November Print Innovation Asia

Print INNOVATION

Asia

Magazine

Serving Printing, Packaging and Publishing Industries across Asia Pacific since 1985 Issue 11 2021

Full interview page 14

HP installs the first T400S digital packaging press in China at Xiamen Hexing Packaging.

Full story on page 18

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_018 022 Contents Page 4

What’s Holding Back Digitally Printed Packaging?

10

FUJI Film Business Innovation -

Reborn to create global value

12

Digital enhancement press delivers award winning

packaging solutions

14

Xeikon announces VariOne – the true differentiator

automating variable data for image creation

16

Why physical print is important in a digital world

18

Hexing meets growing demand for personalised

packaging with HP PageWide T400S

22

A totally different ball game

24

Industrial Printer shows continued market strength in

Q1 2021, led by large format

26

New Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 75-6+L

for Ipoh Malaysia

28

World's first metal printing G7 certification

32

Thailand’s Eka Global increases packaging production

34

Presses Deliver Overwhelming Productivity

38

HP launches new range of wide format printersn

40

Shrink sleeve coatings & inks designed to increase

the Competitive Edge

42

Creating Safe, Sustainable Food Packaging

with the Right Ink

46

Shrink sleeve coatings & inks designed to increase

the Competitive Edge

50

Paper Is an Effective – and Cost-Effective – Cold

Chain Packing Solution

52

The most mispelled mispeled misspelled brand names

on the internet.

54

Indusrty news from the region & around the world

Issue 11 2021

Print INNOVATION

Asia Magazine

Published by Asian Print Awards Management Pte Ltd 65 Chulia Street #46-23 OCBC Centre 049513 Singapore Print Innovation Asia Labels and Packaging Innovation Asia Asian Print Awards Packageing Excellence Awards Label and Packaging Conferences Publisher

Paul Callaghan paul@printinnovationasia.com

Editorial

Elizabeth Liew elizabeth@printinnovationasia.com Editor Sha Jumari sha@printinnovationasia.com Packaging Sales

Elizabeth Liew elizabeth@printinnovationasia.com

Print Innovation Asia Issue 11 2021

4

What’s Holding Bac Printed Packaging?

When all the market research of recent years is projecting market growth of between 10 and 15 per cent CAGR over the coming years, with corresponding advances in market share, it may sound unnecessarily provocative to suggest that digital print in packaging has failed to fulfil expectations.

The value proposition of digital print is familiar enough: the ability to go from PDF to POS in a matter of hours doesn’t just make short runs and cool customisation campaigns economical but enables supply chain efficiencies and leaner stock management. Digitally printing a package thus caters to a swathe of key market trends and demands from agile marketing campaigns and proliferation of SKUs to streamlining processes for faster time to market. However, in off-the-record conversations over the last couple of years, both brand owners and digital print specialists have confided a mild disappointment that

some of the more idealistic predictions of digital conquest have not yet come to pass. What are the reasons for this?

And is the post-Covid world closer to the tipping point?

We don’t all need bespoke We’ll start with perhaps the most basic and obvious point: the largest chunk of the market is still serving long-run jobs for packaging destined for the shelves of bricks-and-mortar retailers.

As Montserrat Peidro, head of Heidelberg’s digital print business, remarks: “The main advantages of digital print can be quantified in terms

of cost per box in short-mid runs, in faster turn-around times resulting in a leaner supply chain and in its ability to produce unique boxes profitably.

Examples include packages with security features, unique identifiers for track and tracing of goods, codes for connected packaging and those personalised for a specific individual.”

Yet of course there remains huge demand for generic packaging produced in high volumes and at high speeds – and analogue presses still handle the bigger runs more cost effectively, in addition to which they tend to be a considerably less costly investment.

This is hardly news, but those of us who get intoxicated by disruptive innovation could do well to remind ourselves of the enduring gravitational pull of simple mathematics. As long as not everyone needs bespoke, there will be a place for analogue.

Agile technology on its own won’t accelerate time to market That said, there is a significant and growing packaging market space where digital print can add value. Brand owners need to differentiate their multiple SKUs and increase frequency of marketing campaigns to maintain consumer attention. In this landscape, flexibility rather than raw throughput is key to productivity.

'Companies can now target messages directly at groups of customers and join social movements'

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ck Digitally

“The printing speed of analogue does not take into consideration all the presses set-ups, including colour calibrations, waste and plates making and mounting,” says Marcelo Akierman (HP Indigo marketing manager – EMEA region). “The time to market printing digitally is dramatically reduced; brand owners can do the proofing on site and when the target is achieved sign on the final substrate.”

However, all too often the end user isn’t thinking as fast as the technology.

As a major corrugated converter recently observed to me, they can handle an artwork change in little more than a day on traditional presses. If the brand owner’s marketing sign-off takes days or weeks, is it possible that the bottleneck is as much a business systems problem as a technological one? Brands need to become as agile as digital presses if they are to leverage their full potential – and they need to get used to making more decentralised marketing decisions.

Harnessing the value of digital print will rely on integration into the wider value chain.

“We often forget it, but packaging production is more than printing and part of a longer supply chain – from packaging design to printers, converters, packers, retailers (on-line or physical),” François Martin, senior communication advisor at BOBST, reminds us. “Printing digital will save a few hours, even a few days, in a process taking months. The entire packaging production chain needs to be rewritten.

Digital printing will be part of the new Industry 4.0 packaging landscape, but the digitalisation of an entire process will be the most important element.”

Conversely, as analogue print technologies are adapted to function within this connected ecosystem, they

will become quasi-digital themselves.

We are still rewriting the rules Digital print facilitates an altogether more intimate degree of consumer engagement just as the broader digital transformation of our world is making consumers expect gratifying communication from brands across every Moment of Truth.

“There’s no question customisation is one of the biggest trends driving the adoption of digital package printing,” says Donald Allred, VP of Packaging, Memjet. “When packaging is produced in a late-stage customisation process, using digital printing is not only possible – it is preferred by brands that want to connect with their consumers by adding personalised messages and images to their packaging. These messages can include support of

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regional sports teams, seasonal messages, and/or images of local interest. Compare this close customer relationship with the more traditional process whereby brands ship products to distribution centres. In this supply chain, products are distributed to vast geographic and demographic markets, with little opportunity for personalised packaging experiences.”

However, return on investment will increasingly require more sophisticated strategies than the now familiar ‘product with your name on it’. This is a new game, and the rules of how to create meaningful experiences through customised packaging are still being written.

“Personalisation goes far beyond customising or styling products,” suggests Jose Gorbea, head of Brands & Agencies at HP GSB EMEA (and formerly of Mondelēz). “It’s about intelligently curating and shaping the whole experience for those in our community: makers, designers and consumers alike. One industry shift is personalised storytelling, with mass customisation seen as the next frontier for global brands. With digital print,

design runs that used to number in the tens of thousands can now vary unit by unit, making labels, cases, POS materials and direct mail more relevant and personal than ever before.

Companies can now target messages directly at individual groups of customers and join social movements (as seen in Smirnoff ’s recent #chooselove campaign). The speed of digital printing also allows brands to interact with real-world events. For example, you can now print the daily news on a package to communicate product freshness.”

Amid such endless possibilities and several truly impressive applications there is also a sense that brands are only beginning to map the new landscape. If digitally printed packaging represents a cultural, as well as a technological, revolution, I have the sense that what we are seeing today is an influential counterculture rather than mainstream.

Inertia and investment Another consideration is that industry earthquakes don’t always happen overnight. Even in industrialised countries many fields were being cultivated by manual labour decades

Print Innovation Asia Issue 11 2021

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Unbox faster turnarounds Make the move to digital – and unbox your business with the flexibility to accommodate fast turns, versioning requests, last minute edits, and changing buying decisions.

With the EFITM Nozomi C18000 Plus digital press for corrugated packaging and POS, you can reduce process steps from weeks and days to hours and minutes. And personalize runs from one to infinity at higher margins and with lower costs – all in a single pass.

Let’s build your brilliant future. Together. Visit nozomi.efi.com to learn how corrugated converters and packaging printers are opening up new ways to say, “Yes!”

Print Innovation Asia Issue 11 2021

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after the invention of the mechanical plough. We tend to embrace change when we must – especially when we suspect that ROI may be remote. Speak to any of the big players about the enablers of digital print and eventually they will acknowledge that getting the market to understand the opportunity is the key challenge.

“Brands are facing more SKUs and shorter runs but are quite busy in their day to day preoccupations to understand that digital can go beyond the ‘special projects only’,” muses Klaus Lammersiek, marketing manager HP Indigo Labels & Packaging EMEA. “Meanwhile, if they don’t have digital, converters may prefer still to keep running longer runs in their existing presses without the need to invest further. The solution comes in educating both brands and converters about the possibilities of digital – and every day we can see more and more digitally printed products in the supermarkets and online.”

Heidelberg’s Montserrat Peidro echoes this perspective.

“In my personal experience in recent years, the main enablers have been the ability to integrate digital technology into existing pre-press and postpress processes, sell new benefits to customers, and manage lots of smaller jobs per day in an efficient way, with

as few touchpoints as possible,” she remarks. “But not all companies are aware of these enablers or take these topics into account when planning their investments.”

Covid and the direct-to-consumer catalyst I made the connection above between digital printing and the broader digital transformation of manufacturing.

Of course, with online retail we can see this in the context of a wider digital transformation of our culture and commerce. Even before the coronavirus changed everything, it seemed inevitable that the irresistible rise of e-commerce would be the ultimate catalyst for growth in digitally printed packaging. In the first place, the online brand or vendor has a much more personal relationship with me than the traditional shopper in a conventional supermarket. It’s a oneon-one communication. The brand knows who I am, where I am, what I like. It is going to deliver a product, possibly tailored to my needs, directly to me.

As a direct-to-consumer brand of a different sort (and on a very different scale) to the FMCG giants, Packaging Europe back in 2019 conducted a customisation experiment of our own. We distributed our magazine in corrugated sleeves featuring 20 localised

designs and printed on a HP PageWide C500 press. The #unboxingEurope campaign got a warm response from our readers – ‘love’ that came from the ability to leverage individual subscriber data. Knowing our readers’ location enabled us to give each one not just a nice surprise, but a personally meaningful one.

The same dynamic applies to the new and emerging supply chains, vastly accelerated by Covid, that are based around personalised consumption, and served by emerging direct-toconsumer, on-demand or subscription models. In this ecosystem, relevant communication that reflects the consumer’s needs and identity are likely to distinguish the most successful brands. Late-stage customisation, at least in higher value goods, will surely become the norm.

Meanwhile, successive advances in technology are cumulatively eroding all those barriers to adoption. We’re going to see improved quality, higher speeds, lower costs, more viable market entry points, more seamless integration, developments in design tools such as algorithmically generated iterative engines… All this innovation will be on show at drupa 2024 – and I can’t wait to see it.

Print Innovation Asia Issue 11 2021

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So you’re a QUALITY Printer then

T

be different

HINK BIG

SHOW ME!

If you Win in the Asian Print Awards then you can!

2022 ASIAN PRINT AWARDS Details coming soon

Print Innovation Asia Issue 11 2021

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A SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL FEATURE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE JULY 2021 ISSUE OF FORBES ASIA

FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION: REBORN TO CREATE GLOBAL VALUE Fuji Xerox was renamed FUJIFILM Business Innovation on April 1, 2021. Hisanori Makaya, the company’s new President and CEO, outlines his global growth strategies under the Fujifilm brand and management philosophy.

