Labelexpo: Accelerate beyond expectations
Packaging Solutions
Labelexpo Europe (Brussels Expo, 25 to 28 September 2017) promises to showcase opportunities to accelerate your business beyond customer expectations and provide ideas about the technologies that can help you to do that.
Covering everything needed for today’s intelligent labelling and packaging production, the event is promising to highlight ways to differentiate business.
So, with a show packed to the brim with ideas, what should you go and see? Read on...
★ With its largest presence ever at a Labelexpo show, Pulse Roll Label Products (3C60) will reinforce its commitment to the global label market.
A key focus will be the company's new food packaging compliant (FPC) UV flexo product range suitable for non direct food packaging and labelling applications.
The PureTone FPC ink system comprises a high strength process series and a mono-pigmented mixing base scheme which results in clean and crisp colours for easy and accurate colour matching. The new ink system offers total colour management and a food packaging compliant solution for printers supplying industry sectors that require compliance to food packaging and labelling regulations and guidelines.
PureTone FPC is suitable for shrink films and general label printing, with excellent adhesion to a wide range of substrates including coated papers and films.
An FPC shrink sleeve opaque white, special blacks and metallic inks, plus FPC varnishes and adhesives complement the range and a new FPC cold foil adhesive and FPC laminating adhesive for PE substrate applications will also be introduced at the show.
On-stand demonstrations will focus on ‘colour’ and ‘coding’ as part of the company’s ‘Solutions Showcase’ and will show first hand how label printers can achieve optimum print quality whilst, at the same time, increase production efficiencies and improve profitability. Live ink mixing, colour matching and the latest pre-press proofing equipment will showcase the PureTone concept as a total colour management solution for label printers, retailers and brand owners.
And, for the first time, Pulse Roll Label Products will also hold live demonstrations featuring CO2 laser imaging of labels printed with PureCode, the company's laser markable coating, in conjunction with its strategic partner DataLase.
Formulated for narrow web applications, PureCode provides a high quality coating solution in the quest for premium printed variable data. A new high strength UV screen ink system using the same mono-pigmented ink technology as PureTone will be launched. The new UV screen inks are mixed with PureTone UV flexo inks, using a specially formulated reducing medium, to allow the inks to be printed through a rotary or flatbed screen. This concept offers all the advantages of PureTone in terms of clean and crisp colours for easy colour matching but also presents other benefits, such as ink inventory reduction, for printers using both flexo and screen printing technology.
★ Mimaki (8A08) will be highlighting a variety of innovative digital print and cut solutions for short run and customised labels.
Mimaki will be using its UJF-7151plus to demonstrate direct printing on rigid substrates to create high quality nameplates suitable for industrial marking or placarding. Additionally, a small laser cutting device will be used in combination with the printer to cut rigid labels to finished product.
The UJF-7151plus, a compact UV LED direct to object printer, delivers a powerful and reliable digital alternative to traditional screen print operations. With a print resolution of up to 1200 dpi, the UJF-7151plus features a 710 x 510 mm printable area using process, white and clear inks plus primer.
The company will also be showing print and cut of high quality specialised labels using silver ink. The CJV150 Series integrated printer/cutter solutions provide high performance, creativity and versatility with vibrant ink types, including silver, orange and light black, in a cost effective solution for label printing.
Digital direct to corrugated printing is another hot topic Mimaki will address.
The UJF-6042MkII flatbed LED UV printer, with a maximum print area of 610 x 420 mm, brings increased productivity and ease of use to on-demand, direct to corrugated printing. It is also ideal for other labels and packaging applications as well as for the creation of signs, displays and other graphically rich applications, including substrates up to 153 mm thick. It features a choice of inks, including LH-100 (a hard UV curable ink with high scratch and chemical resistance and brilliant colour reproduction) or LUS-120 (suitable for printing on soft materials). Each is available in nine colours including white, clear and primer.
★ Flint Group (5C25-28) will be exhibiting a wide range of solutions. Combining its four divisions (flexographic products, narrow web, digital solutions (Xeikon and ThermoFlexX) it will showcase solutions that enable label printers to better position themselves to address emerging markets.
With a product line ranging from nyloflex printing plates and equipment, rotec sleeves and adapters, Flint Group Flexographic Products will showcase its technology. New at the show will be the nyloflex Xpress Thermal Processing System, with a smarter design that is easier to use. It delivers thermal platemaking with no compromise in quality. The nyloflex Xpress Thermal Processor will be on show to demonstrate the control and more consistent and stable plate production provided by the new equipment. At the heart of the processing system are the nyloflex Thermal Printing Plates, which serve a variety of application needs, including film; and the nyloflex Developer Roll, which is designed to be highly efficient and environmentally friendly.
