusing on core product lines including the VLI, VSI and DSI. Rotoflex will unveil its Genesis advanced control system for the first time in Europe. With a simple HMI, operators can monitor all functions and clearly identify faults and issues from a single screen. Integration of the system into multiple machines on the production floor allows operators to easily transfer from one machine to another without relearning the intricacies of a new control system. With sophisticated missing label and matrix detection, the system can detect missing labels in multiple lanes as well as detect the presence of a matrix.

RotoMetrics will show its latest rotary die and tooling products on stand 5E45, including the ranges of recently acquired tooling manufacturer Gerhardt. The new AccuStrike Anvil with dual adjustment technology allows press operators to adjust blade clearance on press with extreme precision. Controls enable the operator to adjust bearers independently or together for excellent control over die strike on various liner thicknesses. The company introduces AccuStar flexible dies, which are laser finished to master challenging applications such as thin film liners and thermal transfer substrates. Also on show will be a die station module capable of embossing, creasing and die-cutting with solid or flexible dies.  

Labelstock manufacturer SAScoat will show the latest additions to its synthetic product range, including materials designed for the beverage industry. A new generation of removable adhesives will also be launched. Stand 12U72.

On stand 11R70, Schober will unveil an addition to its RSM line of rotary die-cutting machines, the Spider, a high-speed automated stacking and counting system for stacking large IML products at a web speed of up to 50m/min. The equipment can handle different types of products with exchangeable, product-specific pick-up plates, taking up products with synchronized speed and stacking them non-stop into a dual piling cassette system. A 100 percent product inspection system with discharge facility of bad products is also available.

SDI will show its next generation of clamshell contact cleaners on stand 7K126-127. WCN4 provides an affordable base machine while allowing the end user to add only the additional features that are needed. The WCN4 cleans down to sub-micron particle size. Specially formulated polymer rollers lift and transfer contaminates from your product surface to adhesive rolls. No special chemicals, wipes, or handling are needed.

Serlem demonstrates the CFB 550 on stand 12U15, an offline machine designed for the production of labels from reel to stack of various shapes and thickness. From the printed reel, it can cut materials such as OPP, PVC or paper. The machine is particularly suitable for IML production. 

Japanese company Shiki will demonstrates its new full color Pico Jet digital inkjet printing press on stand 9H40, a UV inkjet printer based on 4.25 inch Kyocera piezoelectric print heads and UV-LED curing system. Basic specs can print on webs from 120mm up to 350mm wide at speeds of up to 50 meters per minute. The system can be configured as needed with a range of in-line or off-line finishing systems.

Shuttleworth will show the latest label industry-specific developments to its integration MIS package on stand 6F147. A new user interface, based on an Outlook style, makes the software easier to operate while providing a customizable view for each user. The MIS package also ensures the production planning system has real-time feedback from the shop floor. Visitors will also be able to see the new Supply Chain Management software, a web-based tool designed to enable manufacturers to get prices from their suppliers quickly. Hosted by Shuttleworth, it requires no infrastructure investment to take advantage of the functionality. It is all delivered over the web.

Sistrade will launch version 4.2 of its Sistrade Print MIS system on stand 9F58. The upgraded software enhances the specification, manipulation and management of design and production of labels from raw material to final product. The new release improves various features, such as the graphic process and technical data sheets, combined as specific estimating (parameterized) by product type (label type) versus production control in real time.

On stand 6F140, SMI Coated Products will launch a range of products to the European market including clear on clear, filmic liner-based labelstocks, and low migration products for the pharma industry. Founded in 1993, SMI is one of India’s leading labelstock manufacturers, providing products using both acrylic and hot melt adhesives. The company exports its products to 22 countries across end use sectors including pharmaceutical, lubricant, liquor, cosmetics, consumer goods, barcodes and electronics.

Spilker will show high-precision cutting and stamping tools as well as special purpose machinery for rotary cutting and converting on stand 11Q90. The company will unveil its newly developed converting machine series S-Con Vert, which offers digital adjustment of the longitudinal cutter for a comfortable adjusting of the machine and a significant reduction of material waste. An integrated new roll-handling-system enables it to perform the role change without lifting the material. The S-Con Vert 550 has a simple manual inspection and optional 100 percent inspection system. Classic tools such as magnetic cylinders, flexible dies, rotary cutters, cutting units, printing, hot stamping and embossing cylinders will also be displayed, as well as special tools like aluminum sleeves, the Sonic series – a tool system operated with compressed air and, if necessary, vacuum – the folding box technology Boxit and the height-adjustable counter pressure cylinder Variabase. Spilker also shows its modular S-Con Starline 550, which allows various cutting, embossing and laminating processes to be combined.

