Converting Industry News
- Published: June 01, 2003, By Deborah Donberg, Associate Managing Editor
Covering the Full Spectrum of Industry News, Events & Activities
Hard Candies Make Sweet Showing in Gravure
For its new hard candy, Chocfuls, Cadbury Trebor Allan wanted two different package sizes, excellent color reproduction, and lots of detail. Sonoco, Hartsville, SC, made it all happen.
The converter supplies Cadbury with two eight-color, rotogravure-printed flexible packages for three flavor combinations. The 189- and 354-g pillow bags include a peg hole that allows them to be hung on racks or stacked on a shelf.
The PET-based laminated structure features deep golds, purples, and browns, with detailed illustrations of wrapped and unwrapped candies on the front of the bags for identification. A clear window reveals the product to consumers.
Says Chocfuls brand manager Michelle Bell, “…The brand's personality and flavor are best characterized by rich colors and elegant graphics. Sonoco brought this to life perfectly on our new packages using rotogravure printing.”
Faustel, Teknek Partner in Pilot Line
Faustel, Germantown, WI, has fitted its 24-in. R&D pilot line with the latest contact web cleaner from Teknek. The two companies have joined forces to offer potential customers the opportunity to test materials with greater protection from contamination.
At today's high speeds, the companies report, thin films are much more sensitive to surface contamination, and particles as small as 5 microns can cause major problems on a 50-micron coating. The Teknek equipment reportedly has the ability to clean down to a level of one micron and smaller.
Supplier Information
Teknek LLC Elk Grove Village, IL; 847/290-8250; teknek.com
New Technology
Paper Packs Powerful Punch in Roll-to-Roll Battery Production
CHICAGO, IL, USA—“O brave new world that has such technology in it!” Okay, it's a twisted quote from The Tempest, but the wonder Shakespeare's character Miranda would have expressed would be the same upon hearing the joint announcement made by Power Paper Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel, and Graphic Solutions, Burr Ridge, IL. Micro-power source and radio frequency identification technology climb to new heights as the two companies announce a widening of their strategic relationship. Together they are leveraging the growing demand for thin and flexible batteries in a number of products, including revolutionary active cosmetic patches and smart active labels, toys, and novelty items.
What's the ruckus about? GSI becomes the first licensed US-authorized manufacturer of a Power Paper roll-to-roll battery production line, able to produce hundreds of millions of the ultra-thin energy cells per year. The patented energy cells can be adapted to fit the size, thickness, and form factors required for the design of any product, according to Power Paper. The silk-screened construction comprises zinc anode and manganese dioxide-based cathode layers. The cells are made of proprietary inks that can be printed or pasted onto virtually any substrate, reports Power Paper, to create a battery that is thin and flexible.
Unlike conventional energy cells, Power Paper's cells require no metal casing. Each Power Paper cell produces 1.5 V and has a shelf life of more than 2.5 yr. What's more, the materials used in the technology are environmentally safe, according to international standards, and contain no heavy metals.
Awards
GMG Honors Excellence in Proof/Print Representation
TUEBINGEN, GERMANY—GMG, a developer of high-end professional color management proofing systems, announced the winners of its recently launched annual GMG Excellence Awards. The awards are designed to encourage companies to produce the best proof/print representation using GMG ColorProof.
GretagMacbeth AG donated an Eye-One Pro spectrophotometer as the first prize, which went to Ahauser Tiefdruck — Gravuren GmbH & Co.; second prize, an Apple i-POD MP3 Player (donated by CLC Nord) was given to Apitzsch Proof. Two third-prize winners, Janoschka GmbH & Co. and Peter Becker GmbH, each took home a Fuji FinePix A 201 digital camera donated by Fuji Photo Film, Europe. A special prize of a Fuji FinePix F501 Zoom (donated by Fuji Photo Film, Europe) went to Recom for best GMG/ColorManager proof using PictroProof.
Alliances
Polytype and Battenfeld Join to Produce Converting Lines
FRIBOURG, SWITZERLAND—Polytype and Battenfeld Gloucester Engineering, Gloucester, MA, have formed a strategic alliance to integrate advanced extrusion coating and laminating technology into complete converting systems. The lines, to be designated Polycoat, will be marketed initially in North America and will be available worldwide soon.
“Since the demand for high quality extrusion coating and laminating is increasing in the converting business, we are very pleased we will be able to offer our clients excellent and field-proven technology from Battenfeld Gloucester,” says Polytype president Battista Corti.
