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INX Prepares for PRINTING United with Complete Inkjet solutions, Sustainable Packaging Inks

September 6, 2023

Press release submitted on behalf of INX International

INX International is planning to focus on three segments at the upcoming PRINTING United Expo in Atlanta. Advanced digital solutions, including premium inkjet inks and digital printing systems, and sustainable packaging inks will be on display in booth B1944, and representatives will share their color management expertise when the show is held October 18-20 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

INX will feature several Triangle^® brand premium digital inks that run on some of the world’s largest multi-pass, high-speed inkjet flatbed printers, including Agfa, HP Scitex, Inca, and Vutek.

High performance UV Curable inks such as Triangle HIP, HSI^™, and VHS provide fast curing and offer significant cost savings. Formulated so printers can meet GRACoL standards and G7 targets with sharper printability, they are supported with user-friendly service agreements. HIP is used on Inca Onset printers, HSI runs in tandem with HP Scitex, and VHS works with Vutek^® HS120 and HS125 series printers.

INXhrc^™ natural-based inks and Genesis^™ washable inks are two eco-friendly solutions booth visitors can learn more about. INXhrc is a high performance, bio-renewable ink for flexographic, offset, and gravure use that reduces the carbon footprint of packaging materials and contributes to a circular economy. Genesis makes it easier to recycle plastic films and contribute to the circular reuse of materials. INX will also feature Ecostage GB-XA Oxygen Barrier coatings for food preservation and mono-material packaging.

INX’s technology-driven digital systems and integration capabilities will be highlighted. Direct-to-Object and Narrow Web printing options include the NW350 narrow web printer, and RUCOINX 937LED and 945UV/MA inks provide solid solutions for all glass and plastic bottle screen printing. Visit the INX website to learn more or schedule a booth meeting.

Selling and Marketing Digital Embellishments

September 1, 2023

By Jeff Peterson, editor-in-chief, PostPress

Digital embellishments are a growing segment of the total print embellishment industry. What has been interesting to see is that the growth has had little impact on most other embellishment techniques, such as hot and cold foil or screen spot UV coatings. Many of the digital applications have been on new projects for which, in the past, the designers likely would not have chosen foil or spot coatings based on run size.

Several current members of the Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) that have been traditional print finishers have stepped into the digital embellishment arena. They have found that, in many cases, selling digital embellishments takes a different approach than traditional methods. Kevin Abergel of Taktiful sat down with Steven Roberts, president, and Bryce Poremba, sales manager, at Elite Print Finishing in Burlington, North Carolina, to discuss the addition of digital embellishment technology at Elite and how it has been implemented into the current print finishing business.

How has the addition of digital embellishments to the operation opened up new business opportunities for Elite Print Finishing?

Roberts: There was a moment of “what just happened” when the JETvarnish was installed. It definitely has been a positive addition to Elite Print Finishing and for our team. There were a few challenges out of the gate, like anything, but it absolutely opened up new markets for us. It opened up new discussions with existing accounts prior to the new technology going in, and one of big positives was that it began feeding other processes downstream in our operation. It provided us more diecutting, film laminating and other processes – both on the commercial and packaging side.

Poremba: I think Steven hit on it – it’s advanced our business in other ways. The JETvarnish has been awesome for me as a salesperson. We bought the press right before the COVID-19 pandemic, so as a salesperson I wasn’t able to get a lot of meetings set up. Having a new piece of technology with cool samples meant we were able to go in and show companies something they had never seen. All of a sudden, it gave us a reason to start a conversation, a reason for us to get on a Zoom® call and send out samples, a reason for us to get in the door. It was a great way in the door that also advanced our business in other ways as well. Overall, it was a blessing in disguise.

Roberts: It certainly re-energized what we were doing, and I think it had a very positive effect on our core customer base.

What specific markets or industries seem to be a good fit for this kind of finishing – meaning digitally-based embellishments?

Poremba: We definitely see some overlap with what we currently do, so it allows us to go to our current customers and have a new application – something that jumps off the shelf even more than what we’ve done in the past. However, it doesn’t work for everyone.

