SMART DESIGN

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JETvarnish and JETcard
products). The Alphajet prints
at up to 3,000 sheets/hour
in resolutions of up to 1,200
x 1,200dpi. The press offers
full variable data printing and
handles carton board up to
500gsm.
Screen's Truepress JetSX
folding carton press, developed
from an existing print-ondemand
model, uses multi-level
grayscale printheads with
water-based pigment inks
to print standard offset and
inkjet papers and boards up to
0.6mm thick. The top speed of
1,620 sheets/hour is equivalent
to 108 A4 pages per minute.
Files received online can be
automatically preflighted, color
managed, imposed and placed
in the print queue. Screen's
Equios front-end can interface
with MIS to generate automatic
billing if required.
Konica Minolta IJ Technologies
showed the KM-1, a prototype
B2 format press jointly
developed with Komori, the
offset press manufacturer.
Ostensibly aimed at the
commercial printers, the press
also has label and package
print capabilities. The inkjet print
engine is fitted with KM's latest
printheads with UV LED curing.
The KM-1's top speed is 3,300
sph (simplex) and 1,650 sph
(duplex) at a print resolution of
1,200 x 1,200dpi.
Generally speaking, any
expectancy for high levels of
quality and productivity must
be backed by consistency
of results, especially where
packaging for global brands
is concerned. This implies a
wider use of color measurement
systems and calibration tools,
such as GMG's OpenColor.
As a proofing tool it simulates
the combined printing of spot
and process colors. GMG also
offers a cloud-based service
for professional media and
users, that promises to redefine
how color management is
used in the future. X-Rite
with its Pantone subsidiary,
has launched PantoneLive
as another cloud-based
service intended to achieve
repeatable and accurate color
for packaging across a variety
of substrate types. PantoneLive
applications range from brand
owners and designers through
to pressroom operators, and
includes enhanced Pantone
color libraries.
Developments like these, plus
the many strategic partnerships
that have recently emerged,
reinforce vendors' efforts to
establish inkjet printing as a valid
short-run process for labels and
packaging. Of course, other
digital technologies are keen
to retain their strong market
positions. In fact HP Indigo and
Xeikon both introduced new
generations of dedicated electrophotographic
(EP) label and
packaging presses. Xeikon has
additionally introduced Trillium.
Based on a new liquid image
development system, it is said
to combine EP's high quality
with the higher speed and lower
cost of inkjet. Also launched at
Drupa was the highly significant
nanographic printing technology
from the Landa Corporation
for short-run CMYK printing on
either web or sheet-fed machines
(as explained elsewhere).
Strategic partnerships, currently
involving Komori, manroland and
Heidelberg, could well stir up
the entire digital scene, not just
inkjet printing, when it becomes
commercially available in late
2013. Significantly, the world's
first user will be UK-based Reflex
Labels.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
A ROUND-UP OF THE LATEST GLOBAL LABEL
STORIES
UNILEVER REPORTS
SUSTAINABILITY PLAN PROGRESS
Unilever has published a report on the progress it is making
towards meeting its Sustainable Living Plan targets. The plan,
published in November 2010, committed the company to
take responsibility for its impact right across the value chain,
from the sourcing of raw materials all the way through to the
consumer's use of its products to cook, clean and wash.
As part of the update, Unilever announced that by the end of
2012 it will reach its target of 100 percent certified sustainable
palm oil covered by Green Palm Certificates, three years ahead
of schedule. While this is strong progress, it said, the company
recognizes that the Green Palm Scheme is only a step along the
road towards sustainable palm oil, not ‘the end game’. Unilever
has now set a new target of purchasing all its palm oil from
certified traceable sources by 2020. This means it will be able to
track all the certified oil it buys back to the plantation on which it
was originally grown.
To help achieve this goal, it announced that it is in advanced
stages of discussions with the Indonesian government for
investing in a large processing plant for palm oil derivatives in
Sumatra. This plant will not only cut back on transport and save
money but it will make it easier to trace the sources of the palm
oil used.
UPM RAFLATAC TO OPEN
DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN MEXICO CITY
UPM Raflatac is to open a new labelstock slitting and distribution
terminal in Mexico City, Mexico, which will begin operations in
the second quarter of 2012. The facility will stock a wide range
of paper and film labelstocks, including trimless offerings, and
is strategically located to strengthen UPM Raflatac’s service to
customers in Mexico and Central America.
‘The Mexican and Central American markets are extremely
important to UPM Raflatac,’ said Jouko Lähepelto, senior vice
president, Americas and Asia Pacific, UPM Raflatac. ‘For the
past 10 years, we’ve been steadily expanding our presence in
the Latin American region by making on-going investments in
people, products and technology.’
The company’s new terminal in Mexico will allow UPM
Raflatac to further expand its service network and offer
improved delivery times to customers located in Guadalajara
and Mexico City. ‘We recognize that our customers require rapid
access to a diverse range of labelstock products to conduct their
businesses,’ said Jose Garcia, general manager, UPM Raflatac
Mexico. ‘The new terminal will extend our reach, helping UPM
Raflatac deliver on its promise of serving as a full product line
supplier to customers.’
STORK'S DSI 5330
LABELS&LABELING