Kurz is presenting a new stamping foil series for rotary label printing at this year's Labelexpo Europe. The company has also been demonstrating the effective combination of digital web-fed printing and integrated metalisation.

The KPW XU cold foil grade, a versatile go-to for narrow-web printing, has been displayed for the first time at Labelexpo. According to Kurz, this cold foil is ideally suited for overprinting and delivers optimal decoration results, both for large-area and fine designs.

A further development is the availability of Lumafin, a semi-transparent stamping foil specifically for web-fed printing. It allows under-printed designs to shine through, covers them with a shimmering gloss, and creates an extraordinary depth effect. A variety of labels decorated with Lumafin and the combination of colour printing and Lumafin decoration are on display at Labelexpo.

A focal point of the Kurz stand is digital finishing using the DM-Jetliner. There are live demonstrations of an HP Indigo 6900 digital printing machine with an integrated DM-Jetliner finishing module, which can be used to metalise web-fed labels and overprint them in a single pass at full printing speeds.

Show visitors can observe the integration of the DM-Jetliner into the printing process and the creation of metallic colours, decorative, personalised elements and holographic effects.

With the launch of the new jetscript Metal VPG 1018, Mitsubishi HiTec Paper has unveiled a metallic silver gloss inkjet paper, developed for water-based inkjet printing. It is particularly suitable for self-adhesive label applications, as well.

According to Mitsubishi HiTec Paper, the results on the metallic glossy inkjet labels were only previously possible using a metallic film. Jetscript Metal VPG 1018 is a pure fiber-based paper product with a metallic mirror finish and a transparent, microporous inkjet coating for excellent printing performance.

The main features are:
- 110 gsm
- metallic-silver mirror finish
- high print density
- fast drying
- suitable for water-based inkjet printing (dye and pigment inks)
- compatible with latex inks
- optimum performance in the self-adhesive production process (handling, labelling, matrix removal)

This makes jetscript Metal VPG 1018 suitable to produce eye-catching labels in the cosmetics, beverage or food industry, as well as personalised wrapping paper, high-quality advertising panels and displays.

Omet will launch XFlex X7, a 670mm (26in) width flexo press aimed at shrink sleeve and flexible packaging production, at Labelexpo Europe 2019.

The press features another new development being unveiled at the show: Omet’s High Value Rotogravure (HVR) print unit.

The new press is claimed to merge the best features of Omet’s XFlex X6.0 and VaryFlex V2 platforms. It gives printers the possibility to offer high quality, high value shrink sleeves and flexible packaging materials optimised to print for medium volume quantities.

XFlex X7 offers different possibilities of combination printing and special effects for high value final products, such as a new High Value Rotogravure unit, Soft Touch Flexo Vertical with longer drying tunnel and Rotary Screen with 670mm width. The High Value Rotogravure unit can be added in fixed position, with accessibility for the operator on center line, on both side. The printing cylinder and inking tray can be load on front side of the rotogravure unit. The unit can print front and reverse and it is equipped with integrated chill drum and doctor blade with front and reverse position. With direct drive motor on printing cylinder, the unit is automatic and easy-to-use thanks to different trolleys which help the operator in the management of the unit.

XFlex X7 is able to integrate several printing and converting technologies in-line and process all kind of substrates, in particular flexible packaging and shrink sleeves from 12 micron thickness. It offers automatic on-the-fly pre-registration of the plates to get them in position, automatic Multi-vision printing registration adjustment thanks to a multiple camera scanning system, automatic positioning of the printing pressures at every change of speed, substrate thickness and repeat lengths. 

X7’s modular design allows the combination of different printing technologies as well as special finishing applications and converting units. The X7 flexo printing unit is full motorised with the Zero Gears Solution which allows a high level of precision thanks to nine motors on each printing unit. X7 can be equipped with a new full servo Soft Touch Flexo Vertical unit for flexo front and reverse printing, with sliding and removable ink tray. The new Flexo Vertical has a long drying tunnel with two UV units for water- and solvent-based inks, and can work with soft touch applications, water-based or two UV. The unit disposes of an ink pump integrated on the inking trolley and allows different web path combinations.

The new Omet Twist is a special front and reverse die-cutting station web width 530mm designed for smooth changeover. Thanks to Easy Change Die system, it can minimise set-up time through the In&Out sliding system. 

‘Omet has the industry’s largest range of modules and attachments and with the new X7 we present our latest offering, the High Value Rotogravure-HVR, which we believe will disrupt the way printers achieve the special print effects on shrink sleeves and flexible packaging materials,’ said Amerigo Manzoni, director of R&D at Omet. ‘HVR will be on display at Labelexpo Europe at our stand 6C49,53 and we encourage all innovative printers of the world to come and experience it running live. Also available will be various samples printed with HVR allowing printers to see the new possibilities they can now achieve with much east with this innovation.’ 

