North America

All Printing Resources to distribute Shine LED Lamp Kits by Miraclon

Piotr Wnuk — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 23:08:59 +0000

Miraclon has named All Printing Resources (APR) as official reseller of Shine LED Lamp Kits, innovated by Miraclon in Canada in the US.

The relationship allows the company to offer its customers in the US and Canada the benefits of a new LED Exposure System, providing them with a simple path to LED by upgrading their existing fluorescent exposure systems.

Allen Sanders, vice president of technical services at All Printing Resources, said: ‘This collaboration will benefit many of our customers who are looking at the different ways to improve printing consistency, efficiency and sustainability benefits through UV LED Exposure. As Shine LED Lamp Kits are open to all major plate types and most fluorescent exposure frames from leading manufacturers, it offers them a simple, cost-effective path to enjoy these benefits.’

‘We’ve been seeing a rapid adoption of Shine LED Lamp Kits since its phased introduction at the end of 2023,’ adds Evan Spinosa, US&C regional commercial director at Miraclon. ‘Printers and trade shops are increasingly choosing to retrofit their existing exposure units, taking advantage of the consistency and efficiency benefits associated with LED during platemaking, as well as the benefits of better consistency, efficiency and sustainability it delivers in the press room. Our collaboration with All Printing Resources is ideal for the wider flexo industry.’

The Shine LED Lamp Kit is Miraclon’s innovative, multi-award-winning technology providing fluorescent users with a simple, low-cost route to the multiple advantages of LED technology. By utilizing existing fluorescent exposure frames, new LED exposure unit users benefit from consistent intensity over a much longer operating life, faster exposures and enhanced sustainability performance.

These features won the Shine LED Lamp Kit a unique double at this year’s FTA Excellence in Flexography Awards, winning top awards in the Sustainability and Technical Innovation categories, as well as a Sustainability Technology Award in the German FTA Awards.

Posted date

1 day 7 hours ago

Short title

All Printing Resources to distribute Shine LED Lamp Kits by Miraclon

Short summary

The relationship allows the company to offer its customers in the US and Canada the benefits of a new LED Exposure System.

First paragraph

The relationship allows the company to offer its customers in the US and Canada the benefits of a new LED Exposure System.

Regions

North America

Rate

Top story

Article main topic

Ancillary equipment

Redirected

Off

Moved to features

Off

Lead image:

New batch

Off

redirected

Off

E Labels adds second Domino N610i digital press

Selah Zighelboim — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 19:38:52 +0000

E Labels, a 25-year-old family-owned business in Pico Rivera, California, added its second Domino N610i digital press in 2024.

Founded by Carlos Rivera, an entrepreneur originally from Guatemala, E Labels has grown from a small startup to a partner for industries including food and beverage, cosmetics, automotive, household products and more.

Rivera's daughter, operations and development manager Jacky Rivera said: 'For lack of better words, it was time. In just four years, Domino really helped us grow as a small business in the industry, and we want to keep the momentum going. From a professional standpoint, with two Domino presses, we’re well positioned to meet diverse customer needs even more efficiently. From a personal standpoint, I want to continue to grow the business that my dad created and has worked so hard for all of his life. It’s a lot of pressure, and I have big shoes to fill, but I know I have a lot of support thanks to Domino.'

With the addition of a second Domino N610i, E Labels aims to expand its market reach and continue to cater to customers’ needs.

'This investment represents the next chapter in our growth,' Jacky Rivera said. 'We’re building on my dad’s legacy and continuing to deliver the exceptional quality and service our customers expect. As we look to the future, our goal is to continue buying and growing with Domino.'

Jacky Rivera, who joined the business to help modernize its operations, spearheaded the decision to expand into digital printing.

She said: 'We noticed we could not be competitive with small quantity orders due to minimums and plate costs. We figured in order to stay in the game, going digital was a must.'

Carlos Rivera added: 'We had to evolve to stay in business. Technology is constantly changing, and to stay relevant in this industry meant adding digital.'

E Labels’ partnership with Domino began in 2019 when the company first sought digital machinery.

The Domino N610i digital UV inkjet label press has enabled quick turnarounds, high print quality and cost savings.