“We’ve changed our brand and set out on a new path,” says Hisanori Makaya, President and CEO of FUJIFILM Business Innovation (BI), formerly Fuji Xerox. “We are seizing this change, the biggest in our company’s history, as an opportunity to leverage the full wisdom of the Fujifilm Group to deliver innovative value to customers all over the world.”

The name change was brought about right after the Technology Agreement with Xerox Corporation ended on March 31, closing the curtain on almost 60 years as Fuji Xerox. Reborn under the Fujifilm brand, the company is now set to expand beyond Asia-Pacific to the world.

Leaping into New Businesses Makaya says the company’s new name reflects FUJIFILM BI’s commitment to continued innovation. “Competition is growing fiercer by the day as businesses diversify and globalize, so we need to help our stakeholders exchange information quickly and accurately,” he explains. “Our role is to maximize our customers’ organizational capabilities by accelerating digital transformation (DX) and improving work efficiency so that they can concentrate on what matters most to them.”

Hisanori Makaya and expertise, customers can be further assured of the upcoming innovations for our products and services. We are also committed to providing our usual excellent service and quality assurance to all our customers. Our after-sales maintenance service level will be the same, if not better.”

Along with the rebranding, perhaps the most important step is expansion into new markets. Makaya’s wealth of experience in leading many major business changes,

“Customers can expect true technological innovation from the combined strengths of the Fujifilm Group.”

— HISANORI MAKAYA, PRESIDENT AND CEO, FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION

Makaya believes the company’s new name truly represents its mission.

“Fujifilm has a proven track record of successfully transforming itself from a photographic film manufacturer to a developer of various high-growth businesses such as healthcare, and with this amazing transformation, the Fujifilm story became a case study for many,” he notes. “Together with Fujifilm’s global branding, reach

including mergers and acquisitions, is a key reason why he was promoted as CEO. “Back when I joined Fuji Photo Film (now FUJIFILM Holdings) in the early 1980s, there was already talk about film eventually disappearing, so the company was destined to change,” he recalls. “I spent a lot of time in commercial printing and saw all kinds of new ventures. It might sound overblown, but periods of change can push people to

evolve, and companies are the same. That’s why we never stop. The important thing is not responding to changes, but to anticipate them and guide our own evolution.”

Innovating Through Fujifilm Synergies So, what changes will occur at FUJIFILM BI? “Our biggest synergy within the Fujifilm Group is in commercial printing,” Makaya explains. “We are integrating related divisions to bring optimal printing solutions to our customers, as well as expand product lineups and collaborate in sales. In healthcare, we also combined respective strengths in image processing and natural language processing to support and improve diagnosis efficiency. Customers can expect true technological innovation from the combined strengths of the Fujifilm Group.”

While the company was previously limited to Asia-Pacific, FUJIFILM BI is ready to start selling products globally under the Fujifilm brand. It is also considering ways to provide IT solutions and services that match new work styles that have emerged during the pandemic.

The company’s passion for business innovation continues. As more offices go paperless, FUJIFILM BI is currently reassessing the future viability of multifunction printers (MFPs).

formation, the Fujifilm story became a case study for many,” he notes. “Together with Fujifilm’s global branding, reach

in commercial printing and saw all kinds of new ventures. It might sound overblown, but periods of change can push people to

tion continues. As more offices go paperless, FUJIFILM BI is currently reassessing the future viability of multifunction printers Print Innovation Asia (MFPs).

Issue 11 2021

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A SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL FEATURE ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE JULY 2021 ISSUE OF FORBES ASIA

Hisanori Makaya “I believe the MFP still has a huge role to play,” Makaya says. “Connecting a device to cloud ser vices can suppor t remote work. A s times change, we will meet diverse customer needs by linking evolved MFPs with all kinds of software, either our own or third-party. Our mission as a leading company is to help create a benchmark for the various new ways of working.”

FUJIFILM BI continues to grow even though the work-from-home trend is slowing demand for office printing. Despite the pandemic, sales volumes of its products equipped with robust security features surpassed the previous fiscal year’s numbers.

The pandemic also didn’t s top the company from innovating. It launched 19 MFP models last June and successfully continued its mission by launching four additional models and 14 products of the ApeosPro, Apeos C and ApeosPrint series in April 2021, the company’s first product lineup under the Fujifilm brand.

The company also provides network security and other IT-related outsourcing for small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs).

One such service is from the company’s recent acquisition of CSG Limited, now called FUJIFILM CSG Limited. This service originated from FUJIFILM CSG’s CodeBlue business and has already launched in Japan, and the company is eyeing deploying it in the Asia-Pacific region as well.

When it comes to the new IT services business, Makaya believes the possibilities are endless.

“Last year, we established FUJIFILM RIPCORD, a joint venture with American startup Ripcord, and added a variet y of engineering ideas to scanners equipped with robotic s technology,” he say s. “We succeeded in c reating an automated solution that can scan hundreds of millions of sheets, easily surpassing earlier conventional limits to document digitization. This means we can contribute enormously to customers pursuing DX. We have already started sales in Japan, and are getting ready to expand into the Asia-Pacific.

FUJIFILM BI will never stop bringing a brighter future for everyone.”

Hisanori Makaya was appointed President and CEO of FUJIFILM Business Innovation on April 1, 2021. Prior to that, he was executive vice president of Fuji Xerox since June 2019 and senior vice president since 2017. Before Fuji Xerox, he held various leadership roles at FUJIFILM Holdings, including in corporate planning, healthcare and graphic systems. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan.

FUJIFILM Business Innovation https://www.fujifilm.com/fbglobal/eng

MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY Makaya believes in inspiring employees to embrace change. He mentors employees on presentation skills by explaining that a story with a clear and logical flow is vital. He puts words into action when he organizes important tasks using his favorite office tools: three beautiful and sophisticated pens and a leather-bound notebook. He believes that writing down the most essential content will help connect the dots and convey your story with clarity.

https://www.fujifilm.com/fbglobal/eng

Print Innovation Asia Issue 11 2021

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Digital enhancement press delivers award winning packaging solutions Shenzhen Wancai Smart Packaging, one of the first companies to invest in the Scodix Ultra 1000 Digital Enhancement Presses in China, is seeing tremendous growth and recognition for its packaging innovations.

This year the Tang Dynasty MIZAO Golden Top has been presented with a Muse Design Award in recognition of the wine bottle and packaging produced

by Shenzhen Wancai Smart Packaging, enhanced with Scodix and designed by Chengdu Fenggu Muchuang Packaging Co., Ltd. In January 2021, Shenzhen Wancai Linglong Packaging set-up Wancai Smart Packaging, which incorporates enhancement work for the luxury packaging market. Since installing the Scodix Ultra 1000 press in April 2021, the company has secured annual contracts worth over USD $10 million in sales. The company currently has a heavy focus on the wine industry but is planning to expand into the beauty industry.

Mr. Yao, Owner of Shenzhen Wancai Smart Packaging, states “Brands are increasingly producing packaging with Scodix Digital Enhancements following the installation of the Scodix Ultra 1000 and in conjunction with our existing Scodix Ultra press. In addition, these same brands have stepped up their design game to make their packaging extremely unique and beautiful. We are even seeing these packages win awards and become collectables! It is simple, the more unique the packaging, the more value it brings to everyone.”

Ms. Angela Zhang, Scodix China Sales Manager, adds, “Shenzhen Wancai Smart Packaging, the owner of two Scodix Ultra presses, is now planning to install a Scodix Ultra 6000 B1 press to keep up with enhancement demand.

With the additional capacity, the Scodix Ultra 6000 B1 press will deliver further cost savings for Shenzhen Wancai Smart Packaging, its brands, and its brand’s customers.”

Ms. Zheng continues, “The demand for presses from the Scodix Ultra Series has been steadily climbing in China and now the Scodix Ultra 6000 B1 press is coming into play in the region. It is wonderful to be part of the packaging revolution, beating the competition, delivering unique products and increasing print value even as printers reap savings.”

The Tang Dynasty MIZAO Golden Top, winner of the Muse Design Award Gold award, is a high-end liquor inspired by the heritage of Tang Dynasty culture. “Golden Top” indicates the best and echoes the spiritual needs of high-end liquor consumers and reflects the brand’s aspiration to lead the industry. Corresponding with its name, the bottle cap is golden, with its design based on the top of a pagoda, a wavelike shape, symbolizing its lingering aroma.

Meanwhile the outer packaging uses Scodix enhancement to beautify Tang Dynasty calligraphy and a Zen picture of cranes in the lotus, a metaphor of auspiciousness and virtuousness. The golden protective pieces at the four corners strike a balance in the overall color layout.

About Shenzhen Wancai Smart Packaging Wancai Smart Packaging is a subsidiary of Wancai Linglong Packaging in Shenzhen, China, an established Print Service Provider for the Chinese e-cigarette packaging market. Wancai Smart Packaging entered the wineproducing luxury packaging sector since its establishment, and the next move is extending the reach to include the beauty industry. Wancai Smart Packaging is a privately owned company.

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www.cgs-oris.com

Quality improvement Environmental resistance Faster drying Eco friendly

Ink Saving is so much more than just reducing costs: It helps optimizing the entire production process. How?

Learn more

Print Innovation Asia Issue 11 2021

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Xeikon announces VariOne – the variable data for image creation Xeikon has announced VariOne, a new variable data generation tool for Xeikon’s X-800 digital front-end.

This integrated software innovation can immediately generate and print unique creative designs, based on an image or on vector graphics, in endless complex patterns. Xeikon’s VariOne is a true differentiator and has been developed and designed to add value and benefit brand owners, designers, illustrators, printers, converters, and consumers. VariOne can achieve the highest levels of variable imagery possible today. Demonstrations can be run by appointment and the new VariOne will be commercially available as an option for systems running X-800 version 7.00 or higher.

research and development and now offers completely new horizons for differentiation.

Jeroen Van Bauwel, Director Product Management, states: “Print is becoming more customised and valuable. With VariOne, Xeikon has taken a significant leap forward in its

Differentiating products to meet consumer demand is a continuous challenge for brand owners. Consumers are willing to pay a premium for personalized goods, and they are on

With VariOne it is possible to create thousands of unique and individual clips from a base design. With our new integrated variable data solution built into Xeikon’s digital front-end, the possibilities for producing unique images are limitless on both our dry toner and inkjet presses. The Xeikon strategy is to extend the capabilities of its X-800 workflow even further and expand the range of possible applications.”

the lookout for products that uniquely express their personality and that can be shared on social media such as Instagram and Pinterest. In the fight against counterfeiting, which can impact consumer safety, brand owners are looking for new software technology solutions with extra image

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e true differentiator automating

and text capabilities, and with hidden techniques to track and trace items such as unique patterns and images, hidden codes and guilloches. VariOne can be used as a tool to add an extra layer of security.

With Xeikon’s VariOne, personalised image creation can be fully automated within the printing process. The software functionality achieves random selections from zero to millions. This variable data application offers endless uses and endless variations.

What sets this innovation apart is the immediacy of the process.

VariOne can immediately process, format and print unique creative designs featuring variable patterns with random elements and the widest gamut of colour combinations. Unique designs can be created on the fly and in minutes in a variety of unique patterns. This new innovation is a breakthrough and a complete game changer.

The advantage of VariOne lies in the complete uniqueness of each design, which can be driven by the database or randomly created from bitmap or vector-based images, creating new and unusual designs in millions of shapes, styles and surreal effects.

Brand owners will be able to utilise this opportunity in a variety of sectors with different applications for fashion magazines, retail catalogues, tourism marketing, promotional materials for football competitions or film festivals, as well as high-end label and packaging applications.

