Reporter Clips
- Published: May 31, 2004, By Edward Boyle, Contributing Editor
Narrow Web Converting Industry News
Lush Wine Label Is an Award-Winner
LITTLE FALLS, NJ, USA—Making a label that suits a fine wine can be daunting, both technically and artistically. When Coia Vineyards wanted something special for Convivium and Lapideum wines, the company turned to Label Graphics.
The result was a label with a luxurious, deep maroon background textured to resemble fine leather. Label Graphics achieved the texture by embossing the label with an all-over pattern of subtle, grain-like grooves.
The vineyard did not want a label on the back of the bottle, so the front label had to contain all the necessary information, including the brand name, vintage, place of production, government warning, and wine description. The wine type and vintage must be able to be changed easily in quantities of under 5,000/yr. To accomplish this, Label Graphics foil stamped those variables, the name in a rich satin gold and the year in satin silver, while printing the remainder on a rotary letterpress.
The success of the label is evident. Not only was the customer happy, but the label has been honored with a Silver Award in the Graphics category from the New Jersey Packaging Executives Club.
EMA Offers Two Reports
ALEXANDRIA, VA, USA— The Envelope Mfrs. Assn. (EMA) Foundation for Paper-Based Communications has published two new studies. “Global Trends in the Envelope Manufacturing Industry: 2003-2005” assesses key trends and events that will shape the future of the envelope manufacturing industry. It provides an assessment of the North American, European, Far Eastern, Japanese, Chinese, Central and South American, and Middle Eastern markets.
The second study, “Postcards in the Mailstream,” analyzes the usage of postcards in the direct mail industry. The study looks at how postcards are used in First-Class and Standard (A) mail, response rates for postcards and envelopes, reading patterns, and the advantages and disadvantages of using postcards in direct mail.
Foundation contributors will receive a free copy of each study. They are available to EMA members for $50 and nonmembers for $75. For more information contact Kim Moses at 703/739-2200 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Ink Jet Press at Work in UK
MORTSEL, BELGIUM—Dotrix, an Agfa co., announces the first UK installation of its high-speed color ink jet press designated the.factory at Gardners, a specialty printer offering technical and promotional applications including POP materials, signs, labels, and outdoor media.
Gardners' managing director Richard Gardner says the.factory “is the most advanced digital ink jet press available in the market and the only industrial solution capable of providing high quality results in at least four colors.”
He adds, “The press is extremely flexible and able to print on foils, plastics, and coated papers. [Its] ability to print on such a wide range of materials is of great importance to us and gives us the opportunity to expand and diversify our portfolio.”
Supplier Information:
Dotrix — agfapress.com
Supporting Customers Is a Priority
CHESTERFIELD, MO, USA— Mark Andy, Comco, and UVTechnology have announced a recently redesigned Customer Support Group comprising a team of 100% Certified Mark Andy technicians and customer specialists.
The new group is organized into five key areas of support: Customer Specialists available 24/7; the Retrofit Team; the PM (preventive maintenance) team; a Certified Technical team; and the Advanced Technical & Training Group.
Suess Stamp Is Here, It's Clear
STOW, OH, USA—To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Theodor Seuss Geisel, the US Postal Service (USPS) recently issued a commemorative stamp dedicated to the beloved author, who wrote 44 children's books as “Dr. Seuss.”
As a qualified supplier for USPS commemorative stamps, MACtac provided the self-adhesive construction for the 172 million stamps that were printed and formatted in 20-stamp panes. The stamp was dedicated in March at the Geisel Library at the Univ. of California San Diego in La Jolla.
Texas Instruments Wants RFID Standards
DALLAS, TX, USA—Texas Instruments Radio Frequency Identification (TI-RFid) Systems has joined the Hardware Action Group (HAG) of EPCglobal, the technical action group responsible for developing RFID technology standards.
EPCglobal was formed in October 2003 as a nonprofit joint venture of the standards organizations EAN Intl. and the Uniform Code Council. It is overseeing the development of the Electronic Product Code (EPC) standard designed to enable enhanced visibility of information about products moving through the retail supply chain.
As a member, TI-Rfid is supporting the development and rapid ratification of a global, interoperable EPC standard using UHF RFID technology.
Lehigh Valley Turns to Shrink Labels
FARMINGDALE, NY, USA—Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms is using high-shrink film bands from Seal-It to relaunch its entire line of milk products, including two new flavors.
The single-serve milk chug features a new logo that retains the popular rising sun but conveys more striking changes in color and design through the use of a shrink label. Made of heat-shrink PVC, the labels are used for all eight flavors and are printed in eight — ten colors.
Raflatac Expands into Midwest
FLETCHER, NC, USA—Raflatac now is offering slitting and distribution of its products from a regional facility in Greenville, WI. Both paper and film p-s label stock products, covering a wide range of applications, now are available from the regional facility, which will serve primarily the upper midwestern US, including Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
COMING EVENTS
Sept. 13-15: Auto ID & Supply Chain Frontline Solutions Conference & Expo, O'Keefe & Co., Navy Pier, Chicago, IL (703/883-9000; frontlineexpo.com).
Sept. 13-16: Labelexpo Americas 2004 & Smart Packaging Conference, Tarsus Exhibitions & Publishing, Stephens Convention Ctr., Rosemont, IL (262/782-1900; labelexpo-americas.com).
