PRESSIdeas July 2021 issue

21 vol-21 Issue- 07 July 2021

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Vol.21 Issue 07, 2021

Connected Packaging......................................10 Flexo Printability.................................................12 Kodak acquires SLP............................................15 Resource Saving..................................................16 Intelligent Automation....................................18

A monthly Publication from PRESSIdeas Publishing Pvt. Ltd.

Flexibility in Digital Finishing.........................26 IT’S SHOWTIME....................................................30 Xaar acquires FFEI..............................................35

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Contents FROM THE EDITORS’ DESK..............................................................................................................................................................................................................4 Heidelberg at China Print...............................................................................................................................................................................................................6 Orders surge to 10 year record high at Manroland...............................................................................................................................................................7 OPA and KUK join hands to advance Printing & Packaging education..........................................................................................................................8 Continued concern over rising cost and reduced availability of Raw Materials for the Ink Industry ...............................................................9 DPA Aapke Dwar Programme.......................................................................................................................................................................................................9 Implementing QR Codes on PET Packages via Connected Packaging....................................................................................................................... 10 Effect of Process Parameters on Flexo Printability............................................................................................................................................................. 12 Meccanotecnica introduces new generation of Three-Knife Trimmer....................................................................................................................... 14 Kodak strengthens commitment to print............................................................................................................................................................................. 15 SÜDKURIER is using ppi’s ad review solution....................................................................................................................................................................... 15 ‘Resource Saving’ with Fujifilm’s Premium Quality and Stability .................................................................................................................................. 16 Intelligent Automation for AccurioPress C7100 by Fiery DFEs...................................................................................................................................... 18 Project 21: Springfield’s largest investment to date.......................................................................................................................................................... 19 Growth leads Malaysian packaging printers to invest in cutting-edge Heidelberg technology ..................................................................... 20 Price adjustment of 20% for Mitsubishi HiTec Paper’s entire range ........................................................................................................................... 21 Be Packaging, growth doesn’t stop: a new OMET XFLEX X7 is operational.............................................................................................................. 22 Monotech Systems installs Kodak Trendsetter at Karshak Art Printers....................................................................................................................... 24 Nu-Maber invests in Esko platemaking.................................................................................................................................................................................. 24 VINSAK and Lombardi solutions boost quality and capacity for Paramount........................................................................................................... 25

Jasmeet D. Editor & Publisher (jasmeet@pressideas.com) Vineet K G. Associate Editor (vineetkg@pressideas.com) Jasvinder S. Sub-Editor (jasvinder@pressideas.com) Jacob George Marketing and Sales (jacob@pressideas.com) M.S. Mukundan Advertising and Sales Southern and Western India (aims@pressideas.com) Graphic Designer Anil Kumar

Flexibility in Digital Finishing..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Against All Odds!............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 28 Great approval for the green compound.............................................................................................................................................................................. 29 IT’S SHOWTIME! Heidelberg presents development study for innovative folding rollers................................................................................... 30 Baldwin at SuperCorrExpo ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Nippon Color showcases DuoBlade WX live at virtual.drupa ........................................................................................................................................ 31 DKSH partners with Creative Edge Software in Asia......................................................................................................................................................... 32 Seiko Open Week 2021 ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 32 ‘Navigating the Corrugated Jungle’ with Flint Group ...................................................................................................................................................... 33 Avery Dennison to acquire Vestcom....................................................................................................................................................................................... 33 3D printing comes of age: printing large-scale urban objects...................................................................................................................................... 34

Networking/ Hardware Consultant Sukhdeep Singh USA Correspondents Tensi M., Preeti European Correspondent Rimi, Yadhu Morphine Production Thomas K Alex

Xaar acquires print system integrator FFEI........................................................................................................................................................................... 35

PRESSIdeas July 2021 Vol. 21, Issue 07 Printed by Jacob George and published by Jasmeet Singh on behalf of PRESSIdeas Publishing Pvt Ltd. Printed in India at Hues and Colors 363, Industrial Focal Point, Phase-IX Mohali, and published at PRESSIdeas, 437-A 1st Floor, Industrial Area, Phase-2 Chandigarh-160002 (India) Every effort has been made to ensure that credits accurately comply with information supplied.

All material supplied is compiled from sources believed to be reliable or solely an opinion of the authors. PRESSIdeas is not responsible for any steps taken based on the information provided herewith.

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FROM THE EDITORS’ DESK Dear Readers, We have been observing a lot of tie-ups, acquisitions and partnerships in the industry in recent times. These are besides many technological innovations that have come as upgrade to existing set-ups and workflow solutions to answer consumer needs in increasingly efficient ways. In wake of the prolonged pandemic, the industry and its people have suffered a lot by way of business and work loss. Demand has been low and cost of production has drastically gone up either due to rising cost of raw materials or their unavailability. There have been many cases of upward price adjustments to offset higher cost of production. In such times, technological innovations come as a saving grace to help print producers and solutions providers continue with their process of growth by adopting more efficient means.

In this issue we will see various industry associations that took place recently. We have Xaar acquiring FFEI – one of the leading manufacturers of industrial digital inkjet systems and digital life science technology. Then we have Kodak’s acquisition of the service and parts assets of Southern Lithoplate Inc.(SLP), complementing the strategic alliance formed with SLP in December 2020. Also, Market Expansion Services provider DKSH has signed a strategic agreement with Creative Edge Software to promote their leading 3D visualization software in key Asian markets. DKSH will provide sales, marketing, and after-sales services in selected markets across Asia, including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Avery Dennison has signed an agreement to acquire Vestcom, provider of pricing and branded labeling solutions at the shelf-edge for retailers and consumer packaged goods companies, for $1.45 billion in a cash transaction. One important industry-academia association is between OPA (Offset Printers’ Association) and KUK (Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra). They have joined hands to advance Printing & Packaging education and have signed an MoU to establish channels of communication and cooperation to further education and academia-industry relations.

Key innovations include the introduction of new generation of Three-Knife Trimmer by Meccanotecnica; New EFI Fiery DFEs providing intelligent automation for Konica Minolta AccurioPress C7100 Series presses; Heidelberg aiming for the best of both worlds with its Perfect Grip – which aims to combines the benefits of soft and hard rings in folding rollers; Nippon Color showcasing live at virtual.drupa its DuoBlade WX – an all-in-one solution for digital label finishing with its 4 cutting heads, automatic job changing and more; and Amsterdam introducing world’s first 3D-printed steel footbridge, opening up the gates of possibility to produce large-scale urban objects with the process of printing.

Also find in this issue the news about latest installations along with interviews of Mr. Kentaro Imafuku (Fujifilm India); Mr. Giacomo Romano (Be Packaging, Italy); and Mr. Shlomo Nimrodi (Highcon). The topics under our ‘students’ corner’ this time are articles written by two young student writers - Angus Nunes and Girish Labade. Don’t miss the titles – ‘Implementing QR Codes on PET Packages via Connected Packaging’ and ‘Effect of Process Parameters on Flexo Printability’. Enjoy reading!

- Jasvinder Singh, Sub-editor

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Heidelberg at China Print - underlines leading position in largest growth market at China Print trade show.

Heidelberg underlined its leading position in the most important growth market at this year’s largest industry event, China Print, which took place in Beijing from June 23 to 27. Over the five days of the trade show, several tens of thousands of interested parties visited the trade show and the company’s booth. The presentations of Heidelberg’s latest solutions were literally overflowing with a total of 8,000 registered participants.

Heidelberg’s sales in China in the printing industry’s largest single market are expected to rise from around € 300 million to over € 360 million by 2026.

The world premiere of the new Speedmaster CX 104 sheetfed offset press was the highlight of the trade show and confirmed Heidelberg’s innovative strength and technological leadership in a challenging market environment. With the new press, the company aims to further expand its strong position in the growing packaging segment and meet the growing demand for flexible printing systems with different automation solutions and variants in the commercial sector.

Heidelberg also showcased a wide range of solutions

along the entire value chain in the customer life cycle with intelligent solutions and products.

“The reaction of customers in China to our innovations has been nothing short of euphoric,” said Rainer Hundsdörfer, CEO of the company. “Even before the start of series production of the CX 104, we had orders for more than 500 printing units of this series worldwide, a large proportion of them from China. This proof of confidence and the high demand from China give us tailwind for the current fiscal year.”

The Chinese production site in Shanghai has been running at full capacity for months, and capacities will be further increased in the current fiscal year due to the high order intake. Around 900 employees

Key Notes : > Demand from China continues to pick up. > High order volume for new Speedmaster CX 104 sheetfed offset press. > Production in Shanghai to be expanded due to high capacity utilization.

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High level of interest from customers and interested parties in the new Heidelberg solutions at China Print.

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currently work in sales, service, and production in the country. In the medium term, Heidelberg’s sales in China in the printing industry’s largest single market are expected to rise from around € 300 million to over € 360 million by 2026.

Successful customer approach on site and digitally In addition to the on-site trade show booth, the digital presentation of innovations and solutions is increasingly in demand in China.

To complement Heidelberg’s live presence, there was a digital exhibition of the booth with a VR 3D exhibition hall, on social media, numerous live streamings, B2B e-commerce offers, and the shows on the web. Thus, the comprehensive content was broadcast in various formats, bringing seamless online and offline experiences to all visitors. In the process, more than 25,000 trade visitors interacted with the digital “Heidelberg Show,” 40 percent of them completely online. With a total of 700 minutes of live streaming over five consecutive days, a total of 400,000 viewers were reached. The “Digital Show” concept enabled all customers to receive comprehensive information on site and online

despite travel restrictions caused by the pandemic.

“We are far ahead in the market. No one can deny that Heidelberg booth was the most attractive place of the exhibition. The number of visitors to the Heidelberg booth and the feedback from our customers confirm that

we are market leaders in China with our solutions. The vision, strategy, offerings, and digitalization competence demonstrated in the show proved that Heidelberg is the partner for the Chinese printing industry in the future. We are running with full speed running into a digital era,” added Benny Huang, Head of Heidelberg China Ltd.

Orders surge to 10 year record high at Manroland Order intake for new presses at the German printing press builder Manroland Sheetfed reached a 10 year record high in June.

In February this year the company cancelled short-time working and started ramping up production at its factory in Offenbach – where in 2021 the firm celebrates building its iconic presses for 150 years – in anticipation of increased demand.

producers of printing presses in the world, was founded in 1871. Today the company has its own subsidiaries in over 40 countries and is a global watchword for supreme

quality and reliability. Manroland Sheetfed GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of the privately owned UK engineering group, Langley Holdings plc.

Peter Conrady - Head of Global Sales: “The reasons for the very strong order intake in June, and for the year to date, are two-fold: Since the beginning of 2021 we have been seeing an increasing number of projects for both 700 and 900 size presses, as printers around the world began to regain investment confidence post Covid.

Moreover, the ROLAND 700 Evolution and the recently launched ROLAND 900 Evolution series presses are absolute state-of-the-art technology that offers significant commercial advantages. Our customers recognise this.”

Manroland Sheetfed, one of the oldest

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OPA and KUK join hands to advance Printing & Packaging education Offset Printers’ Association and Kurukshetra University sign MoU – to establish channels of communication and cooperation to further education and academia-industry relations.

Offset Printers’ Association (OPA) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kurukshetra University for establishing channels of communication and cooperation that will promote and advance the system of Printing and Packaging education.

The MoU between the Institute of Mass Communication & Media Technology and OPA was signed in the presence of Prof.

Som Nath Sachdeva, Vice Chancellor the University. Speaking on the occasion, the worthy vice chancellor said that academiaindustry relationship is the first step to fulfil the dream of self-reliant India. With these industry-academia relations, now the students will get an opportunity to get handson training in printing and packaging which will help them find good jobs, he said.

Kurukshetra University is one of the premier educational institutions of India. Established in 1956, the university is providing higher education to over half a million students on the campus and its affiliated colleges. The university has been awarded A+ grade by NAAC and has been placed at 8th position amongst the state universities of the country in category – 1 by the ministry of MHRD and has also been granted academic autonomy.

Earlier introducing OPA, Mr. Parveen Aggarwal, President said, “Academia must be the guiding force for the development of the industry. At OPA it is our mission to persuade the youngsters for adopting printing as a career.” Mr. Aggarwal added that he is thankful to the university because they are preparing the future printers. Under the project of ‘Print Chetna’, OPA is on the front foot to encourage the printing students by way of organizing ‘Print Olympiad,’ the first of its kind talent hunt for printing in

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The MoU was signed between OPA and IMCMT with the blessings of Prof. Som Nath Sachdeva, Vice Chancellor the Kurukshetra University (Centre)

the world. “Education is the backbone for the success of any industry and with this collaboration it will be possible to train the students in future print technologies,” he added. The doors of the industry are open to provide practical training as per the syllabus, OPA will ensure the practical training of the students in the factories of its members.

Prof Manjula Chaudhary, Dean Academic Affairs of the university said, “It is necessary to design the education and training as per the industry requirements. I am happy to see this understanding between academia and industry and I do hope that this collaboration will produce excellent results.”