Also on display will be Flint Group’s patent pending rotec Eco Bridge for use in flexographic printing presses and on-plate mounting equipment. The rotec Eco Bridge is an adapter with a breathable metal ring which creates an air pillow to allow easy and fast mounting of sleeves. This bridge reduces up to 90% of the air volume requirement, up to 30% reduction in noise and significantly improves ease and speed of mounting all sleeves.
Flint Group Narrow Web will demonstrate its comprehensive range of food packaging compliant printing inks for all major printing technologies: UV mercury flexo, UV LED flexo, water based flexo and UV and EB offset.
The new Xeikon PX 3000 will have its European debut at Labelexpo.
Xeikon will be displaying its newly launched Panther technology, a UV inkjet platform that complements its dry toner technology, and the first UV inkjet press based on this technology, the Xeikon PX3000. The new press was developed in response to the growing need for new technologies in digital label printing, to drive new applications and to produce them in the most efficient way. The primary application focus for the PX3000, which prints at a resolution of 600 dpi, is self-adhesive health and beauty and industrial labels, with dry toner being the preferred technology for applications where food safety is a requirement.
★ Tresu (7D53) will highlight its comprehensive range of ancillary products for controlling ink flow in flexographic label and package printing situations.
Its ancillary programme includes an extensive range of chamber doctor blade systems for narrow, mid and wide web flexo applications, as well as ink supply systems, providing a complete solution for automating ink flow throughout the flexo press – from bucket to substrate. This results in significant reductions in material and ink waste, set up times, emissions and manual intervention as well as high quality consistency at speeds that can exceed 600 metres per minute.
The Tresu chamber doctor blade programme includes lightweight, corrosion resistant carbon fibre and ceramic variants and covers all flexo printing situations.
Among the chamber exhibits is the closed cassette FlexiPrint Reservoir, ideal for many narrow web uses. The portable chamber slots easily into position, facilitating fast set up chambers, including when printing processes are interchanged. FlexiPrint Reservoir needs no pump and operates at press speeds of up to 300 metres per minute.
For wide web and corrugated flexo applications between 1600 mm and 6000 mm, the carbon fibre MaxiPrint Concept cuts cleaning time and improves quality consistency. Comprising a closed chamber, an ink supply unit, and a cleaning cycle, MaxiPrint Concept offers fast, automatic internal cleaning, corrosion resistance, improved print quality consistency and reduced ink loss. Its chamber features integrated cleaning nozzles with robustly designed water shot mechanisms, for a complete ink change and cleaning cycle within three to five minutes.
Tresu’s F10 iCon ink supply system regulates ink flow, pressure and viscosity from the bucket, through the chamber, to the press, maintaining constant, pre-set ink density values for complete production runs. When ink changes are required, the F10 iCon system carries out fast and thorough cleaning of the chamber automatically, and returns almost all unused contents to the bucket for reuse on subsequent jobs. With the F10 iCon, simultaneous ink change cycles on printing stations take minutes, delivering significant time and materials savings per job.
★ Ultrachem (11A17) will be launching its latest portfolio of products at the show for offset, heatset, coldset and label print businesses. This includes a new range of UV flexo inks backed up by an updated range of coatings, adhesives and chemistry for UV and water based printing. The range is specifically formulated and manufactured to meet the challenges of modern day flexo and label printing.
Ultraflex U Intense – flexo ink series is a new formulation ink system based upon a hi-density four colour process set and base colour range. These inks are formulated on a mono-pigment basis, for maximum colour consistency with the highest possible colour strength. This allows for lower anilox cell volumes to be set and the ink’s resin chemistry gives exceptional viscosity, gloss, and adhesion. The UltraFlex UV Intense flexo ink series is ideal for self-adhesive labels, cartons, pouches and wraparounds.
Ultrachem has also clarified its offering and the UltraFlex UV Intense ink series is fully supported by a range of UltraFlex UV coatings and UltraFlex UV adhesives.
Colorflex WB – water based flexo Inks series is a continuation of Ultrachem’s UV range and is available for four main WB flexo ink categories, including label inks, and is specifically designed for specialist flexo printing.
To complete the portfolio, Ultrachem has a wide range of Primaflex solutions consisting of wash ups, ultrasonic cleaners and additives for flexo applications.
★ Esko (3C50) will showcase many pre-press solutions. These address various business challenges of brand owners as well as converters across the end to end label workflow.
Brand owners require a higher number of different print runs produced faster to even just in time in lower quantities. Converters need to respond to these requirements with a more efficient and integrated production workflow that can involve a mix of print environments.
Esko solutions are designed to improve lead time and equipment utilisation, reduce errors, and assure high consistent output quality. The result is an overall improved efficiency of the entire operation, from incoming order to the delivery of the printed and finished materials.
At the show, the company will demonstrate how its innovations bring efficiency in each of the workflow steps of a pre-press and flexo platemaking operation.
As previously announced, two new turnkey workflow solutions will be publicly unveiled at Labelexpo. WebCenter Essentials for Labels is a turnkey project management bundle for label production, whilst Automation Engine Essentials for Labels is a turnkey workflow bundle for label pre-press workflow automation.