Xeikon will present its latest advancements in labelling technology, a new ‘smart label’ solution developed and created in partnership with UPM Raflatac and Magic Add. Demonstrations will be held on both Xeikon and UPM Raflatac’s stands at the show. The cloud-based application enables track and trace capability for labels; it is designed to help brand owners wanting to bring labels and packaging online, they are now better able to measure the success of their campaigns or to control the supply chain. All of Xeikon’s solutions are developed with value as a top priority. This solution is designed to achieve consumer trust and confidence in the brands, and bring added value to the end user.

Jeroen Van Bauwel, Director Product Management at Xeikon, explains, “More and more brands want to say ‘we are providing the authentic product’. In creating this smart label solution for brand owners, we have worked with UPM Raflatac and Magic Add to put the ‘smart’ part into label design. Many industries are integrating technology into their product lines and producing ‘smart’ products to meet current trends. Xeikon continues to utilise the constant advancements in technology for the benefit of the label community. This smart label solution incorporates technology that extends the functionality of labels and packaging beyond traditional print methods. What’s exciting is the technology behind the action.”

Every package is made unique with an image, text, a number or a code, and it is ready to be scanned with standard applications. There are a number of options such as QR codes that give consumers the ability to track their product throughout its complete life cycle. End users can trace the place of origin of their product and every step from there through to the consumer. They can check storage conditions during transport and track the journey of the product from supplier to retailer. Knowing that their product is authentic gives the consumer confidence to trust the brand. Smart labels have the unique ability to allow manufacturers to continue to interact with their customers, even after the initial purchase is done and the product has been brought home.

Improving brand equity?

Engaging with the consumer through smart labels has endless creative possibilities. Information can include recipes, wine recommendations, details and advice on food calories, health and dietary information. Importantly for the pharmaceutical sector, an extra layer of information can be added to communicate on vital guidelines and safety warnings. In the food sector, brands can use the smart label to show the origin and composition of their product. This is a good example of one of the key benefits of Xeikon’s smart label solution. Because the smart label makes the product uniquely traceable, each end user can be sure that every single unit they buy has been tracked through its whole production cycle and meets legislation requirements for purity and health & safety compliance. There is complete transparency throughout the complete supply chain. Companies across many sectors are implementing smart labels on a global scale making it impossible to counterfeit goods and ingredients, protecting their products, and building confidence in their brands.

Smart label solution brings benefits to everyone involved

Xeikon’s smart label solution works in a number of ways. The end user benefits from the engagement and the experience of access to added value information and advice, while the brand owner and the product supplier can gather data, which helps them research into consumer preferences and the most popular products. Converters can widen their application range and offer new functionality to their customers, and marketeers can plan more meaningful and targeted campaigns.

Through Xeikon’s smart label solution, brand owners searching for new ways to maximise their brands can see who is buying their product and build a buyer’s profile that adds to the market intelligence, which helps them meet consumer demand. The data helps them improve their campaigns and better serve the consumer and the overall markets. By understanding consumer preference, the brand owner can, more efficiently, meet consumer demand. By securing the supply chain, they can prevent counterfeiting and copying, and improve their brand image. They can manage and protect their brand through overall traceability.

Xeikon will demonstrate examples of its smart label solution at Labelexpo. Using three bags of coffee with three different label designs, the experiment will show the brand owners which out of the three is the ‘best seller’ in the market. The example will reveal live data showing the tracing of the coffee to a specific farmer, and the tracking of the product through its journey to the store and to the end user. This valuable information gives visibility to the end user and market intelligence to the brand owner, and contributes to the security of the supply chain. Xeikon’s solution is also offering the brand owner an option to change their designs while maintaining the smart content.

Van Bauwel concludes, “Every new development comes under our commitment to ‘Transform’ the world of labels. Xeikon has the experience, the expertise, the tools and the technology available to make smart label solutions a reality. We are recognised as a technology agnostic supplier and a trusted advisor to the label community. Every product we bring to market is designed and created for tomorrow’s challenges. Our mission is to provide added value solutions and automate label production. We are excited about these new ‘smart’ developments and can see many opportunities for brand owners and converters to benefit. We are delighted to present our smart label solution at Labelexpo 2019 in its 40th Anniversary Year.

For many years, interfaces between MIS/ERP and printing presses are successfully reducing setup-times on the printer’s shop floor, allowing a greater number as well as an increase in smaller jobs to be printed within the same timeframe. Obviously, the bottleneck of production has moved to the finishing department. 

ABG has picked up this gauntlet and has rebuilt its complete machine software layer in the past 3 years. As a result, all computer-driven slitters and rewinders that leave the ABG factory now can receive instructions from the printer’s MIS/ERP system and can feed back information for production and costing.