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Kamal Chopra, Chairman World Print & Communication Forum and President All India Federation of Master Printers said, “There are ample opportunities available for

the talented manpower in the printing and packaging sector. It is the first step to bridge the gap. At the same time, right step for the ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ scheme introduced by the Prime Minister recently.

Describing the key points of the agreement, Prof. Bindu Sharma, Director, Institute of Mass Communication and Media Technology said, “This cooperation will facilitate effective utilization of the intellectual capabilities of the faculty and the industry in developing suitable teaching/training systems, keeping in mind the needs of the industry.” She added that taking in view the new education policy of the government of India, curriculum will be designed as per the need of the industry so that there may not be any difficulty for the placements. Later Prof. Kamal Chopra and team of OPA visited the Institute of Mass Communication & Media Technology to interact with the faculty members.

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Continued concern over rising cost and reduced availability of Raw Materials for the Ink Industry Flint Group Commercial, Publication and Sheetfed Inks (CPS) are a leading supplier of web and sheetfed inks to the Global printing industry, manufacturing cold set, heat set and sheetfed inks across its multiple global sites.

Along with many other suppliers, Flint CPS has been faced with cost increases across the entirety of its supply chain. Tony Lord, President of Flint CPS Inks said, “2021 has been a challenging year for manufacturers across the commercial and packaging print supply chain, with increased raw material costs influenced by both material and transport availability.

The stark increase in the cost of raw materials for ink manufacturing has already had a dramatic impact on our industry, and there seems to be no end to the ongoing raw material availability crisis.”

During the first half of 2021 Flint CPS worked with its customer base to address the challenging market conditions, and were

hopeful that moving towards the end of 2021, some stability would have returned to the market place.

Unfortunately, Flint CPS is yet to see any improvements in the availability of raw materials which, coupled with the strains on global transport and logistics, continues to drive costs upwards.

Lord also stated that “Flint CPS’ operational and procurement teams continue to work tirelessly to mitigate the multiple increases that are being imposed on our business to ensure that our cost base is at its optimum, however, it is certain that as costs continue to increase in such a way, our business will not be able to absorb them in their entirety.”

DPA Aapke Dwar Programme DPA Office Bearers met printers of Tronica city.

Under the leadership of President Mr.Sunil Jain, Vice-Presidents Mr. Deepak Bhatia and Mr. Prashant Aggarwal as well as Treasurer Mr. Prakash Dass, Delhi Printers’ Association organised its first DPA Aapke Dwar outreach programme at Trans Delhi Signature City (Tronica City) on July 10, 2021.

A brainchild of Mr. Deepak Bhatia, this innovative programme was held in association with Mr. Rajiv Gupta of SDR Printers to meet and discuss with local printing units about the problems plaguing the printing industry today. Necessary venue and other arrangements for the event were provided by Mr. Rajiv Gupta. It was attended by a sizable number of printers.

Welcoming the participating printers of Tronica City, DPA Treasurer Mr. Prakash Dass thanked Mr. Rajiv Gupta for his kind assistance by arranging the required infrastructure. He briefly outlined the need of the outreach programme and assured the printers of the benefits they would get when

the gist of discussions would be shared by them with other printers known to them.

Mr. Deepak Bhatia explained the quick frequency and the percentage at which prices of various raw materials increased over the past few months. He said printers generally do not stress on this important point when they negotiate with a customer for better deal. Mr. Bhatia emphasised the need for proper costing inclusive of all miscellaneous expenses. He reminded them to keep the ‘cost to the printer’ in mind when they compete among themselves for fresh orders.

Mr. Prashant Aggarwal suggested the participants to learn to say NO if the printers are not ready to accept the minimum possible rates. He also advised them to form small groups, like clusters, among themselves while dealing with big clients and negotiate suitably to get higher rates.

can survive if the final invoice does not cover all expenses. Therefore, he requested the printers to start practising client-wise expense table by jotting down even the smallest amounts spent.

All the printers gathered there fully agreed with the views and suggestions of DPA representatives and assured putting these into practice. They also vowed to support DPA in its continuing efforts for the betterment of the printing fraternity.

Mr. Deepak Bhatia reiterated that nobody

July 2021

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Students' Corner

Implementing QR Codes on PET Packages via Connected Packaging The technology enables brands to extend their conversations with customers through the packaging, to establish a stronger brand presence and gather valuable insights to better understand their customers.

Implementation of QR Codes along with PET packaging adds more features and better aesthetics to the product.

The QR Codes on the packaging give access to new information and ideas to the consumers.

Key Notes : > Connected Packaging makes the product more immersive and brings more opportunities to the packaging industry. > Using PET as a packaging material brings along a lot of advantages. > Customers need to be educated about QR Codes about its functions and about the use of embedded information.

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Connected packaging leverages QR codes, barcodes or image recognition, through a browser-based app, to connect consumers to relevant content and experiences. It could be a questionnaire or a simple game. A QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response code) is a type of matrix barcode first designed in 1994 for the automotive industry in Japan. In practice, QR codes often contain data for a locator, identifier, or tracker that points to a website or application. A QR code uses four standardized encoding modes to store data efficiently; extensions may also be used.

The abbreviation PET stands for polyethylene terephthalate, a polymer that, from a chemical point of view, is a polyester. PET is manufactured from terephthalic acid (a dicarboxylic acid) and ethylene glycol (a dialcohol). The two substances react together to form long polymer chains, with water as a by-product. As in most processes of polymerization, a catalyst is used to speed up the reaction kinetics. PET bottles are very strong, colourless and lightweight.

PET is transparent and it allows the content of the container to remain visible. The strength and

pressideas/ commercial printing

the QR Codes can help in many ways, for example, it can also monitor the products performance in sales, satisfaction and service. Using PET as a packaging material brings along a lot of advantages towards the environmental despite being a plastic, as it can be recycled into a new product and reduce waste and pollution. PET packages that have more density than, say, water bottles are more rigid and stronger. Surface treating of such packages improves the printability and also increases the life of the package. It improves resistance against foreign contaminants that could damage the packaged product. Further, the type of QR Code implemented may vary according to the size or usage of the package.

lightweight of PET is very important for beverage packaging since it makes the bottles safe for on-the-go or sports use.

Implementation of QR Codes along with PET packaging adds more features and better aesthetics to the product. The QR Codes on the packaging give access to new information and ideas to the consumers.

This improves the accessibility of product information and rewards for the consumers.

Adding tutorials and expert advices about the product may encourage consumers to experiment and upload their own ideas and opinions for other consumers to see.

The other advantage provided by QR Codes is that only one QR Code needs to generated and printed. This single QR Code is capable of providing information and rewards to the consumers, for example, rewards can be given out to those winners who successfully complete specific quizzes or games provided. The reward code can then be emailed or texted by an automated number to the winners. The rewards given out to the winners are beyond the designated function of QR Code. Such implementation can appeal to many customers and would help the brand not only to increase its revenue, but also gain the trust of customers to try and use the product.

Connected Packaging makes the product more immersive and brings more opportunities to the packaging industry as

Though QR Codes require internet access, certain information that is being accessed can be downloaded for particular reasons and use. Connected packaging helps in improving Brand imaging and service. It can give access to information to the customers that they have been looking for. QR Codes can also be used to connect various customers to the brand and to each other; they can share opinions and ideas that can help the brand improve in their product or service. Certain information such as PDFs or documents stored in QR codes can also be saved so that one can access them when they need even if they don’t have the QR Code with them to scan.

However, despite the major advantages provided by the idea, lack of knowledge from the customers can be a major drawback.

Customers must be educated about QR Codes and what are its functions and how to use the information in it. To access the information on the QR Code for the first time, you will need access to the internet and scanning QR Codes require a camera phone along with the feature to be able to scan the QR Code. Connected packaging creates experiences that educate customers about the brands and the products, which results in a brand awareness boost.

The digital experiences in Connected Packaging, whether it’s a quiz or a game, often involve vouchers as prizes.

Customers are incentivized to spend more with coupons or discount codes, which in turn ramps up revenues for companies.

Different target audiences are attracted to different connected experiences. Brands

need to be clear about their demographics, psychographics, and behavioral segmentations of customers, to ensure they choose the right strategy for the target group. Using Connected Packaging creates a memorable unboxing experience for the customer for several reasons. Additionally, when interacting with the packaging the customer gains value. They learn more about what the brand is about or gain helpful information about the product.

Tracking of packages and data about the packages is easily accessible; information as product name, dispatch date, manufacturing date, expiry date, address, etc. can be accessed by everyone and updated easily as well. Such interactive and immersive features can help improve and increase customer loyalty and customer satisfaction. Compact packages may not be an issue as micro QR Codes are printable on small spaces and can withhold all the required information that needs to be printed and displayed for customer purpose. This feature increases the scope of using QR Codes in just more than one perspective. QR Codes also provide a specific Aesthetic which makes the product’s package look more modern and attractive in its own way.

Written by Angus Nunes - Student PVG COET (Under guidance of Prof.

Swati V Nahar - Assistant Professor PVG COET)

July 2021

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Students' Corner

Effect of Process Parameters on Flexo Printability A look into the parameters like, printing plates, plate mounting, inks, substrates, anilox volume, pressure and speed on Flexo print quality.

The anilox to ink chamber affect the density most significantly, while the plate to impression pressure affect the tonal reproduction. The impact of changing pressure setting in the ink transfer affects the print quality.

Key Notes : > Many factors affect printability in Flexographic printing. > The important quality aspects are ink distribution, ink drying, image resolution, colour gamut, density range, dot gain and rub resistance. > The most significant parameters affecting image reproduction in Flexo process are plate-to-substrate impression pressure, line ruling and anilox specification.

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Flexography (often abbreviated to flexo) is a rotary printing process utilizing flexible relief plates and pressure to create an image. Each plate, made of engineered photopolymer, is adhered to a cylinder and inked by an engraved transfer, or anilox roll. The substrate is passed between the plate cylinder and the impression cylinder to achieve ink transfer. As the plate cylinder rotates, an impression cylinder applies pressure to the substrate, causing it to make contact with the inked relief of the plate. Depending on the particular system used, the ink is then dried onto the substrate before it reaches the next print station. Low viscosity, water-based inks pass through dryers, for instance, while UV flexo inks are cured with ultraviolet light. Flexographic printing can be used on almost any type of substrate and uses quick-drying, semiliquid inks. A variety of products can be printed on flexographic presses – including pressure sensitive labels, shrink sleeves, pouches, multi-panel labels and more.

The noun “Printability” can be broken down into two parts: “print” and “ability”. A first and logical approach would give as definition “the ability to be

printed”. Many factors affect printability, such as ink transfer in the printing press, ink transfer to the print carrier, ink setting and ink drying. The important quality aspects are ink distribution, ink drying, image resolution, colour gamut, density range, dot gain and rub resistance. Printability is an interaction between

pressideas/ commercial printing

the critical properties of the substrate and the printing parameters. The Flexo print quality depends on printing plates, plate mounting, inks, substrates, anilox volume, the pressure at the plate/substrate nip and the printing speed.

The most significant parameters affecting image reproduction in Flexo process are plate-to-substrate impression pressure, line ruling and anilox specification. The specification of the cell engravings of the anilox roll provided the largest influence on the amount of ink deposited on to the substrate, and hence on the optical density and halftone reproduction. The rate of density increase for higher anilox volume is greater at finer line rulings than for coarser line rulings.

The highest cell volume produced the highest density and lowest cell volume produced least density. The specification of the cell engravings of anilox roll has the largest influence on the amount of ink deposited on the substrate. The increase in impression pressure also results in increased solid density. There exists a relationship between the dot deformation and pressure exerted on the plate. The plate is made of a polymeric material that undergoes deformation under pressure. The relative dot enlargement

considered as a diameter increase, increases linearly with respect to the increasing pressure when the pressure is small.

Recent innovations in flexography technology are related to setting printing pressure. Flexography technology is based on the principles of relief printing. Inking characteristics are influenced by number of factors including ink thickness on the printing form, press speed, printing pressure, temperature, printing form and substrate properties.

The paper with lower grammage gives less print density while higher grammage shows higher print density values. The print density is affected by the type of paper i.e. uncoated, single layer coated or double layer coated.

The thickness of papers do not have a direct correlation to print density. The density is affected by the porosity of the papers. As the values of porosity increase, the print density decreases. Due to the higher ink penetration into the paper, the print density reduces. The surface roughness of papers also affects the print density to a larger extent. As the surface roughness increases, the print density decreases dramatically.

One of the advantages of the Flexographic process is its ability to print at low pressures.

The pressure changes between the anilox, printing plate and central impression cylinder has an impact on the print quality. The anilox to ink chamber affect the density most significantly, while the plate to impression pressure affect the tonal reproduction. The impact of changing pressure setting in the ink transfer affects the print quality.

Advanced digital technologies produce a flat top dot structure and the dots size is almost the same as the target dot size. Standard digital plate-making system causes a large difference between nominal and the actual coverage; therefore, the compensation curve is used to correct the tonal values.

The smallest dot printing process can print is independent of the screen count used.