★ Bobst (3A64, 3A60 and 3A58) will host three narrow mid web in line UV flexo printing presses: the M5X, the M1 and the M6 lines, all in their latest configuration and fitted with enhanced features, that will print and convert live label and flexible packaging production.
As well as the in line flexo presses showing incremental innovations to continuously increase the equipment performance, Bobst also has a new development in store that will be revealed at the show.
Visitors to the stand can also learn about the comprehensive range of web fed solutions the company offers in different segments of the label industry.
★ Avery Dennison (5A31) will feature five interactive zones, focusing on the key benefits of enhanced shelf appeal, performance, sustainability, intelligent solutions and compliance and services.
It will be demonstrating its latest solutions including MC FSC recycled paper facestock, Sensorial Collection of textured label materials and Clear Hotmelt adhesive for chilled food labels.
MC FSC Recycled facestock enables users to help customers meet sustainability targets while still delivering exceptional print results. Offering similar whiteness, brightness and opacity to conventional facestock, it converts fast and is manufactured without chlorine bleaching.
The Avery Dennison Sensorial Collection gives designers a broad toolset to create soft, textured or patterned papers that give a premium, vintage or artisanal feel.
★ Screen (9B30) is to launch two new UV inkjet digital label presses for high end labels and food packaging.
The new Truepress Jet L350UV+LM brings functionality to food packaging label production. As well as using newly developed low migration (low permeability) inks that offer enhanced safety, the press includes a nitrogen purge mechanism for accelerating the curing of UV inks, further preventing ink migration and UV odour.
Furthermore, the new Truepress L350UV+LM press pushes the envelope in terms of productivity, sharing a host of fresh features with the L350UV+ press, which was developed by Screen for high end, high speed label production. The L350UV+ system offers superior productivity, substrate compatibility, colour reproduction, operability and other advanced features that provide a significant edge over conventional technologies in a wide range of fields.
Both new presses deliver reliable print speeds of up to 60 meters per minute and enable the reproduction of a wider colour gamut by adding support for a special orange ink to conventional CMYK and white inks. Each system’s transfer section can also be equipped with an optional chill roller for cooling thin substrates that are particularly susceptible to the heat generated by the UV lamp. Labels such as those required for the wrappers used on PET bottles can now be printed with ease on the L350UV+LM press.
★ ABG (6A37) will be launching some exciting new modules and features at Labelexpo including a new flat screen printing unit.
The new module has a full rotary web motion, whilst still using a flatbed screen. The quality of UV curing is also improved by the rotary web motion – ensuring consistency along the whole web.
The physical size of the module has also been reduced by over 20%, the repeat area has increased to 410 mm in the web direction making it compatible with their Big Foot 50 hot foil stamping unit, and there is a chill roller option for delicate substrates.
Operators will benefit from an easier set up, and it has motorised lateral and skew adjustments for screen image position, plus on the run servo adjustment of the squeegee and scraper position. This makes it easy for the operator to adjust the level of ink through the mesh and onto the web.
ABG will also showcase its fleyeVision inspection systems and a range of its Digicon andDigilase machines.
★ SPGPrints (4C20) will show high performance solutions covering every step in the rotary screen printing workflow for labels and packaging, centred around its 100% nickel re-imageable RotaMesh and re-usable RotaPlate screen programmes. The company will demonstrate its new automatic RotaPlate Screen Cleaner, as well as its laser imaging prepress systems for rotary screen, flexo, letterpress and dry offset. Additionally, it will present information about its Pike 700 industrial hybrid UV inkjet press.
One hundred percent nickel re-engravable RotaMesh and – on non-SPGPrints presses – reusable RotaPlate screens offer durability and stability at over 100 metres per minute. Both screen ranges cover the full range of applications from coarse effects and Braille to fine linework and text as small as three point. A new addition to the RotaMesh programme is a 40 mesh re-imageable seamless nickel RotaMesh screen for glitter effects. Also new is a developer and washing system for imaging RotaPlate screens, providing a fast, automated imaging solution with minimal manual input and outstanding reproducibility, without risk of error.
The Pike 700 combines high- esolution digital capabilities with extensive pre-treatment and added value finishing processes, in a single pass, at high speed.
The 700mm wide roll to roll press based on Archer technology features up to 10 inkjet positions in a central cylinder configuration, with CMYK plus white standard, using SPGPrints' own inks that are optimised for the printhead and the machine's treatment processes.
★ Kodak (4D65) will present flexo, inkjet and software technologies.
Concurrent with Labelexpo, Kodak will officially open a new Flexo Packaging Technology Centre in Brussels, to be known as the Kodak Flexo Hub.
At the Hub customers will have opportunities to see demonstrations of the Kodak Flexcel NX System, attend technical training, or have Flexcel NX plates made for printing trials.