'Customers are always impressed when we say, "no plate charges,"' Jacky Rivera noted. 'We’ve also been able to really impress customers using clear or silver materials due to the opaqueness of Domino’s white ink. Printing small text and variable data have also been game changers for us.'

Carlos Rivera added: 'What excites me most about having the Domino press is the confidence it gives me as a small business. I’m able to provide labels quickly to our customers, at great pricing, without compensating on quality. We have excellent relationships with our customers. We are a small but powerful team with top-of-the-line equipment, and our goal is to be part of our customers’ business success. At the end of the day, customers are looking for a reliable source, a company they can count on to do things right at a good price, and on time. E Labels provides that. Being able to have the capabilities to make quick changes and have quick turnaround is essential.'

Jacky Rivera said: 'The Domino difference is its organization and the people they have working for them. Everyone we come in contact with is always super friendly and willing to help. We never feel unsupported, and their service team is wonderful. Nothing in life is perfect, especially when it comes to technology. I wish all problems were as easy as "turn it off, turn it back on" but that’s not always the case. Domino, however, has really hit the nail on the head when it comes to service and support. Their quick response and local technicians always keep us up and running. On a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the best, our satisfaction level with Domino is a 10.'

Posted date

1 day 11 hours ago

Short title

E Labels adds second Domino N610i digital press

Short summary

With this press, E Labels aims to expand its market reach and continue to cater to customers’ needs.

First paragraph

With this press, E Labels aims to expand its market reach and continue to cater to customers’ needs.

Regions

North America

Other topics

Installations

Related suppliers

Domino

Rate

Top story

Article main topic

Digital printing

Redirected

Off

Moved to features

Off

Lead image:

New batch

Off

redirected

Off

Techkon launches new version of ChromaQA 6 with SmartInk

Piotr Wnuk — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 21:34:41 +0000

Techkon USA has launched a new release of its ink and pressroom color management suite ChromaQA 6 release with SmartInk, which features a redesigned, intuitive user interface and powerful new features for color matching, corrections and standards management.

ChromaQA6 combines several software packages into one, providing a cloud-based color quality control workflows, without the pain points of other software and at a fraction of the cost.

The new version features a completely new user interface with a modern, clean look and feel for easier and more intuitive workflows. The ink toning technology SmartInk, which uses AI for precise recipe corrections in the ink room and right on the press, has been further refined for higher accuracy, faster matching, and now provides specific optimization methods such as Automatic, Lowest deltaE and Lowest Ink Amount.

The Chroma Standards feature now allows for using multiple measurements when creating new standards. ChromaQA automatically averages all measurements together, which is perfect when measuring ink drawdowns or other materials with color variations. An average will help smooth out the measurements.

With Chroma Standards, users can also manage their own ‘live’, cloud-based library of colors specific to their inks, substrates, and print processes, ensuring that all locations are targeting achievable color standards. Chroma Standards can also automatically identify and eliminate duplicate colors to ensure a clean database.

New localizations and embedded training videos in multiple languages, now include English, German, Spanish, French, Polish and Serbian.

New OmniConnect drivers allow users to use handheld spectrophotometer devices from third-party manufacturers directly via USB connection without the need for third-party software.

‘ChromaQA 6 is setting new standards for color QC software with its unparalleled ease of use, seamless interconnectivity across teams and workflows, and unique features like SmartInk and our Standards module that are not available anywhere else,’ said Stephen Rankin, director of product management at Techkon USA.

‘Once you try ChromaQA 6, you will realize how much easier managing, correcting and organizing your color can be,’ added George Adam, president of Techkon USA.

Posted date

2 days 9 hours ago

Short title

Techkon launches new version of ChromaQA 6 with SmartInk

Short summary

The new version features a redesigned, intuitive user interface and powerful new features for color matching.

First paragraph

The new version features a redesigned, intuitive user interface and powerful new features for color matching.

Regions

North America

Other topics

New products

Related suppliers

Techkon USA

Rate

Top story

Article main topic

Workflow, MIS & inspection

Redirected

Off

Moved to features

Off

Lead image:

New batch

Off

redirected

Off

Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives launches Cotone Sabbia Extra White in US

Akanksha Meena — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 06:29:38 +0000

Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives North America (FSA), part of The Fedrigoni Group, a manufacturer of premium self-adhesive materials, has introduced a new addition to its Catone range, Cotone Sabbia Extra White.