I would say the biggest space that we see growth in right now is probably the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. There is so much competition on the shelf in those two industries that it seems like everybody is competing with each other to make the most vibrant and exciting carton. Sometimes the difference can be that embellishment, that person being able to pick it up and touch and feel 3D-raised coating on the front that really makes it stand out above the competition.

Roberts: A lot of brand owners are putting their product into a carton. So, the look of the carton, in a lot of cases, is going to build a perception that’s going to be the winner on the retail shelf. Shelf appeal is key.

College recruiting is another potential new market. All of these universities are competing, not just in football and basketball. They are competing to get students enrolled so they can capitalize on the dollars coming in. The touch and feel of the materials can be a huge selling point. With a lot of brands, they look at it as if it feels better, it must be better. That has been one of the biggest differences – that digital embellishments not only affect the visual sense but the touch sense as well.

One of the obstacles of offering digital embellishments is making sure the artwork is designed correctly. How has this challenge been handled when working with customers?

Poremba: It is a completely new technology, so there is a learning curve. I’m familiar with the technology and have been there through the hurdles as the press was new and we were learning how the different coatings go on different substrates or the different foils react better with certain things. I have a good understanding of the technology, but that’s still hard to sometimes translate to customers and their designers because it’s new.

We have brought a designer on board who is 3D-certified. Sometimes it’s easier just to hand it over to that team member. And we have the customer connect over a Zoom meeting to answer questions, which we do for beginner projects. Our 3D designers have developed a generic PDF that converts to an artificial intelligence (AI) file and explains to our customers how to build a generic template with 3D varnish as well as 3D foil.

Elite Print Finishing offers a 3D certification program for designers. Explain what that is.

Roberts: It is a win-win situation. We are bringing designers into our facility and then having them qualified. At the end of it, they get a certificate that they can market to their customer base. And, subliminally, hopefully, Elite is getting better artwork out of the gate.

As with any process, there are limitations with digital embellishments. How can limitations, such as substrate choices and font size, be communicated by designers and buyers?

Poremba: From a broad perspective, the difficulty has been who we’re selling this technology to. In the past, as a trade finisher, our sales team has met with somebody who controls outsourcing for diecutting, foil stamping, etc. Many times, this is a buyer who is familiar with the technologies and knows our presses. It’s very simple, right?

Now we are having to go after either the sales team or the design team at our printing companies or packaging companies, and we’ve had to teach ourselves how to connect with those people. We have to change the way in which we sell to our customers.

Roberts: With foil stamping, we can pretty much provide any color out there under the sun. With digital foils, we now have about 13 different foil colors. Also, there certainly are limitations to using uncoated stocks. If a customer wants an uncoated stock, we will try to steer them to a lamination or a GPA stock that’s out there that we have tested.

Another limitation with digital embellishments can be run length. We certainly run into those roadblocks where the quantity makes better sense to do it conventionally. This is what we have to get across to our designers, so they understand the advantages and the limitations.

Poremba: When we first bought this technology, we thought that it was going to be our solution for 50 sheets or 100 sheets. Then we started to see that there was this whole other group of customers who want to capitalize off the 3D feel and different look that digital embellishment gives.

Explain a few of the major benefits of digital embellishment technology?

Poremba: I think the major benefit is the 3D effect capability of digital. From the foil side, we are not making an impression on sheets. So, for projects where there is print on both sides, there are advantages. But on the foil side, we also have the challenge of a limited number of foil colors that we have to choose from. For certain jobs, we stick with the traditional foil stamping and then utilize the 3D digital coatings.

Roberts: I love foil. I’ve been foiling for a long time, and I love the full effect. However, I absolutely love what the 3D varnish does. We are not talking about just giving someone an embossed look – we’re talking about really transforming the inks.

This article was transcribed from a portion of a recent FSEA/Digital Embellishment Alliance podcast and edited for style. Thank you to Kevin Abergel, Taktiful (www.taktiful.com) and Steven Robertson and Bryce Poremba, Elite Print Finishing (www.epfink.com) for their assistance with the podcast and article.

To watch this complete video podcast and others on digital embellishments, visit www.fsea.com and click on the Digital Embellish link. It will provide access to the Digital Embellishment Alliance website community where FSEA/DEA members can have access to the video library, DEA groups, and other resources.