Show attendees are invited to experience a glimpse of the new Flexo Hub on the Kodak stand.
On the stand, the company will also feature the Flexcel NX System, with NX Advantage Technology, which includes advanced plate surface patterning capabilities to dramatically improve ink transfer efficiency in the broadest range of flexo printing applications.
Visitors can also find out about Ultrastream Inkjet Technology and Prosper Solutions.
The Kodak Prinergy Platform offers enhanced packaging capabilities that enable users to take advantage of this fast growing markets. With increased automation and high quality output, printers can meet the needs of even the most exacting customer.
The recently launched Prinergy Cloud Platform is an analytics enabled cloud platform that offers printers solutions to minimise cost and risk whilst driving growth.
★ Durst (8B26) will be presenting its latest development, the new digital, high resolution, high speed, eight colour label press, the Tau 330 RSC in line with Omet’s Xflex X6 hybrid solution as well as its new web to print workflow.
The new Tau 330 RSC is a UV inkjet label and package printing press featuring 330 mm print width combined with l print speed of up to 78 linear metres per minute at 1200 x 1200 dpi. The press achieves a production capacity of 1.485 m² per hour, and thanks to its eight colour stations (CMYK+W+OVG) with newly designed high pigmented inks it delivers outstanding print quality with close to 98% pantone colour gamut coverage.
The 330 RSC is available as standalone version or can be combined with in line digital laser die cutting LFS 330.
Also showcased will be the flagship Tau 330 with low migration ink for primary food and pharma packaging as well as the economic entry model Tau 330E with its specially developed high pigmented UV inkjet inks.
Durst will also introduce its new web to print solution for online design, preview and ordering of all kinds of packaging products like labels, folding carton, and more. Also on display will be Durst’s own Workflow-Label Application Suite, a modular, expandable pre-press software for order entry, pre-press, RIP, colour management, ink costing and production data management.
★ Asahi Photoproducts (5A34) will be showing its AWP water washable flexographic plate solutions featuring Pinning Technology for Clean Transfer.
Asahi experts will be available to speak with visitors about fixed colour palette printing, which uses a fixed palette of up to seven inks to virtually eliminate the need for spot colour inks. Because it uses a fixed set of inks, there is no wash up required between jobs, and combo jobs are made easier. Asahi plates with Pinning Technology for Clean Transfer deliver the precise plate to plate register required to implement this printing process successfully.
New at Labelexpo is the AWP-DEW plate solution, incorporating the quality properties of AWP-DEF plates with the addition of a faster plate processing speed, making this ideal for labels and packaging operations with higher plate throughput looking to achieve significant benefits.
Voice of the Customer
A feature of many of Asahi’s flexographic printing plates, Pinning Technology for Clean Transfer enables a clean ink transfer and prevents ink accumulating on the plate surfaces and shoulders in screen areas. This leads to fewer cleaning intervals and reduced press downtime, as well as significant quality improvements. Precise plate register achieved with Asahi plates ensures very high quality process printing with a fixed colour palette, minimising the need to use and manage spot colour inks.
Pinning Technology for Clean Transfer allows a kiss touch printing pressure setting. It makes use of low plate surface tension, made possible by a specially engineered Asahi polymer chemistry, to inhibit liquid flow. The ink forms a globule, with a large contact angle and high pinning point. This results in a cleaner and more homogeneous ink transfer from plate to substrate, helping flexographic printers meet the ever increasing quality demands of their customers.
★ Sun Chemical and acpo partnered in 2016 to meet the growing demand from brand owners and flexible packaging converters for high barrier transparent packaging and ultra high barrier metalised (foil replacement) films. Now they have worked together to develop coated films for the narrow web and label market and will showcase the jointly developed films at Labelexpo 2017 for the first time.
By combining acpo’s self-wound films and Sun Chemical’s SunBar Aerobloc oxygen barrier coatings, any label printer with a lamination unit, will be able to print and convert these films into pouches, bags or roll stock, for packaging oxygen sensitive products, such as nuts, snacks, nutrition bars, meat, cheese, spices and pet food. This can be done without the need to invest in new machinery. The Aerobloc oxygen barrier coating will be directly coated onto acpo film, making it just as easy as using a standard film.
SunBar Aerobloc oxygen barrier coatings are chlorine free, easy to recycle and highly resistant to flex cracking, which results in package barrier loss. They also offer converters cost effective, durable, sustainable films that support long shelf life, creating a smooth, pinhole free and flexible layer that van be easily over printed with inks and then laminated on to a variety of secondary films.
★ GSE (7D59) will present ink management software, dispensing equipment and proofing solutions that enable label and packaging printers to reduce costs throughout the workflow and achieve repeatable colour on-demand.