Helmut Eschwey, chairman of SMS Plastics Technology, which includes Battenfeld Gloucester, adds, “…The alliance will serve our customers as a reliable source for first-class equipment, process technology, and service.” Applications will be flexible packaging with combinations of film, paper, and foil; paper packaging and specialties such as photo paper; releaser liner; semi-rigid paperboard/foil containers; and woven and nonwoven synthetic fiber materials.
Acquisitions
Sun Chemical Adds Bayer's Organic Pigments
FORT LEE, NJ, USA—Sun Chemical Corp. has acquired Bayer Polymers' high-performance organic pigment business in Bushy Pk., SC. The portion of the facility acquired by Sun manufactures Indofast carbazole violet, Perrindo perylene, Quindo quinacridone, and Palomar phthalocyanine pigments, and includes the wastewater treatment plant for the site. Due to FTC requirements, Sun Chemical agreed to divest its current perylene products line. The Ciba Specialty Chemicals Group will assume Sun's inventory and the toll manufacture of these products.
Chambers Container Now Part of Triad Packaging
BRISTOL, TN, USA—Triad Packaging Inc. is acquiring Chambers Container, Gastonia, NC. Triad reports the acquisition will enable it to support existing customers better and expand service to more than 750 customers in the Southeast. Chambers will continue to operate under the Chambers Container name but as a division of Triad Packaging Inc. of Tennessee.
Purchases
Quad/Tech Now Owns PressTech Controls
SUSSEX, WI, USA—Quad/Tech Inc. has purchased PressTech Controls Ltd., Hemel Hempstead, England. Both companies manufacture register control systems. Notes Quad/Tech president Karl Fritchen, “We look forward to offering a greater range of solutions to printers [and] to being more involved in the packaging and gravure markets….”
Publications
PPC Reports Detail HR Statistics
ALEXANDRIA, VA, USA—The Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) has released two reports detailing statistics on compensation for both hourly employees and exempt plant personnel of folding carton manufacturers in the US. Used as benchmarking tools by member companies, the Labor Data Survey and Exempt Compensation and Benefits Survey comprise statistical information and are available to participating PPC members only. For more information contact PPC at 703/836-3300 or visit ppcnet.org.
Supplier News
Vigitek Launches American Sales/Service Organization
CHICAGO, IL, USA—Vigitek, a developer and supplier of automated print inspection systems, announces an American sales and service organization, Vigitek America. The launch began with an exhibit of 100% inspection solutions at CMM Intl., held in Chicago April 14-17. The headquarters of Vigitek America will be in Lewiston, NY; 716/754-0092; vigitek.com.
Expansions
Prairie State Expands in Response to Growth
FRANKLIN PK., IL, USA—The Prairie State Group reports it has purchased a 40,000-sq-ft facility to accommodate its rapidly expanding business. The co. reports consistent growth in its p-s product line plus success in short-run flexible packaging capabilities.
The newly renovated facility will house a new 26-in., nine-color Paper Converting Machine Co. (PCMC) Evolution printing press to help it expand beyond current products into areas such as cold seal and multiple-layer laminates. Also featured will be an expanded QA lab, new slitting capabilities, and better storage and workflow.
Adhesive Lamination Pilot Line Announced
CINCINNATI, OH, USA—Tollamco Corp. has commissioned a new adhesive lamination pilot line said to be capable of laminating continuous flexible webs to 14 in. wide (untrimmed). Both full and strip lamination are possible. The co. reports the line can handle virtually any flexible material including nonwoven, paper, scrim, plastic films, foam, tissue, and metal foil. Adhesive application methods include spiral spray, melt blown, and slot coat.
The line is available to manufacturers and academia on a project fee basis for experimental and developmental projects. It is also available for short-run production and scale-up needs. For more information contact Tollamco at 513/469-8244.
Openings
Stork Screens Announces Technology Center
CHARLOTTE, NC, USA—Stork Screens America Inc. announces the opening of the Rotaform Technology Center at the Charlotte location.
The center is a complete rotary screen application, training, and support facility. Available is a 10-in.-wide, two-color rotary screen press as well as complete rotary screen prepress and post-press equipment for customer demonstrations, application development, and rotary screen training.
Sun Chemical Opens Prepress Facility in Northern California
ANTIOCH, CA, USA—SunGraphics, a member of the Sun Chemical Corp., opened a new facility in Antioch to provide package design and finished flexo printing plates for paper packaging applications such as corrugated boxes, folding cartons, and POP displays.
