Bobst laminator News from around Asia and the world

Heidelberg sells Gallus

Heidelberg announced it will be selling its label press business, Gallus Group to Swiss company, benpac holding ag. With the sale, Heidelberg will be focusing on its core business of sheetfed printing.

In the future, Heidelberg and benpac will work together closely on the Gallus Labelfire digital label press. Heidelberg will continue supplying the digital printing unit (DPU) and consumables for this press.

“We are selling our narrow-web rotary and rotary flexographic printing activities to focus more closely on innovative solutions for the entire printed sheet value chain. We will be retaining our in-house digital expertise and, by collaborating with benpac on the Gallus Labelfire, we will also be making further progress with the digitization of conventional presses. At the same time, we will remain a major supplier on the growing label market with our sheetfed offset presses,” said Heidelberg CEO Rainer Hundsdörfer.

The transaction will see benpac assume ownership of all five Gallus Holding AG sites with a total of some 430 employees in Germany and Switzerland. With an agreed purchase price of some 120 million euros, Heidelberg is expecting the deal to generate earnings in the mid two-digit million-euro range. The parameters will be finalized at the time of closing. The sale, which still needs to be approved by the relevant bodies and is subject to other condition precedents, is set to take effect before the end of 2020.

“Our aim is to ensure the long-term financial stability of Heidelberg, and all the measures since our transformation started in March this year have been geared toward this objective. Selling the Gallus Group is another key part of our realignment and follows on from the successes we have achieved so far during the transformation process. This further major boost to our liquidity and Group equity will be a big help,

especially during the coronavirus crisis,” underlined Heidelberg CFO Marcus A. Wassenberg.

Heidelberg and benpac cooperate closely in sales and service for the Gallus portfolio

benpac and Heidelberg have agreed that Heidelberg will continue to manage the sales and service of the Gallus portfolio in close cooperation after the takeover. Gallus customers will therefore continue to benefit from the proven quality and reliability of the world's largest service network in the print media industry.

"The acquisition of the Gallus Group is of great strategic importance for benpac holding ag. It completes our overall range in the packaging sector and ensures that the entire value chain is covered. The expertise of the Gallus Group will contribute to the further development of our group of companies," said Marco Corvi, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of benpac holding ag. With production facilities in Switzerland and Germany, Gallus develops and manufactures both conventional and digital narrow-web rotary label presses. The machine portfolio is complemented by a range of screen-printing plates (Gallus Screeny), decentralized global service activities, and a comprehensive selection of accessories and spare parts. Heidelberg Web Carton Converting provides high-end webfed printing solutions for folding cartons.

Thailand’s Wongeak Industry installs HP Indigo 6900

Thai labelling product supplier Wongeak Industry Co., Ltd recently acquired the HP Indigo 6900 Digital Press to boost productivity by agile printing and converting short and medium runs of labels and hang tags for its leading brands and clients.

With the new HP Indigo 6900 , Wongeak can meet growing customer demand for high value and top quality short-run orders of stock keeping unit (SKU) labelling, including variable data printing of labels, stickers and hang tags. Since installing the HP Indigo 6900 solution in December 2019, the company has achieved greater productivity with such orders, along with faster customer turnaround times.

Wongeak Industry is Thailand’s leading supplier of brand and product identification solutions and value-added accessories. Products include printed fabric labels, woven labels, hang tags, heat transfer labels, stickers, custom packaging, and security products.

“Recently, we’ve seen an increasing trend for short-run orders, so it’s a very important market for us,” said Tanate Wongjiratitikarn, Director of Wongeak Industry. “But prior to installing the HP Indigo 6900 Digital Press, it took us a long time to get these orders set up and printed. That added to overall costs and the time it took for our customers to get to market. With the HP Indigo, all that’s changed dramatically. Now, we can leverage the press’s wider versatility to open new markets and new applications to serve our clients”

The HP Indigo 6900 Digital Press is a narrow-web printing solution for labels and packaging production. Features such as variable data printing also mean that Wongeak Industry has been able to automate many of its processes, simplifying production and speeding up operations.

