Reporter Clips
- Published: November 01, 2001, By Edward Boyle, Contributing Editor
Narrow Web Converting Industry News
Roll-Fed Labels Decorate Nestlé's Nescafe Brands
HARTSVILLE, SC, USA—Sonoco Flexible Packaging has been selected to provide roll-fed labels for two of Nestlé Canada Inc.'s popular instant beverage brands, Nescafé instant coffee and Nescafé Frothy cappuccino mix.
The labels are part of a dramatic package that includes a glass or rigid plastic container, a plastic flip-top, fresh-lock opening system, and a high-impact, rotogravure-printed label in deep, rich colors said to reflect the quality and rich flavor experience of the product and complement the black plastic top.
“Nestlé was looking for labels that would immediately capture consumers' attention and draw them to Nescafé's bold new package,” says Barbara Keeley-Watt, Sonoco Flexible Packaging sales representative. “Rotogravure printing delivered the clarity and color, while laminating the labels added a dimension of glamour, which was perfect for these new products. From a functional perspective, the lamination resists scuffing, so shelf appeal is maintained.”
Sonoco Flexible Packaging is producing labels for two package sizes, 85 g and 240 g. The Nescafé line includes four products: Pacifica, Brazilian, Costa Rican, and Colombian instant coffees. The Nescafé Frothy line includes nine flavored coffee mixes: Cappuccino, Caramel, Chocolate Mint, French Vanilla, French Vanilla Decaf, Hazelnut, Irish Cream, Mocha, and Raspberry.
Originally sold in Canada using a bilingual label (French and English), the beverages' distribution has been expanded to Australia and the US, which require an English label, and to Mexico, Brazil, and Chile, which require a Spanish label.
The labels are produced at Sonoco's Mississauga, ON, Canada, operation and shipped as rollstock to Nestlé, where they are applied to the plastic and glass containers.
U.K. Converter Upgrades Gin's Label Image
BEDWAS, GWENT, U.K—A premium brand deserves a premium label. And when the product is Beefeater Gin and the packaging is glass, a clear film p-s label promotes clarity, purity, and quality. Working with SE Label Image, a company in Europe's largest group of label printers, SE Labels, Allied Domecq has given its flagship brand a complete label and labeling makeover, from design through application.
Beefeater London Dry Gin traditionally has been labeled with wet-glue paper labels, but Allied Distillers' bottling plant at Dumbarton is in the process of switching its entire Beefeater production to automatic p-s labeling lines and self-adhesive labels printed by SE Label Image.
As part of its package overhaul, the familiar square bottle has become taller and slightly narrower. On the label, a younger, more assertive Yeoman stands out from the Tower of London background, and the distinctive “Cinemascope”-style Beefeater logo appears in a deeper, richer red and is detailed with a gold shadow. Medals and stamps on the label now are layered and more authentically reproduced to reinforce the messages of quality and heritage.
With the image of such a massive global brand at stake, SE Label Image was at pains to ensure that both print quality and the front and back labels' application characteristics were flawless. The company chose a clear PP facestock on a clear PET liner from Ritrama for the front labels. The PP face film is said to give exceptional clarity, which is ideal for a glass bottle and a glass-clear liquid. Combined with a film liner, the final label gives exceptional adhesive clarity for the ultimate “no-label look,” reports SE Labels.
Because p-s film labels were new technology for ADL, SE Label Image wanted to be certain that its labels could be applied at the best possible speeds and with the best possible end results. A film release liner was chosen to ease automatic dispensing, while a PP facestock offers greater stiffness than standard PE films, the company notes. The former one-piece label also was divided into three separate, smaller labels — all delivered on the same backing web and all applied at the same time. That kept stresses on the material to a minimum and eliminated the risk of label edge lift at the critical bottle corners.
The front labels on the bottle were printed eight colors in combination screen and letterpress for the best color density and definition. The seven-color back labels were printed on white PP by the same process.
Supplier Information
Ritrama Inc., Minneapolis, MN; 612/378-2277; 800/328-5071
Gallus RCS 330 Press Honored for “Good Design”
PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA—The Swiss-based Gallus Group has been awarded the “Good Design Award 2000” for its RCS 330 system.
The award is made annually by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, and is for “contemporary quality design of the highest aesthetic in product, industrial, and graphic design.”
The award was announced after evaluating a wide range of entries from 28 different countries. In addition to Gallus, other winning companies included Microsoft, Sony, Kodak, Audi, and BMW. Entries were judged on the criteria of innovation, form, materials, construction, concept, function, and utility.
According to Meyer-Hayoz, CEO of the Design Group, the challenges in designing the Gallus RCS 330 came in combining its modularity, compact floor space requirements, excellent ergonomics for ease of operation, and “flair of a forward-looking investment that just makes sense.”
You Can Hold a Candle to This Film
FARMINGDALE, NY, USA—Seal-It Inc. announces the introduction of a film to be used by candle manufacturers.
The purpose of the specially formulated PVC film is to form a barrier with the candle, preventing the candle fragrance from eating away at the film. The film is used on candles for labeling and protection and can be purchased printed or clear.
Appleton Papers Names Dunsirn Distributor
APPLETON, WI, USA—Appleton Papers has selected Dunsirn Industries, a div. of Avery Dennison, the distributor of its thermal paper products to the narrow web tag and label market. As a result of this distribution agreement, printers can order a variety of direct thermal papers and tagstocks directly through Dunsirn's Fasson Rapid-Roll program.