The highlight of the stand will be the introduction of GSE Ink manager, a comprehensive ink management solution that eliminates all aspects of ink related waste. The new software solution offers optimised ink yields through recycling press returns, as well as improved connectivity, mobility and reporting capabilities. Features include ease of use, a job list separating work preparation and ink production and a web interface for seamless integration with other applications, like ink formulation, management information and cloud software. The GSE Ink manager is supported by mobile apps that allow remote data entry and access to real time information.
GSE’s Colorsat modular dispensing systems, for flexo, gravure and screen processes, mix and dispense inks to precise quality and quantity specifications in minutes. Benefits are reduced set up times, ink yield improvements of over 30% thanks to easy re-use of press return inks, a cleaner colour mixing environment and better stock management.
The Colorsat Switch, for aqueous, UV curable and solvent inks, features a dispensing unit and control cabinet, connected to maximum 20 exchangeable buckets of up to 25 kg, stored by modular waterfall frames. Optionally, high volume components up to 1000 litres can be connected.
The Colorsat Match, with its small footprint, prepares aqueous and UV curable inks from maximum 20 base components, with fixed, refillable internal storage tanks as standard and optional external components.
★ GlobalVision (3D65) is set to unveil a new scanner and present its latest advancements in quality control tools.
The company will showcase the enhanced 4.1 desktop version of its unified Quality Control Platform, with software advancements including faster speed of loading files and inspection time, and cloud based deployment available in HTML 5.
Visitors will also see updates of the integrated Quality Control Platform with Esko's workflow server Automation Engine 16, a customised solution that performs automatic quality control checks in spelling, text, barcodes, Braille, colours and other packaging specific artwork in the pre-press workflow.
Designed to eliminate printed artwork and copy related errors, GlobalVision's automated proofreading software solutions provide all in one quality assurance at every stage of the workflow process. Its scanners with advanced error detection can inspect a range of printed materials such as foil, reflective print, thin leaflets, folded inserts/outserts, press sheets, label webs, shrink film, drawings, corrugated, labels, cartons, and film.
★ Codimag (11C10) is to unveil enhancements to its Viva 340 Evolution and Viva 340 combination presses based on the company’s Aniflo printing technology. There will also be live demonstrations and the possibility to arrange private trials.
Aniflo technology combines offset quality, flexo simplicity and digital flexibility. It features an offset unit, with offset plates and a simple anilox delivery system that brings a uniform ink amount across the web. High definition plates can be imaged within three minutes, assuring fast set up times and outstanding quality on all commonly used label substrates. Aniflo’s superior stability allows expanded gamut printing, reaching over 90% of the PMS colour book without ink changes or consequential washing.
Viva 340 Evolution, a dedicated Aniflo press, will feature advances in Viva Evolution’s software, architecture and controls. A new human-machine interface enables transfer of pre-press data to print a label with minimised manual input in minutes. New software features allow automated register synchronisation and connectivity with elements in the customer’s IT environment such as pre-press solutions and ERP systems.
Codimag will also provide live demonstrations of its Viva 340 combination press, a modular machine that can be configured according to customer needs. The 340 offers integrated in line finishing processes to enable added value label production in a single pass. The 340 press to be demonstrated at Labelexpo will feature five Aniflo positions in combination with rotary screen, enhanced flatbed foil embossing combo unit and flexo varnish. New features include a shorter matrix path to the rewinder, minimising change of web breaks, and automated web guidance and camera inspection. The Viva 340 combination press will also be shown with the new air cooled IST-Metz MBS LEDcure system that offers longer lamp lifetime, reduced energy consumption, elimination of ozone emissions, increased start up speeds and compatibility with film as well as paper substrates.
★ QuadTech (3B52) will show its extensive range of colour management and defect management solutions.
Among the innovations featured is QuadTech’s Color Measurement with DeltaCam, launched at last year’s drupa. The system makes advanced, in line spectral measurement affordable to individual packaging print houses. For about half the cost of other in line systems, package printers can utilise accurate, automated L*a*b* measurement on film, paper or board – ensuring that all printed product is within their customers’ colour specifications. The M1, M0, ISO compliant technology enables printers to reduce time and waste while maintaining colour throughout the roll – without the need to wait for a roll change to measure with a handheld device.
ColorTrack is a new colour management software for flexo and gravure packaging applications, which is an adaptive ‘colour expert in a box’ solution for packaging printers. With a variety of options for hand held and in line configurations, the software facilitates fast, accurate press side correction of ink formulations. Without any hardware modifications to the press, ColorTrack automates the process of delivering absolute consistency from press to press, shift to shift, and plant to plant.
Also featured will be Color Control with SpectralCam, which compares colour accuracy to desired targets – in line, during the print run – and detects any variation. If any problems are found, the system automatically corrects the problem without the need for operator intervention.
★ Glunz & Jensen (7E41) will introduce a complete new line of flexo plate processing equipment, FlexPro, and exposure systems, FlexPose. These new products will be available for plate formats of: 900 x 1200 mm, 1200 x 1600 mm, and 1320 x 2030 mm.