The Cotone range is a collection of premium self-adhesive papers crafted from 100 percent pure cotton fibers.

The Cotone range features a rich texture and thicker basis weight, making it perfect for embossing and debossing techniques. This material is designed for high-end wine, spirits and craft beer labels. It is built to perform under demanding conditions, including ice bucket immersion and humid environments, thanks to its Ultra Wet Strength treatment.

Made from cotton linters, a byproduct of the textile industry, the Cotone papers transform underutilized fibers into premium label paper with 100 percent pre-consumer recycled content.

Cotone Sabbia Extra White features a unique rough felt texture for a sophisticated tactile experience combined with an ultra-white tone that enhances the premium appearance of any label.

‘The Cotone range represents the perfect blend of beauty, functionality and sustainability,’ said Melissa Harton, marketing manager North America at Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives. ‘With its refined aesthetics and exceptional performance, Cotone helps brands stand out while embracing sustainable practices, and we’re thrilled to introduce Cotone Sabbia Extra White to this portfolio.’

Posted date

5 days ago

Short title

Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives launches Cotone Sabbia Extra White in US

Short summary

The Cotone range features a rich texture and thicker basis weight, making it perfect for embossing and debossing techniques.

First paragraph

The Cotone range features a rich texture and thicker basis weight, making it perfect for embossing and debossing techniques.

Regions

North America

Other topics

New products

Related suppliers

Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives

Rate

Top story

Article main topic

Substrates & adhesives

Redirected

Off

Moved to features

Off

Lead image:

New batch

Off

redirected

Off

Grupo Flexográfico completes FAT for new Nilpeter FA-17

Selah Zighelboim — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 16:53:07 +0000

Grupo Flexográfico, a flexographic printing company based in León, Mexico, recently visited Nilpeter’s production facility in Slagelse, Denmark, to complete the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) for its new FA-17. The test was successfully completed, and the press will ship to Grupo Flexográfico’s site in León, Mexico, where it will join a long line of other Nilpeter machines.

Grupo Flexográfico has been a Nilpeter customer for many years, and the company is an especially strong player within premium labels for tequila, which will be the main application for the new FA-17. The press is configured with eight printing units, a Pantec embellishment unit, GEW drying technology and the advanced automation features that define Nilpeter’s FA-Line. Comprehensive training will be provided after installation to ensure a smooth transition into production.

In addition to the new FA-Line, Grupo Flexográfico also has a new FB-Line scheduled for delivery later this year.

Nilpeter has more than 600 presses installed in Mexico. Nilpeter will exhibit at stand C44 at Labelexpo Mexico in Guadalajara from April 1-3.

Nils Evers, Nilpeter’s general manager, Latin America, said: 'We truly appreciate the great collaboration we have with Grupo Flexográfico, and it is always a pleasure to support their growth with our latest flexo solutions. The successful FAT of their new FA-17 press is another milestone in our partnership. At the same time, the Mexican market remains highly important for Nilpeter, with more than 600 of our presses installed across the country. Labelexpo Mexico is a great opportunity for printers to explore our latest solutions firsthand and see how Nilpeter continues to push the boundaries of flexo printing technology.'

Posted date

5 days 13 hours ago

Short title

Grupo Flexográfico completes FAT for new Nilpeter FA-17

Short summary

The FA-17 will ship to Grupo Flexográfico’s site in León, Mexico, where it will be used mainly for tequila labels.

First paragraph

The FA-17 will ship to Grupo Flexográfico’s site in León, Mexico, where it will be used mainly for tequila labels.

Regions

North America

Other topics

Installations

Related suppliers

Nilpeter

Rate

Top story

Article main topic

Conventional printing

Redirected

Off

Moved to features

Off

Lead image:

New batch

Off

redirected

Off

Eagle Flexible Packaging to add new converting plant in Waupun, WI

Piotr Wnuk — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 22:34:46 +0000

Eagle Flexible Packaging has confirmed it will construct a new 52,000-sqft facility in the Waupun Industrial Park. The facility is expected to be substantially complete by the end of 2025 and will create 30 to 40 new jobs, hired within 24 months of completion.

