FINAT technical seminar looks to the future

Some of the world’s leading experts in self-adhesive label technology will be revealing the state-of-the-art situation in the industry to companies wanting to stay ahead of their competition at the FINAT technical seminar to be held in Barcelona next March.

‘This will be the industry’s reference point for information and networking in our technical community.  We feel that education and knowledge sharing are the keys to keeping the self-adhesive industry ahead in product identification and decoration – and FINAT is determined to lead the way,’ said Sean Duffy, of Bluestar Silicones, who is chairman of the program committee.

The day and a half event will give an update on the latest developments in legislation, materials science, converting technology as well as application requirements.  While it is targeted at all levels of the industry’s technical community, from R&D  to production and technical or executive directors it is also aimed at sales and marketing people wanting to keep up to date with the latest innovations.

‘We will be looking at raw materials trends, the latest printing and labeling technology and the future challenges and trends in the narrow web industry,’ Duffy said

And to do that FINAT has recruited some of the world’s leading experts.

Andy Richards, from Unilever’s Swiss base, will examine the challenges from an end-user’s perspective, including maintaining the look and impact of labels at the lowest cost, as well as examining environment issues such as recycling, down-gauging and producing less waste.

Evert Smit, of Germany’s National Adhesives, will look at the chemistry involved in printing on typical low energy substrates, what is needed to create a bond and explain the functional reasons.

Constantino Creton, who is with the French Laboratoire PPMD-ESPCI, will explain ways to improve adhesion of waterborne acrylic PSA on polyethylene derived from extensive experimentation by his organization.

Jean-Marc Frances, from Bluestar Silicones, of France, will concentrate on the use of silicones in conjunction with filmic topface and liner materials and the technical challenges these present.

Michael Taylor, of Innovia Films (UK), will review materials and developments in sustainable/biodegradable film materials for PS-labeling applications, both in their conversion and end-use, and compare them to typical BOPP films to highlight the differences the new materials make.

Duffy added: ‘There are many seminars in our industry but this is the one dedicated to the ‘classical’ advanced level of technical aspects that label printers need to know. In view of the emergence of filmic label materials, we decided to give this aspect special attention to attract people with a more scientific background but to present it in a way that will be valuable to anyone with an interest in keeping their company at the leading edge of the industry.

‘This FINAT seminar will be the key reference point in keeping the self-adhesive industry ahead,’ Duffy added.

The seminar will be held at the Hotel Fira Palace, Barcelona, on March 6 and 7, 2008.

Further details can be found at www.finat.com