The new FlexPose and FlexPro systems will set new standards for exposure and processing latitude, enabling them to work with the latest digital plate technologies. The benefits are reduced exposure times and enhanced processing quality and latitude.
What is more, the next generation Flex-In-One 260 S, for solvent flexo platemaking will also be introduced at Labelexpo.
<insert star> Cron’s (9B18) will showcase the HDI Flexo 600 and 1600 CTP models.
The HDI Flexo range is available in three formats: 600 and 900 mm for label applications, and 160 0mm for general packaging work. All HDI Flexo models are compatible with thermal film, digital polyester back flexo and letterpress plates. Additionally, the HDI 600 features a clamping system, which makes it possible to image on a diverse range of media, including thermal offset plates and dry offset metal backed plates.
★ Hönle’s (8A54) show highlight is the new version of LED Powerline Flexo.
This compact LED-UV system is ideal for curing highly reactive inks and was designed for flexo printing applications. It is available in the wavelengths 365, 385, 395 and 405 nm.
Also in the focus is the jetCure product family comprising IR, UV and LED-UV systems. Here, Hönle engineers have succeeded in further developing a well tried curing system: the new jetCure LED. The length of this UV-LED unit can be very well matched to the applicationin question by connecting single LED assemblies. High intensities guarantee full cure within a split second and thus reliably perfect results.
★ Global Graphics Software (9B17) will showcase two new screening options.
Chameleon and Chimera are available with the ScreenPro screening engine that can be used in any label and packaging workflow alongside any RIP. They have been developed from the ground up in response to press manufacturers' concerns about image quality in single pass inkjet applications.
Chameleon creates a dot pattern for each press that blends away physical artefacts such as streaking, mottling and chaining.
The Chameleon screen is very fast at processing image data and ideal for variable data workflows.
Chimera introduces a new screening algorithm that offers the best characteristics of tile based screening and error diffused screening in one screen, significantly improving the output quality because it retains fine detail such as individual strands of hair as well as smooth flat tints in the highlights.
If you are building a digital front end for your label or packaging press Fundamentals will be on show.
Fundamentals comprises the essential building blocks you will need to create your custom solution and includes best of breed technology from other vendors including Hybrid Software.
★ Rotocontrol (7D42) will host live demonstrations of the BL-series for high speed production of booklet labels.
With operation speed reaching 60 metres per minute, the high speed BL-series machine is a modular solution for ECL/booklet label processing with various sizes and formats. A wide variety of optional modules including lamination, screen printing, cold foil, hot melt unit, and flexo printing are available, delivering a complete off line solution in one machine.
★ With the slogan ‘Taking your labels to the top’, Eckart (7A39) will present the latest of its metallic and pearlescent pigment and ink portfolio.
The leafing, one-component printing ink Topstar 06 3000 Brilliant Silver represents an ink alternative to foil stamping and metallised substrates. This has a highly brilliant, mirror like appearance. Despite the leafing characteristics of the product, it is possible to create imitation gold or various multicolour effects by overprinting and tinting. Topstar 06 3000 Brilliant Silver is wax and cobalt free. The ink is suitable for all offset machines.
Ultrastar UV curable metallic ink offers outstanding metallic gloss and foil like brilliance in combination with good over lacquer abilities and trapping. The inks are suitable to be overprinted in line.
Platinstar flexo and gravure inks with their mirror like effect lend labels and packaging an elegant touch.
For flexo printed shrink sleeve applications, the UV curable metallic ink system Rotostar UV Shrink FX 68 Series, also available in gold shades, offers a brilliant metallic effect without losing film integrity during high percentage shrinkage.
Eckart’s digital drop on-demand metallic product portfolio includes UV and solvent based inks for narrow web labels, flatbed and wide format printers. Jetfluid Digital Metallic inks provide the very special metallic shine and individual designs for digital UV and solvent based printing applications.
The pearlescent pigments from Luxan and Symic boast outstanding sparkle effects. Both impress with their transparency and pure colour shades when compared to conventional pearlescent pigments.
★ Albertin (11A21) is to present its brass and magnesium in line flat stamping tool for rotary and flat printing machines.
This solution can be used to reproduce hot foil stamping, debossing, embossing, patterns and textures, and to create anti-counterfeiting holograms – all in only one stamping tool. In-line Flat Stamping Tool is compatible with Pantec Rhino and ABG Big Foot modules.
Furthermore, having just one stamping tool for up to five different strokes, means less time in tool changing, reduced start up time, no register errors at all, great efficiency, maximum precision, shiny and gloss results with the highest quality.
★ Lombardi Converting Machinery (11C53) will have press demonstrations running on its stand.
ABS servo and ABS sleeve printing groups will be shown, as well as the Toro hot foil unit in line and Bravo flat screen unit in line – modules that enable complex and valuable labels (such as wine or cosmetics) in a single process.
