Converting Industry News
- Published: October 01, 2003, By Deborah Donberg, Associate Managing Editor
Covering the Full Spectrum of Industry News, Events & Activities
Insulated Cup a High-Flying Success
Airline passengers are enjoying hot beverages with a new insulation cup developed through a cooperative effort of Huhtamaki, Espoo, Finland, and Stora Enso Consumer Boards.
Finnair is the first European airline to have introduced the 250-ml, double-wall “Cuppoccino.” The cup is said to be suited for special coffees such as Cappuccino and Latte, as well as for soups. The embossed surface is reported to give the cup optimum insulation and heat retention properties coupled with an upscale look and feel.
Stora Enso's Cupforma board, used by Huhtamaki in the Inflight cup range, has been successful in recent years in growth applications including coffee-to-go, new end-use applications such as soups, desserts, and promotional uses, and fast food.
Supplier Information
Stora Enso Consumer Boards — PFFC-ASAP 390. Imatra, Finland; +358 2046 22166; storaenso.com
Longhorn Lassos an Eight-Color Press
When San Antonio, TX, converter Longhorn Packaging welcomed the first Olympia Primaflex press from Windmoeller & Hoelscher earlier this year, it was hoping to meet demands for high quality, eight-color printing as well as tap into new markets. Both goals have been met, and exceeded, reports W&H.
Longhorn produces printed rollstock, laminations, bags, and pouches for the food, pharmaceutical, and industrial industries. The CI press is based on W&H's Novoflex concept and uses sleeves for both the anilox rolls and plate cylinders. These are said to be changed quickly from the operator side of the press.
A conventional bull gear drive is used, and the printing decks are fitted with Flexorex C computerized automatic deck positioning.
Supplier Information
Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp.— PFFC-ASAP 392. Lincoln, RI; 401/333-2770; whcorp.com
AFC Sales Roll On
Applied Films Corp., Longmont, CO, proudly reports it recently received an order for its 500th vacuum roll coater.
The TopMet 2250 metallizer, which is going to German paper mill Schoeller & Hoesch GmbH & Co. KG to metallize precoated paper, will be designed to handle rolls 2,270 mm wide with diameters to 1,240 mm.
Supplier Information
Applied Films Corp.—PFFC-ASAP 391. Longmont, CO; 303/774-3200; appliedfilms.com
Healthcare Pouch Touts Reduced Contamination
MUNDELEIN, IL, USA—Rexam Healthcare Flexibles announces the patented Core-Peel Pouch featuring coextrusion coated to polyester and sealed to uncoated Tyvek. The pouch is said to provide a particulate- and fiber-free peel.
According to Rexam, the contamination may exist from particulates generated by a coating. “We are seeing increasing industry attention to the elimination of particulates in the manufacture and packaging of medical devices, particularly for invasive devices such as coronary stents and catheters,” says Mike Oberikirch, Rexam marketing director for pouches. “The Core-Peel pouch addresses this concern and offers a lower-cost option compared to pouches made with coated Tyvek.”
During the sealing process, the Core-Peel seal layer imbeds itself into the fiber structure of Tyvek. When peeled, the seal layer breaks through cleanly and offers visual seal transfer for confirmation of seal integrity.
Environmental News
EPA Drafts Proposal on Industrial Wipers
CARY, NC, USA—According to the Summer 2003 issue of INDA News, the publication of the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finished drafting a proposed rule intended to level the regulatory playing field that has advantaged use of laundered shop towels over nonwoven wipers in industrial facilities for more than two decades.
EPA officials say the proposed rule will allow soiled industrial wipers to be treated as municipal solid waste (instead of hazardous waste) if certain conditions are met. Laundered shop towers would have to meet similar conditions to avoid being treated as hazardous waste as well. For more information contact INDA at 703/538-8805.
Alliances
Sun, InkSure to Offer Security Solutions
NEW YORK, NY, USA—A strategic marketing alliance is reported by InkSure Technologies Inc., a developer of covert encoded-ink authentication solutions, and printing ink manufacturer Sun Chemical Group B.V., The Netherlands. The alliance will offer machine-readable, ink-based brand and document authentication solutions under the SunSure brand name.
The concept of SunSure is the use of “encoded ink” (ink embedded with unique signature codes) in the printing of product packaging, documents, etc., and the ability to “sense” the ink using low-cost optical readers. The proprietary reader technology reportedly can be incorporated into a variety of devices, ranging from low-cost, hand-held readers to high-speed production-line devices.
