Narrow Web & Label Reporter

Published: October 01, 2007

Narrow Web Converting Industry News, Events & Activities

RFID Acquisition
VERSAILLES CEDEX, FRANCE | FCI, a manufacturer of connectors with operations in 30 countries, has acquired Smartag, located in Singapore. Smartag develops RFID tags for focused applications including library management, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, etc.

FCI reports it currently is a reference supplier of RFID antennas, and with the acquisition, will better serve its customers by offering solutions from antennas design to tag manufacturing for certain high engineering assets tracking applications. The new entity will be designated FC Smartag.

AVT, Mark Andy Expand Cooperation
HOD-HASHARON, ISRAEL | Following what is called a fruitful cooperation during the past few years, Advanced Vision Technology (AVT) and Mark Andy, Chesterfield, MO, have agreed to expand both business and technology collaboration. As part of the agreement, AVT solutions for automatic inspection have been installed at Mark Andy’s European Advanced Technology Center in Basel, Switzerland. The partnership began in 2005 with the first integration of AVT’s PrintVision/Helios platform and Workflow Link solution on a Mark Andy press. Says Gal Shamri, AVT’s VP of marketing, “Our cooperation with Mark Andy over the years has helped us to better understand narrow web market needs and to develop improved solutions for our mutual customers. Both companies share the philosophy of providing customers with complete workflow solutions, and working together has helped AVT develop its end-to-end quality management solutions.…”

Attendance is High at TLMI Tech Event
CHICAGO, IL | The Tag & Label Mfrs. Inst. (TLMI) reports the 2007 Technical Conference, held September 4-6 at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago, welcomed the highest turnout in the biannual event’s history.

More than 350 attendees heard 42 presenters address issues relevant to day-to-day operational issues and growth strategies. Expert panels comprising both converters and suppliers covered topics that included digital platemaking, 2D bar codes, sleeve technology, brand protection strategies, and the converting of printed electronics.

For more information visit tlmi.com.

All-Digital Prepress System is Complete
FORT WORTH, TX | Lewis Label Products reports the installation of a CDI 2530 digital plate imager from EskoArtwork this summer. The laser imaging technology, says the converter, will enable it to print higher quality images and higher line screens with more consistency and faster turnaround.

The acquisition of the CDI 2530 completes Lewis Label’s transition to an all-digital prepress workflow that began last year with the installation of a thermal plate processor for flexo plates, a water washout plate processor for rotary letterpress plates, a plate exposure unit, and a digital inkjet dot proofer.
SUPPLIER INFO:

• EskoArtwork | esko.com | PFFC-ASAP 312

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  Singing the Praises of Digital Label Printing
  DURHAM, NC | Digitalabel now offers digitally printed labels for customized, short-run, and prototype packaging projects.

  Explains general manager John Dowling, “Perhaps digital printing’s greatest power is its flexibility. …you can print 1,000 custom labels and every label can contain different data—complete, variable data printing. Whether you want to include names from a database, consecutive numbers, multiple bar codes, or just several versions of the same label, digital printing can handle it with ease and with up to 230-line screen resolution.”

  Digitalabel converts a variety of paper and filmstocks in up to eight colors. Coatings may be applied, and a variety of finishing applications may be incorporated into the digitally printed label orders.

  Digicon equipment from AB Graphic can laminate, underscore, die-cut, strip, slit, and rewind labels in a single pass. An HP Indigo WS4000 industrial web press accommodates labels to 11 x 16 in. and features patented ElectroInk technology that relies on liquid inks for high quality, consistent imaging.

  Says Dowling of digital printing: “Packaged product marketers have awaited the day when they could have so many variations and possibilities available to them. It’s a revolution for the printing business.”
  SUPPLIER INFO:
  

• AB Graphic | abgint.com | PFFC-ASAP 315
• Hewlett Packard |hp.com | PFFC-ASAP 317

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