For decades, cost has been the differentiator in our industries, but with the ever-rising costs of consumables and labour, it has now become virtually impossible to be successfully competitive based on that variable only. The focus has shifted to efficiency gained through automation.

The new functionality of VariOne is the next step in efficient and sustainable variable data production, and VariOne also enables big savings in time and cost, both in prepress and in the pressroom.

Van Bauwel concludes, “Xeikon is taking mass customisation to new levels with an explosion of creativity which will add value for everyone in the supply chain in a million ways.

Xeikon’s VariOne has taken a complicated prepress process and made it immediately fast and flexible.”

www.xeikon.com

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Why physical print is important in a digital world Often in films, there are key scenes when we see a box discovered in an attic, dusted off, tentatively opened, and printed items carefully removed as important life moments are remembered.

As a medium, physical print is also more memorable and trusted than digital storage and communication. It has a greater power to persuade as I discussed here.

It can help stimulate memories for those with dementia, too. That is why we created Printed Memories.

The online tool allows relatives of sufferers to upload a familiar picture and add a message to a postcard.

Sharing recognisable images is known as reminiscence therapy and it helps prompt brain activity to generate memories and connections to events, places, and people in their lives.

Tickets to a sports event, programmes, photographs, records in their sleeves, books, etc…

All printed reminders.

We live in an increasingly digital world and so these physical, revisitable, and memorable touchpoints are becoming fewer and fewer.

Increasingly things are being stored electronically from music, photos, and books to receipts, tickets, and invitations.

In our daily lives, QR codes, e-tickets, and online libraries are replacing concert tickets, hardcopy images, and tangible album artwork.

Printed items from past activities, events, achievements, celebrations, holidays, have the power to generate the happy spirit of the moment with feelings and memories. The Japanese call that natsukashii.

Printed applications can also physically engage our basic senses. We see and smell them. We hear the sound of turning pages and opening envelopes.

We explore them with touch, a sense that is so primal that it develops even before we are born, as this article explores.

Do we ever pause to reflect on the incredible, latent power of print? Maybe not as often as we should. Natsukashii (positive memories that can be enjoyed time and again) is a concept we should all be aware of and celebrate; it offers us a word to represent one of print’s special capabilities. And describes something that is beyond the widening reach of electronically stored data.

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https://fujifilm-gcb.info/FBNZ_Revoria

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Hexing meets growing d packaging with HP PageW Hexing Packaging & Printing Co., Ltd. (Hexing) has installed the first HP PageWide T400S in China. With the new digital press, Hexing can now achieve industrial grade digital production of corrugated printing products.

Hexing is a corrugated manufacturer with more than 70 facilities across China and Southeast Asia. The company has an annual turnover of 12 billion RMB in 2020 and forecast 17+ billion RMB in 2021, with 10,000+ employees across its sites. The HP PageWide T400S was installed at Hexing’s production site in Wuhan, Hubei.

As a comprehensive provider of packaging, Hexing has a wide range of printing technology on-site, including offset and flexo. This is not Hexing’s first foray with HP digital technology.

In 2015, Hexing pioneered the first HP Scitex 11000 in China.

“Since then, there has been constant connections with HP. In 2018, HP approached us with info on the

HP PageWide T400S. We believe digitalization is the future and that it is worth being studied on and invested in, which eventually led us to the signing of the procurement contract for the T400S in 2019,” said Ken Du, Vice Group General Manager at Hexing.

The global digital printing packaging market is expected to reach US$38 billion by 2027, according to market researchers, Reportlinker. China is forecast to have the fastest growth, reaching a market size of US$8.6 billion with a CAGR of 16.7% through to 2027.

“It took roughly two years of investigation on the application and capability of the press on the industrial scale of digitalisation technology,” said

Du. “Through our investigation, we find that it’s true that HP has been the leader in the digital printing technology field. In addition, they provide excellent service and training.”

The HP PageWide T400S digital press is a pre-print solution for corrugated liners designed for large scale production of corrugated packaging.

At 42-inch wide, the press enables fast turnaround and delivery while providing high print quality. It is a powerful tool for achieving customized product scale production.

The digital press utilises HP true waterbased inks which are certified by UL ECOLOGO and PTS certification for recyclability. This will further help Hexing achieve its sustainability goals

Print Innovation Asia Issue 11 2021

demand for personalised eWide T400S and stay ahead of the curve as the industry adopts increasingly stringent environmental requirements.

The Advent of Personalised Packaging With the T400S press, Hexing can ramp up its mass versioning capabilities in the same production run. Brands can make changes to their designs easily and quickly in accordance to customer response or policy changes, with minimal or even no added expense.

“The HP PageWide T400S is not a replacement; but more an enhancement and expansion to our existing production line in regards of packaging personalisation,” said Du. Hexing’s Flexo preprint and offset printing technologies continue to be relevant for jobs with large volumes in one design.

Major brands are turning to personalised packaging to enhance product visibility on the shelf.

This in turn catches the eye of the customers, thus increasing the purchase power of the packaging.

In addition personalised packaging also has the ability to increase emotional engagement with consumers: “As times evolves, more and more consumers tend to like personalisation that can speak for their own personalities. This can be realised by packaging, but conventional press cannot satisfy that need,” said Du. Traditional packaging printing methods, which are more suited for high volume orders, are not

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equipped for mass personalisation.

Digital printing enables brands to do short runs effectively and with significantly quicker turnarounds.

“With digital printing technology, we can work together with the brands to push the envelope on innovative packaging. Through customisation, we can meet the personalised needs of the targeted clientele,” said Du. In end-May 2021, Hexing held an Open House to introduce customers to the new HP PageWide T400S and showcase its capabilities.

“We were able to see from the open house event that many potential customers are interested and think it would be a great push on packaging innovation to market their brands.

With the HP PageWide T400S, we are positioning it as a new tool for marketing which can let simple packaging function be elevated to the service level for brands,” said Du.

be a service provider for our industry.

In that sense, it means more investment towards digital printing technology,” Du continued. “We do hope that with the help of HP, who's in a leading position in digital printing technology, we can create a global ecosystem and reach an even bigger net of different customers.”

“Hexing are one of the largest packaging companies in China and we are very proud that they have chosen to partner with HP in this significant investment. Hexing have a clear vision for the box-plant of the future and this investment will no doubt provide another solid step to help realise that vision,” said Nick Price, Regional Manager of HP PageWide Packaging.

“Many global and well-known local brands entrust Hexing with their highquality packaging production. The HP T400S will extend many advantages to those brands, just-in-time ordering and reduced inventories, masscustomization, ultra-flexible order quantities, environmentally friendly water-based inks which is extremely pertinent as we move to cleaner and greener manufacturing processes, all at extremely high print quality.

The learnings, experience and advantages gained from investing and running high-speed digital web-presses will no doubt accelerate Hexing’s success now and in the future,” Price concluded.

Established for more than 20 years in packaging and printing, Hexing is committed to providing high quality, value added packaging to brands, and to enhancing the end-user experience.

“The future plan for Hexing is to create an eco-system of digital printing and to

www.hp.com/go/corrugatedpackaging

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A totally different ball game German print company uses the Fujifilm Acuity LED 1600 II to inject some colour back into the Bundesliga countries deciding to do the exact same thing, and restoring a sense of colour and familiarity to the matches.

“The Acuity LED 1600 II was vital for this important project,” says Jindrich.

“We originally bought it because we were looking to expand into wide format print and needed a high-quality and versatile machine to do so. The Acuity seemed the most suitable model for this and we’ve been delighted with its performance.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has led many businesses to change focus and find new work in unlikely places.

One such story is that of German Fujifilm customer Copy Service, in Moenchengladbach. In spring 2020, the pandemic brought a temporary halt to all professional football across Europe, including the German Bundesliga. The season resumed after several weeks, but with one key ingredient missing – the fans.

With all crowds prohibited from football grounds, players and managers remarked at the bizarre feeling of playing football in empty stadiums – fortunately for one team, their supporters had a novel idea.

The Borussia Moenchengladbach supporters club came up with a plan of installing fan ‘doubles’ in the stands to give their team a sense of support during home matches, and they turned to Copy Service, a digital printing company with a proud 25-year history to make it happen.

Copy Service produces a variety of goods, including posters, business cards, and brochures as well as offering a textile printing service. Like many other printers across the globe, they were impacted heavily by COVID-19.

With workflow and typical print orders reducing, the chance to print thousands

of a whole new product was a welcome boost.

Owner, Antje Jindrich, offered to produce fan doubles for less than twenty Euros each. These were printed with UV inks, onto Forex – a rigid PVC substrate – using Fujifilm’s Acuity LED 1600 II. Fans sent in portraits of themselves to Copy Service and also advised where they wanted their ‘double’ to be in the stadium. It was certainly not surprising that the fans mostly preferred their regular seats.

As word cottoned on, the demand for this service grew. In the end, almost 19,000 ‘doubles’ for Borussia Moenchengladbach’s stadium were produced by Copy Service, in tandem with another company. News of this idea spread across Europe, with other professional teams from various

The past year has obviously been very tough for our business, and even aside from the pandemic there are other ongoing challenges. Print runs are getting ever-shorter and we’re seeing increasing demand for specialist, customised print work. Having a machine with the versatility of the Acuity, as well as the excellent support from Fujifilm is hugely important to our continued success.”

Nils Gottfried, Product Marketing Manager, Wide Format Inkjet Systems, Fujifilm Graphic Systems Europe says: “As longtime customers had to cancel orders, Copy Service found a unique way to support itself through the COVID-19 crisis. They are one of many companies who had to adapt throughout the pandemic, not only to protect themselves, but to help restore some familiarity in a much-changed world. We look forward to continuing to work with them, whatever the future holds.”

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Industrial Printer shows continued market strength in Q1 2021, led by large format New data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Industrial Printer Tracker unveiled that market recovery from the COVID-19 crisis that began in Q3 2020 continued through Q1 2021.

Regionally, Japan has shown the most ‘aggressive’ recovery, growing more than 17% compared to Q4 2020.

Meanwhile, shipments in China have continued to expand since Q1 2020.

"While shipments in some segments took a step backward after a very strong fourth quarter, the overall shipment numbers remained strong in Q1," said Tim Greene, research director, Hardcopy Solutions at IDC. "Led by large format digital printers, total shipments grew by almost 2.5% compared to the fourth quarter of 2020."

The report indicated that the large format printer market has returned to pre-pandemic levels worldwide.

The report suggests that some of the shipment growth is being driven by hardware price promotions, which explains why shipments are growing at a modest 2.4% but shipment value declined by 4%. Many vendors postponed introducing new printer models and technologies during the pandemic. Some of those new models have recently started to reach the market with more expected through the second half of 2021. Some of these introductions represent important technology evolutions that should drive investments in industrial printing equipment.

Thai total industrial printer market grew 20.3% compared to last year Thailand’s total industrial printer market showed a growth 20.3% in Q2 2021 compared with Q2 2020 during the 3rd wave of Covid-19, according to IDC.

Other segments that grew in Q1 2021 compared to Q4 2020 are direct-togarment, which increased 3.5%, and direct-to-shape, which saw a nearly 5% growth.

However, it declined -21.9% compared to Q1 2021. This could be attributed to the new Covid-19 restriction imposed by the government which encouraged work-from-home schemes, as the number of daily new infections reached over 10,000.

On the other hand, segments that were down in the same period include label and packaging printer which declined 7%. Industrial textile printer shipments also declined 2%.

Some businesses still need to operate and require industrial printers such as healthcare-related labels, food and beverage labels, packaging, maps, stickers and customization souvenirs.

Businesses in Thailand have learnt how to deal with the 1st wave of Covid-19 since March last year.