Matt Burton, ABG’s Sales Director, comments on this milestone: “We believe that automation and robotisation will continue to crawl into every printshop. We’ve invested heavily to be on the forefront of this trend by offering our customers a zero job-setup time and by reducing the setup waste considerably on all our equipment”.

The sparring partner for ABG in this development has been the CERM MIS/ERP from the start. They had many years of experience with pre-press and press information exchange and CERM was already interfacing to some of the existing ABG machines on a more basic level. 

Geert Van Damme, MD of CERM, explains how it all works: “The ABG slitter/rewinders receive all information about the print frames at the input and about the finished rolls as required output through scanning a barcode on the ABG. The slitting knives will be automatically positioned when jobs are switched. If you have a turret rewinder, the ABG printer will print a batch of identification labels and will close the rolls with these labels automatically after they are cut at the requested length. CERM will have all these finished rolls in its database for traceability.”

The feedback of the ABG machine will update the CERM schedule and will allow for detailed job costing and waste or speed analysis. 

Matt Burton adds: “ABG is the only finishing supplier with this level of integration with an MIS provider and we have invested heavily in software development over the past 3 years. This integration will save about 8 minutes per slitter-setup and about 2 minutes per batch of rolls coming out of the turret. Our customers will really benefit from our development of this integration!”

ABG (6A37) and CERM (6A42) are showing this integration live at Labelexpo.

Any enquiries can be made to info@curriegroup.com.au

Leonhard Kurz will be presenting a hybrid machine for hot stamping decoration and digital printing from Kurz subsidiary Baier at this year's plastics trade fair in Düsseldorf. The machine was developed to efficiently implement designs and labels for different model series, small runs, and individualised products.

Economic customisation of mass-produced products

Whether it be a washing machine, car or cell phone, consumers nowadays expect to have a variety of models to choose from and be able to individually select the options. Manufacturers are faced with the challenge of producing these tailored products as cost-effectively as possible. The hybrid machine enables numerous variants of a mass-produced standard product to be implemented economically. The scope of variation extends from different product lines right through to customised surface designs.

Many variants with zero setup times

The hybrid machine comes with two decoration stations that can be used in any order: a hot stamping unit, and a module for digital four-colour printing.

The hot stamping unit is equipped with a stamping drum to which four hot stamping dies can be attached. This allows four different stamping designs to be arbitrarily employed. With the new quick-change system, design changeovers can be performed without tools. All configured designs can be selected via the controller and tried-and-tested process parameters stored for reuse. The hot stamping station is also equipped with two foil feed units that enable different hot stamping designs to be processed concurrently. This further-developed feed system saves considerable time when changing the foil rolls, which can be prepared completely outside the machine. The four stamping dies and designs can be arbitrarily assigned to each of the two foil tracks.

An especially wide variety of designs can be generated using hot stamping technology. These include metallisation with a perfect chrome or steel look, holographic designs, or surfaces with a strikingly realistic wood, carbon, marble or opal appearance. The process is ideally suited for implementing the latest designs for household appliances, automobiles, consumer electronics or cosmetics.


High-resolution variable colour printing

The second decoration or labelling station of the hybrid machine is a CMYK digital printing unit. An additional print head for the colour white can be integrated if there is a need to increase the contrast between the print colour and the substrate. The digital printing unit prints crystal clear images on plastic substrates at a resolution of 600 dots per inch. An identical component can be mass produced for different product variants and then be given a model-specific design by digital printing.

The unique combination of hot stamping and digital printing allows for an endless array of design possibilities and enables product variants to be produced efficiently. Both decoration processes can be performed in a single work operation. The component to be decorated is only placed in the part fixture once. The fixture is positioned on a sliding table that transports the component from one station to the next, where it is positioned extremely precisely to ensure a high registration accuracy between the first and second design.

SCREEN GP Australia is pleased to announce the  finalisation of development of its new Truepress Jet L350UV SAI inkjet system for the digital printing of labels, and that it will be shown at Labelexpo Europe, to be held in Brussels, Belgium from September 24th to 27th, 2019. The new press features improved colour reproduction, more speed and superior scalability that enables it to meet a wide variety of market needs. 

The worldwide commercial release will commence in February 2020.

Screen GP Australia Managing Director, Peter Scott says: “The Truepress Jet L350UV SAI model represents the latest advances in the L350 series since its introduction in 2014. The suffix ‘SAI’ means ‘Stability, Accuracy and Integration’ – with the word ‘Sai’ also meaning ‘colourful’ in Japanese. This is a major step for digital label production as additional slots for printheads are onboard, meaning Orange, Blue and White inks can be added to the wide-gamut CMYK inkset.”