Coverage has no effect on dot gain as an individual parameter but has through the interaction with line ruling and pressure settings during the printing process. Line ruling proved to be significant parameter because with line ruling increasing, dot gain is increased, too.

The good quality of image with minimized dot gain depends upon anilox cylinder, ink viscosity, printing plate material, press speed, pressure and printing substrate. The selection of engravings and cell volumes depends on the printing requirements. The choice of the correct anilox roller is of central importance for an optimal printing result.

The higher line rulings give a better image quality through the better dot definition, but the quality may be lost due to higher dot gain. Therefore, it is important to correctly apply compensation curve during pre-press.

Therefore, it is important to monitor and tightly control the Flexo process parameters for consistent print quality.

-

By Girish Labade (Under the guidance of Dr. Akshay V. Joshi Printing Engineering Department, P. V. G’s College of Engineering and Technology & G. K. Pate (Wani) Institute of Management, Pune, India)

July 2021

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Meccanotecnica introduces new generation of Three-Knife Trimmer The new automatic three-knife trimmer for digital printing performs fully variable changeovers to produce books in short runs down to one copy even with flaps.

The third generation of Meccanotecnica’s Three-Knife Trimmer is an improvement in precision, reliability, and efficiency even as it features a small footprint of just 6,1 sqm.

The fully automatic solution for book trimming Digital printing has revolutionized the book publishing industry and its adoption is steadily growing with books printed in digital forecasted to grow significantly in both mono and colour application. This scenario gives digital printers and binders good growth opportunities but also a reason to optimize post-press finishing processes to produce books in short or ultra-short runs with hundreds of job titles per day.

With the speed of 2.400 cycles/h, the Meccanotecnica Three-Knife Trimmer enables automatic size change as well as 3-side cutting. It increases efficiency and productivity while reducing costs in competitive markets where increased price pressure make digital printers look for highly capable solutions. Meccanotecnica ThreeKnife Trimmer provides answer to all these challenges with its high level of automation, the game-changer, and the key to optimizing production processes. Meccanotecnica’s solution for book trimming addresses these needs with an easy-to-use, fully automatic three-knife trimmer specifically designed for digital print finishing.

Book format variability on the threedimensions is managed thanks to a new high-precision positioning system powered by full brushless servo drives that automatically set-up the machine. Format information is acquired by the GigaLynx vision system, available upon request, that reads the data matrix code printed on the

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book’s cover. This feature allows completely hands-free digital workflow, and it is perfect for the trimming of books produced in short runs and printed in digital.

Meccanotecnica’s three-knife trimmer features a maximum production speed of 2400 books/h when processing books of the same size and an outstanding speed of 2100 books/h when processing short runs of 10 books with variable format from A4 to A5 (Books of different size in runs of 10). Production speed and trimmed book quality may depend on the untrimmed book condition and preparation.

Double Cutting feature; Trimming of Books with Flaps When the cut-off is large the three-knife trimmer can perform the double cutting.

During this process, the first trim removes

the largest part of the cut while the second trim performs a small and more precise cut for best quality results. This completely automatic function is activated via data matrix code or through the touch screen monitor and it is available on both cutting stations.

Upon request, the three-knife trimmer allows the front cutting of books with flaps. During the process, fully automatic vacuum heads lift the cover upwards and downwards outside the cutting area to allow the trimming of the front of the book. The system is activated or deactivated automatically via data matrix code for maximum efficiency or through the touch screen monitor and does not require any manual intervention.

The three-knife trimmer features new electronics and a new touch screen monitor with a friendly user interface and gesture controls. The full graphic software displays all information allowing easy use of the machine and quick learning for new operators.

Moreover, the three-knife trimmer features, as a standard, the remote diagnostic for fast and efficient service support. Also, other web connectivity features and the strictest safety standards guarantee steady operations.

pressideas/ newspaper

Kodak strengthens commitment to print - acquiring Southern Lithoplate (SLP) service & parts assets.

Kodak has announced the acquisition of the service and parts assets of Southern Lithoplate Inc., complementing the strategic alliance formed with SLP in December 2020.

Southern Lithoplate’s strong customer support and expertise within the newspaper sector will now be fully integrated under Kodak’s umbrella of innovative and sustainable print solutions and technology.

Kodak’s service and support team will provide a comprehensive plan for Southern Lithoplate’s customer base, offering a vast range of different service options to meet a wide variety of business requirements.

“Our partnership with Southern Lithoplate deepens our expertise in the newspaper segment and strengthens our ability to

provide exceptional service for customers,” said Jim Continenza, Executive Chairman & CEO, Eastman Kodak Company. “Kodak’s world-class service and support helps customers maximize uptime and improve operational efficiency to drive profitability and growth.”

“With an 87-year history of putting our customers first, it was vital that we find the right partner to carry on SLP’s exceptional service legacy. Kodak will provide the very best service, support and print solutions available on the market. Our decision to choose Kodak to continue on with the SLP customer base includes Kodak’s on-going commitment to print long-term and the honour and integrity by which the team at Kodak has supported our plate business

since January,” stated Edward A. “Trip” Casson III, SLP Chairman & CEO. The Kodak service team takes over the servicing of Southern Lithoplate’s accounts beginning August 1, 2021.

SÜDKURIER is using ppi’s ad review solution ppi Media’s revamped online solution for customer ad reviews (AdCept). ppi Media’s ad production system, AdMan, now comes with an AdCept extension that enables proofs to be sent to advertising customers in a fully automated process.

SK ONE, the marketing company run by SÜDKURIER Medienhaus, is now using Version 7.0, featuring new technology and a completely revamped user interface.

AdCept makes it really easy for publishers to send proofs of booked ads to their advertising customers. Before an ad is produced, the customers receive an email with a link to a web-based review page, where they can see a preview of the ad and the order details. They can then either release the ad for production in AdMan or submit change requests. The steps can be repeated for each review process. The AdCept user

interface has now been completely revamped for SÜDKURIER Medienhaus. The new responsive design ensures that the solution can also be used conveniently on mobile devices. The modern React framework is now the basic technology behind AdCept: “We’re pleased to offer our customers a fully automated and convenient review workflow.

AdCept slots really well into our existing infrastructure”, says Steffen Kuhwald, who is in charge of the project at SÜDKURIER Medienhaus.

Dr. Hauke Berndt, CEO of ppi Media: “We’re constantly developing applications in collaboration with our customers and using the latest technologies.AdCept is just another example.”

SK ONE develops innovative marketing and media solutions for around 10,000 customers – from the initial consultation and conception to implementation and performance measurement. Over 100 dynamic marketing experts at SÜDKURIER Medienhaus ensure the success of their customers with a great deal of passion and regional affinity. SK ONE brings together content marketing and digital agencies, HR marketing specialists and tourism and real estate experts.

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digital printing

‘Resource Saving’ with Fujifilm’s Premium Quality and Stability Mr. Kentaro Imafuku, Head of Department, Graphic Arts, Fujifilm India shares Fujifilm’s latest offerings and future plan for the Indian customers.

Fujifilm’s journey in the Indian Graphic Art industry has been nothing short of extraordinary. “We have seen steady growth over the years, with customer satisfaction maintained at its highest level,” says Mr. Kentaro Imafuku, Head of Department, Graphic Arts, Fujifilm India. “Every country or region has different ‘technology adoption lifecycle’. Graphics arts Industry here in India also had to adapt to technological changes quickly. At Fujifilm, we always believed in helping customers make the right technological choices considering market dynamics,” he adds.

“We are expanding our digital product portfolio.

There will be series of electrophotography and inkjet based product launches this year. We have a very positive outlook of Indian Print Market and combining conventional & digital segments we aim to achieve double-digit growth this year.” – Kentaro Imafuku

Key Notes : > Plans to introduce a newer range of products like JetPress 750s in the commercial printing segment. > JetPress FP790 – a web based machine to target digital flexible packaging. > State-of-the-art toner machines to showcase at the POD launch event planned sometimes in October 2021.

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Fujifilm started its operations in India in the year 2007.

This was the phase when there was a rapid transition from conventional platemaking to digital platemaking.

Apart from Graphic arts films, they also offered state-of-the-art CTP equipment, workflow and plates to our customers. Their Violet Plates for publication and newspaper segment have been known for quality and robustness. In the Thermal Plate segment, they offered world-class products. “This has been our primary focus area where we strengthened conventional product portfolio over the years as part of our commitment to the printing industry. There have been changes in the product portfolio with time but overall we have seen a steady growth and Fujifilm has become Graphic Arts industry’s first choice in India,” says Mr. Kentaro Imafuku.

Fujifilm is cognizant of the changing market trends and consumer behaviour and accordingly has been ramping up its Digital portfolio as well. Few years back Fujifilm introduced a range of Acuity series Printers for Wide format segment with a great success. The company has already achieved around 150 units of Acuity Installations in India. “Taking this journey further, this year we have lined up a range of digital launches in WFIJ, POD, Flexible Packaging segments,” reveals Mr. Kentaro Imafuku.

Conventional and Digital printing by Fujifilm These are the two key focus area of Fujifilm. In conventional printing segment, they have seen a steady growth, especially in packaging. Commercial printing market has shown signs of recovery post Covid related lockdowns and will bounce back soon, believes Mr. Kentaro Imafuku.

“We will retain our growth in this segment with the launch of environmental friendly products like ‘Processless Offset Plates’ which eliminates processing step completely and also by promoting ZAC processing technology which is our low chemistry offering. We have experienced a great success worldwide with our Flenex Series ‘Water Wash Flexo Plates. In India also, this will be our key focus area,” he continues.

The major growth is expected to come from Digital segment, especially due to post Covid scenario where print runs are becoming shorter and there is a focus on improving efficiency across the printing industry. “We are expanding our digital product portfolio. There will be series of electrophotography and inkjet based product launches this year. We have a very positive outlook of Indian Print Market and combining conventional & digital segments we aim

pressideas/ digital

to achieve double-digit growth this year,” he further adds.

In the new segments to be target in near future by Fujifilm in India, they have planned to introduce digital solutions across key segments like the commercial, publishing and label industry.

The pandemic challenge The print industry is similar to many other traditional industries. At the onset of the pandemic, Fujifilm also faced challenges like many other companies across sectors.

“With only essential commodity productions allowed, 15-20% of the staff was functioning.

However, as we are witnessing a changing shopping pattern and consumer behaviour, we are expecting the print industry to bounce back soon,” says Mr. Kentaro Imafuku.

Demand for printed products and digital solutions meeting the demand Print as an industry has to be sub segmented and then the impact has to be accordingly estimated. While digitization has been on for past many years, trend suggests that Packaging is still growing in double digits in India, says Mr. Kentaro Imafuku. “Also, within the Printing domain, consumer printing demand has definitely taken a hit, while digital print colour page volumes have only grown owing to the current changing consumer behaviours due to changing market dynamics. Digital solutions most definitely have started to play an important role in the market. Production Toner and inkjet machine install base has only grown substantially over the years and their adoption rate is increasing with traditional Print service providers. With advent of W2P, flexible workflow, process automation has led to this change in the market. I believe, for all manufacturers, there is a sweet spot that straddles between Digital and Analogue domain. It’s up to us to crack the code,” he explains.

Key digital solutions to redefine the market sentiment “Digital” is an umbrella word which is used to define various options that are available to the customer. There are Digital electrophotography and inkjet technologies that cover wide foray of solutions. The format can be from SRA3 to B2 presses in both toner and inkjet space and inkjet

solutions in Wide Format space as well. All these technologies cater to primarily, short run printing, variable data printing, quick TAT’s and value added printing of highest quality. They are focused on “Value printing”.

Each of these machines have different price points, duty cycles, break even points and applications that picks its own set of customers. “I am happy to share that Fujifilm has products in all these above mentioned segments and we have a lot to offer to the customer,” asserts Mr. Kentaro Imafuku.

“The Graphic Arts Industry like other industries is also moving towards the digital era. With the help of technologies like IoT and AI, we are working towards a sustainable business model. It is our aim worldwide to stay at the forefront of efforts to attain the sustainability goal by introducing products that are environmentally, economically, and socially friendly,” he adds.

Sustainability is always at the forefront of Fujifilm’s product development. “At Fujifilm, we believe that innovation must strike a balance between fulfilling customer needs and nature,” says Mr. Kentaro Imafuku. Talk about any of their products, they have some environmental friendly feature in it. “We have Processless and Low Chemistry Plates for Offset, Water wash (Solvent free) Flexo plates and UV LED Wide Format Printers, which offer energy efficiency. Also our Inkjet and Toner digital press can eliminate plate making, press chemicals, startup waste and therefore offers extraordinary environmental benefits,” says Mr. Kentaro Imafuku, adding, “All of our products aim to deliver two things i.e. premium quality and stability. This result in ‘resource saving’ which further helps reduce carbon footprint for our customers as well.”

The pandemic effect on the market “We all know that while commercial printing segment is impacted, packaging segment is one which has still grown. We have focused on our analog plate sales in this particular segment which has yielded dividends. Also in commercial printing space where there is a volume drop on account of Covid 19, there has been a spurge of short run applications.

It is in this segment that we intend to position our digital solutions to help them get more value with their customers,” says Mr. Kentaro Imafuku.

