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Avery Dennison expands AD TexTrace

Piotr Wnuk — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 22:47:35 +0000

Avery Dennison has expanded its AD TexTrace portfolio with heat seal and durable printed fabric labels in response to the growing demand for robust RFID embedded inlays.

AD TexTrace Heat Seal LoG (Life of Garment) is a permanent RFID technology for inventory management and brand experience applications. It is available in multiple formats to complement UHF and/or NFC technologies and is designed to last throughout the garment life cycle.

Heat sealable to many fabric substrates such as woven badges, this technology is ideally suited to the apparel, performance, team sports and general retail industries. It is designed to withstand over 100 home wash/dry cycles, dry cleaning and even some industrial wash applications.

Main benefits of the NFC solution include customer engagement, brand loyalty and brand protection, while the UHF option supports inventory and supply chain accuracy, loss prevention, self-check-out and return handling.

AD TexTrace Durable PFL (Printed Fabric Labels) is a unique embedded RFID technology that can also last throughout the garment life cycle, it is ideally suited for apparel and general retail products such as mattress pads, outdoor equipment and furniture covers. Main benefits include durability, flexibility and washability, with this sewn-in technology lasting through 10-12 home wash/dry cycles.

Both technologies support circularity, with the inlays forming data carriers to support Digital Product Passport (DPP) deployment, aiding waste reduction as well as sorting, recycling and reselling initiatives.

Avery Dennison inlays and tags are compliant with ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management and ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management, which ensure a reliable and state-of-the-art product that meets a variety of application needs.

Mathieu De Backer, vice president innovation and sustainability at Avery Dennison Smartrac, said: ‘We continue to see a growing demand for robust inlay solutions that last throughout the life of the garment. Responding to these calls not only provides assurance and value, it supports clients on their sustainability journeys and ensures greater item visibility.’

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Avery Dennison expands AD TexTrace

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The newest additions support the demand for robust RFID-embedded inlays.

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The newest additions support the demand for robust RFID-embedded inlays.

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Esko expands Phoenix availability to roll-to-roll converters

Adyasha Sinha — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 11:21:37 +0000

Esko has expanded the availability of Phoenix, its AI-driven pre-production software for packaging and labels, to roll-to-roll label converters operating across flexo, offset and digital printing.

According to Esko, Phoenix reduces waste by delivering AI-powered nesting and imposition for sheet-fed and roll-fed print production across flexo and offset applications.

'Phoenix is an advanced software for optimizing sheet and web layouts,' said James Mason, general manager for print optimization and planning at Esko. 'We are delighted that after a successful showcase at this year’s drupa, the latest Esko software release now includes this advanced planning and estimation tool that has applications across packaging, flexibles, wide format and commercial print.

'With Phoenix, we are empowering customers by streamlining print workflows, optimizing resources and delivering high-quality, cost-effective production solutions,' added Mason. 'It introduces an innovative method for planning and imposition processes by considering the real-world capabilities of printing and finishing equipment on the production floor. This allows users to perform quicker and more efficient combination planning, minimizing press changeovers and setup times.

‘Phoenix enables users to fully automate their planning and early estimation processes, replacing formerly time-consuming manual steps that were also prone to error.’

Featuring intelligent algorithms for sheet layout, estimation and planning, Phoenix is the industry’s first and only AI-driven pre-production software for packaging, labels, commercial and wide format customers, claims Esko. It was crowned winner in the printing and digital technologies category of the 2023 Packaging Innovation awards.

'At the click of a button Phoenix carries out the production estimation, AI analysis of the design and equipment needed for the job - then calculates the most efficient way to produce this quantity using factors such as number of labels per reel, equipment availability, multi-reel width substrate comparison, inks and foils,’ commented Mason. ‘It is even possible to specify whether splicing is allowed and if so, how many reel splices might be deemed acceptable.

'Additionally, using custom fields we can ensure that rewind direction, core size or any technical specifications are used to correctly identify and match lane-ganging candidates. We are thrilled that after successfully proving itself in its pre-release phase and after a successful showcase at this year’s drupa global expo, we have now made this intelligent planning system available with specific roll-to-roll functionality for all customers as part of the Esko software suite.'