He continues: “Overall colour management has been developed in collaboration with CGS Publishing Technologies International GmbH of Germany. These technologies provide a far wider range of colour expression than was previously possible, increasing Pantone coverage and reducing colour differences with specific spot colours. CGS has been a leader in colour management for over twenty years, with its ORIS proofing systems enjoying considerable success in the ANZ region.”

Four scalable variants of the L350 SAI will be available, E for entry-level, S for Standard and the flagship Z model for highest speed of 80 linear metres per hour. There will also be an LM version using low-migration inks specifically for food packaging applications.

“We, and our dealer partner Jet Technologies, are very excited about this latest evolution of the successful L350UV label press line,” says Scott. “The features really respond to market requirements and we can point to more than 150 presses shipped to customers worldwide, many of who have ordered a second or even a third machine. As with all Screen technologies, quality and integrity of the build is high, uptime is of the highest in the industry and image quality is superb.”
Screen and Jet Technologies welcome all visitors to Labelexpo Europe to see for themselves on stand B30 in Hall 9  of Brussels Expo, Belgium, from 23-27 September. 

DTM Print has launched the DTM CX86e colour tag printer, claimed to be the world’s smallest LED dry toner colour label printer. This new digital printer helps companies produce versatile colour labels and tags.

Whether they are vouchers, coupons, value-added receipts, ID tags with photos, visitor badges, price and promotion stickers, pasted labels, sleeves, loop ribbons or labels for cardboards and boxes – with the DTM CX86e high-quality full-colour prints can be produced within seconds – directly in production, at the point-of-sale or at various places of use.

The CX86e uses the latest digital LED technology. During the electrophotographic LED printing process the image is developed on a light-sensitive drum, then it is transferred by electrostatic charge via an image transfer belt and fused by heat to the media. The labels produced that way are pin sharp, waterproof and UV-resistant. 

‘As LED print heads have no moving parts, unlike the classic laser technology, significantly less raw materials are consumed in the manufacturing process, and a space-saving design and a significantly longer service life are achieved. With a size of 198x195x380mm (WxHxD) and a weight of 9.5kg, the CX86e is more compact, robust and reliable than other printers in its class,’ explained Andreas Hoffmann, managing director of DTM Print. ‘This means it can be used almost anywhere and is easy to transport.’

Easy to operate, the system requires the user to only change a three-colour toner cartridge that guarantees thousands of prints. This eliminates the need to stock individual toner cartridges and the device is ready to use again in just a few seconds. 

Further components of the printer such as drum unit, transfer belt and fuser have been designed for a long service life with more than 100,000 prints and can also be replaced by the user in a few seconds. 

With a wide range of interfaces such as USB, Ethernet, WLAN (optional) and control interfaces, the CX86e can be used as a stand-alone unit, in a network or in an automated environment.

The external material feed of dry toner approved labels and tags are possible via roll, continuous feed paper in zigzag folding or single sheet. Single sheets must have a size of 25-86mm in width and 53-551mm in length. DTM Print provides a wide selection of DTM-certified labelstock for dry toner: starting with matte and glossy papers extending to transparent, matte and glossy polyester films as well as textured, silver, gold or other coloured materials.

The built-in rotary cutter enables the production of labels with a length of 53-551mm. Optionally, the printer can be retrofitted with a presenter module. Here a label is printed, the printer waits until it has been peeled off before printing the next label. 

‘With the DTM CX86e, we are offering companies a powerful and cost-effective printer to achieve maximum advertising impact with their produced labels and tags, to attract the customers’ attention and to ensure higher sales,’ said Andreas Hoffmann.

The delivery includes the printer driver for Windows 7/10 and the design software NiceLabel Free 2019 DTM Edition (for Windows) for simple creations of label designs. For data import and variable data printing the full version is needed. The printer can also be used with other popular label design software such as BarTender and graphic software such as Adobe Illustrator and other Windows applications.

DTM CX86e is available through authorised DTM Print resellers and distributors in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

MPS and Domino are set to launch a wider version of their hybrid MPS EF Symjet press at Labelexpo Europe 2019.

Coming in a width of 17in (430mm), the new Domino N617i unit is fully integrated into the MPS EFA flexo platform. 

At the show, the new press combination will be shown for the first time. Louise Adcock, global commercial product manager at Domino Digital Printing Solutions, said: ‘The Domino N617i is based on our proven N6-series inkjet product range, but has been designed exclusively for MPS. We are delighted that MPS is showcasing this solution at Labelexpo. The first N617i-based MPS EF Symjet deliveries are being scheduled from January 2020.’