Football Frenzy: Putting the ‘Wow’ Factor in Season Tickets

September 1, 2023

By Erin La Row, editor, PostPress

Fall is here and that means the start of football season – a busy time for the team at Consolidated Printing, Inc., a division of FineLine Technologies, located in Van Buren, Arkansas.

Consolidated Printing, also referred to as CPI, is a full-service commercial printer specializing in producing event tickets. The company has served organizations and events from nearly every field of the sports and entertainment industries. From souvenir tickets to parking passes, no project is too big or too complex for CPI. The CPI team prides itself on ensuring projects have that “wow” factor clients and sports fans love.

CPI was tasked with producing the Las Vegas Raiders’ 2022 season ticket books. The Raiders used the ticket books to honor past Hall of Fame players by incorporating their pictures into the design of each game ticket, along with an array of special embellishments. After each game, the tickets could be removed to create a commemorative player card. The result was a striking ticket book that wowed the judges of the 2023 FSEA Gold Leaf Awards. CPI’s ticket book project received Gold for Best Use of Digital Foil (Varnish Adhesive).

All of the art was created in Photoshop and the project was built in InDesign, using multiple layers for the foil and spot coating on each ticket. The entire project was printed digitally on a Xerox® iGen and a Xerox® Iridesse® Production Press. The board stock was a X16-point Candesce C1S. Each book included 15 different ticket types with 13 unique game art types with each ticket and book personalized.

Each game ticket included unique raised digital spot coating and raised digital foil that was accomplished on a Scodix Ulta 2 press. The names of the Hall of Fame players and the year they were inducted were reversed out of a raised silver metallic foil with a spot textured coating over the illustration of the player in uniform.

The front covers for the ticket books were foil stamped on a Gietz foil stamping press using a textured foil stamping die for the background of the cover with reversed-out areas of flat foil stamping in the Raiders logo and the words “2022 Season.” A bright silver foil from Kurz Transfer Products was used. A second pass embossed the Raiders logo in perfect register. The engravings for the job were supplied by Owosso Graphic Arts, Inc. and Universal Engraving, Inc.

“The intricate part is that each page had variable foil and polymer, some 65,000 variable pages – along with 800,000 RFID (radio-frequency identification) inlays applied and encoded uniquely,” said Curtis Howells, vice president – general manager of Consolidated Printing.

The RFID allowed for expedited stadium entrance, along with the ability for greater customer engagement. RFID tags were applied and encoded on a customized press made specifically for CPI.

One of the challenges of the project was simply the nature of the product. Howells said each individual ticket had to be accounted for. “If one ticket gets destroyed, it has to be remade,” he added. “With all of the steps involved, there are many patches, as we call them.”

Howells said the client loved the final product. “It was a great plan that worked to perfection,” he added.

FSEA and Members Focusing Heavily on Sustainability Strategies

September 1, 2023

By Jeff Peterson, editor-in-chief, PostPress, and FSEA executive director

It’s apparent over the last several years that the focus on sustainability, especially as it relates to packaging, is not going away. Brand owners and consumers are asking questions on what is recyclable or repulpable and what
is not.

Folding cartons and labels containing metallic decoration have been at the forefront of questions, mostly due to their glitz and brilliance, bringing attention to their recyclable contents. With ever-growing attention to this issue, the Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) established a Sustainability Committee nearly two years ago to focus on specific projects and with goals to help communicate accurate information.

The mission of the FSEA sustainability initiatives is to generate pertinent and accurate information as it pertains to metallic transfer decorating technologies and sustainability and use this information, along with other tools, to educate government entities, environmental agencies, print service providers, converters/OEMs, and brand owners regarding the functional and sustainability benefits of metallic decorating technologies.

Through the work of the Sustainability Committee, FSEA and its partners, several tools and studies have been gathered and created for these purposes. Here is a quick rundown of what now is available through the FSEA website.

FSEA repulping of foil-decorated paper study

This study discusses the repulpability of paper decorated with transfer metallics, including hot, cold and digital transfer products.