“Some businesses are currently continuously running business during the 3rd wave of Covid-19. There are some opportunities that can be explored during this crisis time,” said Puwanart Pientanyakij, Market Analyst for IPDS at IDC Thailand.

According to IDC, desktop label products was one of industrial printer tracker products to fuel overall total industrial printer to grow in Q2 2021 from different kinds of businesses, especially in the manufacture and healthcare sectors. During the 3rd wave of Covid-19, hospital businesses require desktop label products to customize items such as blood bags, meal tags and wristbands for patient identification.

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New Heidelberg Speedmast for Ipoh Malaysia The first printer in Ipoh - Malaysia, Percetakan Sanwa Industries Sdn Bhd, to invest in the new Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 75-6+L From its humble beginnings in 1991, Sanwa Industrial Supply specialized in high quality offset printing, production of corrugated carton boxes and packaging for industrial and consumer products. In 1999, Sanwa Industrial Supply was converted into a private limited company known as Percetakan Sanwa Industries Sdn. Bhd. They are situated in Ipoh, Malaysia's third largest city 200 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur. With workforce of more than 100 employees providing services such as product development and design, as well as packaging printing and converting.

“Over the years, we have achieved many milestones of which we are proud of and the progresses has encourages us to continue the great effort we have started since 1991" says Datuk Gavin Lee, Managing Director of Percetakan Sanwa Industries Sdn Bhd. Sanwa’s mission is to provide their clients with reliable services and producing high quality jobs at competitive prices. As a One Stop Printing and Packaging Solutions

provider, Sanwa focuses on great customer satisfaction and process innovation. Datuk Gavin Lee adds “We value all the feedbacks from our clients which is so vital for our success”.

Standing from back to front: Datuk Gavin Lee, Managing Director and Mr. P. H. Lee, General Manager of Percetakan Sanwa Industries Sdn Bhd

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ter XL 75-6+L

The premises of Percetakan Sanwa Industries in Ipoh, Malaysia Their first offset machine from Heidelberg was installed in 1997, a Speedmaster SM 102-4, followed by a GTO 52 one year later. Sanwa’s business has grown significantly since then due to their clients’ increased demand for high quality jobs. It was getting challenging for Sanwa to handle the ever-growing business demand with their older machines. With that in mind, Datuk Gavin Lee decided to invest in a new Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 756+L, a highly innovative six-color press with coating system.

are now able to achieve more in less time with our average production speed up by 90%. And we are able to meet the ever-tighter delivery time our customers are expecting, even with the most challenging jobs” continues Datuk Gavin Lee. With the installation of the new press, it came with the implementation of the Prinect Production Manager software which – together with the Push-to-Stop

technology – boosts the output of the press and provides highest transparency with data of all individual jobs but also job queue on hand. Sanwa’s employees are excited about these innovations and are very eager to adopt new ways of thinking. This way, a sound foundation for further growth and innovations towards Industry 4.0 procedures has been laid.

From left to right: Mr. P. H. Lee and Datuk Gavin Lee

Heidelberg Malaysia has been able to build on the confidence Sanwa had from their experience with the older SM 102-4 and GTO which still stand for high durability and reliability. The new Speedmaster XL 75-6+L is the first XL model in the Ipoh area and was commissioned in October 2020.

By means of Push to Stop technology the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) has been raised tremendously which is the right step towards Sanwa’s goal to be ready for Industry 4.0 process introduction. Job change-over times are now much faster and overall print shop productivity significantly increased. “We are pleased that we

https://www.heidelberg.com

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World's first metal printing G7 certification In September 2021, IDEAlliance GBA (International Digital Enterprise Alliance Greater Bay Area Branch) notified Huayuan Packaging (Qingyuan) Co., Ltd. that it became the world's first (and so far, the only) metal can printing company who has received a G7 certification.

As the leading company in the metal printing field, Huayuan Holdings was established in 1998 as a comprehensive packaging solutions provider, integrating solutions planning, packaging design, and product manufacturing as its core business.

At present, there are more than 20 production facilities throughout China - 5 lithographic plants, 10 metal can manufacturing plants, 2 metal cover plants, plus 8 plastic packaging production plants.

In 2020, Huayuan Holdings invested and established Huayuan Packaging (Qingyuan) Co., Ltd. in Qingyuan, Guangdong. This facility attaches great importance to the application of innovative metal can manufacturing technologies and processes. After extensive research, they partnered with CGS ORIS and its regional partner Shenzhen Surewell Technology, to implement the full suite of color management solutions from CGS ORIS. In August 2021, Huayuan Packaging successfully implemented expanded color gamut printing on a 7-color metal

printing press as well as a digital inkjet metal packaging proofing system.

printed on Huayuan’s presses were achieved.

CGS ORIS color management solutions and the professional technical service team of Surewell Technology helped Huayuan execute this project to success; Using CGS ORIS’ FLEX PACK packaging proofing system with an Epson eco-solvent printer, color matching of over 90% of brand colors

Furthermore, CGS ORIS’ X GAMUT was used to successfully implement expanded color gamut (ECG) printing innovation on Huayuan’s 7-color metal printing press, and helps Huayuan to flexibly manage its short run, multispot-color printing.

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In order to meet the stringent requirements of Huayuan Packaging’s high-end brand customers, and the demanding challenges of the international printing standards facing metal printing companies, a decision was made to implement G7 certification together with the multicolor separation project.

Because of its difference from general offset printing processes on paper, advanced standardization and managed quality control for multi-color metal printing presses is quite rare in the field of metal printing; after the initial metal printing is completed, an in-line UV varnish is applied before a curing process of as high as 320 degrees Fahrenheit – as one could imagine, this is a difficult process to manage.

is an unprecedented achievement in the metal printing industry. It strongly illustrates that the G7 color correction method can be applied to not only any CMYK four-color process printing arena but also be carried out in the multicolor, expanded color gamut metal printing field.

This accomplishment fills a muchneeded gap within the metal printing industry globally, as well as in Greater China. This certification creates a benchmark reference for metal printing companies by providing empirical, measured data, and at the same time sets an example and model for the global metal printing industry of what can accomplished.

Mr. Zhang Xinyi, General Manager of Huayuan Holdings, said, “Science and technology are the primary productive forces. The concept of standardization is extended to the field of metal printing. G7 certification not only promotes Huayuan Packaging as a leader in the industry, but we also clearly see the improvement of product quality through visual color results.

In the future, we will expand these processes to the other branches of our companies to promote G7 color management technology. Let Huayuan's color become a business standard for the metal printing industry, and Huayuan's quality becomes a standard for the global metal industry to follow."

Even so, the powerful CGS ORIS solutions X GAMUT, FLEX PACK, CERTIFIED and CXF TOOLBOX, plus diligent group efforts of CGS ORIS, Surewell Technology and the entire team at Huayuan Packaging accomplished its goals exceptionally.

The final measured data from Huayuan’s CMYKRGB metal printing process achieved the G7 gray balance standard, as well as meet the tighter G7 Target level compliance.

The G7 certification of Huayuan Packaging in the field of metal printing

https://www.cgs-oris.com

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Thailand’s Eka Global increases packaging production Producing over 2,850 million pieces in annual output will help to expand Thai SMEs' business opportunities and enhance the "New Normal" lifestyle of consumers worldwide.

Chaiwat Nantiruj

"Demand for longevity packaging will continue in the future with or without COVID-19," said Chaiwat. "Visionary food producers, exporters and local SMEs have also realized this and are looking for high quality longevity packaging."

Additionally, the company believes that environmentally friendly packaging is a critical tool to enable Thai SMEs to expand their business overseas and enhances their competitiveness in the global market.

Eka Global, a packaging producer company in Thailand, announced it has installed its tenth production line, enabling the company to increase its production capacity by 15%.

The Thai company said that the move was driven by the increase in demand for its proven rigid-barrier plastic packaging products due to the “new normal” in light of the pandemic.

The additional production line, which is fully commissioned and commenced commercial operations in September 2021, will add another 350 million units to Eka Global's current production capacity of 2,500 million units per annum. This will boost the overall production output to 2,850 million units per year.

Chaiwat Nantiruj, Eka Global's Group CEO, said, "The COVID-19 pandemic has changed people's way of life.

Self-quarantine and food delivery have become an integral part of our "New Normal" lifestyles. The global food-delivery industry has seen a significant increase in business, leading to a greater demand for our longevity packaging that promotes food safety and provides greater convenience for the consumers."

Eka Global has been operating at maximum capacity since the pandemic hit. The company continues to receive ever increasing orders from customers across the Asia Pacific, the USA and Europe. Eka Global made the investment in order to be well-prepared to meet with demands.

"We aim to minimize the impact of our business on the environment," said Chaiwat. "The Circular Economy concept is key for business development to achieve sustainable growth. We have introduced a 360-degree waste management policy. Our products are already 100% recyclable but we are not yet fully satisfied."

"Our R&D team has been working very hard to come up with more environmentally friendly innovations.

Among other research projects that we are working on is using plant-based raw materials to replace petroleum-based products. Our goal is crystal clear, that is to allow consumers to enjoy a ‘new normal’ lifestyle with food safety while sharing the responsibility for a clean environment."

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Unleash your printing potential Connect to Grow. That is your key to stay ahead in a demanding market. By connecting with MPSConnect, you ensure the best in reliability and productivity from your printing press. You will increase competitive advantages and maximize profits.

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Presses Deliver Overwhelm Asahi Printing, Japan's leading manufacturer of packaging for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, is transforming production at Kyoto Creative Park, the company's research and development base. Kyoto Creative Park began as a producer of packaging for ethical pharmaceuticals, and in April 2020 expanded its production line to include cosmetics and over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals and installed two new presses, an eight-color Lithrone GX40 and an eight-color Lithrone GX40RP double-sided press.

With its production base in Toyama Prefecture, Asahi Printing had been producing high-quality pharmaceuticals and cosmetics packaging for many years. To strengthen the supply chain, the company established Kyoto Creative Park in 2015. Nomura explains: "The company's manufacturing was concentrated in Toyama, so we established Kyoto Creative Park for business continuity planning and to ensure a stable supply of products to the western Japan area. Since then, we have expanded our production facilities with additional floorspace to produce cosmetics and OTC pharmaceuticals packaging. This enabled us to produce all kinds of packaging at Kyoto Creative Park, further strengthening our manufacturing base."

Kyoto Creative Park is the base for leading the company's transformation.

It conducts research and development of technologies and production methods that produce new products offering new added value and functions as a pilot plant to direct these developments to other plants.

The new presses were installed with three goals in mind: reproduce the high quality that was cultivated in Toyama, transform the production process based on computer numerical control (CNC), and maximize production efficiency.

High quality a must for cosmetics and OTC pharmaceuticals The company has long been meeting the strict quality requirements of its customers. Especially for cosmetics packaging, which requires highly accurate print register, Asahi Printing frequently works with substrates such

as metallized paper. "One of the reasons we chose Komori presses is that the design criteria for cosmetics and OTC pharmaceuticals are high, and with Komori we can build the same high-quality manufacturing system that we have in Toyama," says Nomura.

Multi-imposition jobs are common in package printing, making color control across the entire sheet very important.

Komori's unique Komorimatic dampening system forms a uniform water film in the lateral and vertical

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ming Productivity directions, minimizing color variation and contributing to stable quality.

Lithrone GX40RP offers high reliability and solid front/back register accuracy The unique Lithrone GX40RP was the press of choice to efficiently produce Asahi's high volume of double-sided print packaging. The arrangement of the RP press allows printing on both sides of the sheet without using a standard sheet-reversing perfecting module. Nomura mentions three reasons the RP was selected instead of an ordinary perfector.