Fujifilm – benchmark platforms for versatile print production Fujifilm recently announced a new line of products (Acuity Prime, Acuity Ultra R2 and Acuity B1) – these are a combination of flatbeds, roll-to-roll and B1 wide-format systems. These systems, which can handle rigid and flexible media, are benchmark platforms for versatile print production, which provide a wide range of high-value print.

Additionally, Fujifilm is planning to introduce a newer range of products like JetPress 750s in the commercial printing segment and a digital flexible packaging called JetPress FP790 – a web based machine. “Earlier, we had announced – the short run digital printing machine called Revoria, which has a series of toner digital colours and toner digital mono machines. All the above products will be launched in India in phased manner,” informs Mr. Kentaro Imafuku.

Fujifilm has always been an active participant in all industry-related and other key events.

Mr. Kentaro Imafuku feels participation at industry events gives them a chance to showcase their products and reach out to their customers on a different level.

The upcoming key event where they plan to showcase their state-of-the-art toner machines is the POD launch event planned sometimes in October 2021. “While we have committed to major trade events in India in December this year and March next year, the participation depends on the pandemic situations allowing for the same,” says Mr. Kentaro Imafuku.

Partnered with Insight Group – the key points “Our partnership with Insight Group aims to deliver highest quality standards in customer understanding and service support and to provide world-class product & solutions to the printing industry in India,” states Mr. Kentaro Imafuku. “With this collaboration, we aim to foster and create various futuristic platforms in the graphic arts segment beginning this financial year. With our diverse offerings, Insight Group will further enhance our range across its wide network and help strengthen our commitment of transforming the printing segment in India,” he concludes.

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pressideas/ digital

Intelligent Automation for AccurioPress C7100 by Fiery DFEs New EFI Fiery Digital Front Ends provide intelligent automation for Konica Minolta AccurioPress C7100 Series presses.

Electronics For Imaging (EFI) and Konica Minolta have announced new EFI Fiery digital front ends (DFEs) for Konica Minolta AccurioPress C7100 Series light production presses. The new EFI Fiery IC-319 and IC318L external servers boost the productivity of print operations by giving users superior performance, stunning out-of-the-box colour, intelligent automation, and maximum production efficiency for print production operations.

Compared to their predecessors, the Fiery IC-319 boosts raster image processor (RIP) speed by 40% and the Fiery IC-318L boosts processing speed by an impressive 68%.

Print organizations will also be able to take advantage of Fiery HyperRIP performanceenhancing technology (Fiery IC-319 server with eight RIPs, or the Fiery IC-318L server with two RIPs) for uninterrupted print production.

Maximum workflow efficiency and colour accuracy The Fiery IC-319 DFE for the Konica Minolta AccurioPress C7100 is based on the highperformance Fiery NX Premium hardware platform and is designed to handle complex, image heavy, or variable data jobs. It includes a complete set of Fiery prepress and makeready solutions to help maximize workflow efficiency, maintain color quality to a set standard, and reduce rework and waste.

“Our customers continue to drive digital printing to new levels of quality and versatility, and with these new EFI Fiery DFEs, we are extending the range of what AccurioPress users can achieve even further,” said Dino Pagliarello, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Planning, Konica Minolta.

The latest Fiery FS400 Pro software running on the new DFEs provide highly advanced functionality in the areas of colour and imaging, productivity, and workflow automation.

Fiery JobExpert offers built-in intelligent automation. It analyzes incoming PDF files and dynamically chooses the optimal print settings to achieve the highest quality while optimizing processing time.

Users can visually define finishing settings on the product’s content with the Fiery Finishing Designer, easily accessible within Fiery Command WorkStation, for Konica Minolta’s TU-510 Inline Trimmer Unit to ensure jobs will be correctly finished without wasting time and media.

Both DFEs use EFI’s premier, next-generation Fiery Edge colour profiling technology.

Fiery Edge delivers stunning out-of-the-box colour and produces better colour and image details by taking full advantage of the printer’s resolution, imaging, gamut, and media capabilities.

Fiery Spot Pro software helps users reproduce perfect brand colours from design to print. Part of the Fiery Graphic Arts Pro Package, it is standard on the IC-319 and optional on the IC-318L.

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The two Fiery DFEs also come with EFI Fiery JobFlow Base prepress automation software to streamline job preparation. Users have the flexibility to upgrade to Fiery JobFlow to take advantage of advanced automation features like intelligent job routing, advanced scripting, customer approval workflows, and more.

Fiery IC-319 and IC-318L users will also benefit from EFI ColorGuard − a cloudbased colour verification solution and winner of the 2019 PRINTING United Alliance Product of the Year Award for software colour enhancement. ColorGuard ensures that print systems are operating at their full color quality potential. ColorGuard can drive automated colour verification using an optional Konica Minolta IQ-501 Intelligent Quality Optimizer to verify against industry colour standards such as G7 or a custom colour reference.

“Fiery goes beyond being the fastest DFE by far in the marketplace, and we are pleased to be able to offer Konica Minolta AccurioPress users higher out-of-the-box print quality and more efficient intelligent automation with these new DFEs,” said John Henze, vice president, sales and marketing, EFI Fiery.

“Not only will print businesses benefit from enhanced productivity, our solutions will also give users the power to easily get colour right every time to make the most of their production printing investments.”

The new Fiery DFEs are available from Konica Minolta and authorized Konica Minolta resellers.

pressideas/ digital

Project 21: Springfield’s largest investment to date Springfield Solutions creates Digital Packaging for today and tomorrow.

As a global supplier of digital packaging assets, they have over 45 years of experience supplying innovative packaging solutions to global brands.

Striving for improved innovation and increased quality has led Springfield Solutions to continuously grow over recent years. Recently, Springfield announced Project 21, its most significant investment yet – investing in new space, equipment and team members to sustain its continued growth.

Project 21 and its focus area Springfield Solutions is expanding in capacity by doubling the size of its logistics warehouse and raw material stocks. The new units, which are adjacent to the existing warehouse, make up a total of 4,000 square feet; giving them a combined total of 8,000 square feet of warehouse space. The new space will be operational from June onwards, which will give Springfield the capacity required to service their digital print and packaging mock-up clients, for today and tomorrow.

Springfield Solutions has seen healthy growth over the past year in their print department, printing over 187 million labels in 2020. This led them to assess how they can continue to grow their output and increase the capacity of their digital print facility. Therefore, they are purchasing the L350+LM printing press from Screen, taking the total number of digital presses on site to 5. This new press will be supported by the arrival of a new ABG Digicon series 3 to run in-line from November. Following this, they will be in discussions with Screen regarding their next generation press and hope to deliver another World first. On top of this, they have also installed a new SRI from AB Graphics.

Due to increase in the output within the print as well as the brand management departments, they have to significantly increase the personnel on their team. This begins with creating over 12 new positions this year, with the potential to expand further.

So far, they have hired 7 positions including valuable additions to their marketing team, print team and brand management team.

Within investing in people, Springfield

Solutions is also adapting to a new way of working and allowing increased flexibility through hot-desking, working from home and new casual meeting spaces in their Brand Management department.

In 2018, Springfield Solutions set out to grow by assembling their Business Development team. This followed their PrintWorks expansion, which saw Springfield invest in a new building to expand the print capacity.

Following this, in 2019, they saw steady growth as they pushed their innovative digital print solutions such as SASO, their selfadhesive shrink on label.

Matt Dass, Joint Managing Director says, “At the end of 2018, we set out our plan on how we intended to grow the business. Following investment in new buildings, equipment and people in 2016 & 2017, we knew the time was right to start telling people about how we create digital packaging assets for the way we live today and the way we will live tomorrow.”

Matt also noted, “The business has seen double digit growth in every year since our plans in 2018. Now it’s time to set out our new plan. Project 21 will see the largest investment in people, equipment and buildings that the business has ever made, and I’m thrilled to be part of a team who will deliver the next chapter in the history of Springfield.”

Project 21 means a great deal to the business, but also to its directors.

What Project 21 means to those ‘at the top’: Founder, Albert Dass says, “We started the process of becoming a Digitally focussed business in 1996 after attending a meeting in which Benny Landa explained his vision for the future with his famous quote ‘What can be Digital, will be Digital.’ And how true did that turn out to be!

Artwork, Reprographics, Print, Media, these processes are now all Digital and more importantly, connected.

While it is difficult to keep up with the Development in each area, it is very exciting.

At Springfield, we are constantly learning new things, and enjoying the challenges.

Our aim is to supply our customers with high quality products on time and in full, with a competitive edge for their products.”

Vice Chairman, Steve Forster says, “Since joining Springfield 38 years ago, I have seen the business grow immensely. Today, I am looking at a business that is going through its largest growth period to date, thanks to this fantastic team. We are seeing increased business and a higher production capacity on top of new production techniques.

One of our biggest achievements is Springfield’s reputation, which has grown substantially over the recent years even through the unprecedented COVID period.

Project 21 is our platform for the future.”

Joint Managing Director, Dennis Ebeltoft says, “For Springfield, Project 21 means an opportunity to manage our immense growth.

This growth has occurred over the past year by building our capacity and creating new opportunities for the business.

As Joint Managing Director of Operations, to me, Project 21 means increased opportunities for future innovation and world first achievements.”

Project 21 is not only an investment in Springfield, but it is also an investment in their customers, allowing them to ensure that they can go above and beyond to provide an excellent level of quality and service to each of their customers.

Also, how this has happened within our business. From Concept through to Design,

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Growth leads Malaysian packaging printers to invest in cutting-edge Heidelberg technology Time and again, Malaysian packaging printers invest in cutting-edge Heidelberg production technology manufactured in China.

Malaysia’s packaging market has been growing strongly in recent years. An annual growth rate of 3.8 percent has been predicted for the period 2019 to 2024, and the folding carton segment is set to be the number one growth driver (source: Global Data).

The corona virus pandemic has given a further boost to this development. Solid board packaging for medical products, masks, and gloves is in particular demand. This growth has led packaging printers in Malaysia to invest in cutting-edge production technology. To a large extent, these companies are placing their trust in state-of-the-art sheetfed offset technology from Heidelberg – especially presses manufactured at the Heidelberg site in Shanghai.

Complete system for Percetakan Konta Percetakan Konta is based in Perai, in the northern state of Penang, and has been a loyal Heidelberg customer for many years, having been won over by its reliable technology and exemplary services.

Printing packaging companies in Malaysia are placing their trust in state-of-the-art sheetfed offset technology from Heidelberg – especially presses manufactured at the Heidelberg site in Shanghai.

Around six years ago, Percetakan Konta replaced an older Speedmaster CD 102 with a new fourcolour Speedmaster press with coating unit from the Heidelberg plant at the Wiesloch-Walldorf site in Germany. In 2017, this press was joined by a Speedmaster CD 102-5+L manufactured in China.

The next investment came just one year later in the form of a Speedmaster CD 102-4+L, also manufactured at the Chinese plant in Shanghai.

In parallel to this third sheetfed offset press, Percetakan Konta also ordered a Diana Eye 55 offline inspection system. This system inspects the quality of finished folding carton blanks at a speed of 300 meters per minute. In addition to identifying printed image and typeface errors, high-resolution camera technology analyzes the gloss levels of coated packaging, blind and foil embossing, and holograms.

An OCR (optical character recognition) function also detects incorrect characters, punctuation marks, accents, and decimals. In 2020, the Diana Eye 55 from Masterwork was joined by a second, identical inspection system and a Suprasetter 106 CtP platesetter with Prinect Production Manager packaging workflow.

Vivar Printing invests in packaging printing Vivar Printing Sdn Bhd (Vivar) was founded in 1985.

For the first one-and-a-half decades of its existence, the company’s main specialty was book production.

In 2010, Vivar recognized the opportunities offered by the rapidly growing packaging market. It initially invested in the flexible packaging segment and then moved into folding carton production, which involved creating an official packaging division and investing in a Speedmaster CX 75-5+L from Heidelberg. This five-colour sheetfed offset press with coating unit provided Vivar with a robustly built printing system based on a design principle that was equally suited to commercial products and high-quality packaging.

Key Notes : > Strong growth forecast for Malaysia’s packaging market; folding carton production boost. > Key installations of Heidelberg equipment in the country Vivar Printing and Percentakan Konta. > Tiong Tat Printing Industry installs seven Speedmaster presses.

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Packaging company Percetakan Konta in Perai, in the state of Penang, has been a loyal Heidelberg customer for many years and has been using Speedmaster technology manufactured in China in its production operations since 2017.

pressideas/ plc

“Key features of the Speedmaster CX 755+L include quick and easy job changes, outstanding print results, and high net outputs,” says Kok Wai, Managing Director of Vivar, who describes this press as exactly right for the needs of his company. Barely a month after the Speedmaster CX 75 started operating, Vivar made its next big investment and ordered a Speedmaster CD 102-5+L from Heidelberg. The contract for the fivecolor press in the 70 x 100 sheet format with coating unit, which was manufactured in Shanghai, was signed in November 2020 and it started operating in March 2021.