The Waupun Common Council approved a developer’s agreement to sell city-owned land to Eagle Flexible Packaging. The company began operations in Waupun in 2021 after acquiring a formerly shuttered production facility at 4 Taylor Street. Since then, it has added 65 jobs in the city.

In 2024, Eagle Flexible Packaging acquired 1208 Wilson Drive in the Waupun Industrial Park and has invested more than 3 million USD, including facility improvements and the addition of state-of-the-art graphics equipment.

Scott Deringer, Eagle Flexible Packaging COO, said: ‘Future expansion plans call for a doubling of the current workforce over the next five years to support planned growth.’

Waupun administrator Kathy Schlieve, added: ‘Eagle Flexible Packaging has made consistent investments in the city, bringing employment opportunities for residents and supporting community nonprofits and events since opening. The proposed project is well aligned with city goals to continue diversifying its economic base through the expansion of the Waupun Industrial Park.’

The planned expansion is expected to be substantially complete by the end of 2025 and will create 30 to 40 new jobs, hired within 24 months of the facility's completion.

Posted date

6 days 8 hours ago

Short title

Eagle Flexible Packaging to add new converting plant in Waupun, WI

Short summary

When completed by the end of 2025 it will create 30 to 40 new jobs.

First paragraph

When completed by the end of 2025 it will create 30 to 40 new jobs.

Regions

North America

Rate

Top story

Article main topic

Flexible packaging

Redirected

Off

Moved to features

Off

Lead image:

New batch

Off

redirected

Off

GMG Americas promotes Bill DeWall

Piotr Wnuk — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 22:18:44 +0000

GMG Color Americas has promoted Bill DeWall from director of sales for Midwest, to director of sales for the entire US.

In this new role, DeWall will oversee all sales operations across the US, bringing his leadership and proven track record to a broader scope. While he transitions into this expanded role, Bill will continue to maintain his full Midwest territory and plans to hire additional team support in the near future.

DeWall joined GMG Americas in 2016 and has consistently demonstrated his ability to drive sales growth, build strong customer relationships and develop innovative strategies that align with GMG’s mission to deliver world-class color management products. His leadership has been instrumental in strengthening GMG’s presence in the Midwest, and the company is confident that his impact will be equally significant on a national scale.

Paulo Monteiro will continue in his role as vice president of GMG Americas, overseeing the company’s operations and strategic direction.

‘Bill has been an invaluable part of the GMG Americas team, and I am thrilled to see him step into this well-deserved leadership role,’ commented Monteiro. ‘His deep understanding of the industry, commitment to our customers, and vision for the future of GMG make him the ideal person to lead our US sales team. I look forward to working closely with Bill as we continue to grow our presence and deliver unmatched value to our clients.’

Posted date

6 days 8 hours ago

Short title

GMG Americas promotes Bill DeWall

Short summary

The company has promoted DeWall to director of sales for the US.

First paragraph

The company has promoted DeWall to director of sales for the US.

Regions

North America

Other topics

Workflow, MIS & inspection

Related suppliers

GMG Americas

Rate

Top story

Article main topic

People

Redirected

Off

Moved to features

Off

Lead image:

New batch

Off

redirected

Off

NextGen Label Group appoints new president and CEO

Piotr Wnuk — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 22:02:08 +0000

NextGen Label Group has named Dan Rosenbaum its new president and CEO, effective April 1, 2025. He will replace Tom Sargent, who will step down as part of a planned transition and assume the role of corporate advisor.

A seasoned leader with a proven track record of excellence, Rosenbaum brings an understanding of NextGen’s business and strategic vision, positioning the company for continued growth and innovation.

Tom Sargent, who has served as president and CEO for the past several years, will step down as part of a planned transition and assume a corporate advisor role. In this capacity, he will work closely with the leadership team to advance strategic initiatives while remaining an active board of directors member.