First, the Lithrone GX40RP has superior front/back register accuracy.

"Front/back register on a perfecting press is inherently unstable due to changing gripping from the leading edge to the tail edge in sheet reversal.

This press, however, prints both sides of the sheet without sheet reversal, so front/back register accuracy is outstanding. Especially for cosmetics packaging, postpress accuracy is very closely inspected, so having excellent register matching on the front and back sides is a great advantage," Nomura continues.

Second, back-side drying performance is very good. "Two UV curing lamps for the back side are used on the Lithrone GX40RP, so ink cures reliably even when the back side includes a large area of solid color."

Third, it simplifies the work process before and after printing. "With a perfecting press, paper must be flipped either before or after printing and then be rearranged. This is a big disadvantage in package printing."

With the configuration of the Lithrone GX40RP press, the paper can be loaded directly into the feeder for front- and back-side printing, eliminating the need for the printed work to be turned over.

Breaking free from 'islands of

individualization' and transforming production by computer numerical control and systemization The second goal is transformation of the production process, which has been characterized by islands of individualization based on a printer's experience. In this process, the color matching of special colors is an artful operator technique, difficult to control and difficult to teach to the next generation. For this new expansion, Asahi Printing has switched to computer numerical control that deploys a printing system with color bars for almost all jobs. The company focuses particularly on special colors for repeat jobs and works with Komori on this point.

Nomura says, "We were looking forward to the latest pre-inking program, which utilizes previous data to quickly launch special colors."

Yuki Kishigami, Engineer in the Technical Department, says, "In the past, we used intuition when we wanted to 'make it a little darker,' but we are getting close to the point where machines can do this kind of craftsmanship for us."

According to Takahisa Ueno, Manager of the Printing Section, Kyoto Creative Park, "We have been able to reduce the number of test prints for all jobs."

The latest pre-inking program has made it possible to use special colors with high accuracy, which has a significant

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effect on the number of test prints and start-up time for repeat jobs. This way, the company is gaining positive computer control of its production process, freeing itself from the islands of individualization.

High quality packaging at maximum printing speed To realize the third goal, maximizing production efficiency, a high target has been set for the printing speed. We asked about actual operation after the press was installed.

"The challenge of printing at the highest speed was also appealing. In the past, we believed that there was a limit to how much we could increase the speed of the presses, but with the new machines we are achieving printing at the maximum speed with heavy stock, a first for us. We could make this breakthrough due to the automation of the printing systems installed on these machines," says Nomura.

Kishigami adds, "The stress on the press operators has been reduced because sheet feeding and delivery are stable even at high speeds."

Itaru Motohara, Printing Chief in the Printing Section, says, "To be honest, I was surprised because I didn't think we could print at the maximum speed."

For actual high-speed printing on paperboard, color tone stability is very important. The new presses feature the Komori PQA-S quality inspection system with an automatic color tone control function. We asked Kishigami about the actual operation of the system: "PQA-S allows us to control color tones by targeting registered standard values and monitoring color tones in real time during high-speed printing without taking out a sheet. Operators

can work with confidence. Also, when a sudden quality problem does occur, the double delivery system is engaged and sorts out waste sheets. This system operates with exceptional stability even at high speed regardless of sheet size or thickness," he says.

many times, which would interfere with pre-inking and negatively affect changeover time. With the latest heavyduty cleaning program on these presses, we feel that cleaning performance is very good and color is stable after startup."

With a high return on investment (ROI) as its development concept, Komori has been improving the high-speed stability of the feeder and delivery, which ensure the basic performance of a printing press. As a result, the company has demonstrated high productivity in high-speed operation with these two presses. The technologies have been inherited by the latest Lithrone GX/G advance series presses.

Motohara adds, "Since we change colors frequently, the fountain film has greatly improved changeover efficiency. In addition, we have been able to reduce the amount of cleaning solvents and shop cloth used."

Job changeover time slashed In package printing, it is often necessary to use special colors for each job. As the variety of products and the number of small-volume jobs increase, the preparation time required for special color changeover increases, and this impedes production efficiency.

To solve this problem, the new presses are fully equipped with the latest devices and systems. One is Parallel Makeready, a control system that automatically performs plate changing, blanket washing, and ink roller cleaning simultaneously. The machines are also equipped with a replaceable ink fountain film that is part of the new lineup in the 40-inch class.

Kishigami explains the effect of these features: "Changeover time has been significantly reduced compared to conventional presses. Job changeover is completed simultaneously, and I can really feel the time reduction. When we installed the presses, ink roller cleaning was our foremost concern.

If cleaning performance were poor, we would have to clean the rollers again

In addition, the latest devices and systems for the coater, such as the independent drive and Semi-APC, have been very effective in minimizing job changeover time.

"As the availability of labor in Japan continues to decline, it will become increasingly difficult to secure workers.

We need to increase our production capacity per worker to become a Smart Factory. To do this, we need to invest in the latest equipment. We will not stop with the success proven by this installation of two presses at Kyoto Creative Park but will expand this to the entire company, including the Toyama production base."

Up to now, there was a stereotypical notion that both high quality and productivity could not be achieved in package printing, but this installation has proved that it is possible to achieve both. Based on the experience gained from operation of these full-spec flagship presses, Komori will offer solutions to further optimize package printing. Moreover, Komori will respond to future demands from the user's viewpoint and promote global expansion in the package printing market.

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19 – 22 October 2022

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HP launches new range of w HP Inc. announced a range of DesignJet and PageWide XL Pro devices to deliver advanced photo and colour quality, enhanced precision, and new graphics application potential - all while driving improvements in sustainability

“As our customers continue to grapple with uncertain business conditions following a uniquely challenging past couple of years, we know that expanding their print application reach, and ability to move fast, and outstanding colour and graphics performance define their large format printing needs,” said Daniel Martinez, General Manager, Large Format Business, HP. “This is why we’re introducing the new HP DesignJet Z Pro and HP PageWide XL Pro series. Both portfolios are designed to help users navigate uncertain demand, respond to tighter deadlines, and unlock untapped potential in their own offerings.”

New HP DesignJets To mark the 30-year anniversary of the very first DesignJet product, HP released two new DesignJets.

The new HP DesignJet Z6 Pro and Z9+ Pro offer PSPs and Geographic Information System (GIS) analysts the highest professional photo quality and precision, along with leading security features. With chromatic RGB HP Vivid Photo Inks, HP DesignJet Z Pro users can now achieve 93% Pantone coverage – 26% more gamut compared to the previous generation – and produce prints with the image quality of a 12-ink printer with just nine inks.

Users can customize ICC profiles for their print jobs and achieve desired colour accuracy and consistency. PSPs also have the option to include the HP Gloss Enhancer Upgrade Kit to produce superior gloss uniformity.

Additional features such as the HighDefinition Nozzle Architecture (HDNA) printheads and dual drop technology, which reduces visible grain and eliminates the need for lightcoloured inks, promise prints with clear details and dazzling contrasts.

Additionally, the HP PrintOS mobile app lets PSPs take more control of their print operations – from monitoring performance and reacting to issues, to sharing media pre-sets remotely. For the first time, the new HP DesignJet Z Pro printer series also incorporates the HP PrintOS Service Center application. This smart cloud-based solution enables users to gain a single, real-time view of all ongoing service cases, with updates that are accessible anytime, anywhere.

HP DesignJet Z9+ Pro Targeted at PSPs looking for a professional photo-quality printer, the HP DesignJet Z9+ Pro offers the widest colour gamut in its category.

HP DesignJet Z6 Pro For GIS analysts looking to produce very precise maps, print sharp contour lines and text with close attention to keeping data secure, the new HP

DesignJet Z6 Pro is the ideal printer.

The Adobe PDF Print Engine enables excellent transparencies and layer reproductions - while HP’s HDNA printheads and HP Pixel Control deliver the highest precision, as well as smooth gradients and distinct shades of color that are particularly needed for printing complex maps.

HP DesignJet Z6 Pro is the world's most secure large-format printer, promising the best data protection through encrypted communications and Access Control List. Features such as HP Connection Inspector, HP Secure Boot, and Whitelisting ensure the best network protection, putting all worries about data security to rest.

Both the HP DesignJet Z6 Pro and Z9+ Pro also enhance efficiency with the fastest media handling, spindleless and automatic roll feed. The HP DesignJet Z6 Pro prints twice as fast on plain paper at the same quality while

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wide format printers The compact HP PageWide XL Pro 10000 boosts productivity with fast printing speeds of up to 700 m2 (7500 ft2) or 1,000 B1 posters per hour and can print on different size materials, including paper and boards, to card stock and cut sheets.

It also provides PSPs with the capability to deliver quick results with instant-dry prints on compatible substrates. With HP PrintOS, PSPs can easily control the operations of their fleet anywhere, anytime – while also enjoying simplified maintenance and fast startup. The HP PageWide XL Pro 10000 also features the first HP large-format auto sheet feeder and versatile stacker, providing seamless end-to-end cutsheet workflow.

Sustainable Solutions HP The new HP DesignJet portfolio and HP PageWide XL Pro 10000 printer are all rated as ENERGY STAR 3.0 compliant and EPEAT registered, meaning they use less energy and are certified as environmentally preferred products. the HP DesignJet Z9+ Pro allows users to print up to 18% faster, with better quality, on satin photo media - and 46% faster on canvas.

New HP PageWide XL Pro HP has also announced three new HP PageWide XL Pro printers for retail PSPs and repro houses. Additionally, users will also be able to leverage new short-term applications including the potential to print on boards, card stock, and paper from A2 to B1, and thickness up to 10mm.

The new HP PageWide XL Pro 5200 and HP PageWide XL Pro 8200 offer print speeds up to 20 D/A1 pages/min, and 400 m2/hr, and 30 D/A1 pages/min, and 500 m2/hr respectively, enabling users to meet short turnaround time.

With the PageWide XL Pro 8200 able to print mixed outputs of both CAD drawings and presentation boards, both

printers are also capable of delivering full projects two to three times faster than before.

With the new HP PageWide XL Pro 5200 and HP PageWide XL Pro 8200, users can also expand their print applications into two-sided, shortterm retail posters, which can be easily managed with HP SmartStream.

Designed to help boost profits and cut costs, both the HP PageWide XL Pro 5200 and the HP PageWide XL Pro 8200 enable users to save up to 50% preparation and finishing costs. Using up to three-liter Original HP EcoCarton ink cartridges, both printers ensure low running costs for CAD drawings and posters. Features such as the versatile stacker, inline folders, and auto-switch free up operation time, giving repro houses the power to say yes to more print jobs.

The new HP DesignJet Z Pro printers are made of 30% recycled plastic, using over eight 16.9-oz (0.5-L) bottles worth of ocean-bound plastic, and are fully compatible with large format FSCcertified papers, a range of recyclable HP media, and free, convenient takeback program for certain HP media.

• Both new portfolios are fully compatible with HP Eco Carton Cartridges, achieving up to 80% reduction in plastic. The outer carton of Eco-Carton cartridges can be disposed of through local cardboard recycling • Inks for the HP PageWide XL Pro 10000 printer are UL ECOLOGO Certified and verified for Nordic Swan Ecolabel printing companies.

• HP PageWide XL and DesignJet prints are recyclable, returnable, or non-hazardous and safe for disposal.

Availability

https://www.hp.com

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Shrink sleeve coatings & inks designed to increase the Competitive Edge ACTEGA, manufacturer of specialty coatings, inks, adhesives and sealing compounds for the print and packaging industry, announces new additions to its extensive product portfolio, further enhancing the visual and haptic effects achievable for shrink sleeves.

