Reporter Clips
- Published: January 01, 2001, By Edward Boyle, Contributing Editor
Narrow Web Converting Industry News
Label Graphics Offers Expanded-Content Labels
LITTLE FALLS, NJ, USA—Label Graphics, a converter of fine labels, has added a 13-color, 10-in. Ko-Pack International expanded-content label press. The press is said to have virtually unlimited capabilities for the production of booklets, folded labels, IRCs (Instant Redeemable Coupons), and "piggyback" labeling.
Tom Silvano, president of Label Graphics, says the purchase of the new press "was prompted by our desire to provide an increasingly wider range of services." Silvano explains expanded-content labels offer significant cost savings for products that need to convey a great deal of information to consumers, particularly pharmaceutical and food and beverage products. What was traditionally accomplished with the use of exterior packaging or inserts is now accommodated easily on expanded-content labels, eliminating additional packaging and reducing costs. A significant amount of product information can be conveyed on accordion-folded booklets that may include up to nine pages of text. The booklets, which tuck into the product label, are removed easily by pulling away the perforated edges.
The Ko-Pack press can perform multicolor letterpress, silk screening, flexographic printing, and rotary hot stamping plus UV flexo and UV screen printing. All folding and printing operations are in-line. It can apply up to six colors on each side of the webstock, plus a UV varnish on one side in a single pass, and is capable of executing screen volumes as low as 2%. Furnished with an IR dryer, the press can print materials from 11/42-mm film to 12-pt board. BST Promark monitors can enlarge the registration image up to 15x the actual size.
MACtac Purchases Kanzaki Specialty Papers P-S Business
STOW, OH, USA—Morgan Adhesives Co. (MACtac), a Bemis co., has purchased the p-s materials business of Kanzaki Specialty Papers, including its direct thermal, thermal transfer, and general roll product lines.
The purchase gives MACtac North America exclusive access to Kanzaki's coating technology for direct thermal p-s paper facestocks. MACtac also gains access to Kanzaki's p-s product specifications, manufacturing know-how, outside sales group, and customer service employees.
Envelope Assn. Debuts Interactive Training Programs
ALEXANDRIA, VA, USA—The Envelope Manufacturers Association (EMA) has released two new computer-based interactive training programs. "Tutorial on Paper Quality" is a CD-ROM training program designed to improve the knowledge that employees in envelope companies have about one of the most important components of most envelopes—paper. The tutorial highlights papermaking, envelope paper grades, important technical issues, recycled paper, and the future of paper.
"A Guide to the Fundamentals of Envelope Manufacturing" was designed to educate virtually any employee, customer, or supplier in the envelope manufacturing industry, according to the EMA, but is primarily intended for use by customer service personnel.
The Paper Quality program is available to EMA members for $60 and to nonmembers for $100. There is no manual. The cost for the Fundamentals program is $160 for the CD-ROM and $25 for the manual for members, and $260 for the CD-ROM and $75 for the manual for non-members. For more information, visit the EMA web site at envelope.org or call 703/739-2200.
HP, Indigo Form Strategic Alliance
PALO ALTO, CA, USA & MAASTRICHT, NETHERLANDS— Hewlett-Packard Co. and Indigo N.V.. a provider of digital color printing systems, have formed a strategic alliance to co-develop high-end, digital color printing systems. As part of the alliance, HP will make a $100 million equity investment in Indigo and will OEM the company's digital color printing products.
The alliance, in support of HP's printing e-services strategy, bolsters HP's ability to accelerate growth in the digital printing and publishing marketplace and expand its leadership beyond ink jet and laser printing to high-production digital color printing.
TLMI Announces a Call for Papers
NAPERVILLE, IL, USA—The Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI), Naperville, IL, has issued a call for papers to be presented at the upcoming technical conference. The biannual conference will be held Sept. 17-18, 2001, at The Drake Hotel in Chicago, IL.
The conference will focus on innovations in the industry, and all aspects of the tag and label process, from order entry to shipping, will be considered as potential paper topics.
The TLMI Technical Committee is seeking contributions from both converters and suppliers, TLMI members and nonmember companies. Presenters are asked to share information on innovative products or process developments utilized by their companies. Suppliers, for example, could discuss innovations in product technology, while converters may spotlight products or processes they have developed to improve quality, productivity, and efficiency.
Those wishing to contribute should send an outline of their paper, along with a biography, no later than Jan. 30, 2001, to TLMI, Attn: executive director Frank Sablone, 40 Shuman Blvd., Ste. 295, Naperville, IL 60563; 630/357-9222; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
American Bank Note, Crane Report Relationship
ELMSFORD, NY & DALTON, MA, USA—American Bank Note Holographics (ABNH) and Crane & Co. Inc. have announced a strategic relationship that includes a $9.3 million equity investment by Crane & Co. in ABNH.
As a result of this investment, Crane & Co. will own 3,387,720 shares of Common Stock, or 19.9% of the outstanding Common Stock of ABNH. The companies also have entered into a Collaboration Agreement under which they have agreed to work cooperatively to develop new products.
Mark Andy Sells First Scout Days After Release
CHESTERFIELD, MO, USA—Mark Andy Inc is announcing successful sales of its recently introduced Scout in-line press, with the first one sold to Schultz Brothers Inc., Addison, IL. The six-color press was delivered prior to LabelExpo USA.
According to Mark Andy, the Scout can be assembled easily; is perfect for a wide variety of 10-in. converting applications; and is designed to master thicknesses of 0.002-0.010 in. with excellent quality and ease of operation.
RFID Transponders Will Enhance Security Labels
MCLEAN, VA, USA— Mikoh Corp., a specialty supplier of Asset Integrity Protection products, has announced it will incorporate Texas Instruments' Tag-It radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders into its products for authentication and asset protection.
According to Mikoh, TI's RFID technology brings advanced data storage and data security to Mikoh's government and commercial customer groups. Mikoh will incorporate Tag-It inlets within label and seal constructs, enhancing its authentication and tamper-indication technology with the data storage and locking capabilities within the transponder.
Narrow Web PEOPLE & PLACES
Harper Corp. of America, Charlotte, NC, has appointed Robbie King technical accounts manager for narrow web flexographers in the southeastern US.
Wausau Coated Products, Wausau, WI, has opened a slitting facility in Kennesaw, GA, a suburb of Atlanta. The facility allows Wausau to provide same-day and next-day service of custom-slit p-s rollstock to a growing customer base in the Southeast. The co. reports the facility is equipped with a new, state-of-the-art slitter/winder and has on hand a large inventory and a wide variety of ready-to-slit p-s rollstock for quick turnaround and immediate shipment.
Comco International, Milford, OH, has restructured its European sales operation, Comco Printing Intl., headquartered in Kradolf, Switzerland. Mark Jennings has been promoted to director of European sales. He will be based in the U.K. and have overall sales responsibility for mainland Europe, the U.K., and Ireland. His appointment does not affect Comco's existing distributor and representative arrangements in the individual European countries. Comco has expanded the sales territory of Edward Pittman, sales manager in Spain. He becomes sales manager for the Mediterranean Region with responsibility for Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and North Africa.
Comco explains these changes are an example of its commitment to supporting European converters of labels, cartons, and flexible packaging.