Visitors to Labelexpo can see live demonstrations of the press at the MPS booth 11C20. Hans Poortinga, manager of the MPS Technology & Expertise Centre, commented: ‘The press will be equipped with five flexo stations, digital cold foil, a Kurz cold foil unit for single images and optical effects, lamination and die-cutting. We will show the most unique and impressive label applications. MPS’ goal is to push the limits of flexo and ink jet printing and converting.’

Domino and MPS first introduced their partnership at Labelexpo Europe 2015, launching the first hybrid EF Symjet press. Philip Easton, director at Domino Digital Printing Solutions, said: ‘From almost the first meeting we have developed an excellent working relationship with MPS. They have high standards but at the same time have been so responsive and easy to work with. There are now many MPS EF Symjet global installations benefiting from the most proven and best supported inkjet solution from a globally recognized digital inkjet company combined with a world class conventional press.’

The MPS EF Symjet press is now available in 340mm/13in and 430mm/17in widths, and can be equipped with multiple flexo units, lamination and embellishing units, die-cutting and many more converting options. 

Atze Bosma, CEO of MPS, said: ‘Productivity is one of our focus processes that extends “Beyond the machine”. With the new 17in width, we are offering our customers higher productivity, more flexibility and the possibility to open new markets and even more options for applications.’

At Labelexpo Europe 2019, Mark Andy gives a European debut to its Digital Pro line, a modular entry- to mid-market digital system.

On stand 4C45, Labelexpo attendees will see live demonstrations of Digital Pro 3, the in-line converting model fitted with semi-rotary die-cutting. The roll-to-roll configuration, Digital Pro 1, will also be on display on stand 8A60, extending Mark Andy’s presence to the ‘Digital Hall’ for the first time.  

Printing at 23.4m/min (77ft/min), the new product line comes provides production-level speed for all applications. 

Digital Series HD, a 7-color UV inkjet press with QCDC-SR, Live VDP and StitchAI will be making its first appearance in Brussels since launching in spring of 2018. Mark Andy’s hybrid inkjet system is now available in 431mm (17ih) web width, and will be demonstrated four times daily, with special demonstrations highlighting its high-speed shrink sleeve capabilities.  

The newest iteration of Mark Andy flexo technology will make its worldwide debut at Labelexpo Europe. This dual-servo driven label press is the result of a dedicated flexo engineering team, lean manufacturing and customer input, and will be unveiled live for Labelexpo Europe attendees during the show. 

Representatives from Mark Andy Print Products Europe will be on-stand during the show. Mark Andy Print Products, now supporting European converters and customers, offers all essential flexo pressroom consumables, including, plate mounting tape, doctor blades, anilox rolls, splicing tape, pressroom chemistry, and more. 

Japanese offset specialist Miyakoshi will unveil its new small-footprint printer supporting small run label production and showcase an improved MLP-C model at upcoming Labelexpo Europe this month.

Miyakoshi will present its new LED-UV inkjet printer MJP13LXV able to run at the speed up to 50m/min and 1200 X 1200 DPI resolution. The new press can be set with up to six colours and is designed to work with LED-UV inks. The company equipped it with pinning drying technology between colour applications and LED curing system. The latter is powered by Miyakoshi’s nitrogen purging technology, which reduces the odour and improves the drying process. At the end of the production line, the substrates are finally passed through a chill roller for finishing and colour fixing.

The company will be also showcasing an improved MLP-C model, equipped with UV dryers and chill rollers. This semi-rotary web offset press runs at 101m/min with a repeat length of 406,4mm. Miyakoshi introduced cold start and automatic plate change on this model to reduce substrate waste and improve timings on changeovers. Target applications are label runs between 500 - 30.000m, requiring different processes and finishes in-line. MLP-C is available in 350mm and 420mm web widths.

Dantex will show two versions of its PicoJet inkjet press at Labelexpo Europe 2019.

These digital UV inkjet presses have printing capabilities of 350mm width and 75m/min (250ft/min), with 600 DPI at 2.5pl dot size. Incorporating LED final cure, with temperature-controlled back-up roller for sensitive substrates, PicoJet incorporates static control, web cleaning and corona treatment for printing a wide variety of substrates.

PicoJet is available with a wide range of in-line finishing options: die-cutting, lamination, backslit/edge trim, slitting and rewinding. In addition, a reel-to-reel only version will be on display. The system will demonstrate its Full Variable Data functionality, which runs alongside the press’s operating software.

Dantex will also present an upgraded PicoColour UV inkjet press in CMYK + white or varnish, with HMI touchscreen, chill roller and full variable data.

Alongside Dantex’s well-established photopolymer plate sales activity will be the latest processor technology, AquaFlex 920F, which has been designed to work with the new ‘high speed process’ and filtration-free UV flexo plate, RapidoFlex.