Esko Phoenix now can create ‘repeat templates’, simplifying and de-skilling the template creation process and moving it upstream. They maximize across the width and gang horizontally and vertically throughout the entire length of the reel.

'Delivering intelligent distribution, a simple drag and drop interface, out-of-the-box integration via the Rest API and a user-friendly interface as part of an application built specifically for packaging professionals, by packaging professionals, the artificial intelligence in Phoenix drives to the results that reduce overall costs by discovering combinations that humans could never consider,' concluded Mason.

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Esko expands Phoenix availability to roll-to-roll converters

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The software allows users to fully automate planning and estimation process.

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The software allows users to fully automate planning and estimation process.

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OSP’s Labelexpo debut showcases materials expertise

Akanksha Meena — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 05:06:29 +0000

Substrates & adhesives 18 October 2024

OSP’s Labelexpo debut showcases materials expertise

At Labelexpo Americas 2024 Osaka Sealing Printing Company – a leading label converter in Japan and operating through the Primark America Group in the US - launches a range of sustainable label materials.

Founded almost a century ago, the Osaka Sealing Printing Company (OSP) is a leading company in Japan’s label printing landscape. The group has 14 production sites across Japan and a major global presence, including label printing operations in China and Thailand and sales offices in North America, Australia and the Philippines.

OSP was founded in 1927 when it received its first patent for a die-cutting machine. Today the group has a turnover of 105 billion Yen (USD 650m) and 4,700 employees.

The company manufactures the full range of packaging formats – labels, folding cartons, flexible packaging and POS displays – and its own specialist labelstocks, label applicators and packaging systems, printing plates and even its letterpress presses.

OSP operates as a holding company for these multiple businesses, coordinating everything from the procurement of raw materials to the implementation of efficiency programs throughout the business units.

The focus of OSP’s label and packaging printing business is food and beverage, which accounts for around 70 percent of all sales.

While most flexible packaging is printed wide-web gravure, OSP has installed digital presses for the increasing volume of short-run flexible packaging work

The company claims to produce one-third of the seals and labels for the food sector manufactured in Japan.

This year, OSP Group company Primark America will exhibit at Labelexpo Americas 2024 promoting its specialist clear thermal films and repositionable labels for logistics applications, representing a major push to become a global supplier of specialist technical materials.

Sustainability focus

OSP is actively engaged in research to create ‘non-polluting’ products. The company is FSC and Biomass Mark certified by the Japan Organic Resources Association and has obtained ISO14001 certification.

OSP recently announced the launch of a water-based emulsion adhesive that uses more than 10 percent biomass materials. Up to now, biomass has mainly been used in the development of solvent-based and hotmelt adhesives.

‘We were able to achieve adhesive properties almost equivalent to those of conventional adhesive labels that use petroleum-derived materials,’ states OSP president and CEO Matsuguchi Tadashi.

‘Our customers will be able to display the biomass mark on their labels to demonstrate the company’s commitment to addressing environmental issues.’

OSP is now researching emulsion-based adhesives with even higher biomass content.

Earlier this year, the company launched its Dottack linerless thermal tape/label using a water-based emulsion adhesive applied in dots. The base material is thermal paper, which allows the labels to be used as both tape and labels. This versatility makes them suitable for a variety of applications, such as logistics and VIP labels.

Other environmental initiatives include the Palmyashix label, a PS label paper made from palm oil production waste, and the Limex label sheet made from limestone as a base material. OSP has also commercialized a naturally translucent clear paper sticker which replaces clear fi lm.

In addition, OSP is undertaking recycling of liner and matrix waste, including waste-to-energy capacity which can be made available to local communities. OSP is a founding member of the J-ECOL association, established to promote the effective use of resources and efforts to reduce environmental impact.

OSP prints its flexible packaging mainly on solvent gravure presses but is looking to move to water-based flexo production as a more sustainable alternative.

OSP is also looking at more sustainable materials solutions for flexible packaging. One example is the paper-based Papack packaging material, specially coated to resist water and oil and with heat-sealing properties.