Starfoil, a Netherlands-based manufacturer of finishing equipment, will demonstrate the ValueLine 1300 spooling-slitting machine and an efficient foil cutting machine as well as a completely new cantilevered CLC-400 machine, designed to spool or slit 3in hot-stamping rolls to 1in or 3in rolls by means of shear slitting. Stand 6H18.

Stork Prints will demonstrate its ranges of digital and screen label printing technology on stand 6H40, including a digital label printer and engravers as well as rotary screen printing modules and screens. The DSI digital label printer produces labels with excellent color strength at speeds up to 720 square meters per hour. Its combination of photographic quality and a rotary screen ‘look and feel’ makes it suitable for everything from short- to medium- and even long-run jobs. It achieves visual resolution of up to 1000dpi, as well as 3D effects that resemble screen printing. Printing on many different types of substrates can be accomplished and the new digital primer enables printing on machine-coated paper. The DSI is modular in design and therefore suitable for everything from stand-alone digital printing to use in complete lines with in-line (semi-rotary) converting. It is supplied with four print heads as standard, although an additional six can be added to enable options like digital white, digital primer and an extended color gamut. Also on display will be a range of modular printing units based on Stork’s Rotary Screen Integration (RSI) technology. On the stand there will be four RSI printing units, the RSI 2 16", RSI Compact and RSI printing modules for OEM partners Nilpeter and Omet. These units are easily repositioned in the printing sequence with the help of an optional sliding rail, and reach speeds of up to 100 m/min. Other rotary screen highlights include the re-engraveable RotaMesh screen for RSI systems, and the re-usable RotaPlate screen for non-Stork Prints systems. The company also shows direct laser engraving technology. The rotaLen is a direct engraver for in-the-round processing of RotaMesh and RotaPlate screens. The rotaLex is a compact desktop unit which uses laser exposure to engrave RotaPlate screens held in position on a magnetic drum. 

Sun Chemical will show a number of new products for the narrow web market on stand 5E80, including Solarflex Nova SL, Solarflex Lightning White, Solarscreen Silicon free whites, and laser marking Sunlase. The company will also provide information on printing safe foodstuff packaging using electron-beam curing and low migration inks in offset and flexo. Sun Chemical will participate in the Package Printing Zone in hall 12, stand V10.

UK-based SunJet, the global entity for the inkjet market within Sun Chemical, will showcase its digital products for the narrow web market on Sun Chemical’s stand 5E80. UV inkjet technologies for the label printing market, which deliver enhanced single pass speed and print quality, will be on show, with a focus on developments in ink chemistry for food and near food applications. Visitors can also learn about SunJet’s latest UV LED developments as it continues to search for partners able to build optimized printing systems.

Tectonic will show the K3digital, which expands its flexible print inspection system range, on stand 5E35. K3digital has an icon-based, intuitive menu system and touch screen navigation which facilitates quick set up including one-touch camera controls and repeat length position control. The color monitoring tool found on the K2colour-check system is expanded on K3digital and provides an even higher level of color monitoring of regions of interest – analysis based on CIELab color model – and includes alarms for color monitor error notification. K2’s image transfer feature is enhanced, providing the print manager with immediate live access to current activity on the press. K1, K2colour-check, Jaguar and the Flexico V5 range of plate mounting machines will also be on show, along with register control systems for the company's OEM customers.

On stand 6F150, theurer.com will show its new C3 web portal, specially tailored to customers in the printing and packaging industry. With this portal, customers of C3 users can manage their articles and brands themselves 24-hours a day and keep up to date with the current status of their orders. In addition to the time and financial saving this platform provides during order processing, it also offers a secure and transparent workflow for both customers and suppliers. theurer.com is also presenting the new electronic Direct Machine Interface (DMI). Built on the existing C3 shop floor control system, DMI will enable the automatic recording of production times and volumes in the future, using electronic machine counters.

Tools & Production will display its range of products including male/female punching capabilities for several industries including transportation tickets, tea tags, envelopes and EDP labels. T&P staff will be available to discuss specific requirements for applications from single rotary punch units to complete converting systems. Stand 5E15.