Book production has remained a key cornerstone at Vivar, but Kok Wai insists moving into the rapidly growing folding carton market was the right decision.

Although his company’s sales fell significantly last year due to COVID-19, he is optimistic about 2021. “As we see it, packaging production offers a great

deal of growth potential that will shape our company’s development in years to come,” he says.

Seven Speedmaster presses at Tiong Tat Printing Industry The pressroom of Tiong Tat Printing Industry (Tiong Tat) has six Speedmaster CD 102 presses and a Speedmaster XL 105. In the interests of productivity, the majority are elevated presses. The latest Speedmaster CD 102-5+L – the company’s third Speedmaster press to have been manufactured at the Shanghai plant – entered into operation in July 2020. Prinect Production controls the workflow based on volumes and Tiong Tat uses a Suprasetter 106 for CtP operations. Two Easymatrix 106 CS (cutting and stripping) die cutters from Masterwork Machinery have been operating in the postpress section since 2018. “We very much appreciate the equipment’s reliability and the teamwork with Heidelberg, so we opt

for technology from this manufacturer time and again,” says Managing Director Tan Jock Hong, who has won several awards for her leadership qualities.

Tiong Tat started out in 1993 with a single pre-owned press and a production area of around 130 square meters. Today, this has grown to a total area of close to 82,000 square meters, which makes the company one of Malaysia’s largest packaging printers. Packaging for hygiene gloves is its principal market. Tiong Tat prides itself on being a market leader and demand is growing, as confirmed by Tan Jock Hong.

“In 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, we decided to expand our sheetfed offset capacities,” she reveals, referring to this step as the right decision at the right time and emphasizing that the company once again obtained excellent advice and support from Heidelberg.

Price adjustment of 20% for Mitsubishi HiTec Paper’s entire range Global specialty paper supplier attributes the price rise to sharp increase in energy and raw material costs.

Mitsubishi HiTec Paper is increasing the prices for the entire product range (thermoscript, jetscript, giroform, supercote, barricote) by 20%. The price adjustments to apply to deliveries from September 1, 2021, have been attributed to the continued sharp rise in energy costs and significant cost increases in the areas of logistics and raw materials.

Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe GmbH is a German subsidiary of Mitsubishi Paper Mills Ltd., Japan, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of specialty paper.

The roughly 770 employees at Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe produce high-quality direct thermal, inkjet, carbonless, label and barrier papers for flexible packaging at two tradition-rich locations in Bielefeld and Flensburg. Each factory stands out for own base paper production, state-of-theart production machinery and innovative coating technologies. Through its dense global sales network, Mitsubishi HiTec Paper Europe supplies a full range of specialty papers for many applications and printing technologies as well as customized coated paper solutions.

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pressideas/ plc

Be Packaging, growth doesn’t stop: a new OMET XFLEX X7 is operational The company is an OMET partner since 2009 and aims at expanding its market share by focusing on print quality, speed, and reliability.

Located in Benevento (Southern Italy), Be Packaging was recently founded but it’s already a renowned excellence in the world of labels and sleeves. The company is an OMET partner since 2009 and aims at expanding its market share by focusing on print quality, speed, and reliability, so it recently invested in new OMET machine, an XFLEX X7. This strategy has led Be Packaging through a regular and fast growth, which didn’t stop even for the pandemic.

Giacomo Romano, CEO of the company, talks about it in this interview.

How was your company born and how did it grow?

Mr. Romano: Be Packaging was born in 2016, but we have been producing labels for almost 20 years. Our labeling factory is the result of a verticalization strategy implemented by the industrial group we are part of, which operates in the production of olive oil.

Later on, we decided to stand out in the world of labels and in 2016 we created to a spin-off focused to the packaging sector, believing that we have acquired sufficient know-how to open up to the outside market.

Especially in the last three years, we have grown steadily by securing important customers from other sectors on a national level. The increase was considerable: our turnover grew from 3 million euros in 2016 to over 10 million euros, which place us among the medium-sized companies.

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What products do you focus on?

Mr. Romano: Be Packaging immediately performed on the national market as a reference point for labeling, specialized in packaging and self-adhesive labels, shrink sleeve, luxury labels. In 2019 we acquired Unilabel, a well-known leader in the production of customized bottle labels for wine, beer, oil and cosmetics. Unilabel represents the group’s branch for luxury label production.

From a commercial point of view, how do you move towards your customers?

Mr. Romano: Service is our creed. Labels is a highly competitive sector - in Italy there are more than 500 label factories - but we will not use the “price leverage”. We will grow, by acquiring new market shares, only if we focus on customer service: we bet on punctuality of supplies, estimates in 24 hours, delivery in 5 working days, graphic service from concept to printing and, of course, the product quality.

How is your production organized?

What are your main products?

What’s your competitive advantage?

Mr. Romano: In our factories we produce

Mr. Romano: Punctuality, speed, and

self-adhesive labels, warranty seals, resealable multilayer labels, IML labels, wetglue labels, shrink sleeves and aluminum caps. We have the best equipment for flexographic printing, with hot foil, cold foil, UV varnishing, lamination, screen printing, embossing, debossing and digital offset.

Our cutting-edge printing technologies allow the production of small and medium runs with very short delivery times. The luxury division, led by Unilabel, produces (thanks to particular finishing techniques) labels with exclusive sensorial papers, rhinestone applications with diamond-like sheen and special metallic or velvet labels. We are also equipped with a highly efficient internal prepress system able to support any graphic request coming from the client.

reliability. We care about managing the entire process, from printing to product customization.

You also invest heavily on innovation. You have your own research center, right?

Mr. Romano: Yes, the CRIPACK. Our research center is specialized in innovative packaging and is constantly engaged in various projects. We are always ready to meet the needs of our customers in terms of process, but also and above all, the needs of environmental sustainability. We have always been careful about materials, we evaluate and choose the best environmentally sustainable raw materials with extreme care.

We also have an agreement with the Faculty of Materials Engineering of Fisciano, pioneer

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in this field. We care about nature and ecology in all its facets; we prefer the use of recyclable and natural compounds: we produce biodegradable sleeve labels.

Sustainability is a very strong trend in the market ...

Mr. Romano: Consider that we produce PET bottles that are already 100% recycled.

The shrink film for PLA sleeves represents a new technology derived from renewable and economically sustainable vegetable sources that can replace traditional shrink labels.

Sleeve labels and tamper-evident bands made of PLA are an eco-sustainable option.

Polylactic acid is obtained from corn or starch/sugar and it’s a 100% biodegradable film.

Which markets are you targeting and what growth prospects do you see for the future?

Mr. Romano: We are currently focused on the Italian market; we are slowly building a foreign sales network. We work mainly with clients from the countries of North Africa, France, Switzerland, Germany, Poland and Greece. Now we are focusing on “specific” markets for our specializations such as the Scandinavian peninsula for “wine” exporters, or Scotland where many spirits producers operate, and Russia.

You recently installed an OMET XFLEX X7. How did your collaboration with OMET start?

Mr. Romano: The partnership with OMET was born well before Be Packaging’s foundation. The first OMET Flexy 330 was bought in 2009. Since then, we have

started an organizational and technological production development that led us to the OMET X7. This cutting-edge equipment allows us to offer our customers a very high quality and an improvement in service and speed. We also aim at new markets in the mid-run sector, where we were not competitive before.

What prompted you to choose OMET again?

Mr. Romano: We chose OMET because we have a consolidated relationship with the company and we tested OMET technology: the Flexy machine has given us great satisfaction and it’s still operational: this is enough to describe the reliability of OMET technology. Furthermore, OMET is always very close to the customer even if it is a big company.

Regarding the X7, are you satisfied with the machine’s performances and the OMET service?

Mr. Romano: Yes. We installed the X7 in January and completed the training and testing steps in March; during that two months we started sleeves production and the results were very satisfactory.

Are you already considering further investments in equipment?

Mr. Romano: The market is constantly evolving and has changed a lot as a result of the pandemic. At this stage, we are observing the trend, trying to prevent negative effects. With the OMET X7 we enter markets such as food & beverage and pharma, we were aiming for. Once the capacity will saturate, we will be able, why

not, to evaluate new investments. Today we have different technologies in production, let’s see what the market trend will be.

Has the pandemic brought some crisis for you?

Mr. Romano: We work 90% for the large large-scale distribution, so we didn’t particularly suffer the lockdowns. However, I noticed two countertrend effects. The first lockdown saw a generalized production decline, while sales increased driven by the large-scale retail trade which made crazy numbers; now the world is settling at normal levels despite the closures.

It is clear that one of the sectors that was most affected by the closures was the Ho.re. ca and we look forward to the recovery of this sector which we consider strategic for the country system. I believe that, albeit slowly, we are slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels.

How do you see the future?

Mr. Romano: It is clear that we are passing through an exceptional scenario.

However, I believe that the whole system is restarting: with the end of the closures imposed by the pandemic there will be a gradual recovery of all sectors and above all of Ho.re.ca, a sector which has suffered much, and that will probably have to struggle a little more than the others to return to pre-pandemic levels. However, we are very confident that this will happen: the acceleration of the vaccination plan will ensure that we will soon return to a “normal life” and Italy will restart as it always has.

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Monotech Systems installs Kodak Trendsetter at Karshak Art Printers The capacity to produce plates up to 33x43 inches will extend the plate production at the Hyderabad printer.

Hyderabad based commercial printer Karshak Art Printers has recently installed an eight-up Kodak Thermal Platesetter. The package, which can produce plates up to 33x43 inches is being added with the existing basysPrint UV CtP, and ECRM Violet CtP to extend the plate production and has been supplied by Monotech Systems Limited.

“We produce more than 700 plates on our 24 hours production shift thus, approx 500 plates were being produced by basysPrint.

We needed a heavy-duty digital Platesetter in addition to the basysPrint. Kodak has the best technology when it comes to thermal and that pushed us to go for Kodak device,”says Jagan Mohan Reddy, Director, Karshak Art Printers.

Established in 1980 by Jagan Mohan Reddy, Karshak Art Printers is a firm to watch-out.

A self-made man, Reddy was engaged in the printing of books and bank stationery.

Today the company is one of the biggest commercial printers in Telangana producing various commercial printing applications including books, study materials, and printing government jobs.

Spread in above 35,000 sqft, the unit in Vidyanagar houses a strong taskforce of perfectors, multi-colour sheetfed presses and web offset presses and finishing equipment that churn out more than ten tonnes of paper daily. In the pre-press division, the firm has one basysPrint CtCP, One ECRM Violet CtP, and One Kodak Thermal CtP – that serve the

company’s monthly requirement of approx.

21,000 plates. All the pre-press units and a digital printing press have been supplied

by Monotech Systems in its last 15 years of relationship with Karshak.

Karshak works round-the-clock with more than 250 people and serves more than 200 clients.

Nu-Maber invests in Esko platemaking The flexographic specialist invests in the state-of-the-art Crystal line of flexo platemaking solutions from Esko.

Italian flexographic specialist Nu-Maber has invested in state-of-the-art platemaking technology, taking advantage of the latest innovations from Esko to maintain its leading position in packaging prepress.

The flexo platemaker has introduced the Crystal line of flexographic solutions at its plant in Roncade, Treviso, in northern Italy, adding the innovative plate imaging and exposure hardware to an already impressive facility.

“We have worked with Livio Simionato and the team at Nu-Maber for more than 20 years, and we are thrilled to continue our relationship with this latest installation,” said Davide Meroni, Sales Account Manager with Esko. “The company’s graphics studio uses a range of Esko software – from ArtiosCAD structural design and ArtPro prepress editing through to Automation Engine and WebCenter – to fully digitize, automate and connect the entire prepress workflow. With the acquisition of the CDI Crystal 5080 and XPS Crystal 5080, Nu-Maber now has three Esko CDI imagers, boosting production capacity while also ensuring excellent results for its customers.”

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“The new Crystal technology from Esko delivers in terms of improved simplicity and optimized quality, ensuring the platemaking process, in terms of imaging and exposure, is now much less complex and has significantly fewer steps. The integration of our workflow solutions and hardware technology means that the Nu-Maber team has total control over the quality and performance of its plates and their subsequent print consistency. Nu-Maber has a full Esko ecosystem in operation, producing consistently high-quality plates,” states Davide.

With more than 40 years’ experience in

prepress and flexo printing, Nu-Maber serves packaging customers across the world and in every field from food and beverages through hygiene, pharmaceutical, corrugated cardboard and labels.

“The quality of the plates plays a vital role in achieving optimal print results for our customers, which is why we continually look to invest in the latest technology. This investment is further evidence that we remain totally committed to meeting the needs of our customers, offering innovative solutions while producing high quality plates that deliver consistent results.”

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VINSAK and Lombardi solutions boost quality and capacity for Paramount Installs Lombardi Flexoline, VINSAK USAR 430, VINSAK LFD and VINSAK Roll Lifter at the UAE printer.

VINSAK has installed a complete set of Label Production equipment – including a Lombardi Flexoline press, VINSAK USAR 430-Universal Slitter & Re-winder, VINSAK LFD Flatbed Die cutter and Roll Lifter at Paramount Label Printing Press.LLC in the UAE. Paramount Label Printing Press is an adhesive labels manufacturer (in roll form) operating from AJMAN New industrial area, United Arab Emirates.