There will be three different machine configurations on the stand. A Synchroline 430 eight colour including Toro and Bravo units, fully servo assisted with automatic register and pre-register will be shown. An Invicta 630 six colour, with full servo and totally gearless flexo machine will also be running. It has 10 motors for each printing unit and sleeve technology with pre-register and auto-register control. Finally, a Digistar with Domino inkjet five colour unit, semi-rotary flexo unit, cold foil and semi-rotary die can also be seen.
★ Vianord Engineering (4C35) will present a new solution for plate processing – Evo Wave, a water washable plate processor.
Available in three sizes, the new Evo Wave is designed to accommodate all the most popular water washable plate formats. The new unit can work as a standalone unit or be the heart of a complete and fully automated modular platemaking system.
Powered by an innovative brush system, this new ‘super unit’ is capable of carrying out the most critical process phases (pre-wash, wash out, cleaning, final wiping and rinsing) and delivers fully processed water washable plates in just few minutes.
The company will also show Easy To Plate Evo Fusion, a fully automated modular platemaking system, from plate imaging to plate delivery, compatible with the main CTP brands, specifically designed for the tag and label segment.
<insert star> Herma (5C14) is introducing a coloured adhesive that provides perfect opacity as well as unchanged adhesive qualities – moreover, it is suitable for direct contact with foodstuffs. The new HermaperfectOpaque range can thereffore cover even critical applications with ease.
Until now, label printers and users had to make compromises in cases where nothing must show through the label material: either the choice of suitable coloured label materials was very small, or they had to rely on a material with a coloured adhesive. Due to the soot particles usually contained in the latter, these adhesives have different qualities than conventional types, and are not at all suitable for direct contact with foodstuffs. But such compromises are now history. Thanks to Herma’s innovative multi-layer technology, most label materials can be easily turned opaque without affecting the properties of the adhesive, but with a maximum of migration safety. HermaperfectOpaque can cover even critical applications demanding, for instance, extremely high tack, or featuring damp and/or cool substrate surfaces. The opacity achieved by means of the multi-layer technology equals that achieved through previous methods.
Since this layer is exclusively made from proven standard adhesives, HermaperfectOpaque can be used without requiring time and labour intensive adhesion and processing tests. This enables a high degree of versatility, since it allows for label materials and adhesives to be flexibly combined to achieve optimal opacity for various applications.
Initially, the new range of opaque labelling materials will feature two different adhesives: HermaperfectOpaque 62Gpo and HermaperfectOpaque 62Dpo. In addition to providing migration safety, 62Gpo is suitable for applications requiring extremely high tack despite damp and cool conditions. The 62Dpo adhesive is ideally suited for the production of opaque copy/laser labels: it prevents bleeding over the die cut edges during label conversion. Even if they do not have a safety margin, labels produced with this adhesive are sure to be processed smoothly by all copiers and printers.
In both cases, the second layer is coloured with dark blue pigment
★ EyeC’s (4C61) newest inspection systems ensure print quality throughout the entire production process.
The company will demonstrate the ProofRunner Label in action, which delivers 100% print inspection even on the fastest presses or rewinders, running at speeds more than 600 metres per minute without sacrificing resolution.
The EyeC Quality Link enables the inspection results from the press to be evaluated at a separate station and used later on the rewinder to remove all defective labels. The benefits are clear: the press operator can react more quickly to avoid expensive material waste, while rewinders can run more efficiently by avoiding unnecessary stops.
The new Workflow Integration automates PDF proofing in the pre-press stages process by incorporating EyeC’s pre-press inspection software, Proofiler Graphic, into workflow systems. The workflow system triggers inspection procedures automatically; the Proofiler Graphic retrieves job data, files, and inspection parameters from the workflow system, and reports inspection results back to the workflow system.
Furthermore, EyeC will present its off line and artwork inspection systems. In 30 seconds, Proofiler 400 DT performs a comprehensive sample test of a combo job in DIN A3 format against several signed off PDF files. The EyeC Proofiler Content facilitates easy and secure artwork revision control.
★ Cosmo Films (3C70) will be showcasing its speciality PSA labelling products. The portfolio includes specialised films for self-adhesive labelling as well as direct thermal printable top coated films and universal printable synthetic paper for labelling applications.
These include Universal Printable Coated BOPP Label Facestock Films, available in transparent, white and metalised varieties (both coated and uncoated options). The films are compatible with UV, water based and solvent based ink systems and deliver spectacular print performance across wide variety of printing processes which include flexography, gravure, letterpress, offset, screen, thermal transfer and HP Indigo digital. The films also offer high stiffness for conversion and dispensing.
The company also offers Velvet Film, engineered on a special matte base, the film is used for over lamination of labels. This film offers rich velvet finish to the printed labels. Recently launched is a new black velvet film, with an intense black colour along with a velvet touch.
