Opinions

The need for surface treatment to improve the adhesive quality of ink and lacquers on plastic surfaces was established back in the 1950s, and the invention and development of corona treatment, as the process became known, has largely mirrored the requirements of the market in terms of...

According to the Tetra Pak 2017 Index, based on research conducted with KTNS, packaging has an important role to play as a gateway to greater consumer engagement. The report says that brands need to focus their online engagement on a new generation of influencers: ‘Super Leaders’, a digital...

The strength of the label industry outside the developed nations is a direct result of the growing middles class, primarily in India and China, but also now across the ASEAN region, Africa and the Middle East. In the latter markets, along with Latin America, the younger profile of the consumer...

Changes and trends that impact on the environment and sustainability, the continued development of digital printing and hybrid press technology, more sophisticated color management, new embellishing techniques, remote diagnostics, internal logistics, ever-more comprehensive management...

Solid waste streams in a label plant can consist of matrix, edge trim, and set-up material, plates, inks and containers. Today it is estimated that 85 percent of label industry-specific material waste, matrix and release liner, is sent to landfill.

There are three key barriers to overcome...

‘MPS strongly believes that automation is the future, as it is becoming harder and harder to find and keep skilled operators today. With our own presses being equipped with maximum automation, combined with the state-of-the-art systems of our partners, we’re making life on the print shop floor...

The types and levels of contamination differ in label printing, as do the reasons why web cleaning is necessary. Is it solely a maintenance issue or also a customer requirement? Given that any web cleaning system will have to fit into an existing production line, how does this influence the...

I divide the Indian label industry in four categories. First are the converters who are still making labels in conventional ways, like sheet-fed offset and finishing off-line, and the converters who are trying to get a foothold with entry level Chinese presses. 

The second category is of...

For over a decade, we have seen the incredible creative potential of digital printing for labels and packaging. From the advent of variable data printing through to the mass customization that is now possible, it is clear digital is opening up new ways for brands to leverage the packaging medium...

Over the last few years, smart packaging has been something of a hot topic within the labeling and packaging industries. Will it actually happen? When will it arrive? How much will it cost? Where and how will it be applied? And will it live up to the hype?

Up to now, the idea of...