They are manufacturing all kinds of labels.

(Pharmaceutical, Sequential, Barcode, Weighing Scale, Industrial and Clothing Tags). Variable images printing-including graphics and text intentionally changed from one piece to the next-creates compelling personalized marketing messages that go way beyond variable text. The concept of printing looks like a very new technology due to its effect and the output it gives coupled with the number or length of work it produces every day.

Lombardi’s experience focuses on a hightech narrow web machine in a line destined for printers who look for high printing quality coupled with simple and fast job changeover.

The company has paid main attention to these two aspects of flexographic printing: the quality of images (which is now almost up to offset printing) and the fast changeover of Plate Cylinders and ink rollers. And in the light of this need, Lombardi FLEXOLINE 430 9C offers advanced technological solutions aimed at ensuring excellent printing register also with high speeds and granting ease of use. The machine offers the best solutions for a printing press of top-quality standard and simplicity of use, which we know to be the major needs of the label printer.

VINSAK LFD is a machine whose key attractions are low setup cost and time resulting in a higher return on investment.

The flatbed die-cutter has features like hot stamping, foil laminating, punching slitting, and die-cutting. For all short runs where the flatbed dies are inexpensive and quick to make, the LFD offers a very quick ROI. VINSAK Roll lifter (VRL Series) is a portable roll lifter equipped with safety brakes for loading unloading and transporting the rolls safely. It proposes a solution to all the problems which were earlier accompanying the tedious process of manual roll lifting.

The equipment is well suited to reduce and eliminate all occupational hazards and injuries. It reduces or even eliminates all the possibilities of accidents and material mishandling. A New higher capacity Hoist and stronger frame designs have been developed to handle reels up to 250 Kgs in weight for a 500mm width model, or up to 400 Kgs of weight for a 1000mm Width Model.

“In VINSAK we found a partner of choice,” says Mr. Sadiq Ali. “They have taken on the complete project as a turnkey, procured and installed the machines, and provided operator training to us to make us operative in the shortest possible time. The consultative approach of their sales teams is unique in the region and we are proud to have them as partners.”

“We thank Mr. Sadiq Ali for the confidence he reposed in VINSAK,” said Mr. Malkhan from VINSAK Middle East. “We hope to continue to grow our relationship with them and support them in the growth story for many years to come.”

VINSAK is enabling businesses to succeed by providing them customized solutions that are well-integrated and supported. The company provides printing and packaging solutions in India, Africa, and the Middle East.

Lombardi Converting Machinery S.p.A., the Italian expert providing narrow web and wide web flexographic in-line presses, has already installed 10 machines in the UAE in the past 4 years. Lombardi has installed more than 300 In-Line Flexo presses globally with about 90 being sold in the VINSAK territories.

Lombardi has also recently launched its I2 series of Mid and wide web in-line Flexo presses for flexible packaging.

The Label Printing machine is best complemented with a high-quality finishing machine VINSAK USAR 430. The modular Universal Slitter & Re-winder is a fully servodriven system with Pneumatic Unwinds and rewinds, a scissor as well as Razor slitting system, Dual rewinds, and the capabilities of the slit from 12-micron films to 450 gms boards to match the capabilities of the print system.

Mr. Sadiq Ali, Owner of Paramount Labels

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Flexibility in Digital Finishing Shlomo Nimrodi, CEO at Highcon shares his thoughts on the growth of the digital finishing market and trends, fueled by the pandemic, that will undoubtedly shape the industry moving forward.

As changes in requirements and consumer demand continue to reshape the space in which packaging providers operate, this interview shines a light on some of the ways that Highcon’s innovative cutting and creasing technology drives unique benefits for its customers. It examines the digital market, the challenges it faces, its potential growth and the opportunities it brings to gain new business.

How would you describe Highcon and its team?

Shlomo Nimrodi: Highcon has been in business since 2009, with one consistent vision – to deliver digital finishing solutions that provide agile manufacturing for the folding carton, corrugated and commercial print markets enabling brands to innovate and differentiate at speed and succeed.

We currently have over 120 team members and due to continued growth, we are still hiring and expect this number to grow month-on-month with a particular focus on customer facing roles. We also ramped-up operations (sales & service) in Europe, North America, and Latin America, as well as R&D for the corrugated market.

We had a turnover of $8.4 million in 2020. However, our ambitions match our confidence in the technology, so we aim to be a $100 million business by 2026.

What are the key benefits of the Highcon digital finishing technology?

Shlomo Nimrodi: At the heart of our systems is a very innovative digital cutting and creasing technology that drives unique benefits for customers including no minimum order quantities (MOQ), much faster delivery times and mass customization.

With sustainability high on the agenda for everyone, the performance of our systems is key here too, enabling the eradication of die-cutting tools and the materials used to make them, reducing inventories and manufacturing on demand at the right sizing while optimizing the end customer experience.

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How many systems do you have in the market now? How does that split by market?

Shlomo Nimrodi: We currently have over 70 installations around the world, 15% of which are multiple system installations for the same customers. Of those 70+ customers, 85% of them are based in North America and Western and Central Europe.

Commercial print and light packaging, which represents the early sales of the company, account for 40% of the installed base, with folding carton & corrugated representing 60%, with the highest growth being in the corrugated segment.

How does this install base split by product?

Shlomo Nimrodi: Given that it was our first solution, 80% of sales have naturally been for our Euclid systems. Sales of our Beam platform have also accelerated significantly in recent years. This has been driven by the overall growth in packaging, and specifically the rise of the web-2-pack model, where digital converting capabilities via our Beam solution reduce bottlenecks and facilitate an increase in sales.

What does an average Highcon customer look like?

Shlomo Nimrodi: Today, the majority are folding carton and corrugated businesses of all sizes – from small to giant. Although our solution is print type agnostic, many plants have at least one digital press and are familiar with that market and how to sell digital print and so they see digital finishing as their missing link. This is also fueled somewhat by the pandemic, a growing number of customers are now web-2-pack businesses, too, catering to the small to medium businesses.

What is the current state of the digital finishing market? What is the potential size of the finishing market?

Shlomo Nimrodi: Honestly, it is still in its infancy. Following the early adopters comes the next phase – businesses leveraging financial gains from the introduction of our

digital converting solutions to increase overall manufacturing efficiencies in their plants.

The web-2-pack business model is accelerating things, with several of the big players now onboard. Of course, the value proposition is now also very strong, with great case studies and clear financial benefits to back-up the value proposition.

Also, we benefit from the pull through coming from brands who learn to appreciate the packaging design creativity freedom and opportunities that digital finishing provides to improve their overall supply chain efficiencies.

The market size, for us, breaks down into two parts –overall equipment sales and the cost of dies. In terms of equipment, there are many types of traditional die-cutting solutions with estimated annual sales of $1.5 - $2 Billion per year. Dies, depending on which source you rely on, have estimated annual revenues of $3-5 Billion annually. A growing number of those dies are then stored and never reused, representing additional and significant expenditure and negative contribution for the sustainability objectives the world is coping with.

I believe that over time, as market dynamics of e-commerce and sustainability accelerate, the penetration of digitally based finishing solutions will become a growing part of the overall finishing process. For Highcon, having a first mover advantage, there is a good head start in this transformation journey.

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So, it’s clear that the digital finishing opportunity is huge.

What are the specific challenges and barriers to success for digital finishing? How does Highcon meet these challenges?

Shlomo Nimrodi: Our main challenge is awareness and access to market. Building awareness starts by selling to the right customers; customers that have an existing and identifiable need to increase overall manufacturing efficiencies i.e., “boxes on the floor”. Needless to say, they do need to acknowledge that need. Once they do that, we have to make sure these customers will be successful, and this requires a multitier approach including insuring consistent operation and appropriate training. If you have done these two all you have to do is move out of the way and let the customers do what they are good at. The more successful our customers are the more new customers will join this transformation.

As it relates to access to market, we are in the process of expanding both our sales footprint by adding qualified salespeople and signing up strong distribution partners.

Along with this we are expanding our service operation to ensure sustainable customer satisfaction.

We are not alone in this journey and we believe teaming up with the other players in the eco system would be key to accelerate the overall market penetration of digital solutions.

Clearly since the eruption of the pandemic, the huge uncertainty within the supply chain has helped the realization of the necessity for agility in production by many customers out there, which certainly supports the benefits of our solutions.

What is your current market position?

Shlomo Nimrodi: Highcon does have first

For Brand owners the digital finishing technology allows for delivery on demand hence reduction of inventories and the risk of dead stock.

How has the pandemic impacted your business?

Shlomo Nimrodi: Like most businesses, the first half of 2020 was very challenging.

Thankfully, the agility of our business and the sacrifices made by our employees around the world, allowed us to provide short-term creative solutions to enable our customers to still advance their plans.

And, thanks to the power of our offering, and the fact that businesses are looking to strengthen or establish a web-2-pack offering, we did better in the second half of 2020 than the whole of 2019.

Moving forward, what are your key markets and geographic regions?

Shlomo Nimrodi: Our continued focus is on North America and Western and Central Europe, but we also see big opportunities in Mexico and Columbia specifically, where the container and packaging market is showing good and consistent growth.

You recently went IPO and secured $45 million, how significant was that achievement for the business and the market?

Shlomo Nimrodi: I think that it was hugely important for both. For the wider market, essentially, the IPO is independent recognition of the market opportunity that Highcon sees. For Highcon, it is further endorsement of the company, its direction and its technology and a big steppingstone in realizing the ambition of making Highcon digital finishing technology a mainstream solution.

There have been a couple of management changes recently.

What were your objectives for these

changes and what do they represent for the business?

Shlomo Nimrodi: We have made several noteworthy appointments to the board of directors and executive management team to help drive the digital change that is essential to optimize supply chains.

First, our new Chairman, Alon Bar-Shany.

What has always impressed me about Alon, is his complete obsession with customers and customer service. He has amazing relationships with them, and they truly trust him and his judgement. I have no doubt that his contribution for me and the management team will be significant.

We have also welcomed Simon Lewis to lead our marketing strategy. Simon is another wellknown player in the print industry bringing with him the strategic and product marketing coupled with strong direct and indirect sales experience. I have no doubt that Simon will be a key player in devising and implementing our growth strategy.

And finally, tell us a little about you - ShlomoNimrodi – what motivates you?

Shlomo Nimrodi: Ok, well perhaps a less typical answer, but this was what helped to shape me as a person and what I’ve since been able to achieve.

In my youth, I was in the Israeli Special Forces, and while on operations I was injured quite badly. In the years that followed my recuperation, I have been driven to make a difference – both in business and in my personal life – whether that means extreme sport or in building a business that positively impacts other people’s lives. And in that regard, I consider it a huge privilege and an honour to lead the wonderful team at Highcon, and in time, to realize our ambition of making digital finishing a mainstream technology – positively contributing to a more profitable, and sustainable packaging future.

mover advantage in this market. With this come great pains we endured throughout the years, however also great opportunity to implement our key learnings both on the technology side as well as the business side.

We do have some emerging competition, and that is a really good thing in helping to grow the market and create increased demand, however, I do believe we’re at the right state to lead the charge.

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Against All Odds!

The launch of REPROFLEX3 India & Asia in the face of a global pandemic. - By Andrew Hewitson R3 Co-founder Andrew Hewitson introduces the REPROFLEX3 India & Asia team and describes the challenges of launching a new R3 Studio in the face of a global pandemic.

After four years of meticulous planning, major investment, testing and tooling, not to mention recruiting some of the brightest talent in the northern hemisphere, we were ready to launch our new state-of-the-art Reproflex3 Studio in Mumbai.

That was back in December 2018 and no one could have predicted that the world was going to be challenged and many lives changed forever by the global coronavirus outbreak just a year later.

Fast forward to July 2021, much of the last year and a half has been extremely challenging for everyone, filled with uncertainty and concern for each other and our loved ones.

When you’re under pressure, whether it is in the middle of a global crisis or racing to meet that important client deadline, you’re in the moment and do whatever it takes to survive or get the job done - whichever the situation.

That is why it is always important to take time to reflect and I would like to introduce you to the Reproflex3 India & Asia Team based in Mumbai (pictured).

When I look back on the last year or so, I think it is both remarkable and a true testament to the commitment of the entire R3 Team, that we succeeded in our mission to open the Mumbai studio in the face of such challenging circumstances.

Sethunath Padmanabhan, our Managing Director for R3 Asia Pacific and his team, with support from R3 colleagues in the UK and UAE, have worked seamlessly as one team to successfully navigate many challenges both technically and operationally to keep going through the pandemic.

Sethu explains: “The past 18 months have been a real test with quite a lot of challenges

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and opportunities for Reproflex3 in India. In spite of the severe lockdown and economic instability, we have been blessed to grow.

“We have some extraordinary clients who went beyond transactional relationships and mentored us through these challenging times. At the same time, our highly spirited team have battled all difficulties to be present in the studio to support our clients. They have been instrumental in Reproflex3 India’s growth story.”