‘Tom Sargent’s leadership has been pivotal in shaping NextGen Label Group,’ said Kathy Alaimo and Nick Van Alstine, board co-chairs. ‘His vision and dedication have driven key milestones, and we are grateful he will continue to play a role in guiding the company forward.’

Rosenbaum demonstrated leadership throughout his tenure at NextGen Label Group. His understanding of the business, his commitment to excellence, and NextGen’s brand custodianship values make him the ideal person to lead NextGen into its next phase of growth and success.

‘I have had the privilege of witnessing Dan expertly guide our organization through critical milestones and transitions, demonstrating exceptional judgment, impressive business acumen, and unwavering integrity,’ said Sargent. ‘Dan has my absolute confidence, along with the full support of the Board of Directors in his new role. I am excited to see the ambitious next chapter of NextGen's evolution unfold under his strong leadership.’

Rosenbaum added: ‘I am honored to step into the role of President & CEO of NextGen Label Group. The dedication, expertise, and innovation of our employee-owners are what make this company extraordinary. I look forward to building on the strong foundation and driving NextGen forward, delivering exceptional value to our customers, employees, and stakeholders.’

Posted date

6 days 8 hours ago

Short title

NextGen Label Group appoints new president and CEO

Short summary

Dan Rosenbaum will replace Tam Sargent, who will step down as part of a planned transition.

First paragraph

Dan Rosenbaum will replace Tam Sargent, who will step down as part of a planned transition.

Regions

North America

Rate

Top story

Article main topic

People

Redirected

Off

Moved to features

Off

Lead image:

New batch

Off

redirected

Off

Meyers upgrades to GEW UV LED curing

Akanksha Meena — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 08:59:57 +0000

Meyers, a packaging and label printer based in Minnesota, US, has upgraded to UV LED curing systems across all main production lines at its Minneapolis facility.

The primary objective of the upgrade is to significantly reduce energy consumption and costs at the plant while reducing Meyers’ scope one, two and three emissions and subsequent carbon footprint. These factors are known to have a direct effect on the company’s competitiveness and its ability to secure new business from its sustainability-conscious customers, who include many megabrands and household names.

Michael Dillon, chief revenue officer at Meyers, explained this relationship between the company’s carbon footprint and its competitive edge: ‘What matters most to our sustainability-conscious clients is what our footprint is because our footprint is their footprint. Clients want to know, what is the impact that we're having, and they're taking that into consideration while they're picking vendors and while they're allocating costs, a lot of them are offsetting the impact of their supply chain, so the impact that we're having matters to them. So when we use fewer resources, that has a tangible benefit.

‘They look at what's called scopes one, two and three emissions. Scope one is what happens at your facility. Scope two is what happens to get the utilities that you use to you, so if you're using electricity generated from coal you'll have a much larger Scope two than if you're using electricity generated from wind and solar. Scope Three is what happens upstream and downstream from your own operations, so that would be for us what goes into growing trees that get harvested to become paper, and then what happens after it leaves here. So for us that's shipping our product, it's end of life.’

He gave an example of how Meyers’ sustainability credentials have an effect on its ability to win new business: ‘One of our large leading customers, a giant household name, does award business based on the sustainability of their suppliers. They actually calculate the cost of the impact of everything that they source, and that cost of offsetting that environmental impact gets levied upon the department that's buying the supplies. There's a one-to-one relationship on the impact that you're having on the environment and the cost that they view of buying from you as a supplier.’

He concluded: ‘It literally makes us lower cost than the alternative suppliers that aren't as focused on sustainability.’

The management team at Meyers moved its three main production lines retrofitted to run UV LED curing, simultaneously. However, it was imperative that the company could continue to selectively use conventional UV Arc curing where necessary, and this was one of several reasons why they chose to work with GEW for the UV system retrofits.

Meyers now uses a combination of GEW’s AeroLED and LeoLED lampheads, alongside E2C Arc lamps where necessary, on multiple machines across the shop floor. GEW’s patented, interchangeable ‘ArcLED’ technology makes this possible, as each print station can be changed to run either UV LED or UV Arc according to the job in hand.