“The Indigo 6900’s versatility has really helped us to improve productivity, differentiate ourselves from our competitors, and provide better service to our customers,” said Wongjiratitikarn.

Konica Minolta’s AccurioWide inks achieve Greenguard certification

Konica Minolta announced it has achieved GREENGUARD Gold Certification for its AccurioWide inks in a move that underpins its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

For decades, Konica Minolta has been committed to sustainability across its global operations. Its environmental action plan, Eco Vision 2050, sets ambitious goals to reduce its carbon footprint and preserve the planet, while enabling customers to do the same. Products receiving the GREENGUARD certifications are scientifically proven to meet some of the world’s most rigorous third-party emissions standards, helping to reduce indoor air pollution and the risk of chemical exposure.

In addition to maintaining low indoor emissions, Konica Minolta’s AccurioWide UV LED inkjet inks for sign and display printing offer the following benefits: • Wide colour gamut and high colour vibrancy for dynamic results that impress and inspire • Versatility to print on rigid or flexible media with accuracy and excellent adhesion to broaden the scope of possible applications • Lowest ink consumption per square foot – the lowest on the market GREENGUARD certification is provided by UL, a global safety science company that promotes safe, secure and sustainable living and working environments for people by the application of science, hazard-based safety engineering and data acumen.

Landa S10 press installed at K-1 Packaging

Landa Digital Printing announces that K-1 Packaging Group has taken delivery of a new Landa S10 Nanographic Printing Press. The Landa S10 is currently being installed at the company’s California headquarters in City of Industry, outside of Los Angeles.

Landa announced that US packaging company, K-1 Packaging Group is installing the Landa S10 Nanographic printing press. The S10 will produce short to medium run static and variable jobs that consists primarily of 5,000 sheets-and-under. The work includes folding cartons, countertop displays, labels, and litholam corrugated boxes.

The most important factor in K-1 President, Mike Tsai’s assessment of the press was the speed in producing back-to-back, short to medium run jobs that made comparison to conventional equipment production times – including makeready.

With a Landa S10 running at its rated speed of 6,500 large format (B1 / 41 in.) sheets per hour, Landa showed Tsai and his team what would be eight makereadies on a conventional press, but achieved in only an hour and ten minutes on the Landa S10. According to Landa, this is three times faster than any digital solution, and six times faster than a digital press closest to the 41 inch format.

“The 40 inch press is Landa’s domain,” Tsai said. “No one is able to run static or variable jobs as quickly. In a manufacturing environment, this means that we will be more productive, and able to give our customers greater flexibil

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“This is part of the future that Landa is helping K-1, and our client, to exist in today,” Tsai said.

Thailand’s Siam Toppan wins award for AR packaging

Siam Toppan Packaging (Siam Toppan) has become the first company in the Toppan Group to win WorldStar Packaging Awards. Siam Toppan’s packages were selected for their innovative product presentation ideas employing attractive design and augmented reality (AR).

The WorldStar Packaging Awards is organized by the World Packaging Organization and recognize packages demonstrating advanced packaging technologies and outstanding design. The 2020 awards featured 321 entries from 36 countries, with 214 packages receiving accolades.

Siam Toppan’s paper-based packages for snacks given as gifts employ original graphic design and structures that makes use of the company’s folding carton technology. The packages received plaudits for their eye-catching appearance, the adoption of eco-friendly reusable material, and the innovative use of AR code to provide information on the snacks inside.

“Receiving WorldStar Packaging Awards is great news for Siam Toppan and the Toppan Group,” said Satoshi Kawada, Managing Director of Siam Toppan Packaging. “At Siam Toppan we pride ourselves on the

provision of high-quality packaging that demonstrates outstanding design, functionality, and ingenuity and look forward to continuing to exploit our strengths to offer more eco-friendly, smart packaging solutions to all our customers.”

Whisky may soon be sold in 100% plastic free paper-based bottle

Diageo has created a 100% plastic free paper-based spirits bottle, made entirely from sustainably sourced wood. According to the company, this would be the first time such a bottle is made for spirits. The bottle will debut with whisky brand, Johnnie Walker, in early 2021.