‘Since plastic film is not used, it has the advantages of reduced plastic usage, reduced CO2 emissions during incineration and disposal, and improved recyclability,’ says Matsuguchi Tadashi.

Digital transition

OSP is progressively moving its label printing capacity from letterpress to digital - without moving to flexo.

Annually the company prints around 1.4 million jobs, or 6,000 jobs a day, of which 70 percent are for runs of 200 meters or less. Currently, 30 percent of all jobs are printed digitally, but Matsuguchi Tadashi expects this to increase.

OSP is already a major user of Epson Surepress L-4033 water-based inkjet presses. The Epson press fleet is used for all food-related label work.

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Innovia extands RayoFloat range of floatable shrink sleeves

Piotr Wnuk — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 22:19:21 +0000

Innovia Films has extended its RayoFloat product range for floatable polyolefin shrink films support the recycling of the rigid packaging in the PET, HDPE and PP recycling streams.

According to Innovia, design for recycling will be essential to support more mechanical recycling of post-consumer packaging. There are still a lot of sleeve labels in the market that cause problems in PET recycling and are flagged by organizations like RecyClass or the Association of Plastic Recyclers that have created a comprehensive Design Guideline.

‘We are proud to share our extended range of floatable shrink sleeves that work in established PET, HDPE and PP waste streams,’ said Lucija Kralj, label business unit director for EMEA at Innovia Films. ‘We can now offer our customers several options – from a thinner downgauged version to a high shrink version and just like the clear film range, we now offer a white version which is ideal for light-sensitive products like dairy, food supplements, nutritional products and cosmetics. These films are sustainable alternatives for existing materials that are detrimental to recycling.’

‘RayoFloat sleeve films are made from low density materials that are an ideal alternative. Automatically separate from the PET flakes in the sink/float process step at recyclers and float to the top of the washing tank – while the heavier PET flakes sink to the bottom. This is an ideal density separation that leads to very clean PET flakes that can be recycled back into new bottles – closing the loop,’ added Marika Knorr, head of sustainability and communications at Innovia Films.

The standard RayoFloat sleeve is 50 microns, but Innovia can also offer a thinner 45 micron version. This downgauged sleeve material is ideal for many bottle and container shapes and comes with the benefits of efficient material usage and a lower carbon footprint.

The company also now offers a high shrink version for more versatile bottles shapes, in response to brand owners seems to gravitating towards more complex bottle shapes. This calls for a sleeve that has a high shrink rate so it can contour to the bottle seamlessly.

RayoFloat WAPO (White APO) is a new, low-density white film made from polyolefin that maintains floatability when printed. The opaque film contributes to the light blocking properties of the shrink sleeves that later can be applied to containers for light sensitive products.

‘Currently white PET bottles are used which are rarely recycled back into food grade applications because they contain colorants- so the bottles leave the packaging loop or are downcycled,’ commented Kralj. ‘Shifting from an opaque bottle to a clear PET bottle with a RayoFloat white shrink sleeve film will provide product protection and increases the amount of clear PET that can be reclaimed for bottle-to-bottle recycling. It is our goal to support this with a functional product decoration.’

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Innovia extands RayoFloat range of floatable shrink sleeves

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RayoFloat shrink sleeves support the recycling of the rigid packaging in the PET, HDPE and PP recycling streams.

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RayoFloat shrink sleeves support the recycling of the rigid packaging in the PET, HDPE and PP recycling streams.

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Hybrid BrandZ renames Flow to Artflow with 24.09 release

Piotr Wnuk — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 00:16:11 +0000

Hybrid BrandZ has released Artflow 24.09, marking the official rebranding of its flagship product from Flow to Artflow, to show ongoing commitment to creative and marketing professionals within the brand owner or retailer space.

This rebranding follows the recent integration within Hybrid Software, which has strengthened Hybrid BrandZ’s capabilities to support brands and consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies with advanced tools for managing their own artwork.

Artflow 24.09 introduces powerful new features that boost the efficiency and flexibility of creative workflows. Automated 3D Packshot and Artwork Creation simplifies packaging visualization by allowing users to generate packshots from 3D files and apply artwork to IC3D wireframes.