Narrow Web PEOPLE & PLACES
Robert E. Fines has been named VP and general manager of Fasson Roll North America, an Avery Dennison business headquartered in Painesville, OH.
Chromas Technologies, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, appointed Chris Faust digital sales manager. He will be responsible for overseeing all sales activities for the company's Argio UV ink jet digital printing system. The co. also named Ed Dedman midwestern sales rep.
Swiss Collano AG, a globally active adhesive company, has named Amal K. Das Gupta manager of sales and marketing for its Label/Tape Div.
Arpeco Engineering Ltd., Mississauga, Ont., Canada, has named Canflexographics of Brampton, ON, its exclusive Canadian sales rep. for narrow web finishing equipment and the Arpeco Cartonmaster and Impressionist printing and converting systems.
GPA has moved its corporate headquarters to a larger facility located at 1151 West 40th St., Chicago, IL, just a few miles from the original building. GPA's corporate headquarters includes a customer service center for advanced technical support and a distribution center.
Prime UV, Carol Stream, IL, has named John Mrozcka technical service coordinator.
Indigo N.V., Woburn, MA, has officially opened its newest US demo center in Los Angeles, CA. The facility offers ongoing demonstrations of the co.'s digital offset color presses, along with facilities for training programs, meetings, and other events.
MACtac, MetroMark Form an Alliance
STOW, OH, USA—MACtac Technical Products, a worldwide supplier of engineered p-s laminates and conductive devices, and MetroMark Inc., a Minnetonka, MN, global supplier of electroluminescent displays, membrane switches, and graphic overlays, have announced the formation of a strategic alliance.
The companies report the alliance addresses the unique opportunities for high volume, high quality components for appliance, automotive, consumer, and retail support applications.
The joint effort focuses expertise in printed conductive and adhesive technologies to provide lower-cost solutions for marketers, engineers, and design staff. The proprietary switch, electroluminescent display, conductive technology, and thin-substrate manufacturing techniques reportedly will provide design flexibility and production capability for rapid prototyping and cost-effective production.
Self-Adhesive Label Industry in Europe Shows Buoyancy
At FINAT, the recent annual congress of the international self-adhesive labeling association, the major issues facing the industry were summarized in an overview of the European market. The presenter was Corey M. Reardon, principal of the international market research and consulting firm AWA Alexander Watson Assoc., who gave a speech based on recent AWA research conducted across many label-related topics.
Says Reardon: “Today, in Europe, the end-user exerts considerable leverage on the entire value chain. Raw material suppliers, although many are large multinationals, are at the back of that chain and therefore can exert very little leverage. Due to the considerable fragmentation at the label printer and converter level — there are few large label printing groups in Europe — there is also very little leverage here either. Despite these pressures, the self-adhesive label market is overall relatively buoyant in Europe.”
Food labeling represents the largest volume market but with the slowest growth. In contrast, beverage labeling is growing quickly. The beverage market is dynamic — both in terms of self-adhesive labeling, and according to Reardon, “experimentation with alternative labeling technologies — particularly shrink sleeves. Shrink sleeve labels account for 6 percent of the total market already. It is estimated that sleeving in total (including wraparound) is enjoying an annual increase of approximately 10 to 12 percent.”
Reardon identifies one of the main drivers for the self-adhesive label industry's continued overall growth as “the field of logistics and transport labels — VIP applications, product tracking, bar coding, etc. It shows the fastest growth rate of any segment.”
In terms of material consumption, the total European self-adhesive label market in 2000 was approximately 3,400 million sq m. By 2005 it is expected to have grown to almost 5,000 million sq m.
The label industry value chain recently has seen strong consolidation at both ends — among the raw material and laminate producers and the end-users. What is driving this consolidation? Says Reardon: “One of the key issues facing the industry is profitability — or lack thereof. This alone is a driver of consolidation, as a means of increasing economies of scale and driving efficiencies and market reach. Globalization is also a driver, and the label market, particularly on the supply side, is not immune to its effects. Aggressive purchasing by multinational — sometimes global — end-user companies and buying groups, as well as the changing procurement practices developing through e-commerce, are also drivers.
“Within the label printer and converter group, substantial consolidation is not expected. However, scope exists for a new industry model of collaboration, rather than consolidation, within this group. E-commerce and the digital marketplace space being created by technology will assist in building a new industry model.”
Reardon adds, “Looking to the future, one of the most enduring characteristics of the self-adhesive industry is its ability to innovate — and that ability today is creating growth and opportunities in niche markets where functional, as opposed to purely decorative, properties are the key factor. Its flexibility gives self-adhesive label technology a competitive advantage over all other label technologies and will continue to do so as long as product manufacturers continue to need to protect, enhance, and differentiate their brands.”
Protective Tape & Film Removes Cleanly
BRISTOL, RI, USA—A full line of PE clean removal tape and film has been developed by Patco Corp. for protecting all types of glass, metal, or plastic products during assembly and shipping. Clean Removal Tape and Film reportedly combine a durable and conformable PE film with an acrylic adhesive that will not leave residue on most surfaces.
Developed for protecting products during assembly and shipping, they come in a variety of styles with either low- or moderately aggressive adhesives and bright colors for high visibility, safety, and color coding, co. adds. Supplied in sizes from 1-54 in. wide on 3-in.-dia plastic cores, products can be perforated for manual or machine application.