Our role is to work in partnership with our customers to help them to overcome the challenges of the pre-press packaging supply chain. To do this, we have invested substantially in providing a fast, efficient and unique model for pre-press delivery, suited to meet the highest standards required from the global premium packaging market.

I am extremely proud of the team and I am very pleased (and relieved) to say that we are successfully establishing ourselves within the India and Asia flexographic market.

I believe this is largely down to our honest approach in doing business, our commitment to driving innovation and the fact that we are prepared to go the extra mile to ensure our customers always achieve outstanding print results that cannot be replicated.

VORTEX, one of our key print technologies, has been instrumental in making our India launch successful in lockdown. VORTEX is a highly effective new generation technology for flexo printing on paper, corrugated cardboard and plastic film.

Its unique set of tools stabilise the print process to create superior print consistently and efficiently. The technology is designed to integrate with existing print workflows to optimise processes and deliver fast, efficient, precision printing which is backed by 360 certified colour management. The result is gravure-quality print with extended colour space potential, ink savings and a significantly reduced dot gain.

The flexible packaging industry is changing in India, as brands move from traditional gravure print methods and convert to the flexo print process.

At Reproflex3, we have the systems and technical expertise available that enables customers to save time, operating costs and raw materials without compromising on quality. This means they can always be safe in the knowledge that their print packaging will consistently have maximum impact on shelf.

Our innovations and technologies are playing a key role shaping the future of the flexographic printing industry globally, essentially delivering tomorrow’s flexo technology today.

The Reproflex3 solutions-led approach to transforming the global flexo industry is gaining traction through print results that no one else in the market can achieve.

If you would like to become a champion of your own success, you can find out more at www.reproflex.com.

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Great approval for the green compound Green is associated with health, the environment and harmlessness – green distinction for PVC-free P/T seals by Actega.

Whether juices, purées or baby food, there is a huge variety of food with many different flavours available for babies and infants. The standards governing safety and quality are high for baby food jars and inspections are stringent. There are more than 1,000 baby food products available on the market. A product’s success does not always start with its contents but often with its packaging.

After all, when it comes to their children’s health, parents like to play it safe. The market research institute GfK was commissioned by the Aktionsforum Glasverpackung to survey a representative percentage of the German online population. “A baby is to be fed its first baby food. What do you think is the best packaging for baby food?” The results of this survey are clear: 91.6 percent of those surveyed regard glass as the best packaging material while a mere 8.4 percent voted for plastic.

Glass is almost exclusively manufactured from – mostly indigenous – raw materials available in nature and can be recycled 100%. Accordingly, it protects the environment, the climate and health. As a result, glass packaging is regarded as one of the most sustainable types of packaging available on the market.

Babies and infants are extremely sensitive consumers who require protection. Baby food must therefore display a nutrition profile which is coordinated to their particular nutritional requirements. Requirements with regard to contamination or residue are also stricter here than in other areas of food.

Consumers, and parents in particular, react particularly sensitively here, both in terms of quality and possible pollutants emanating from the packaging.

The very best for the consumers – no migration from packaging into baby food In the form of ACTGreen PROVALIN offered

by Actega, sustainable compounds are available for glass jars with P/T seals.

PVC and plasticizers are dispensed with entirely. The combination of carefully chosen thermoplastic elastomers is free of pollutants.

This eliminates the risk of migration into food.

But to date, a distinction between PVC-free P/T seals and those containing PVC has not been possible as both sealing materials were white. In order to make it easy for parents to choose a PVC-free seal, this is now recognizable by its green sealing material.

In an effort to discover how parents react to the green sealing compound in the lids of baby food jars, Actega commissioned a consumer survey. Parents of children up to the age of four were surveyed in large cities in the north, west and south of Germany.

They were initially presented with lids featuring white and green sealing rings.

Even at this early stage, 51 percent of the test subjects favoured the green compound, while 29 percent had equal regard for the white and green sealing material. A mere 20 percent said the white compound was better.

After receiving information on the significance of the green sealing ring – free of PVC and plasticizers – preference for the green sealing ring increased even further, with 80 percent finding the green ACTGreen PROVALIN seal better than the white PVC seal. 15 percent had equal regard for the two colors with only five percent favouring the white seal.

Consumers explained that corresponding information on the packaging – free of PVC and plasticizers instead of PVC – would have a positive influence on purchasing decisions.

They claim that all baby food jars sealed with seals free of PVC and plasticizers should in any case have a green seal in the lid. After all, a baby food product with a green seal would make them feel safer. 75 percent of those test subjects would prefer to buy products with a green seal.

The Press-On Twist-Off seals favoured for baby food represent a particular challenge.

A synthetic compound is applied to the sides of the jar seal which deform in such a way when the jar is sealed that threads are formed which interact with the thread elements of the jar. Unlike screw caps and cam screw caps, the basic body of the seal does not itself have any thread. The thread is exclusively formed by the polymer material in the sealing compound. Owing to the threads formed while exerting pressure on the jar lid, a twisting motion is required for removing the seal. The synthetic compound applied to the inside of the seal fulfils both a sealing and a retention function in the case of Press-on Twist-off seals.

For this reason, it was also important to examine whether these seals not only stay tight but can also be easily opened. This was another component of the consumer survey. It transpired that baby food in glass jars also has a positive image in terms of opening properties. 99 percent indicated not having had any problems opening jars with ACTGreen PROVALIN seals and were very satisfied overall with how the jars are handled.

Green is a consistent choice. Basically, green is a particularly natural colour. Green is associated with health, the environment and harmlessness. Accordingly, a link is swiftly established for consumers to environmental and health topics making it perfect for the foodstuffs industry which markets itself as environmentally-friendly or biological.

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IT’S SHOWTIME! Heidelberg presents development study for innovative folding rollers Aiming for the best of both worlds – Perfect Grip combines the benefits of soft and hard rings in folding rollers.

How precisely a print product is folded and the extent to which a folding machine delivers consistently high folding quality, even at very high speeds, depends to a significant degree on the design of the folding rollers.

At its Ludwigsburg site, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) develops and manufactures its highly productive Stahlfolder folding machines. In recent years, the company has invested part of its research resources in the further development of its folding rollers.

Users of Stahlfolder folding technology currently need to choose between folding rollers equipped with rings made from either soft or hard PU (polyurethane).

These are called “Extra Grip” rings on the market. The two materials have very distinct characteristics. The substrates to be processed and their surface structure determine whether the softer and more elastic PU or the harder one is more appropriate, so the customer is faced with a decision.

Heidelberg development engineers therefore set themselves the challenge of combining the benefits of soft PU and hard PU rings in a single material. The result is being presented to the public for the first time during “IT’S SHOWTIME” – a digital customer event.

Thanks to its in-depth knowledge of the interactions between different types of paper, various materials, and the geometrical and physical conditions within a folding system, Heidelberg has made great progress in developing a new material. The function of the new plastic ring is to transfer the power generated by precise folding machine engineering as gently and accurately as possible to any type of paper, and to ensure the best possible processing quality – from the first parallel fold in the buckle plate folding unit to the fully folded end product.

The newly designed Perfect Grip plastic now needs to prove its unique characteristics in initial practical tests.

“Our aim in developing Perfect Grip is to combine the best of both worlds,” says Jörg

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A development study aiming for the best of both worlds – Perfect Grip combines the benefits of soft and hard PU in folding rollers, which means customers will no longer need to make a choice.

Dähnhardt, Head of Product Management Postpress at Heidelberg. “If we’re successful, it will be another major step forward for folding rollers and will keep our customers

happy by further improving the versatility and cost-efficiency of Stahlfolder folding systems,” he adds.

Baldwin at SuperCorrExpo Ultra-wide plate cleaning system FlexoCleanerBrush to unveil for corrugated printers at the show.

Baldwin Technology Company Inc. will showcase a new generation of innovative technologies for optimized corrugated highgraphics package printing at SuperCorrExpo, taking place in Orlando, Florida, from Aug. 8 to 12.

Anchoring Baldwin’s booth (#2001) will be the new ultra-wide FlexoCleanerBrush (126 inches/3.2 meters), a fully automated, state-of-the-art flexo plate-cleaning system.

Visitors also can learn more about Baldwin’s

FlexoDry, an energy-efficient IR (infrared) drying solution, and its LED-UV curing technology, all of which increase print quality and productivity, with operator safety and sustainability in mind.

The FlexoCleanerBrush is Baldwin’s flagship solution to enhance print quality and improve

pressideas/ plc

Nippon Color showcases DuoBlade WX live at virtual.drupa All-in-one solution for digital label finishing including 4 cutting heads, lamination, matrix removal, built-in sheeter, web guide system, and automatic job changing.

Nippon Color highlighted digital printing and finishing of labels at the virtual.drupa 2021. The all-in-one digital label finisher that includes unwinding, lamination, knifecutting, matrix removal, slitting, trimming and rewinding or sheeting, was the key attraction

by Nippon Color at the show. The latest offering from Valloy Incorporation, Korea, comes as a path breaking solution for label manufacturers to finish labels without waiting for dies.

The DuoBlade WX uses four cutting heads at a time to finish the labels. Using AI, DuoBlade WX is capable of selecting and changing jobs automatically on the fly without any operator intervention.

The Mumbai headquartered Nippon Color, a leading supplier to the Indian printing industry since 1972, offers a wide range of solutions from offset to flexo to digital, in terms of pre-press, printing, as well as post-press equipment. It has branch offices in New Delhi, Chennai, and Kolkata, with multiple engineers catering to after-sales at each location.

DuoBlade WX has an embedded computer – one can store a number of cutting files.

With Valloy’s Indian distributor Nippon worker safety in corrugated printing. The system automatically removes dust and contamination from the plate in seconds during production, without stopping the press. It also performs full end-of-job plate cleaning and drying in fewer than four minutes, enabling increased uptime and sustainability. A carbon fiber core keeps even the ultra-wide FlexoCleanerBrush to a minimal weight, and ensures cleaning is stable, uniform and consistent throughout the plate’s width. Because the system is fully automatic and spans the entire width of the plate cylinder, the FlexoCleanerBrush improves safety by eliminating routine operator contact with the machine, while also reducing the risk of cylinder nip injuries and contact with wash agents.

Color having launched the DuoBlade WX digital label finisher in India, the Indian label manufacturers will now get an upgrade of the earlier SX model. The latest WX comes with four cutting heads, eliminating the need to make dies.

enables faster delivery of finished products to customers. A single operator can easily cut intricate shapes for multiple jobs, especially urgent and short run jobs that come at short notice. It can cut shapes in size up to 350mm wide, roll-to-roll or roll-to-sheet.

“As the market trend moves towards shorter runs and an increase in the number of SKUs, Indian converters can benefit from this digital label finisher where they do not need to wait for hours or even a day for the die to be ready for cutting,” says Akshat Pardiwala, COO of Nippon Color.

Nippon partnered with Valloy in 2020 and has received a positive response for its digital label printing and finishing products.

Capable of changing jobs in about 10 seconds, automatically and without any operator intervention, the DuoBlade WX Also on view in Baldwin’s SuperCorrExpo booth, the FlexoDry is a fully integrated IR drying system, specifically developed for corrugated flexo printing presses. It reduces energy consumption by up to 30 percent over standard IR dryers through patented Diamond IR lamps. The system delivers improved drying results because of a unique optical design that produces higher intensity for enhanced color definition, and reduces or eliminates marking altogether, allowing for high-speed and full-confidence printing.

Additionally, Baldwin will showcase LED-UV technology, designed by its AMS Spectral UV division for wide-format flexo corrugated box printing. Representing the latest in solid-state LED curing, this technology offers more than a 60 percent reduction in power consumption

Despite the slow pace of business during the pandemic, DuoBlade has been a popular choice with finishers and the company sees the sales to further pick up in the coming months as more and more converters realize the advantages of going digital in label finishing. compared to traditional UV systems—in an ultra-compact lamphead that fits at the end of the press or between printing units. Flexo inks, coatings and varnishes specifically formulated to cure when exposed to LED-UV light provide a high-value decorative solution, offering offset-like quality and vibrant color, as well as full-gloss, spot and matte coating effects on a wide range of corrugated stocks. Plus, LED-UV curing can increase the throughput of the machine over waterbased aqueous coatings that may require slower press speeds to dry conventionally.

Lightweight and designed for the demanding requirements of corrugated printing, Baldwin’s LED-UV technology provides instant on/off, speed-related power, minimal heat, zero ozone and zone-width switching to further reduce energy consumption.

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DKSH partners with Creative Edge Software in Asia DKSH has signed a strategic agreement with Creative Edge Software to promote their leading 3D visualization software in key Asian markets.

DKSH Business Unit Technology has entered into a partnership with Creative Edge Software, a leading manufacturer of 3D software solutions for the packaging industry, headquartered in Minneapolis, USA. DKSH will provide sales, marketing, and after-sales services in selected markets across Asia, including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. This partnership is in line with the strategic focus of DKSH Business Unit Technology to solidify its position as a leading integrated solutions provider for the packaging, printing, and converting market.