The new products include coatings designed to create highly tactile, impactful shrink sleeve effects. By applying the Hybrid AQ-UV Soft Touch Coating, and UV Wet Touch Coating users can produce packaging designs that perfectly represent the product itself, such as wet touch coatings on a beverage bottle or the soft touch finish on a tube of luxurious, conditioning moisturizer, or the brand image.

“Brands are constantly looking for ways to differentiate their products to stand out on a competitive store shelf, and these new coatings are the latest innovations from ACTEGA, designed with the consumer experience and brand identity in mind,” explains Wolfgang Hoffmann, Head of Market Management, EMEA, Labels.

In addition to these advanced coatings, ACTEGA’s new UV and Solvent-Based Silver Inks, including a Solvent-Based Rainbow Silver have been launched for brands and converters looking to create a dramatic metallic shine. Converters can also opt for these silvers instead of a traditional foil finishing process, enabling better recyclability of the finished container, and reducing waste associated with applying foil.

These new products, alongside a new UV Matt Coating and UV Shrink White Ink, further bolster ACTEGA’s extensive range of functional and special effect coatings for shrink sleeves.

Hoffmann comments, “ACTEGA's coating and ink systems work on all

common substrates, including PET, OPS and PVC, and are suitable for one-sided or two-sided finishing.

ACTEGA also takes pride in offering a truly consultative approach to ensure that our customers can optimize the ACTEGA products they choose, both during production and to deliver the most effective, high-quality finish, and our team is always on hand to offer technical solutions for slide angle, static, scratch or adhesion.

“Shrink sleeves are a fast-growing market, providing 360º coverage and the highest flexibility in container shapes. By continuously developing and innovating our portfolio of products, we aim to ensure that our customers can stay competitive and take advantage of the many business opportunities available in this sector,” Hoffman concludes.

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Learn more

New solution for direct-to-substrate proofing on uncoated packaging media - now available for FLEX PACK!

www.cgs-oris.com

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Creating Safe, Sustainable with the Right Ink

As demand for packaging continues to grow and strengthen, partly due to the pandemic, digital printing is uniquely positioned to produce the customized, sustainable, recyclable packaging needed to meet the demand of brands and consumers.

When it comes to food packaging, choosing the right ink technology plays a crucial role in the overall safety and quality of your package and its contents.

Creating Safe Food Labels and Packaging Most labels and packages produced today are for food and beverage products. Anyone working — or expanding — in this growing market must understand how each component used in the packaging impacts the food inside. Each step in the supply chain should ensure their own regulatory responsibilities are met. In doing so, the company putting the product on the market can ultimately prove that the complete food package is compliant with all applicable regulations and safe for its intended end-use.

Failure to meet such regulations can lead to product recalls, sickness, or worse.

Whether you are a seasoned professional in the field of packaging and label production, or just beginning, it is critical to have an in-depth understanding of the principles of Food Contact Material (FCM) regulations and compliance.

FCM compliance is about more than individual substances (or components) within each layer of a packaging article; it’s about ensuring that ALL the layers together — commonly known as the packaging “sandwich” — covers, protects, and preserves the food, and is holistically in compliance.

The primary purpose of food packaging is to protect its contents from contamination or taint from the time it is put into the package until a consumer empties the package. A common method of contamination comes from the migration of substances from the packaging into the food. This migration can happen from any material layer within the packaging, including the substrate, label, adhesive, or ink.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) both regulate and evaluate the safety of most substances used in FCMs. Remember each layer in the packaging article constitutes its own FCM. While these jurisdictions may maintain regulations on the substances used within FCMs, such as paper, adhesives, and plastics, they are not in the business of certifying or approving individual layers or a complete food contact article (FCA), although you can submit them for review. While ink is not meant to come into contact with food, there is no FDA or EU certification or even a harmonized regulation specific to ink.

Compositional Review and Migration Understanding how each layer in the packaging sandwich supports the overall compliance of the entire package is crucial. These are some of the critical areas within the packaging sandwich to review: Compositional Compliance The composition or individual substances in each layer should first be assessed according to their

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e Food Packaging

e

d

Baby milk recall begins due to concerns over packaging ink ducts

real pro e c in r o d o d n a Off taste PFAS ha s shown t been o cause reprodu ctive, develop me liver, kid ntal, n immuno ey and lo problem gical s laborato in ry anima ls.

Recall for coffee product after major contamination

Ink set-off issue con taminating food

Issue with Residual monomers photoinitators found to migrate migrating thro ugh food packaging

corresponding material regulations in the jurisdiction(s) of interest. This may include maximum use limits or other specifications like food or temperature restrictions, extractive limitations, and specific migration limits.

Barrier/Structural A functional barrier is any material or combination of materials that prevent the migration of components from any layer beyond the barrier layer into the food. Thicker packaging materials generally perform better as barriers but can be impacted by multiple factors and should be tested. Properly tested inkjet media, with its fast dry time, can enhance water resistance properties, protect the food and improve the quality of the label and/or package.

Inks Inks often get a greater amount of attention because they are a visible part of a packaging sandwich. Ink contributes to the communication of a brand’s value — attracting customers to the product and letting them know what’s inside. With the focus

1. Penetration Migration is the migration of a substance from the printed side through the substrate onto the food.

proper handling and drying methods.

Some companies use claims of “low migration inks” without assessing both the components and migration. While a company can formulate their ink with higher molecular weight components that tend to migrate less than lower molecular weight components, this does not mean there is zero risk of migration and contamination of the food within packaging. It still needs to be proven with substantive data.

2. Contact Migration or Set-off Migration can occur when a substance from the printed side migrates to the non-printed surface during manufacture or storage of the printed item in a stack or roll. One way to help limit ink set-off risk is to implement

Outer Layer — Lamination and Varnishes Outer lamination and varnishes (or overcoats) play a unique role in food labels and packaging. While they do not protect against potential ink migration through the backside of a label, they

on branding, the critical role that ink plays in creating safe food packaging is often overlooked. Ink migration is the transfer of ink components from or through a label or packaging. Here are two potential ways that migration can happen:

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44 the science and data to back up our ink chemistry claims.

Choosing the right inks up-front can help you to create high-performance, sustainable labels and packaging that do not negatively impact food, human health, the environment, or your wallet.

can help limit set-off, and protect what’s printed on the label.

Complete Package Safety After reviewing and evaluating any individual material regulation requirements, the complete package must then be assessed as a whole, including good manufacturing processes, organoleptic properties, and migration limits.

A best practice for migration testing is to consider the worst-case conditions, including food type and temperature while transported, stored, processed, and consumed. For example, fatty and acidic foods may induce a higher migration of some chemicals than dry foods. Foods stored in the refrigerator/ freezer and/or used in the microwave will experience greater condensation or evaporation and therefore may require more substantial media, barrier and/or overcoat solutions.

Migration testing is your proof that the package is not releasing components into the food that might impact human health, the taste, or odor of the product.

Memjet’s all water-based ink portfolio is free from toxic and reactive chemistries, making them safer for the earth and human health than other ink alternatives. The water-based formulation benefits print workers and can potentially cut your environmental costs (permits and disposal fees) in half.

Building on that strong foundation, Memjet puts focus on purity of ingredients, consistency in manufacturing, and rigorous quality control to ensure high-performance and lifecycle reliability.

The newest generation of Memjet inks are carefully designed specifically for use in food packaging and other sensitive applications — an essential differentiator.

Many companies make claims like sustainability, environmentally friendly, low migration, and recyclability. All too often, these claims are unsubstantiated. When it comes to these important topics, Memjet has

Discover Memjet partners with new label and packaging print solutions Powered by Memjet water-based ink.

• The VIPColor VP650 is a desktop color label printer suited for tight spaces and using Memjet’s enhanced water-resistant ink technology suitable for chilled food & beverages, and most moisture exposed products.

• Coaso iCueLabel 420 is a Memjet DuraFlex-powered roll-to-roll label printer producing high-quality labels— including food-safe and high-security labels — in a fast, affordable way.

• Winjet PE4600 Powered by Memjet DuraFlex® print technology with a 324-mm wide color print engine and new generation water-based pigment inks make this solution ideal for any packaging including food packaging. It includes added versatility of an optional conveyor and can accommodate printing of corrugated boxes either lying flat or assembled, plus flat paper bags.

Selecting the Right Ink + Technology There are many types of printing inks available in the market and selecting the right printing ink and/or print partner is an important factor to consider for your food packaging or sensitive application. Some ink technologies while okay for other print processes, can be hazardous when used near the production of food products. Using safe, high quality ink protects the safety and efficacy of the food product.

As a company focused on our own environmental impact, as well as that of our customers, Memjet strives to achieve the safest inks possible without compromising performance – and it starts with water.

https://www.memjet.com

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RIGHT LABELS, RIGHT TIME, RIGHT COST.

New! VP500/550* DESKTOP COLOR LABEL PRINTER

Budget-friendly print solution for professional-quality labels designed for small to medium-size businesses and multi-location enterprises.

New! VP610/660* DESKTOP COLOR LABEL PRINTER

Streamline your labeling workflow and deliver up to 2,400 labels (4x6") in 10 min. with these new supercharged print solutions.

www.vipcolor.com

*VP550/VP660 provide enhanced water-resistant inks for chilled food and beverages and most moisture exposed product labels.

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Shrink sleeve coatings & inks designed to increase the Competitive Edge ACTEGA, manufacturer of specialty coatings, inks, adhesives and sealing compounds for the print and packaging industry, announces new additions to its extensive product portfolio, further enhancing the visual and haptic effects achievable for shrink sleeves.

The Vietnamese packaging printer received the award in the category ‘Printed Products’ for an excellently printed, fully recyclable mono-material packaging solution.

hurdles and challenges, we are more than excited that a customer project for mono-material packaging was honoured with ERA’s Gravure Award for Sustainable Packaging now.”

Thành Phú is one of Siegwerk’s longtime customers.

“The switch from multi-material to mono-material packaging is one important lever towards achieving full packaging circularity,” said Ralf Hildenbrand, President Packaging Americas & Global Technology, PSR and Sustainability at Siegwerk. “But as this switch comes with many technical

Thành Phú’s winning mono-material packaging is a reverse printed flat bottom pouch for dog food. It is a fully recyclable MDO-PE/PE structure that is suitable for large volumes up to 20kg.

A special highlight was that the pouch was printed with a haptic (sand touch) and a matte coating from Siegwerk in double-in-register. The sand touch

effect was applied at the upper part of the pouch design to offer a better and safer grip to the bag.

“This perfectly reflects our philosophy at Siegwerk, that packaging circularity and performance need to work hand in hand for good market acceptance,” added Casimir Rowan, Business Unit Head Flexible Packaging SEA. “And functional coatings provide a great opportunity to successfully achieve this.”

“With our winner pouch we have now been able to show that full PE structures can also be excellently printed

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https://fujifilm-gcb.info/FBNZ_Re

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with rotogravure, which provides our customers with a wide range of special effect varnishes and inks, together with consistent quality,” explained Alex Dam, Executive Vice President, Thành Phú. “We have created a premium look pouch with perfect double-inregister-printing results and good sealing capabilities with two coatings in different thickness.”

Next to its full recyclability, the awarded flat bottom pouch convinces with high stability, excellent sealing strength and outstanding printing appearance.

In June 2021, the same printed packaging has already received the “Made for Recycling” quality seal from Interseroh, one of the leading service providers for sustainability, underlining its good recyclability.

Thành Phú is a family-owned and operated flexible plastic packaging manufacturer in Vietnam and a Siegwerk customer since 2014.