It has been created through a new partnership with Pilot Lite, a venture management company, to launch Pulpex Limited, a new sustainable packaging technology company. Pulpex Limited has established a partner consortium of FMCG companies in non-competing categories including Unilever, and

PepsiCo, with further partners expected to be announced later in the year. The partnering companies are each expecting to launch their own branded paper bottles in 2021.

“We’re proud to have created this world first. We are constantly striving to push the boundaries within sustainable packaging and this bottle has the potential to be truly groundbreaking. It feels fitting that we

should launch it with Johnnie Walker, a brand that has often led the way in innovation throughout its 200 years existence,” said Ewan Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer, Diageo PLC.

Pulpex Limited has developed a ‘first-of-its-kind’ scalable paper-based bottle designed and developed to be 100% plastic free and expected to be fully recyclable. The bottle is made from sustainably sourced pulp to meet food-safe standards and will be fully recyclable in standard waste streams. The technology will allow brands to rethink their packaging designs, or move existing designs into paper, whilst not compromising on the existing quality of the product.

Pulpex Limited’s technology allows it to produce a variety of plasticfree, single mould bottles that can be used across a range of consumer goods. The packaging has been designed to contain a variety of liquid products and will form part of Diageo’s commitment towards Goal 12 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: ‘Responsible Consumption and Production’.

Kornit Digital Acquires Custom Gateway, Expanding Cloud Software Workflow Portfolio for End-to-End Management of OnDemand Apparel and Home Décor Production

Acquisition marks important next step in expanding strategic partnership with leading brands, retailers, and suppliers as they accelerate digital transformation “I am very pleased to announce the acquisition of Custom Gateway as we augment our marketleading capabilities with their powerful software, which we’ve evaluated thoroughly, including via several strategic customers we share,” said Ronen Samuel, Kornit Digital CEO.

“Brands, retailers, suppliers, and fulfillers of all sizes stand to grow considerably through digital transformation, and with Custom Gateway, Kornit will revolutionize ondemand digital textile production with a unique end-to-end solution, giving us a powerful competitive advantage in the market.”

Custom Gateway’s robust and functionality-rich cloud platform is suitable for both B2B and B2C business models and handles all steps of efficient on-demand production. The platform enables content sourcing, creation, content management, and display at the front end. Orders created are captured by a robust order management system and are directed to the appropriate back-end production sites using sophisticated routing algorithms.

Once orders proceed to the production floor, they are smartly routed and managed, to allow for efficient on-demand production on a mass scale. The entire process from order creation to shipment is enriched with integrations to existing IT environments, data-driven decisioning, and business intelligence analytics. By seamlessly connecting front end (online or other storefront) to the most suitable back end (ondemand production and logistics operation), the technology enables customers to realize the full efficiency, scalability, and profitability benefits of digitization.

Supplementing Kornit’s Konnect platform for visibility and control of print operations, Custom Gateway’s platform offers Kornit customers valuable business insights for agility in the face of market dynamics and disruption.

Custom Gateway has over 300 active customers globally, including brand names such as the U.K.’s largest fashion retailer Next, as well as other leading sports, fashion, and content brands.

“We’re excited about bringing these two creative cultures together and know from experience that Kornit and Custom Gateway are built upon a common vision,” said Andrew Talbot, Custom Gateway CEO. “Together, we will provide global brands and fulfillers optimal control of their business, ensuring swift, socially responsible fulfillment, and in a profitable model that produces and ships orders in real time, without excess inventory or labor.”

“On-demand production is overtaking traditional retail models, and the producers who harness all available data will win the marketplace,” said Omer Kulka, Kornit Digital CMO. “We’re excited to welcome Custom Gateway to the Kornit family, a development that will ultimately give end consumers the products and experiences they expect.”

EFI to host online version of Connect Conference

The EFI Engage Conference will deliver print and packaging education program

Instead of its signature annual Connect Conference, EFI will be reinterpreting the experience on an online platform called the EFI Engage Conference. The conference builds on the its recent webinar and online training series for print and packaging professionals.