The integration of GlobalVision Verify ensures accurate proofreading with automatic spell-check and text comparisons. Improved workflow flexibility offers metadata-based task skipping and streamlined task assignments, while robust notification and reporting options provide real-time updates and customizable reporting tools for enterprise users.

‘Artflow represents our vision of integrating creativity with advanced workflow automation,’ says Igor Vandromme, vice president and general manager of Hybrid BrandZ. ‘This rebranding highlights our commitment to delivering solutions that enhance efficiency for brand owners while fostering collaboration among all stakeholders, including designers, agencies, and print service providers. Ultimately, it's about effectively managing hundreds of projects across diverse suppliers and internal departments.’

The company said that the new name, Artflow, captures the essence of the software’s robust features that simplify artwork and packaging design workflows, from initial artwork briefing to final print.

Current users of Flow will experience a seamless transition to Artflow with no service disruptions. All users will continue to receive regular updates and customer support, ensuring they benefit from Artflow’s latest features and enhancements.

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Hybrid BrandZ renames Flow to Artflow with 24.09 release

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Artflow 24.09 introduces new features that boost the efficiency and flexibility of creative workflows.

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Artflow 24.09 introduces new features that boost the efficiency and flexibility of creative workflows.

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Maxcess launches plasma coatings for Webex and Componex

Piotr Wnuk — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 22:27:32 +0000

Maxcess has launched its new line of plasma coatings for Webex and Componex precision and performance rolls suitable for the most challenging tag and label, paper, film and packaging converting.

Available in a variety of surface finishes, the Webex and Componex series of coatings offering excellent adhesive and ink release, suitable for the most challenging tag and label, paper, film and packaging converting, including water-based adhesives and in applications where enhanced solvent resistance is necessary.

‘Our customer and industry research identified converters were looking for an alternative to existing plasma coating offerings,’ noted Robyn Mazas, Americas product manager Maxcess precision and performance rolls. ‘We invested in processes and machinery to develop better plasma coatings, hardfaced release and traction coatings from a single source.

‘Additionally, converters were looking for better quality and faster, more reliable lead times. Our new Componex and Webex plasma coatings ship in seven days or less compared to other suppliers’ timelines of up to three to four weeks. Also, by bringing the process in house, we can offer better consistent quality at a better value.’

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Maxcess launches plasma coatings for Webex and Componex

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New coatings are suitable for the most challenging tag and label, paper, film and packaging converting.

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New coatings are suitable for the most challenging tag and label, paper, film and packaging converting.

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Zecher launches Zecher C.T.P engraving optimization

Piotr Wnuk — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 23:30:51 +0000

Zecher, an anilox rollers and sleeves specialist, has launched Zecher C.P.T. (Cell Polish Treatment), an optimization method in engraving technology raising print quality to a new level.

Zecher C.P.T. is a thermal finishing process that is carried out after laser engraving. The process-related sub-microscopic irregularities, such as pores and nano-cracks, which occur during engraving, are thermally eliminated. This short but precise thermal treatment ensures a ‘polished’ cell structure and strengthens the mechanical stability of the roller surface.

The advantage of C.P.T. lies in the optimized characteristics of the cells created by the thermal process. By smoothing the inner walls and strengthening the bridges, the service life of the anilox rollers can be increased while at the same time their performance can be improved. The optimized cells offer a higher mechanical load capacity, which is particularly invaluable when printing at high speeds and with intensive use.

According to the company, printing validation and initial customer feedback confirm the outstanding results of the new technology. Compared to conventional anilox rollers, the gravure optimization offers better emptying behavior, easier cleaning, consistent ink transfer and fewer imperfections.

Zecher C.P.T. is suitable for all ceramic anilox rollers and sleeves, regardless of their specification. The technology is integrated directly into the production process and complements Zecher's existing portfolio without requiring any additional adjustments from printers.

‘The constructive development work at the interface between anilox roller production and application technology has enabled us to further optimize the Zecher anilox roller with C.P.T. technology in line with customer requirements,’ said Sven Krause, head of product development at Zecher. ‘We are convinced that this technology will set new standards in the printing industry and look forward to continuing to convince our customers of the quality of Zecher products through the advantages of C.P.T.’