Dedications
RIT Dedicates Lab, Press
ROCHESTER, NY, USA—Rochester Inst. of Technology (RIT) recently held the formal dedication of the new Heidelberg Web Press Laboratory.
The centerpiece of the lab is a gapless Sunday 2000 web press, consigned to the university by Heidelberg. The system, reportedly designed for the highest quality web printing applications, offers practical educational opportunities for students in RIT's School of Print Media and members of the printing industry. In addition, RIT's Printing Application Laboratory will use the system in collaboration with web offset printers and suppliers on applied research projects.
“Our relationship with Heidelberg is a great example of how industry and academia can work together for the greater good,” says RIT president Albert J. Simone. “Our students, the printing industry, and consumers all benefit.”
Conferences
A “Smart” Way to Start 2004
ATLANTA, GA, USA—The Las Vegas Hilton will be the setting for a conference on Intelligent and Smart Packaging Jan. 27-28, 2004. Cosponsored by Pira Intl, IDTechEx, and TAPPI, the program will focus on the most important and significant technologies and applications likely to change brand management and the supply chain during the next ten years.
Topics will include electronic article surveillance; radio frequency identification; smart inks and diagnostics; and polymer and other laminar electronics, e.g., the transparent electronic package. For more information visit: piranet.com/pira/piranet.asp?page=conferencelist.htm&conferenceld=349.
Divestitures
Jagenberg Sells Lemo Business Operations
DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY—The Rheinmetall sub. Jagenberg AG, Neuss, Germany, has sold the business operations of Lemo Maschinenbau GmbH to Tequity Beteiligungsgesellschaft AG, based in Zürich, Switzerland.
Lemo specializes in the production of plastic film welding machinery used in making carrier bags, sacks, and pouches. Tequity is a financial investment company that provides management support to small and medium-sized companies, mainly in the automotive and mechanical engineering industries.
Awards
Clemson Honors Daetwyler
HUNTERSVILLE, NC, USA—Max Daetwyler Corp., manufacturer of precision equipment and doctor blades, received the Clemson University Graphic Communications Corporate Appreciation Award for its commitment to and long-term support of Clemson's graphic communications program, which includes learning gravure, flexo, offset lithography, and screen printing.
Supplier News
Rotomec Press Debuts at Open House
SAN GIORGIO MONFERRATO, ITALY—The Valmet Converting Technology Center was the scene of two open house events held this past June during the GEC'03 exhibition in Milan. The purpose of the events was to offer the first-ever public demonstration of the new-generation Rotomec 4000-4 ES gravure printing press with electronic shaft technology. Valmet reports attendees witnessed a job changeover from eight- to seven-color printing on the new press in less than 16 min.
Laminator a Speedy Success at Open House
PIACENZA, ITALY—Nordmeccanica S.p.A held an open house recently to demonstrate its latest high-speed laminator technology.
The Duplex Combi with horizontal drying system was tested during the event using both solvent-based and solvent-free adhesives. According to Nordmeccanica, the unit is performance-rated to 500 mpm operating speed on a wide range of substrates, including PE, BOPP, PET, paper, and aluminum foil.
Industry Studies
Study Looks at Digital Printing Present and Future
WEST CHESTER, PA, USA—To mark the 10th anniversary of the commercial introduction of digital press technology for printing and packaging graphics, Packaging Strategies and BRG Townsend Inc., Mount Olive, NJ, have published a report entitled “Digital Printing for Packaging Graphics.”
Digital printing for label, folding carton, and flexible packaging applications is the leading projected growth category among all printing and decorating technologies, says the study, and is expected to reach 20% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2007.
The report includes a broad perspective on digital printing technologies, projections for growth, opportunities for market penetration, and factors that could limit growth in specific end-use segments.
For more information contact Packaging Strategies at 610/436-4220 or visit packstrat.com.
Association News
AIMCAL Names Safety, Environmental Committees
FORT MILL, SC, USA—The Association of Industrial Metallizers, Coaters & Laminators (AIMCAL) has split the regulatory committee into two groups: the Safety Committee and the Environmental Committee. AIMCAL reports this move is to provide greater focus to these areas and create greater value to member companies and the industries.
Tim Carroll of Dunmore Corp. will chair the Safety Committee, and Dan Bemi of Megtec will chair the Environmental Committee.
The two groups will join with the CEMA Safety Committee to organize and run the AIMCAL/CEMA 1st Annual Environmental Health and Safety Summit, Feb. 5-6, 2004, in Washington, DC. For more information contact AIMCAL at 803/802/7820 or visit aimcal.org.