For digital finishing, the company is showing four new fully modular digital finishing machines including hot stamping, embossing and flatbed screen. Other new modules are the Lasx laser die-cutting system, a complete multilayer label module and a high speed non-stop line with Gigafast semi-rotary die-cutting at 160m/min. The system can be upgraded with any modules in the future.

Grafotronic is offering a range of compact machines with three models and for the first time the MCF with a new and operator-friendly design.

Three new inspection slitter rewinders are being introduced at the show. The HI3 for 100 percent inspection and high-speed slitting is the third generation of the HI with hundreds of installations worldwide.

The SR3 is a new vertical slitter rewinder with a lower budget but fully servo driven and the Pharma2 is a ‘200 percent’ re-inspection machine for pharma and security labels. The machine is equipped with inkjet numbering with inspection and automatic set up of tensions and slitting systems.

Grafotronic is also showing converting machines from the DC2 range with four new innovations that will be producing blanks and pre-printed labels during the show.

German thin film technology specialist Kurz has unveiled the new KPW XU cold foil for narrow web printing.

The new development aims to provide converters with a cold foil that combines good processing characteristics and overprintability as well as excellent finishing results. KPW XU is characterized as a versatile grade that offers a high covering power and edge definition, high-gloss finish, and good adhesion when applied.

‘The newly developed cold foil makes processing easy for label printers. Provided the machine and materials have been precisely tailored to one another, trouble-free application of the KPW XU can be expected. Optimal decoration results can be consistently achieved, when using this cold foil, regardless of the design,' said Jens Niemann, head of Application Technology Graphics at Kurz.

The company will be demonstrating the versatility of the new KPW XU cold foil at the upcoming Labelexpo Europe in Brussels this September.  

Toshiba Tec has launched new BA400 mid-range barcode label printers able to achieve increased speeds of up to eight inches per second and offering a wider range of connectivity options.

The next-generation devices feature new processors and enabling multiple printer language emulations to enhance compatibility, and upgradeable operating system for added high degree of future proofing. The new printers also compatible with Toshiba’s unique RFID technology.

BA400 series also features dual-band Wi-Fi, built-in Bluetooth functionality for easy integration with mobile Android and iOS applications, and support for Android NFC pairing to provide on-demand connections via Bluetooth.

There are currently two models available: the BA410 with its metal case, developed for use in demanding manufacturing environments, while the small footprint BA420 is designed for workplaces with a limited space. Both models are available with 203 dpi or 300 dpi print resolutions.

All printers incorporate Toshiba Common Graphic LCD screens, as well as front access media loading. The printers are configured and maintained via a web interface, with support for the Microsoft Windows, iOS and Android operating systems.

Available optional accessories include cutter and peel-off modules, serial interface and Centronics parallel interface boards, wireless LAN modules, UHF RFID kits, expansion I/O boards, RTC (real time clock) modules and fanfold paper guides.

Durst, manufacturer of advanced digital printing and production technologies, will launch and present groundbreaking innovations and show live demonstrations of the updated Tau RSC portfolio – including the launch of a new model – on its stand C50 in Hall 9 at Labelexpo 2019 in Brussels, Belgium, from 24-27 September.

Introduced two years ago, the Tau 330 RSC and Tau 330 RSC E UV inkjet single-pass presses set new benchmarks in the label industry with already more than 50 installations all around the world. Visitors will be able to have a close look at the technology and different applications used by customers. New features such as a special high opacity white and high speed white print mode are helping to boost the performance and range of applications for customers.

The focus on the booth will also be on the new software portfolio offered by Durst Professional Services. New features of the Durst Workflow Label combined with the Durst SmartShop and integration packages help to fulfil Industry 4.0 standards to drive the Tau RSC portfolio.

Helmuth Munter, Durst’s Segment Manager, Labels and Package Printing, said: “We are really looking forward to Labelexpo 2019 where we will be unveiling more groundbreaking innovations. This will include new software and the expansion of our updated Tau RSC portfolio that will set the base for the future of industrial digital inkjet printing.”

AstroNova has launched the new QuickLabel QL-120X, what the company says is the first tabletop digital colour label printer with a two-year warranty.

Built on AstroNova’s Kiaro! platform, the QL-120X is a flexible, high-quality, efficient solution for on-demand digital colour label printing. The product features economical, high-capacity ink cartridges and efficient, dye-based inks.

“The QL-120X combines vibrant colour quality and exceptional resolution producing sharp, crisp, clear images and fast print speeds to deliver what we expect will be the best customer experience on the market,” says AstroNova president and CEO Greg Woods. “This next-generation printer is designed to operate for extended periods in rigorous production environments, making it the perfect colour label printing solution for an array of industries such as food and beverage, biomedical products, nutraceuticals, hardware, and cosmetics.”   