Sessions will cover a broad range of technologies including EFI Productivity Suite MIS/ERP, EFI Fiery digital front end and EFI Display Graphics and Corrugated inkjet printing solutions. The new virtual conference will also provide the company’s most intensive packaging training yet, with in-depth instruction on integrated workflow automation for corrugated and flexible packaging, labels and folding cartons.

According to EFI attendees will have the same access to executives, networking opportunities, indepth best practices and training sessions as at Connect. Small and interactive sessions will be available

for demonstrations of the latest and greatest software. EFI is also going to be offering sessions in multiple languages for customers around the globe.

“EFI puts an extraordinary amount of time and energy into offering one of the world’s best print and packaging education programs for our annual Connect users conference. Given the uncertainly involved with safely executing in-person events and the careful planning it takes to assemble top-tier content for customers, having a virtual conference in 2021 is the best option to deliver the valuable information that has become the hallmark of the Connect experience,” said Ken Hanulec, vice president, Worldwide Corporate Marketing, EFI.

Beginning on January 25, 2021, the event will be held on six days over the course of two weeks. Compared with Connect event, Engage will feature shorter individual sessions – spread out over a longer number of days and with consideration of customers in varying time zones. Sessions will be timed to minimize the disruption to customers’ work schedules.

In the sessions, participants will gain clear, detailed information on choosing the right technologies to navigate an uncharted market and maintain business continuity. It is part of a commitment to help customers future-proof their print and packaging operations by implementing efficient, effective workflows and production strategies that can create stronger businesses, even in uncertain times.

Classroom-style educational tracks will highlight the latest advancements and newest features in integrated print and packaging workflows. Attendees can learn from their peers as well as through virtual think tanks and roundtable discussions.

Scodix launches new productivity workflow solution

Scodix Studio Station enables job processing up to 60% faster and two new registration methods

Scodix announced the launch of a new productivity workflow package, Scodix Studio Station. According to Scodix, the new workflow solution can process jobs up to 60% faster for Ultra Digital Enhancement Press users.

“This new solution allows printers to prepare more jobs, faster, handle large volume variable-data jobs and process jobs from various sources more efficiently,” said Amit Shvartz, Scodix CMO. “As every digital printer knows, uptime is imperative to profitability, and Scodix Studio Station will help printers maximize the efficiency and productivity of their digital enhancement operations.”

Scodix Studio Station is an enhancement digital front end (EDFE) with Scodix software running on dedicated Scodix hardware. The system has an external RIP server, making RIPs faster and automatic, with an easy-to-use interface, and incorporates two new registration methods.

“Scodix has always provided best-inclass registration. Until now that has been achieved by detecting four OPA dots. With Scodix ARP™ (Automatic Registration Process), Scodix Studio Station can achieve registration down to 100µm, using corner detection or CMYK objects detection. For trade printers and PSPs receiving jobs from lots of different sources, this will simplify the process and allow them to access the full power of Scodix Digital Enhancement,” said Shvartz.

Scodix Studio Station was developed for the Scodix Ultra family of Digital Enhancement Presses and joins Scodix Studio W2P and Scodix Studio W2P Customized in the company’s workflow solutions portfolio. “Scodix digital enhancement provides a perfect solution for businesses looking to distinguish themselves from the competition. With over 350 installations in more than 65 countries, Scodix is constantly developing new ways to add value for its diverse customer-base,” asserted Shvartz.

“As with all our products, we look to provide maximum value, productivity and ROI – the new Scodix Studio Station does just that.”

2020

16 th

FREE ENTRY FORM DEADLINE 5PM NOVEMBER 3RD 2020 3 Windy Hill Drive, Mulgrave,3170 Victoria, Australia

SINGAPORE - THAILAND - INDIA - MALAYSIA - JAPAN - HONG KONG - CHINA - KOREA - TAIWAN - VIETNAM - INDONESIA - SRI LANKA - PHILIPPINES - CAMBODIA - MYNAMAR

The annual Asian Print Awards was founded to recognise outstanding achievement in the print and packaging industries across Asia. With more than half the world’s population represented in this fast growing area, communication in the form of printed matter links Asia’s diverse cultures. It is imperative that such print achievements do not go unrecognised, especially among the population base that Asia enjoys.