Dave McConnon, chief operating officer at Meyers, explained: 'We chose GEW for a few reasons, but number one was that we needed the flexibility to be able to do Arc curing or LED, and the cartridge system that GEW has in place really lends itself perfectly to that. We run a lot of our work interchangeably between all three of those machines and we wanted the ability to have identical capability between the machines, so that we could move work back and forth knowing that we would be using the same technology.

‘We generally use the LED systems for the pigmented inks and Arc cassettes for curing adhesives, varnishes and those types of things. We do have a few projects where customers have qualified UV technology for their inks and we'll use the E2C cassettes for those projects as well. To be able to switch between LED and Arc curing gives us all kinds of flexibility, both for our current customer base as well as any future projects that we run into.’

Posted date

6 days 21 hours ago

Short title

Meyers upgrades to GEW UV LED curing

Short summary

GEW’s UV LED technology helps Minneapolis-based label and packaging printer to achieve sustainability goals and win more business.

First paragraph

GEW’s UV LED technology helps Minneapolis-based label and packaging printer to achieve sustainability goals and win more business.

Regions

North America

Other topics

Installations

Related suppliers

GEW

Rate

Top story

Article main topic

Ancillary equipment

Redirected

Off

Moved to features

Off

Lead image:

New batch

Off

redirected

Off

Amherst Label scores TLMI Printing Excellence Award

Piotr Wnuk — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 23:21:34 +0000

At the 2024 TLMI Printing Excellence Awards, Amherst Label has scooped the ‘best-in-class’ prize in the alcoholic beverage category for Baxter Brewing Co.’s ’13 Below’ Cold IPA label.

Printed on an MPS-Domino hybrid press, the label was recognized by judges for its look and feel, which highlighted the sharp contrast of the high-opacity white print against the metalized film, as well as the tactile, 3D feel provided by the label’s rough-textured matte UV varnish.

Creating an award-winning label like ’13 Below’ takes a combination of partnership, design creativity, technical expertise and print technology know-how.

Amherst Label and Baxter Brewing Co. have worked together since 2022, when the craft brewery sought a new printer for its short-run labels. The partnership has evolved since the companies’ initial engagement, with Amherst now printing nearly all the labels for Baxter’s limited-release beers.

Devin Smith, sales and marketing manager at Baxter Brewing Co., said: ‘We try to stay true to our brand and our brand style. Every label features the Mount Katahdin ridgeline to honor our namesake from Baxter State Park. Baxter written in the large text up the left side is our way for the consumer to recognize our product and be able to explore more within our portfolio.

‘For our 13th anniversary ’13 Below’ Cold IPA, I was thinking of the sky on a cold winter night. Someone suggested including the Northern Lights, which was a perfect idea. Adding the Northern Lights above the ridgeline and tree silhouettes into the foreground, it all came together.’

For Baxter, it was key for the Northern Lights to stand out. This led to a collaborative brainstorming session in which the two teams looked at substrates Amherst had previously used on the Domino hybrid press before agreeing on the reflective metalized film.

‘This label turned out way better than I could have imagined,’ added Devin. ‘The reflective film, the printed gradient and the tactile coating that we add to all labels – it all worked well together.’

‘The matte UV textured varnish definitely enhances the way the label feels. It also helps when applying the labels to the cans in their high-speed canning line. It runs a lot smoother than other finishes, ensuring the labels are applied securely,’ commented Shane Beaton, account executive at Amherst Label.

Amherst has three Domino N610i presses, two hybrids, and one roll-to-roll press, which means the label converter can offer a range of different printing services depending on its customers’ needs.

‘Although much of our growth in recent years has been driven by our digital capabilities, it’s important for us and for our customers to have access to both digital and flexo technologies. Every scenario is different, and flexo has its place,’ Beaton added. ‘For the label in question, it would have been possible to produce the design on one of our flexo presses, but as we were producing a small run of labels, this would have worked out more expensive, considering the setup and cost of creating plates for every color.’

Posted date

1 week ago

Short title

Amherst Label scores TLMI Printing Excellence Award

Short summary

The label was recognized for highlighting the sharp contrast of the high-opacity white print against the metalized film.

First paragraph

The label was recognized for highlighting the sharp contrast of the high-opacity white print against the metalized film.

Regions

North America

Related suppliers

Domino