Equipped with next-generation printhead technology, the QL-120X prints three times more labels (over the life of the printheads) than the original QL-120. Four individual, snap-in, colour printheads allow for rapid on-site changeover, eliminating replacement downtime or costly printer refurbishment. The printer and printhead technology are covered under the two-year standard warranty. With these improvements, the total cost of ownership is reduced by up to 35% compared with competitive pigment-based labelling technologies, resulting in significant savings over the lifetime of the printer, AstroNova says.

The QL-120X enables customers to:

Built on AstroNova’s Kiaro! platform, the QL-120X is a flexible, high-quality, efficient solution for on-demand digital colour label printing. The product features economical, high-capacity ink cartridges and efficient, dye-based inks.

“The QL-120X combines vibrant colour quality and exceptional resolution producing sharp, crisp, clear images and fast print speeds to deliver what we expect will be the best customer experience on the market,” says AstroNova president and CEO Greg Woods. “This next-generation printer is designed to operate for extended periods in rigorous production environments, making it the perfect colour label printing solution for an array of industries such as food and beverage, biomedical products, nutraceuticals, hardware, and cosmetics.”   

Equipped with next-generation printhead technology, the QL-120X prints three times more labels (over the life of the printheads) than the original QL-120. Four individual, snap-in, colour printheads allow for rapid on-site changeover, eliminating replacement downtime or costly printer refurbishment. The printer and printhead technology are covered under the two-year standard warranty. With these improvements, the total cost of ownership is reduced by up to 35% compared with competitive pigment-based labelling technologies, resulting in significant savings over the lifetime of the printer, AstroNova says.

The QL-120X enables customers to:
Save money on inks and other media:  The QL-120X delivers enhanced 1200 dpi print quality, delivering printed labels at a savings of up to 35% over competing pigment ink-based technologies.

Ready for enterprise networks: The QL-120X features a native printer driver and utility for Windows, allowing the printer to be seamlessly deployed in a wide variety of business operating environments with its built-in network functionality.

“The design and benefits of the QL-120X reflect our philosophy of being a strategic partner to our customers by providing not merely a printer but a complete colour labelling solution,” Woods says. “In terms of quality, speed, and cost efficiency, the QL-120X raises the bar and sets a new standard for on-demand digital colour label printing.”  

Ahead of the next Dscoop Edge conference where PSPs, partners and brands converge, HP has announced HP Indigo digital printing inks are now certified for compostability in home and industrial. This is the latest in sustainability achievements allowing converters and brands to print smaller quantities, while helping to reduce inventory waste and improve their overall environmental impact.

TUV Austria awarded the “OK Compost Home” and “OK Compost Industrial” marks to HP, verifying HP Indigo ElectroInks can be used as printing inks1 for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation in accordance with leading standards, such as EU regulation EN 13432. 

According to Grandview Market research, the “green packaging” market is poised to reach $237.8 billion by 2024, registering 5.7% CAGR during the forecast period.

“Demand for sustainable packaging solutions is driving converters to digital printing, allowing converters and brands to help significantly lower the environmental impact of printing,” said Alon Bar-Shany, General Manager, HP Indigo. “HP Indigo printing eliminates the need for plates or cylinders and offers the freedom to print smaller quantities, while helping reduce waste during production and unused inventory.”

At Dscoop Edge in PortAventura, Spain, June 19-21 and at Labelexpo in Brussels, Belgium, Sept. 24-27, HP Indigo will present its portfolio of sustainable packaging solutions, certifications and samples. 

HP Indigo supports packaging printing with its portfolio of presses including the HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press, HP Indigo 8000 and HP Indigo 6900 for flexible packaging. In addition to TUV certification, HP’s growing set of sustainability achievements includes:
. HP Indigo joined CEFLEX (Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging), as the first digital press provider for the flexible packaging market. CEFLEX is a European consortium of companies collaborating to advance the performance of flexible packaging in a circular economy, throughout the entire value chain. 

. Deinking tests conducted by Cadel Deinking of Spain verified that HP Indigo digitally printed flexible packaging, including coating, can be fully de-inked. The results on a range of substrates open new ways for brands and service providers to work towards higher sustainability, where de-inking is an essential stage in the recycling process.

. HP-certified Michelman primers for flexible packaging recently passed extensive testing for ecotoxicity, heavy metals and fluorine content and conforms to leading industry standards including EN 13432 (2000) and ASTM D6400 (2012) for use in compostable packaging.

Packaging customers around the world are moving to HP Indigo digital printing to drive new sustainable packaging businesses:

ePac Flexible Packaging, an all-digital provider with locations across the US, is producing hi-barrier recyclable Polyethylene (PE) pouches on its HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press with solventless lamination. "ePac is also engaged in the testing of compostable films, and we expect to soon go to market with this as an added option," says Jack Knott, ePac CEO.

ePac is expanding to Europe, scheduled to open its first site in the UK later this year. “Europe can benefit from higher sustainability, using digital printing for on-demand production of its volume of SKUs and using recyclable film in a more eco-friendly process compared with conventional printing,” said Johnny Hobeika, Managing Director of ePac Holdings Europe.