AIM Looks to Better Serve US Needs
PITTSBURGH, PA, USA#8212;The board of directors of the Association for Automatic Identification & Data Capture Technologies (AIM) reports a new strategic direction, including the formation of an AIM US Chapter. The association is developing plans to better serve the needs of US-based manufacturers, value-added resellers, systems integrators, independent software developers, and end-users.
The move, says AIM, is designed to increase national awareness of automatic ID and data capture technologies and how they are being applied to improve critical applications such as homeland security, patient safety, and supply chain management.
For more information contact AIM at 412/963-8588 or visit aimglobal.org.
Closings
MeadWestvaco Closes Two Folding Carton Plants
STAMFORD, CT, USA—MeadWestvaco Corp. has closed folding carton plants in Richmond, VA, and Cleveland, TN.
Notes Rita V. Foley, president of MeadWestvaco's Consumer Packaging Groups, “The decision to close these facilities is consistent with our strategy to focus on value-added packaging segments while delivering our customers the best quality, service, and value from our network of manufacturing operations. This decision was reached after careful consideration, and it's important to recognize the valuable contributions these employees made to our company for many years.”
Acquisitions
SSCC Adds Arko Paper to the Fold
CHICAGO, IL, USA—Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. has acquired the operations of Arko Paper Products Co. Inc., a folding carton producer with plants in Piscataway and Plainfield, NJ. The purchase price was approximately $30 million.
“This acquisition broadens our consumer packaging products by expanding our capabilities to serve the high-end niche markets of cosmetics and personal care products,” says Dave Pietrowicz, VP and general manager of Smurfit-Stone's folding carton and label group.
Tony Kolenski, founder and president of Arko, will continue as president, managing the two facilities.
EDI Acquired, Reduces Debt
CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI, USA—Extrusion Dies Industries LLC (EDI) has been acquired by U.S. Bank in a transaction that substantially reduces EDI's debt load and strengthens its investment capabilities.
EDI reports customers will benefit from this transaction in two ways: It will accelerate its program of establishing global service centers to provide international customers with sales, technical, and regional rework services; and it will accelerate the Extruder UpTime die-system development program. All Extruder UpTime innovations will be direct responses to customer requests.
Humidity Indicator Cards Protect Shipments
Süd-Chemie Performance Packaging, Colton, CA, reports the new Humitector maximum humidity indicator cards monitor humidity levels during shipment and transportation by displaying the highest level of relative humidity (rh) a product has experienced.
This latest generation includes an enhanced indicating range from 30%-90% rh. This is important, says the company, because oxidation, mildew, or mold can begin on many materials at levels as low as 30%.
The cards are said to be suited for use with electronics, parts, equipment, and vehicles, and they are also recommended for shipping art. A card is simply inserted within sealed or shrink-wrapped cargo and also can be placed in shipping containers to monitor total freight exposure while in transit.
Material News
Banner Media Emerges from Partnership
SOUTH HADLEY, MA, USA—A partnership between InteliCoat Technologies and Valéron Strength Films has resulted in Magic DMVSF 9-mil, super-high-strength banner media for wide-format ink jet printers.
Using Valéron Strength Film, a cross-laminated HDPE, as a base, InteliCoat engineered a specialized topcoating to create DMVSF for digital printing applications. It is said to be well suited for pole banners, suspension banners, pop-up banners, front-lit and back-lit rolling signage, and other applications requiring increased tear resistance. It reportedly eliminates the color shifting, shelf life, and environmental problems associated with traditional vinyls.
Industry Standards
ISO Issues First Press Safety Standard
RESTON, VA, USA—The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has issued the first international safety standard for printing press systems: ISO 12648:2003 Graphic technology — Safety requirements for printing press systems.
The standard was developed by ISO Technical Committee 130 Working Group 5 (Safety and Ergonomics), which is administered by NPES the Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting technologies. Experts from Brazil, Germany, Japan, U.K., and US participated.
NPES reports the development of this standard represents a significant cooperative effort to define a single safety standard that can be used by equipment designers to help minimize the number of “special” designs a manufacturer must provide to meet safety requirements of the international market to which they sell, while providing the highest level of safety for the print production environment.
Revision is expected as new safety issues and new technologies arise. The goal, adds NPES, is eventually to have a single safety standard for printing press systems that can be applied by manufacturers and users around the world.
For more information contact NPES at 703/264-7200 or visit npes.org.