The packaging printer is continuously working on recyclable alternatives to conventional laminated film structures, aiming for easy recyclability and full circularity.

Thanh Phu’s fully recyclable Veloflex™ solution has helped consumer packed goods (CPG) companies to address packaging sustainability challenges, starting in Southeast Asia extending into Europe and North America.

Today, the company offers “Made for Recycling” mono-PE solutions for a full range of flexible packaging applications – from general to barrier- replacing the traditional structures consisting of BOPA, BOPET, VMPET or BOPP laminated with PE. Flexible mono-PE laminated packaging solutions like the awarded one from Thành Phú offer the potential to be recycled in the same collection stream as other PE material which shows their crucial value in the sense of a circular economy.

“Independent from the printing process used, it is always about matching functionality and recyclability,” added Khanh Tran Thi Quoc, Head of Sales, Flexible Packaging BU, Vietnam “Here, the right adjusted ink systems and coatings play an essential role to meet both, technical requirements in terms of performance and recyclability as well as optical and haptic packaging requirements.”

In other words, they help to fulfill consumer expectations and thereby further drive the general acceptance of sustainable mono-material packaging.

A higher consumer acceptance will then help to drive the implementation of full PE laminated packaging solutions into other applications and packaging formats going forward - another important step towards a circular and more sustainable packaging industry.

“We congratulate Thành Phú and all other award winners: Your contributions show that we as packaging industry are already on a good way towards improved recyclability and packaging circularity,” adds Ralf Hildenbrand pleased. “Only if we work together along the supply chain, we will be able to further drive this success with innovative developments for a sustainable future.” Siegwerk itself is strongly committed to support and enable circular packaging solutions, contributing to various industry initiatives and sharing know-how from the printing ink perspective with other experts along the supply chain to drive the development of sustainable packaging with improved recyclability up to complete circularity.

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DIGITAL PRINTING SOLUTIONS LIKE NO OTHER Ready for the next turn.

Just like you.

As truly direct and dedicated printing technology specialists, we believe you should deal with your challenges in your very own way. That is why we offer a wider range of digital technologies for a wide range of applications. From wine labels to wall decoration; from toner to inkjet – how can we help you to make your business ready for the next turn? www.xeikon.com

Direct. Dedicated. Digital.

Xeikon_CorporateAdv_210x297_EN.indd 1

24/08/17 09:45

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Paper Is an Effective – and C Packing Solution During the pandemic, use of e-commerce spiked, including online purchasing of food products that require thermal protection during the shipping process.

In most cases, products are delivered within 24 hours, and traditionally, many of these products have been shipped using expanded polystyrene (EPS) boxes and other non-sustainable traditional cold chain solutions. While these boxes are lightweight and provide good thermal protection, they do have disadvantages.

While EPS boxes and other plasticbased thermal protection solutions, or even wool- or cotton-based solutions or denim liners, are certainly an effective thermal protection approach, they also take up a great deal of space, both in the warehouse and in the product shipping process. Plus, their end-of-life disposal comes with many sustainability issues.

Is There a Viable Alternative to Plastic-Based Cold Chain Packaging Solutions?

The answer is simple: Yes, especially for products that require thermal protection for 24 hours or even up to 48 hours. Ranpak has developed a unique eco-friendly solution paperbased for cold chain packaging: WrapPak® Protector. Using thermal liners from 100% paper instead of petroleum-based products has many environmental benefits:

certified materials sourced from sustainably managed forests and with a chain of custody certification.

- 100% paper. Our WrapPak protective liner is 100% paper – no plastics are used.

- 100% renewable. We use FSC®

WrapPak Protector also offers significant logistics benefits. These include: - Substantially reduced requirements for storing of packing materials. One

- 100% recyclable. There are no barriers to its entry into the recycling stream.

- 100% biodegradable. Since WrapPak contains no plastics or other petroleum-based additives, it is 100% biodegradable if it does end up in the landfill.

Switching from plastic (EPS boxes) to paper (Ranpak WrapPak Protector) delivers significant benefits – environmentally, econ recyclable and biodegradable, fitting the demand for more circularity in product packaging and providing a clear alternative to

Print Innovation Asia Issue 11 2021

Cost-Effective – Cold Chain by: Anne de Rouw, Business Development Manager Cold Chain at Ranpak

pallet of WrapPak paper packs as much product as up to 24 pallets of EPS cold chain boxes!

- The waved paper pads used for thermal protection are produced on demand, keeping required storage space to a minimum, reducing transport costs and reducing the risk of running out of packing material during a busy period.

How Does It Work?

It’s easy! Ranpak provides the packing organization with WrapPak Protector converting equipment, which has a compact footprint, along with pallets of WrapPak Protector paper liner. Ranpak specialists will assess the packing and thermal protection requirements and recommend the best

nomically and safely. Paper is 100% renewable, o conventional cold chain packaging materials.

packing configurations for each type of product, whether requiring sustained thermal protection for frozen, chilled or ambient temperature ranges. The packing process is straightforward: 1. Select the right double- or triplewall corrugated box.

2.

Use the WrapPak Protector converter to convert paper into waved pads in the right size with the number of layers required depending on the ambient temperature, the product temperature and shipping duration.

3 Products are inserted into the lined box with cooling elements added.

4. Optional void fill can be used if there are empty spaces in the packed box.

5. Close the box with tape, and it’s ready to ship!

How Does Thermal Protection Compare with EPS Boxes?

Our experts have performed extensive testing to determine how Ranpak WrapPak Protector compares with EPS boxes in terms of thermal protection, and the good news is WrapPak Protector is roughly equivalent to EPS boxes. Our studies conducted using

the Western European Test Profile (ambient temperatures between 1425°C) with big boxes of 45 liters and 4 cool packs, each 300 grams, showed that products packed using WrapPak Protector waved pads maintained thermal protection well within the specified temperature ranges for these products, with cool maintained within a four-hour margin compared to the EPS boxes. In addition, as noted earlier, packers benefit from cost savings in storage and transport as well as improved sustainability.

Our market research reflects that there is a significant total addressable market for thermal protection in the ranges delivered by WrapPak Protector waved pads and can, in most cases, completely, safely and cost-effectively replace EPS boxes for these shipping needs.

Plus, using paper versus plastic packaging delivers a circular economy approach that uses, rather than uses up, resources because they are manufactured from renewable resources.

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The most mispelled mispeled misspelled brand names on the internet.

Whether it’s on our food, clothes, or car, we encounter various brands every single day. And aside from logos, one of the key aspects that distinguishes a brand is their name, with some brand names being more recognisable and easier to spell than others.

Interested in brand recognition, the business finance team at money.co.uk, used online analytics tool Ahrefs to find some of the most misspelled brand names on the internet.

Money.co.uk found that popular South Korean automotive manufacturer Hyundai is one of the most misspelled brands on the internet, with an average of 605,000 incorrect global online searches per month. Common search variations for Hyundai include ‘Hundai’ (581,000 monthly searches) and ‘Hiundai’ (24,000 monthly searches).

In second place is Lamborghini, with an average of 365,000 inaccurate online searches a month for the luxury sports car giant. Those searching for Lamborghini, are typically misspelling it as ‘Lamborgini’ (351,000 monthly searches) and ‘Lambogini’ (14,000 monthly searches).

At the other end of the rankings, in 20th position is Porsche. The German high-performance automotive manufacturer is incorrectly searched online an average 19,500 times per month, the biggest alternatives being ‘Porsh’ (10,000 monthly searches) and ‘Porsch’ (9,500 online searches).

Overall, seven out of the 20 most misspelled brands on the internet are from the automotive industry.

Salman Haqqi, a business finance editor from money.co.uk, offered guidance on what to consider when choosing a memorable brand name: “A brand name can be one of the core pillars that will determine the popularity and success of a business, therefore aspiring entrepreneurs must give careful consideration when choosing

a brand name for their new business.

There are some fundamentals they need to keep in mind when doing so: Unique – A brand name that is distinctive and makes the business stand out against competitors.

Digestible – A brand name that is not too difficult to say or spell. In the e-commerce age, this is especially important, ideally a brand name people can easily Google and find online.

Due diligence – A brand name that can be trademarked and you can acquire a web domain for.

Visual awareness – A brand name that can be clearly communicated through colours, icons and logos.

Longevity – Can the brand name grow in correlation with the business and maintain relevancy as the business expands into new products, services, markets and territories?”

Ferrari is in third position. The misspelled ‘Ferari’ is searched online an average 123,000 times a month.

French cognac producer Hennessy (‘Henessy’, ‘Hennesy’, ‘Henesy’ – 95,100 combined) and Dutch beer producer Heineken (‘Heinken’ – 90,000), respectively rank fourth and fifth.

Interestingly, Uniqlo in ninth spot is the most misspelled clothing retailer on the list. The company which originated from Japan is erroneously searched online an average 58,600 times every month. The error-filled Uniqlo searches include ‘Uniclo’ (55,000 monthly searches), ‘Unilo’ (2,100 monthly searches) and ‘Uniql’ (1,500 monthly searches).

https://www.money.co.uk/business-loans.htm

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54 High adhesion ink now available for EFI wide format flatbed and hybrids EFI announced the availability of EFI ProGraphics XA high-adhesion ink – a versatile UV LED display graphics inkjet ink that is suitable for a wide range of rigid and flexible media for EFI Wide Format flatbed and hybrid roll/flatbed printers.

According to EFI, ProGraphics XA ink delivers superior results on corrugated plastics and other substrates with adhesion challenges.

EFI customer Kurt Kahmnke, owner of Fenton, Missouri-based Payler Signs & Graphics, has gained greater adhesion and durability on rigid substrate prints he produces on his company’s new EFI Pro 30h hybrid wide-format printer. The ink gives Payler Signs superior results compared to the UV inks the company uses on a flatbed inkjet printer.

“We’ve tested prints produced with the ProGraphics XA ink in our EFI Pro 30h printer in a variety of modes on Coroplast, acrylic, aluminum composites and other challenging materials by spraying them with water, leaving them outside in the heat, and stacking them ink side to ink side,” said Kahmnke. “We are very pleased with the ink’s adhesion, quality, and performance and are confident that we made the right choice.”

The ProGraphics XA ink does not chip during cutting when used on standard acrylic, corrugated plastic or other fluted polypropylene media.

Plus, ProGraphics XA ink is flexible enough for 180-degree heat forming applications.

Bringing this advanced ink to the EFI Pro 24f, Pro 30f, Pro 16h and Pro 30h wide-format printers gives sign and display graphics operations more capabilities in the range of applications they offer to customers.

“We are pleased to bring this exceptional high-adhesion ink to our wide format printer owners,” said Ken Hanulec, EFI’s vice president of worldwide marketing. “We continually strive to increase the value of EFI investments, and now customers will have the benefit of ProGraphics XA ink’s versatility, durability and flexibility to extend the range of substrates and surfaces they can print on.”

When purchasing an EFI Wide Format printer, customers can choose the ProGraphics Series UV LED ink set that best meets their application needs.

Other ProGraphics inks include: • EFI - 3M ProGraphics UV LED ink for flexible applications, including those that need to be stretched or heated or require the 3M™ MCS™ Warranty;

• EFI ProGraphics UV LED POP ink for rigid board and flexible media printing of indoor and outdoor applications; • EFI ProGraphics UV LED Rigid ink provides the best surface mar resistance and is ideal for printing on specialty rigid media, such as lenticular lenses, steel, aluminum, and wood; • EFI ProGraphics UV LED Ultra ink for a highly diverse range of flexible and rigid media applications, such as banners, exterior signage, retail signs, interior architectural design, and those that need the best outdoor weathering performance without lamination.