Foxpak of Ireland has reinvented its business around sustainability, recently opening a new manufacturing plant in Collon, Ireland, using the HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press and HP Indigo WS6800 Digital Press, to produce digitally printed compostable and recyclable packaging.

Tuboplast Hispania  of Spain (a division of CTL-TH Packaging), well known in Europe for its high-end tube packaging, has won the prestigious ETMA Award in 2019 for its sustainable approach for producing 100% IML Polypropylene (PP) tubes, allowing for 100% recyclability. Using their HP Indigo digital press, Tuboplast can develop innovative tube packaging solutions with the highest standards of quality and sustainability. 

Ultimate Digital, operating two HP Indigo 20000 Digital Presses in the UK, has partnered with Kids Ink to promote a more sustainable solution for school lunch bags. Children across the country can design and print their personalised lunch bags via a web-to-print platform. The recyclable bags are printed by Ultimate and lined with antimicrobial protection for reuse.

Avery Dennison label and packaging materials North America has expanded its portfolio of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified products, which now totals more than 500 products. Avery Dennison says this is the largest in the industry.

The number of FSC products will continue to increase as the company works to meet its aggressive sustainability sourcing goal: to source 100 percent certified claim paper products by the year 2025, 70 percent of which must be FSC-certified. To date, 84 percent of all paper facestocks offered by Avery Dennison in North America are certified, and of that, 78 percent are FSC-certified.

‘As an industry leader, Avery Dennison has worked hard to add to our FSC-certified portfolio, growing from 150 products in 2016 to more than 500 products today,’ said Tina Hart, vice president, marketing, Avery Dennison label and packaging materials. ‘No one has more FSC-certified products in the industry today than Avery Dennison. We offer more than four times the number of FSC-certified products than our competition and plan to source 100 percent certified paper five years before they do.’

FSC is the standard for sustainable forestry practices. To achieve FSC-certification, products must come from well-managed sources that provide environmental, social and economic benefits. Avery Dennison also partners with the Rainforest Alliance, which works directly with forest stakeholders to create sustainable management plans and improve market opportunities for these small landowners.

‘We work hand-in-hand every day to help converters and brand owners in markets such as food, wine and spirits, and dairy reach their sustainability goals,’ said Sarah Sanzo, product compliance and sustainability manager at Avery Dennison. ‘The demand from consumers for accountability has never been greater, so we must continue to lead the way in making our industry more sustainable.’

Mactac announces the launch of three new innovative and unique protective overlaminates for product packaging applications.

Designed to give product-packaging labels added protection as well as dramatic appearances and superior shelf appeal, the new overlaminates are ideal for packaging applications in markets such as health and beauty, household goods and food packaging.

Featuring highly creative brand-enhancing finishes, the new products include:

LTC01275 – a 0.7-mil matte clear soft touch overlaminate that adds a soft feeling and luxurious impression to packaging labels. Features a high clarity acrylic adhesive, a 50# white glassine liner and high scratch resistance to protect and maintain the clean look of the label.

LTCREVI901A – a 0.75-mil multilayered holographic overlaminate that changes colour depending on the viewing angle. Features a clear polyester film that gives a metallic tone without metal, an acrylic adhesive and a 50# white glassine liner.

LTCFR1125-25 – a 1.0-mil clear matte top-coated overlaminate that offers labels a subtle flat and soft finished appearance. Features a clear polyester film with an acrylic adhesive and a 50# white glassine liner.

“As the need to influence consumer purchasing decisions has increased, so has the importance of eye-catching packaging,” said Kim Hensley, marketing manager, Mactac Performance Adhesives. “Packaging labels are not just a source of information, they reflect a brand’s image and enhance consumer perception of a product’s quality. The unique soft touch, color change and matte finish characteristics of these overlaminates creates a rich appeal and differentiates a product from the rest, drawing and attracting customers.”

Mactac overlaminates serve two important functions – added protection and visual appeal. The new overlaminates were formulated to ensure a brand’s graphics remain in tact for the lifetime of the product-packaging label and elevate a label’s finished appearance and aesthetic qualities to enhance brand image and create outstanding shelf appeal.

The overlaminates were originally developed by Mactac’s parent company, LINTEC Corporation, which provides a wide range of pressure-sensitive papers and films to produce labels and seals for a variety of applications, such as food labelling, consumer electronics and automotive identification. They are known for their superior ability to provide resistance against chemicals, water and abrasion to help avoid loss of label legibility.