★ Toray Graphics (11D02) will be bringing its new Imprima line of waterless offset printing plates to the show.
The Imprima LA and Imprima LB plates are optimised for increased durability and high resolution imaging in the label and narrow web market. Toray will also have its full line of waterless offset plates on display.
★ Sakata Inx (4B65) will have a variety of narrow web label, sleeve and flexible packaging products on display and will showcase UV, EB and low migration inks and coatings, as well as digital printing solutions.
To meet the ever increasing demand for high speed UV flexographic printing, the company will show a complete product line of UV flexographic technologies. These solutions will include UV flexo inks for food and non-food compliant flexible packaging, shrink sleeve and label applications. The UV flexographic product line offers significant productivity advantages due to their high strength and fast speed, resulting in less ink usage and longer run lengths.
To address the continued growth of LED and EB technology, Inx will also present food compliant UV-LED offset and flexo inks for packaging applications, including in-mould labels as well as EB curing inks for shrink sleeve applications. The UV-LED inks cure with as little as one LED-UV lamp, consuming less electricity while virtually eliminating the heat and odour associated with UV curing.
Engineered to work on a wide array of substrates from paper to film, the EB curing inks demonstrate excellent press stability, colour balance, flow and transfer benefits, and achieve top results on almost all web presses at high printing speeds.
For sheetfed applications, Inx will showcase long wavelength (LW) OSF process inks that are formulated specifically for high performance printing on all major sheetfed presses. Developed for the newest UV, LED and H-UV lamp technologies, the inks require less energy to cure.
Digital printing in the packaging market offers a wide range of differentiation possibilities and Inx is well suited to provide chemistry, equipment and integration solutions. It will showcase the NW210 UV digital label press, as well as new electron beam inkjet inks for indirect food contact running on the new Gaia printer from Uteco.
The NW210 will run live on the Inx stand, with UV LED advance curing technology. The press produces single pass output up to 24 metres per minute and combines printing and conversion to deliver brilliant labels at a maximum width of 210 mm.
★ Contiweb and DG press ServiceS (11D17) will present web offset solutions for labels and packaging.
Visitors can find out about the Contiweb Thallo, a highly adaptable web offset press system designed for the efficient production of high quality, flexible labels and packaging. The Thallo web offset systems are produced and distributed under a strategic partnership between Contiweb and DG press.
★ Siegwerk (6A17) will showcase its tailor made ink and service portfolio.
The newest ink series for UV flexo printing is called Sicura Nutriflex Pro. It offers highly pigmented colours that are HD certified while being suitable for all food and pharma related applications.
Siegwerk will also showcase the latest developments of metallic inks and different OPVs of its Sicura Nutriflex LEDTec range, a migration optimised LED-UV flexo series for food and pharma packaging.
★ Making its debut in Europe, the Rotoflex HSI (4C45), with a horizontal design, brings many benefits to operators in comfort and efficiency. Designed for high volume label slitting, inspection and rewinding, the HSI is built with an extra large inspection table, 940 mm high editing area, and an easily accessible slitting module.
Known for a high level of accuracy in demanding production environments, the servo driven VSI is the Rotoflex flagship slitter rewinder for traditional roll to roll label inspection and finishing. Highlighted features to be shown include a small footprint design to maximise valuable production space, low working heights for efficient operator use, high speed vision inspection, web width of 330 mm, and ease of accessibility to the web path maximising set up and change over efficiency.
★ Domino Digital Printing Solutions (9A60) is set to launch the new K600i White digital print module. Featuring a new ink management system designed to provide high reliability while utilising a heavily pigmented UV curable white ink, the K600i White is targeted primarily at printers looking for a digital alternative to screen printing, offering instantaneous job change, minimal maintenance, variable data printing capability and eliminating the need to purchase screens.
The solution is particularly well suited to printing high definition white text in very small point sizes onto personal care labels and for other transparent label applications.
This white ink system has already been proven in the latest generation Domino N610i seven colour digital label press, and now becomes available for retrofitting on existing digital label presses and finishing lines via the release of the K600i White.
★ What’s new in label release liner?
For visitors to Labelexpo, there is an additional opportunity to keep abreast of the business. AWA Alexander Watson Associates has co-located a key European market update seminar in the exhibition centre during the exhibition.
The established annual AWA Label Release Liner Seminar, now in its ninth year, is conveniently divided into two half day afternoon sessions, taking place on September 26 and 27 – one covering trends and applications, and the second devoted to sustainability and recycling issues. This is designed to enable participants to combine seminar attendance with ‘walking the show’, or simply to attend the session that is of the most relevance for them.
In addition to providing AWA’s yearly update on the global release liner market, with particular reference to pressure sensitive labelling, it will feature speakers from leading companies and related industry associations across the value chain, to bring clarity to the issues and opportunities in this evolving sector of the label market.
To register visit www.awa-bv.com/events