Torraspapel will show new developments in its one-side coated, metalized, cast-coated and thermal label papers as well as its self-adhesive label materials on stand 5A72. The company is currently investing over 26m euros to increase production capacity of its Metalvac and Adestor specialty paper ranges. A new machine will be brought on line in Almazán, Spain, doubling current self-adhesive production capacity, and a state-of-the-art logistical center has been opened in Central Europe. The Adestor line of self-adhesive materials, with a variety of colors, finishes and textures, are tailored to the food and beverage, retail, logistics and transport, and personal and home care markets. Metalvac is a line of recyclable high-vacuum metalized papers. The new investment will allow for an increase in production capacity of approximately 70 percent in order to meet rising demand, specifically in the label and packaging segment. Metalvac is designed for high-end beer and beverage labels, inner-liners and flexible packaging.

On stand 11P125, Troika Systems launches a 3D scanning microscope, the AniCam-LS, that meets the requirements of the coating, die-stamping and embossing markets. The AniCam-LS complements the current range of quality assurance tools which are used for gravure, anilox and flexo plate quality control by printer converters, engravers and plate makers. Furthermore, Troika will present three enhancements to its current range of quality assurance tools and two new software developments for the printer/converter market and for the anilox manufacturers: a battery pack for use on the 3D scanning microscopes removes the need for external power whilst checking rolls and cylinders; Stylus angle measurement for gravure engravers to quickly check the condition of styluses prior to engraving; Z-axis calibration tool for calibration of the scan depth of AniCam units, which is often required for ISO certification; Multi-site Anilox management system, a new software application to complement the single site application; and an application developed in conjunction with Applied Laser Engineering which demonstrates the results of engraving topography adjustments for anilox manufacturers to ensure the symmetry of engravings.

Ubique.Tag will show its ranges of RFID antennae and tags on stand 12T95. The China-based company owns nearly 150 national RFID patents and provides a one-stop shop for RFID products and services.

Univacco will show its ranges of hot stamping and cold foil products on stand 6J120.

UPM Raflatac will show latest developments in its ranges of self-adhesive label materials on stand 5D60, with particular emphasis on products for demanding, specialty applications and thinner substrates.

UV Ray will show its new i-Power D UV curing system containing a digital electronic power supply controlled by a microprocessor. The digital technology allows instantaneous start-up and stepless power without waiting and the curing is immediately available. The lamp synchronizes with machine phases: on when printing; off when it is stopped, with no energy and warmth dissipation because the lamp turns on only if needed. The adaptable power, depending on the application, (the lowest in international view), allows an unlimited range of configurations. Thanks to minimum dissipated power it does not need a cooling unit and no adjustment of the electric system. Stand 5D45.

On stand 7K55, Valco Melton will show its range of stations to be incorporated into both existing production lines, including retro-fittings into most label presses, or new OEM supplied lines. These stations include web control, tension control devices, nip roll configurations and integration into existing control systems as required. Valco Melton systems precisely coat with a wide range of adhesives such as PSA, UV hot melt, heat-seal adhesives, barrier adhesives or water based acrylic emulsions.

Xaar technology will have a significant presence at Labelexpo Europe. Visitors will see the company’s inkjet printheads in action on the stands of Durst (9H57); EFI Jetrion (9H55); JF Machines (9G26); Nilpeter (7L60/7L90); Spartanics (9H54) and Stork Prints (6H40). Xaar is also sponsoring the Digital Print Workshops, where visitors can evaluate different digital printing technologies in detail. Here, EFI Jetrion will demonstrate high quality, short-run color label printing with its Xaar 1001-enabled UV label printer. The design of the piezoelectric drop-on-demand Xaar 1001 printhead has made it popular with many manufacturers developing single-pass, variable data and full-color inkjet label printers. The Xaar 1001 printhead combines Xaar’s TF Technology with its Hybrid Side Shooter architecture so that ink is re-circulated past the back of the nozzle. This unique arrangement is said to deliver reliability and the ability to handle a wide range of fluid viscosities, including white ink and varnishes, printed directly onto standard and custom labelstocks.

Zeller+Gmelin will show its updated ranges of UV printing inks and varnishes on stand 11P100, including low migration UV inks for food packaging. New and upgraded products in its Uvaflex, Uvalux, Optiscreen and Toracur will be on display.

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