Packaging company awarded Singapore’s Outstanding SME of the Year Packaging company, Containers Printers Pte Ltd has won the Outstanding SME of the Year Award.

The award recognises Singapore SMEs in manufacturing or industrial business activities that have demonstrated a high level of commitment to energy management.

Established in 2011, the EENP Awards aim to recognise companies for their efforts and achievements in improving energy efficiency.

The award programme is organised annually by the National Environment Agency, Energy Market Authority and the Singapore Economic Development Board.

Containers Printers had its start in 1981 producing and printing metal packaging. some of which included square tins for cooking oil, which are common throughout Southeast Asia.

Over the years, the company evolved to provide innovative metal and flexible laminate packaging solutions to customers in more than 30 countries. The company serves brands in the nutrition, food, and medical industries.

In a statement to Singapore newspaper, The Business Times, Amy Chung, CEO of Containers Printers said: "We have built a dedicated energy management team involving members from different departments, invested in training, and established

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SPEED UP YOUR PROCESSES with optical systems for UV curing and drying

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new data driven processes on energy usage tracking and performance monitoring."

According to Containers Printers, some of its recent sustainability programs include the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels across all of its factories to tap into renewable energy. The company also upgraded energy-intensive equipment, such as air compressors, to use energy efficient fixed speed and variable speed compressors to the meet the varying compressed air demands of production at an efficient rate.

In addition, Containers Printers upgraded all factory lighting to LED and its air conditioning units to more energy-efficient units (rated 4 or 5 ticks under NEA’s Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme).

As a signatory to the Singapore Packaging Agreement (SPA), Containers Printers commit to reduce packaging waste, which constitutes about one-third by weight of Singapore’s domestic waste.

In 2020, the company snagged two awards at the CFI.co Sustainability Awards: Best Sustainable Packaging Technology (Southeast Asia) and Most Innovative Packaging Team (Southeast Asia).

Koenig & Bauer Durst debuts VariJET 106 Koenig & Bauer Durst GmbH

has unveiled the VariJET 106 in a world premiere with exclusive live demonstrations for customers and stakeholders in Radebeul, near Dresden, Germany.

The VariJET 106 is a modular single pass sheetfed digital printing press for the folding carton market and has been jointly developed by Koenig & Bauer and Durst.

Using market-proven industrial expertise from Durst and Koenig & Bauer, beta testing is due to start in the coming weeks.

The first units of the VariJET 106 are due to be installed at customer sites in Europe and America in the second half of 2022. Target groups include pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, tobacco and food industries, as well as folding carton converters.

At the launch, which included presentations in the Customer Experience Center, senior executives unveiled further insights into Koenig & Bauer’s packaging strategy.

Updates were provided on how the

digitalization of business processes for new products and services is progressing.

The B1 5,500sph press combines the best of digital inkjet and classic offset printing.

The VariJET 106 is based on waterbased inkjet processes to provide the highest print quality. The innovative digital printing system is at the heart of the collaborative development between Koenig & Bauer and Durst.

The VariJET 106 platform is based on Koenig & Bauer’s standard high

performance Rapida 106 platform and Durst printhead electronics, inkjet expertise and Durst workflow and RIP technology. This includes Durst Analytics, Smartshop and Workflow.

Using 7 colour water-based food compliant inkjet technology (CMYK plus orange, green and violet), the VariJET 106 is suitable for food applications that meet the stringent requirements for food safe primary packaging utilising proprietary waterbased ink technology. The VariJET 106 can produce personalized and individualised print products or alternate between short and medium runs.

The VariJET 106 offers: • Modular integration of upstream and downstream processes • Combination of digital print with proven modules of the Rapida platform • Perfect register accuracy thanks to inline production • Highly competitive TCO, efficient production of ultra-short to medium runs • Reduced resource consumption, storage costs and waste • Absolute flexibility for test packaging and new campaigns • Fastest possible response to market demands Koenig & Bauer and Durst first announced they had joined forces and set up an independent joint venture company in 2019. The VariJET 106 is the first product jointly and developed by the two companies. Already in production and part of the Koenig & Bauer Durst portfolio are the Delta SPC 130 Series and the CorruJET 170 Series – aimed at corrugated packaging.

The VariJET 106, Delta SPC 130 and CorruJET 170 are designed with core technologies to provide automated, productive, food safe printing systems. They deliver shorter response times, more variants, shorter run lengths, individualization and enable more and more small value orders.

They also answer the increasing customer demand for brand security, sustainability and the ability to meet brand owners’ requirements for multichannel communication including e-commerce.

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CANON SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.

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58 However, many users were not aware of this at the time of purchase and want to decide independently and put together individually what suits them best and their specific requirements.

But to do that, the systems have to be open and able to communicate with each other," said Rückert.

Robert Stabler, Managing Director, Koenig & Bauer Durst, said: “This world premiere marks a proud moment – and what a journey it has been! We are really excited by the progress we have made and the opportunities with our VariJET 106 despite these testing times. We have beta sites at an advanced stage of planning.

These potential customers already have a vision for mass customization will be working with us in partnership Feedback from our customers is that shorter run lengths, mass customization and the need to be more agile are the compelling reasons for moving to digital production.

“Successful companies need to be able to embrace the trends that are occurring and offer solutions. Brand owners continually want their products to stand out, require shorter lead times, while at the same time eliminate waste and conform to sustainability and track-and-trace requirements.

Brand owners are also looking to ensure the new production methods are reliable, compliant and cost effective while converters need to have the capabilities and competencies to mass customize without any compromise on quality. We deliver on this.”

CGS ORIS partners software company iQIP CGS ORIS announced it has formed a strategic partnership with software company, iQIP® GmbH & Co. KG. With the partnership, iQIP will integrate the product portfolio of CGS ORIS in its consulting and sales activities. For both software

companies, the focus is on optimising and increasing the efficiency of processes and results for print service providers and their customers.

"The extensive portfolio of CGS ORIS fits seamlessly into the 'smart quality hub' concept of iQIP. Through this cooperation, we can provide our customers a complete package of tools from data optimization, brand colour communication, all the way to quality control. We are convinced that our current and future customers will massively benefit from this partnership because we consider CGS ORIS´s software to be one of the highest quality colour management tools in the market. The team behind is innovative, responsive and reliable. Therefore, we are very much looking forward to this cooperation," said iQIP’s CEO Stefan Spengler.

"In addition to the match between our solutions in terms of content, this partnership also demonstrates very

well how beneficial it is to be able to combine software from different manufacturers in an uncomplicated manner - in other words, to actually provide open systems with which users get the maximum out," added Bernd Rückert, CEO of CGS ORIS. "Recently, we have often spoken to customers using software that can only be combined with products from the same manufacturer.

Due to the advancing digitalization, an easy and fast integrability of software tools into existing infrastructures has become more and more important.

Today, the colour experts at CGS ORIS are also increasingly acting as "colour consultants", advising on the optimization and automation of workflows and putting together holistic solutions for managing and optimizing colour in all aspects of the printing process.

Meanwhile, iQIP has undergone a complete overhaul. Previously known as impakt-medien, In 2021, the Munich-based company rebranded as iQIP with a new website and new software features.

"Already in the past, we were perceived as the iQIP® team. With the harmonization of company and product name, we´ve created a clear brand recognition value and facilitated our brand communication," said Spengler. iQIP has been on the market as Print Quality Cloud since 2010 and was a technological pioneer at a time when other companies were still relying on desktop applications. As a central

hub for communication and quality management, the company combines printer and print buyers in the cloud. With its intelligent evaluation algorithm, iQIP provides a reliable quality metric that serves as a central variable for all stakeholders.

BillerudKorsnäs partners Oatly for sustainable packaging that can withstand hot Singapore weather Packaging company, BillerudKorsnäs

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60 and responsible products. We think alike in many ways,” said Henrik Ahlgren, Sales Director Asia & Pacific, BillerudKorsnäs.

has partnered with oat drink company, Oatly, to develop corrugated transport boxes for Oatly’s Singapore produced products.

Oatly recently opened its first production facility in Asia to supply the nearby markets.

Products produced in the Singapore factory will be packed in boxes and transported on pallets during demanding hot and humid climate conditions, which generates challenging logistics chains.

The conventional packaging solution to manage high humidity is to add extra material for sturdier packaging.

BillerudKorsnäs BoxLab found a different solution to ensure enhanced sustainability performance while maintaining the high quality standards of Oatly’s secondary packaging.

The solution was built based sustainable principles including being able to minimise damage and waste throughout the logistics chain, while using as little material as possible and minimising water usage. The recyclable packaging material comes from renewable sources and transparency throughout the value chain is promoted.

As a result, the corrugated transport boxes designed to hold six 1-litre cartons of oat drink for distribution was introduced.

The corrugated transport boxes enabled a reduction in secondary packaging material by up to 35% and an estimated reduction of CO2 emissions from secondary packaging by up to 50%, compared to conventional packaging solutions.

“To challenge conventional packaging solutions for a sustainable future has long been the guiding star for BillerudKorsnäs. Oatly is a company that strives to produce sustainable

According to BillerudKorsnäs, packaging material based on strong primary fibres can make a remarkable difference in demanding logistics chains. The reduction in secondary packaging material with up to 35% can generate substantial savings of packaging material per year.

BillerudKorsnäs added that the renewable paper material originates from responsibly managed forests.

After use, the packaging can be recycled and used for less demanding packaging multiple times.

“We always look to find solutions to make our production chain more sustainable, transparent and resource efficient. Therefore it’s great that we are able to work with BillerudKorsnäs to find this solution to lower the climate impact and optimise the design of our Asian packaging,” said Jenny Belsö Trojer, Global Cat Manager Packaging Material at Oatly.

EFI grows Asia Pacific packaging team with new hire EFI announced the appointment of Paul Sanelli as its new packaging and display business development manager in the Asia Pacific region.

Based in Melbourne, Sanelli’s reach extends beyond Australian shores; he will be driving business development activities across APAC, and work closely with EFI’s territory sales managers.

With the appointment, EFI highlighted its commitment to grow the packaging business in APAC. Sanelli will be working with customers in the packaging space across the APAC region, including growing the EFI Nozomi footprint.

“I am excited about the digital growth happening in the packaging industry and about EFI’s culture and innovative technology, its focus in helping customers discover the opportunities and the commercial benefits that can be realised through digital printing,” said Sanelli.

Sanelli is a graphic communications expert with more than 25 years of industry experience. Prior to EFI, Sanelli had his start in graphic arts in prepress, before moving into sales for leading suppliers in the print industry.

“From stripping films and washing down a proofing press in my early days, I have seen many step-changes and transitions to digital workflow and production. Observing the early adopters through to dedicated and digital-only operations has given me a sense of what works, and some of the potential challenges’ companies have had to work through when using their current conventional go-to-market strategy,” said Sanelli.

“EFI has become such a relevant supplier to the packaging market through its e-Commerce, workflow, production scheduling, plant management, ERP solutions and printing and converting offerings. I am a believer that one size doesn’t fit all and, therefore, our goal is to focus on our customers’ success by providing them a customised solution tailored for their business needs,” he continued. ‘’I am very pleased to have Paul join our team at EFI. He comes with a wealth of knowledge not just in packaging, but also in digital printing in general, and has a proven track record of project management in complex sales processes. He is wellrespected in the industry for his experience and his approach and is a great addition to our growing team,” said Rodd Harrison, EFI’s Asia-Pacific vice-president of sales.

“Paul coming on board reinforces our commitment to packaging in general, the importance of the APAC region as a whole and A/NZ specifically to our business, and to build a great team of people to service our customers and the industry through innovation,” Harrison concluded.

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