Reporter Clips
- Published: September 30, 2004, By Edward Boyle, Contributing Editor
Narrow Web Converting Industry News
Paper and Film Products Stick, Remove, Repeat
SEBRING, OH, USA — The VersaTak line of removable adhesive paper and film products from MPI Label Systems is designed for “stick-remove-repeat” applications, including short-run digital or long-run printed wall borders, packaging reseal tabs, reverse printed window decals, and promotional items.
The adhesives are formulated to securely hold the item in place until the customer removes it with no adhesive residue or paint removal, the company reports.
Masking Tapes Deliver Value
HOOSICK FALLS, NY, USA — CHR Brand K-201 and K-202 polyimide film silicone adhesive tapes are available from Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics.
According to the company, these tapes offer exceptional performance for fine line masking in competitive PCB finger masking applications, as well as in demanding appliance powder coating applications. Non-UL, high-temperature tapes are said to feature a durable, high quality, low-cost polyimide film combined with a no-residue, fully cross-linked silicone adhesive.
SATO Completes Hardware Testing
CHARLOTTE, NC, USA — SATO America has completed EPCglobal's newly launched Hardware Interoperability Phase I test. EPCglobal, a joint venture of EAN Intl. and the Uniform Code Council (UCC), is a not-for-profit organization formed to establish and support the EPCglobal Network as the global standard for real-time, automatic identification of information in the supply chain of any company, anywhere in the world.
Solution providers that participated in the Hardware Interoperability Phase I evaluated the interoperability of their RFID reader and tag configurations with those provided by other manufacturers. The test was conducted June 29-30 at the Santa Clara, CA, facilities of MET Laboratories. MET provides extensive RFID testing and consulting services for manufacturers and consumers of RFID products and systems and was selected by EPCglobal to serve as the official testing provider for all EPCglobal hardware interoperability tests.
Hardware Interoperability Phase II testing was scheduled to begin August 3 at MET Labs. At the conclusion of Phase II testing, EPCglobal will compile and circulate a list to the EPCglobal community that outlines which RFID tags interoperate with which RFID readers.
Workflow System Pleases G3
GENT, BELGIUM — G3 Enterprises, a converter of wine and beverage labels, has chosen Artwork Systems as its new workflow provider.
GE selected the ArtPro and Nexus configuration. Nexus is a comprehensive, high-end workflow solution for label and packaging environments designed to increase productivity in preproduction through automation of labor-intensive prepress tasks. ArtPro is an editor for preproduction of labels and packaging. The workstation software, running on an Apple Macintosh, includes many dedicated functions and tools to prepare the graphics for a wide variety of packaging productions, including litho, flexo, gravure, and silk screen.
Says GE's technology manager Bruce Nielsen, “Artwork Systems' strong experience and heritage in label and package production technology is evident in its comprehensive approach to the Nexus workflow. This workflow feels as if it were custom-engineered for us, and the level of support Artwork Systems provides [makes] our people feel they are always the priority.”
Supplier Information
Artwork Systems Group — artwork-systems.com
Spear Purchases Sonoco Plant
MASON, OH, USA — Spear, a supplier of film p-s labels to the beverage industry, has purchased the assets of Sonoco's Fulton, NY, USA, plant, which will specialize in supplying film p-s labels for large-volume beverage applications by combining the wide web gravure expertise of the Fulton facility with the film p-s solutions of Spear.
Gallus Awarded for Excellence
PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA — Gallus was selected as “One Of The Best” in this year's Neographics 2004 Graphic Arts Communications competition. Gallus won the Franklin Award for Excellence in two categories: Labels and Self Promotion.
Gallus showed off its EM280 press and its ability to print narrow web labels combining rotary screen, hot foil stamp, and hybrid screening. The entry was displayed at this year's Neographics Award Ceremony in May.
RFID Partnership Announced
PORT HURON, MI, USA — Acheson Colloids Co. and ANI Printing Inks have announced a three-year partnership, with ANI as the exclusive distributor of Acheson's polymer thick-film conductive inks for RFID to printers of p-s labels, film applications, folding cartons, and more. The agreement covers North and Central America.
NorthStar an Excellent Partner
WATERTOWN, WI, USA — NorthStar Print Group has earned Miller Brewing Co.'s “Partners in Excellence” award for the seventh consecutive year for its performance in 2003. NorthStar is the sole label supplier to Miller Brewing, which has more than 8,500 suppliers but gives only 20 such awards each year.
Ink Jet System Meets Tough Test
Serving as a beta site for the Jetrion 3025 ink jet system, featuring UV-cured, drop-on-demand technology, has made Whitlam Label a believer.
Whitlam, headquartered in Center Line, MI, USA, specializes in Engineered Identification Systems for the automotive, durable goods, food, and related industries. Reports Kevin Hayes, Whitlam's executive VP of sales and marketing, “”The trial results have met the company's expectations. We ran many different label materials through the system during our testing, especially harsh-environment substrates that we produce for our automotive customers who need variable-data labels. We consistently printed clear, crisp images…. The Jetrion proved to be a very press-friendly system, with impressive speed and accuracy.”
He adds that benefits for Whitlam's customers include a greatly increased lifespan for variable print data due to the use of UV-curable inks, as well as printed labels that are virtually impervious to chemical and abrasion exposure in durable or harsh environments.
Starting at 2.4 in. with one printhead and designed to incorporate multiple printheads for wider applications, the monochrome 3025 delivers 316 dpi across and up to 526 dpi in the process direction, at speeds to 250 fpm with UV inks and to 400 fpm with solvent inks.
Supplier Information:
Jetrion LLC, sub. of Flint Ink — jetrion.com
Chugs Back with Shrink Labels
FARMINGDALE, NY, USA — Dean Foods has re-introduced its Chug line of milks with redesigned labels printed by Seal-It. The milks are available in eight flavors in various sizes, with each flavor differentiated by a different color. The labels are printed on heat-shrink PVC in six to eight colors with a modified flexographic press.
The 360-deg image area of the labels is said to assure maximum shelf impact and to identify the brand and flavors easily.
Coming Events
October 11-13, 2004: Introduction to PSA Tapes, PSTC Test Methods & Test Training Workshop, Chemsultants Network Facility, Mentor, OH, USA (440/352-0218; chemsultants.com).
October 11-13, 2004: RBS Technologies/AWA Alexander Watson & Associates International In-Mold Labeling Conference (IMLCON 2004), RBS Technologies & AWA Conferences, JW Marriott Camelback Inn, Scottsdale, AZ, USA (480/473-0301; rbstechnologies.com).
October 24-27, 2004: TLMI Annual Meeting, Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute, LaQuinta Resort & Club, LaQuinta, CA, USA (630/357-9222; tlmi.com).
March 2-5, 2005: TLMI Annual Converter Meeting, Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute, Marquis Los Cabos Resort, Los Cabos, Mexico (630/357-9222; tlmi.com).
March 20-23, 2005: FTA Annual Meeting & InfoFlex Exhibition, Flexographic Technical Association, Swan & Dolphin Hotel, Disney properties, Orlando, FL, USA (631/737-6020; flexography.org).
September 7-9, 2005: TLMI/FTA Technical Seminar, Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute/Flexographic Technical Association, Hyatt Hotel, Chicago, IL, USA (630/357-9222; tlmi.com).