Creative Edge Software’s product iC3D is the first real-time all-in-one package design software that lets customers generate live 3D virtual mockups on the fly. Whether for carton, glass, cans, flexibles, or shrink-wraps, iC3D enables real-time visualization and validation throughout the design process from concept to production. No specialist programs, hardware, or outside assistance are required during the process. Just a single application using a simple Illustrator file or PDF can generate photorealistic results.

DKSH will help promote the products to end users, including brand owners of consumer package goods, design agencies, packaging and label printers, pre-press trade services, converters, and contract packers.

“DKSH has unique regional coverage, in-depth knowledge and strong sales and marketing capabilities. We are convinced that DKSH is the right partner to help us expand our coverage and meet our aggressive growth goals,” said Mark Hardaker, Vice President, Sales, Creative Edge Software.

Suhas Kulkarni, General Manager, Business Development Asia Pacific, Printing Packaging & Converting, commented: “Due to the growth of eCommerce, the business of packaging mock-ups in Asia has been expanding rapidly. The partnership with Creative Edge Software allows us to connect with the packaging buyers besides the prepress designers and packaging converters.

We are confident to grow the market with the Creative Edge Software and excited to introduce this leading solution to our customers in Asia.”

Creative Edge Software is global player creating and developing innovative 3D software solutions for the packaging industry. iC3D is Creative Edge Software’s real-time, all-in-one packaging design software that lets customers generate live 3D digital mockups on the fly. iC3D enhances and speeds up ideation, design and production for the packaging, labelling & graphics markets.

DKSH is a Market Expansion Services provider offering sourcing, market insights, marketing and sales, eCommerce, distribution and logistics as well as aftersales services. DKSH operates in 36 markets with 32,450 specialists and its Business Unit Technology offers complete solutions for specialized industrial applications.

Seiko Open Week 2021 Seiko Instruments showcases capabilities of single printhead printing.

At the Seiko Open Week 2021 event, Seiko Instruments GmbH showcased the capabilities of its single printhead printing enabled by state-of-the-art RC1536, RC1536L-2C and 1024HG printheads. The key highlight was Vertical 2-colour printing using just one RC1536L-2C printhead.

The compact design was integrated in the Markoprint integra PP108 from Bluhm Systeme GmhH and used oil-based ink from Sun Chemical.

Another highlight was printing a matte UV varnish of 30mm print height. Printing the new UV-based matte varnish from Siegwerk, even at a print height of 30mm, was very comfortably done, all thanks to the RC1536 printhead series from Seiko. And the drying unit from Integration Technology put the finishing touches to it all.

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July 2021

Néstor Pascual introduced the new 2-colour version of Seiko´s 1024HG series of printheads integrated in the Inktester Digital from People & Technology.

The constant ink stream within the circulation structure removes bubbles and impurities and prevents sedimentation of ink containing large pigments.

up to 10 levels of greyscale with a drop range size between 13pl to 225pl.

The RC1536 printhead can accept a wide range of viscosities compared to conventional printheads. It is compatible with oil-, UV-, solvent- and WATER-based fluids.

Featuring an extra wide print-width (108mm) enables print-bars to be configured with a small number of printheads. Isolated channel technology allows the printhead to operate at high frequency (up to 37kHz) and achieve

The high flow Ink Circulation Structure means ink constantly circulates immediately behind the nozzles at high speed. This ensures nozzles recover from blockages automatically and instantaneously, eliminating the need for routine nozzle cleaning during operation and significantly reducing ink wastage. Ink is in constant circulation and always ready to jet, removing the need for priming or purging before starting printing. The RC1536 is also suitable for Stop-and-Go operations.

pressideas/ plc

‘Navigating the Corrugated Jungle’ with Flint Group Flint Group Packaging Inks reveals its theme for SuperCorrExpo 2021.

Flint Group Packaging Inks has revealed that ‘Navigating the Corrugated Jungle’ will be the core theme of its SuperCorrExpo 2021 exhibition stand, as well as more information on what delegates can expect from the show.

August 9th through 12th at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, Flint Group Packaging Inks, alongside its recently acquired partner, Poteet Printing Systems, will be sharing insight into its cutting-edge selection of water-based inks and coatings for both preand post-print corrugated board.

Michael Mosely, Vice President and General Manager at Flint Group Packaging Inks, explained: “In a fast-changing and resourceintensive print and packaging sector, printers can very quickly feel behind the times when it comes to areas such as sustainability and innovation. Theming our attendance around ‘Navigating the Corrugated Jungle’ is a nod to our ethos; we simplify the complex and help printers cut through the market noise simply and effectively. It’s all about making sustainability and innovation easy.”

“Our team is excited to reveal the technologies that are driving value for paper and board printers and share insight on where the real process opportunities lie. It’s all about showing that we understand today’s

print challenges and roadblocks, and help converters overcome them.”

Innovation on display during the event will include TerraCode, a sustainable waterbased ink and coating range for paper and board packaging applications. Designed to address rising market and consumer demand for sustainable packaging, the biorenewable selection can be tailor-made for unique converter needs.

Brand owners, international printers and converters attending SuperCorrExpo will learn more about Flint Group Packaging Inks’ expertise in color management, including consistency across substrates and spot colors. Supporting its growing portfolio of customers, the business will demonstrate VIVO Colour Solutions, a unique tool designed to increase converters’ color accuracy and press uptime, as well as reduce substrate and ink waste.

Sister companies Xeikon and Flint Group Image Transfer Technologies will be in attendance, demonstrating the latest digital press developments specifically for corrugated applications and the Enviroflex biodegradable cleaner respectively, further supporting Flint Group’s important circular economy expo theme.

Avery Dennison to acquire Vestcom Avery Dennison has signed an agreement to acquire Vestcom, provider of pricing and branded labeling solutions at the shelfedge for retailers and consumer packaged goods companies, for $1.45 billion in a cash transaction. Vestcom uses data management capabilities to synthesize and streamline store-level data and deliver item-specific, price-integrated messaging at the shopper’s point of decision. The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021.

Vestcom is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, with about $400 million in annual revenue. The company has 11 U.S.

production facilities and approximately 1,200 employees, with sales across multiple U.S. retail channels, including grocery, drug, and dollar. Vestcom’s solutions include stackz pre-cut, pre-sorted self-adhering shelf labels; shelfStrips shelf-edge planogram displays; adSigns signage kits; and shelfAdz branded marketing displays.

“Vestcom is a high-performing business that is a near adjacency to RBIS,” said Mitch Butier, Avery Dennison’s chairman, president, and CEO. “With this acquisition, we are expanding our position in high-value categories and adding complementary channel access and data management capabilities that have the potential to further

Mr. Mosley concluded: “SuperCorrExpo is one of the most influential corrugated packaging-focused trade shows and we look forward to demonstrating what ‘Navigating the Corrugated Jungle’ means to us. We’re poised to help customers, old and new, in person, as we highlight our suite of services and ground-breaking products.”

Visitors to the Flint Group booth are in for a treat, with a lush three-hole tropical miniature golf course with prizes to be won. Delegates can also sit down, relax and recharge at the tikibar hospitality section, and enjoy refreshments while networking with each other and their hosts.

To discover the latest innovations from the Flint Group companies, visit booth numbers 1549 and 1449.

accelerate our Intelligent Labels strategy.

We look forward to welcoming them into the Avery Dennison team.”

“Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone in the history of Vestcom,” said John Lawlor, chairman and CEO of Vestcom.

“The capabilities of Avery Dennison will enable Vestcom to further accelerate innovation and continue delivering high-value solutions that drive sales and productivity for retailers and CPGs. And we look forward to bringing our expertise and data integration capabilities to new channels and markets with Avery Dennison. I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished and I look forward to this next chapter in our growth trajectory.”

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signage printing

3D printing comes of age: printing large-scale urban objects Queen Máxima unveils World’s first 3D-printed steel footbridge in Amsterdam.

The award-winning design, developed by Dutch technology start-up MX3D together with designers Joris Laarman Lab and a host of collaborators, offers a glimpse into how computational design together with stateof-the-art robotic welding technology could shape our cities in the future.

Large-scale 3D printing and digital design could forever alter the shape of the built environment around us. Amsterdam’s robot printed steel bridge is a 12-metre long digital design masterpiece with curved, raw steel balustrades that belie its high-tech origins.

Now fully 3D printed in stainless steel, the bridge is the culmination of a long-running dream that welds traditional steelwork and advanced digital modelling into an inspired, structurally sound piece of public urban infrastructure. Computational design and 3D printing come together to streamline both the design and production process, allowing

designers to explore greater form freedom and shrink delivery timelines.

With Arup involved as lead structural engineer, MX3D created intelligent software that transforms welding machines into 3-D printing robots to produce a fully functional steel bridge. Advanced parametric design modelling – a tool for designers exploring new shapes using code - enabled Arup engineers to significantly fast-track the initial design process. The software can produce several iterations in quick succession until arriving at an optimal shape that offers the best solution against a set of benchmarks.

The project used 4.5tonnes of stainless steel to complete the 12.5metres long bridge.

As a design object for public use, Joris Laarman wanted MX3D to be a revolutionary piece of art, fully exploring the rational design freedom allowed by 3D printing for

large-scale infrastructure. Transcending its public function as a footbridge across the Oudezijds Achterburgwal canal, MX3D serves as a proof point of how digital design tools and 3D printing may forever alter the built environment.

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a novel method of manufacturing parts directly from a digital model by building layer after layer of a material. This new, high-precision technique provides opportunities and architectural freedom to designers and engineers alike, while potentially reducing the amount of materials used and wasted.

The bridge, which is over four years in the making and is led by Dutch company MX3D, will be a ‘living laboratory’ in Amsterdam’s city centre. It was unveiled a few days ago by Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.

Using its vast network of installed sensors, Imperial College London researchers will measure, monitor and analyse the performance of the novel 12-metre-long structure as it handles pedestrian traffic.

The data collected will enable researchers and engineers to measure the bridge’s ‘health’ in real time, monitor how it changes over its lifespan and understand how the public interacts with 3D-printed infrastructure.

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pressideas/ signage

Xaar acquires print system integrator FFEI Xaar completes acquisition of print systems and printbar specialist FFEI Limited.

Xaar has completed the acquisition of FFEI, one of the leading specialists in print systems and printbar. Xaar sees an accelerated growth and additional opportunities in vertically integrated solutions with the acquisition.

FFEI is one of the leading manufacturers of industrial digital inkjet systems and digital life science technology. It has many years of experience in managing technical integration and engineering projects. Its highly innovative and advanced imaging solutions and printbar manufacturing have enabled the business to establish several joint ventures with world leading organisations in both digital inkjet and life sciences.

John Mills said, “Having restructured and stabilised our core printhead business, the acquisition of FFEI will accelerate our strategy and expand our customer offering in a range of markets. As well as providing a number of ready-made solutions, the acquisition will further enhance Xaar’s world class expertise.”

“I’ve personally known the FFEI team for many years and have long admired their capabilities having previously worked closely with them. We are very excited to welcome them to Xaar and look forward to integrating the business as we continue to deliver on our strategy,” he adds.

to become part of Xaar which represents a fantastic opportunity for the business to develop and grow. Xaar has been a longterm market leader with great technology and great people and is a perfect fit for the business.”

FFEI employs over 60 people and in the year to 31 March 2021 generated revenue of £9.9 million. The initial cash consideration of £3.7 million was paid on completion with an additional £5.4 million deferred consideration to be paid out over three years. The Board expects the acquired expertise and resource to be utilised for projects that will drive long term profitable growth in Xaar’s core printhead business.

Andy Cook commented, “We are delighted The addition of FFEI strengthens Xaar’s capabilities and skills and will help to provide a more comprehensive solution for its growing number of OEM and UDI (User Developer Integrator) customers.

Based in Hemel Hempstead, UK, CEO Andy Cook and CFO Julian Payne will remain in their current roles and report to Xaar’s CEO John Mills. Bob Wilson, FFEI’s CTO, will join Xaar in a senior position within the printhead business, where he will focus on delivering technologies for the company’s UDI customers.

Events Calendar ProPak India 2021

Screen Print India 2022

Date: 30 SEP -21 to 02 OCT - 21 Venue: Venue:Bombay Exhibition Center, Mumbai

Date: 21 APR -22 to 23 APR-22 Venue: Bombay Exhibition Center Mumbai

15th Printpack India

mediaexpo 2022

Date: 20 DEC -21 to 24 DEC - 21 Venue: India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, NCR Delhi

Date: 12 MAY -22 to 14 MAY-22 Venue: Bombay Exhibition Center Mumbai

India Sign & LED Expo 2021

Labelexpo India 2022

Date: 20 DEC -21 to 24 DEC - 21 Venue: India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, NCR Delhi

Date: 9 NOV -22 to 12 NOV-22 Venue: Expo Centre & Mart Greater Noida - Delhi NCR

Readers are required to confirm the dates of the exhibition from the organizers. This is a reader service provided by PRESSIdeas and the company cannot be held responsible for any error or omission.

If your event is not listed in the above list, kindly write to us at info@pressideas.com with subject as event and we shall gladly be including the same as above.

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