Show Preview | IADD•FSEA Odyssey 2013

Published: April 19, 2013, By Claudia Hine

Two industry associations will “Plug In” to Nashville and turn “Music City” into a center of education and technology for converters.

The Intl. Assn. of Diecutting and Diemaking (IADD) along with the Foil & Specialty Effects Assn. (FSEA) will present the Odyssey exhibition May 1-3 at the Nashville Convention Center in Tennessee. Under this year’s theme, Education & Technology—the Prelude to Profitability, attendees are asked to “Plug In for a Competitive Advantage.”

Those attendees will include converters and suppliers involved in laser and die-cutting, die-making, foil stamping/embossing, folding cartons, corrugated, film lamination, coating, and more. In addition to a free welcome reception on Wednesday, May 1, visitors also will enjoy the Nashville’s famous food and entertainment venues nearby.

Education

The Odyssey event includes 23 technical and hands-on educational sessions conducted by industry experts. Topics include digital package production, clean room die-cutting, and cast & cure/cold foil applications and prototyping. Some sessions take place in a “TechShop” environment that simulates a working production shop floor where processes are taught on-press.

Technology

More than 90 exhibitors will be on hand to display a variety of converting equipment. The associations report a record number of first-time exhibitors as well. There will be live demonstrations of foil stamping, die-cutting, and folding/gluing equipment at the show. Exhibitors include Bobst Group North America, Gerber Innovations, Heidelberg, Brandtjen & Kluge, B & R Moll, Adams Technologies, Diversified Graphic Machinery, and more.

New this year is the Inline Embossing/Diecutting Showcase. It offers firsthand sample dies, innovative and award-winning product samples, and calibrating equipment.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Gala Awards Banquet will be held Thursday, May 2, at which time winners of the 20th annual FSEA Gold Leaf Award competition will be named. Also on the program, Manfred Butenuth, Elcede GmbH, will be presented the 2013 IADD Lifetime Achievement Award.

Elcede is a supplier of high quality die-making equipment. With his brother Dieter, Manfred Butenuth started Elcede in 1981. According to IADD, Manfred has been a visionary leader, introducing innovations that spurred further creative concepts and mentoring talented people who themselves have contributed greatly to the benefit of the industry.

Exhibitors

Masterwork USA, Charlotte, NC (Booth 606-608) will exhibit its new MK21060 STE Duopress automatic foil stamping and die-cutting machine with stripping. It was developed to improve production, reduce downtime, and produce high quality boxes with enhanced designs for the cosmetic, fragrance, tobacco, and music/film/gaming markets. The machine is designed with a one-pass integrated system combining the platen through the embossing and foil stamping onto the die-cutting and stripping functions. The two-platen system makes the machine a versatile production platform. It boasts a maximum output speed of 6,000 sheets/hr, but because multiple passes with two platens run at one time, users realize an output of 12,000 sheets/hr. Its optimized pressure adjustment provides a better foil stamping result. Its patented design of the adjusting mechanism ensures that the two units have high register accuracy. A separate power-driven waste conveyor belt is capable of removing waste at a high speed.

Medical Presses, Milwaukee, WI, will demonstrate innovative clean room die-cutting in a clean room replica environment. Removing the need for a scalpel, SterilCut is an intelligent die-cutting system. Every part is tested to withstand cleaning chemicals and eliminate particulates for easy cleaning and sterility. The press occupies a small footprint and increases productivity with near zero deflection and superior tonnage.

For a complete list of Odyssey exhibitors and full descriptions of educational sessions, click here.