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Zecher launches Zecher C.T.P engraving optimization

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The new technology for anilox rollers offers benefits in terms of quality and performance.

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The new technology for anilox rollers offers benefits in terms of quality and performance.

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Xaar integrates Versatex printbar into Jet iQ Launch range

Piotr Wnuk — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 23:00:52 +0000

Xaar has integrated its Versatex Printbar within the new Jet iQ range launched in Australia and New Zealand by Jet Technologies.

Jet Technologies, one of the key suppliers of specialized printing and packaging equipment with offices and warehousing throughout Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, unveiled the Jet iQ range to provide local manufacturers with state-of-the-art print embellishment technology.

The optional integration of Xaar’s Versatex Printbar, a versatile and advanced digital print solution specifically designed for label embellishments, adds a new dimension of creative potential to the Jet iQ range by allowing spot varnishes, cold foils, and other high-value effects to be applied with ease in a single pass.

As digital printing continues to grow, the demand for high-quality embellishments has increased significantly. Xaar’s technology allows Jet Technologies' customers to enhance their labels and packaging with complex designs.

Xaar’s Versatex Printbar can handle a wide range of substrates and effects, including textured and high-build print effects, varnishes, and foils alongside the printing of high opacity whites and vibrant colors.

‘Our Versatex Printbar has added a level of creative functionality to the Jet iQ launch, enabling users to create striking, premium labels with the flexibility and efficiency required to stay competitive in today’s fast-paced market,’ said Graham Tweedale, chief operating officer at Xaar.

‘The results have been outstanding,’ said Jack Malki, director of Jet Technologies. ‘To be able to print a high-build varnish of around 100 microns directly onto uncoated wine stocks is an absolute game changer. No primer, no limitations and outstanding results on a wide range of locally supplied materials. Feedback from printers as well as brand owners has been extremely positive. We are excited to demonstrate this at our upcoming open house event, held on October 11 in our Sydney Demonstration Centre.’

The entire Jet iQ range will be available to Australian and New Zealand customers, with Jet Technologies providing customers with factory-trained service options.

‘The Australian and New Zealand market has been crying out for a well-supported alternative, and we are thrilled to be able to provide that with the Jet iQ range. Our focus is not just on delivering cutting-edge technology, but also on ensuring that our customers have the support they need to make the most of these innovations,’ Malki concluded.

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Xaar integrates Versatex printbar into Jet iQ Launch range

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Customers in Australia and New Zealand can now enhance their labels and packaging with complex designs.

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Appvion expands EarthChem portfolio

Piotr Wnuk — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 00:50:48 +0000

Appvion has launched Alpha 185 E, a non-topcoated direct thermal label facestock designed with Appvion’s phenol-free chemistry.

Alpha 185 E is fully recyclable and provides higher resistance to heat, water, and alcohol. It is suitable for a variety of direct thermal applications, including distribution, logistics, and cross-docking.

Notably, Alpha 185 E is versatile for use with recyclable packaging materials that have shorter lifespans, as it can be recycled without the need to remove the label beforehand.

‘Alpha 185 E represents a significant step forward in our commitment to sustainability,’ said Genevieve Koch, product marketing manager at Appvion. ‘This product not only meets the high standards of our EarthChem portfolio but also addresses the growing demand for environmentally friendly solutions in the market. We are proud to offer a direct thermal label facestock that delivers exceptional performance while being mindful of our planet.’

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Appvion expands EarthChem portfolio

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The company launches an environmentally friendly direct thermal product.

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The company launches an environmentally friendly direct thermal product.

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DuoBlade FX, ultimate digital craft machine

Piotr Wnuk — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 23:33:41 +0000

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Innovia extands RayoFloat range of floatable shrink sleeves

Hybrid BrandZ renames Flow to Artflow with 24.09 release

Maxcess launches plasma coatings for Webex and Componex

Zecher launches Zecher C.T.P engraving optimization

Xaar integrates Versatex printbar into Jet iQ Launch range

Appvion expands EarthChem portfolio

DuoBlade FX, ultimate digital craft machine