The Awards are judged on a wholly quality-oriented set of criteria to ensure that fair play is enacted at all times.

The Independent Judging Panel comprises highly qualified personnel from within Asia and around the world. The independent judging panel has no knowledge of the actual entrants details. ALL ENTRIES ARE NUMBER-CODED. Entries must be commercially produced work.

The Asian Print Awards is the only regional print quality competition of its kind in Asia. Supported by leading industry-supply companies, any progressive quality print house should enter and prove that they are the best - by winning the Gold, Silver or Bronze award. Proving pride in quality awareness is what customers love to see. It’s not just empty words, you can prove it.

Categories 1-8 : Offset Printing Only

1. Calendars – any format

Sheetfed Magazines

Book printing – less than 4 colours

Book printing – 4 or more colours

5. Limited Editions & Artwork Reproductions (under 1000 print run)

6. Web Offset – Coated stock 70gsm and above

7. Web Offset –LWC (light weight coated) 65gsm or less

8. Offset Packaging products

Categories 9 - 21 : Digital Printing Only

9. Book Printing

10. Calendars

11. Personalised photo books – any format.

12. Posters

13. Showcards & Point-of-Sale material

14. Digital Magazines

15. Gold, Silver and Special colours 20. Digital Labels

21 Digital - Outdoor Billboard

Categories 22-26 : Specialty Categories

22. Multi–Piece Productions and Campaigns

Any substrate or print process: Multi–piece Production must be 3 or more items such as folder, leaflets, ring binders, inserts, envelopes including their contents.

Campaigns must be 3 or more items with a consistent theme produced during the year by the same printer for the same client.

23. Embellishment

Any substrate – any combination - for example: embossing – diecutting – foil stamping –laminating - coating.

24. Innovation / Specialty Printing

The entry must exhibit any innovative and/ special application of machinery, process, substrate or finishing.

A short description must be provided for the judges, detailing reasons for entry into this category.

25. Company Self Promotion Any item printed to promote a product or company involved in the graphic arts industry. Self promotion cannot be entered into any other Category.

26. Judges Special Award (A job that catches all the Judges’ attention)

16. Restaurant Menus

17. Limited Editions & Artwork reproductions (under 500 print run)

18. Digital Proofing (must supply the digital proof and the prinnted product)

19. Digital Packaging Best in Digital Award

Best in Offset Award

Best Use of Colour Award

SECTION A (This will not be shown to judges). Please fill the form in capital letters.

Entered by (company name): ______________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person: ________________________________________________ Email______________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone: __________________________________ Country________________________________

Category entered __________________________

Title of entry (ie: " Paul's Ice Cream" ): ____________________________________________________________

Printed by (Printers name): ________________________________________________________________________________________

Client name: ________________________________________________________

Designer Pre Press House: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Brand of Printing Machine used: _____________________________________________________________________________________

Stock supplied by (Merchant’s name): ______________________________________________________________________________

Brand name of stocks Coated Uncoated: ____________________________________________________________________________

By signing here you accept the rules and conditions of the Asian Print Awards

Signature over printed name_____________________________ Name_____________________________________________________

SECTION B Production information to be shown to judges ( tape this securely to the back of your entries)

Category entered (Same as above): __________ Entry number (Administrative use only] ____________

Title of entry (ie: " Paul's Ice Cream" )__________________________________________Print method: _______________________

Number of ink colours (4-6-8 etc) ________ Any Embellishment (foil stamping etc) __________________________________

Quantity produced (Print run copies): ___________ Other technical details (finishing processes etc) ________________________ This Year due to COVID-19 the Judging will be done in Australia ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Awards will be held in December in Asia

16th Asian Print Awards 2020 ENTRIES SUBMISSION CLOSES 3rd NOVEMBER 2020, 5pm Send all entries to: APAM Pte Ltd, 3 Windy Hill Drive, Mulgrave,3170 Victoria, Australia Email: paul@printinnovationasia.com Additional entry forms can be downloaded at www.printinnovationasia.com Please note that entries are non-returnable unless a self addressed courier pack is supplied.