This study, published in 2021, was commissioned by FSEA and conducted by Georgia Tech’s Renewable Bioproducts Institute. The study, available both in print and digitally, discusses the repulpability of paper decorated with transfer metallics, including hot, cold and digital transfer products. It includes the scope of the study, how the experiment was performed, the results from the testing, and final conclusions. The conclusion states that paper stock that includes metallic transfer foil could be repulped to yield 75% fibers with very low rejects. The aluminum content was broken down and removed from fibers during screening, and the hand sheets prepared from the foil-decorated paper stock demonstrated similar physical strength to the recycled paper towel stock without decoration. The final bullet point states that it was feasible to repulp the metallic foil decorated papers as it is done in common recycling settings.

Negligible amount of aluminum contained in metallic transfer foils

FSEA and its Sustainability Committee worked closely with FSEA-member foil manufacturers to collect data and determine the amount of aluminum (metal) used in the manufacturing of transfer metallic foils, including hot, cold and digital transfer foil products. The data confirmed that the layer of aluminum that provides the metallic sheen in a metallic transfer foil is negligible. A press release was created on the subject and included detailed information on the negligible amount of aluminum, siting that the layer of aluminum is less than the thickness of a human hair and is over 300 times thinner than a standard household aluminum foil.

Western Michigan transfer cold foil process testing

Through the sponsorship of FSEA member Eagle Systems, Inc., testing was conducted on the repulpability and recyclability of cold foil decorated paper/board by Western Michigan University. The test results showed that cold foil decorated paper/board is 100% repulpable and recyclable. The cold foil samples used in the testing process were donated by McLean Packaging Corporation, Moorestown, New Jersey. The samples were produced on a thin, 80 lb. litho stock with 100% coverage of cold foil on a 28 x 40″ sheet. The testing also confirmed the extremely small amount of aluminum that exists in cold foil or any decorative transfer foil, which helps negate concerns with metal content in foil-decorated paper/board. To receive a copy of the Western Michigan University test results on cold foil recyclability/repulpability, contact Eagle Systems, Inc. at mking@thefoilexperts.com.

Testing by Western Michigan University showed that cold foil decorated paper/board is 100% repulpable and recyclable.

In addition to the studies and testing that FSEA has helped coordinate, the Sustainability Committee has had an impact on published material from other entities involved in sustainability printing and packaging. This included working with the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) to include information on foil-decorated paper in its published Design Guidance for Recyclability of Paper-based Packaging. The report was introduced for members of the paper-based packaging manufacturing supply chain to use in designing and manufacturing packaging to meet customers’ needs in terms of recycling. The new report includes information from FSEA on the repulpability of foil-decorated paper and/or board and provides details on how to access specifically the FSEA study on the repulpability of paper/board decorated with transfer foils.

Recently, through the efforts of its FSEA members and Sustainability Committee, FSEA has been able to provide the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), a US-based international nonprofit focused on improving recycling for plastics, detailed information on transfer foil processes, which has led to a decision by APR to declare metallized transfer products in relation to specific coverage guidelines on various filmic label and tube substrates to now be categorized as “APR Design® Guide Preferred.”

All of the above studies and press releases can be found on in the Sustainability/Green Initiative section of the FSEA website at www.fsea.com.

Through the collection of the above studies and tests, FSEA has recently created a presentation to provide a tool for its members and others in the industry and convey the association’s sustainability findings with a consistent message to the print and packaging community. The presentation will be used at specific conferences and events to communicate the sustainability message of transfer metallics and have available for FSEA members to educate customers and internal employees.

Although FSEA is proud of the work of the Sustainability Committee and other FSEA members who have helped in this process, there is still a long way to go. FSEA is working on new studies and tests to help defend the use of metallic decorating processes and is working with specific members on testing decorated paper/board in the recycling process, working with the municipal recycling facilities (MRFs) around the country. FSEA will continue to update members, brand owners and others in the industry as more information becomes available.

A special thank you to the current FSEA Sustainability Committee: Dennis Bacchetta, Diamond Packaging; Mike King, Eagle Systems, Inc.; Karen Kromat, Case Paper; Eric Longnecker, Diamond Packaging; Scott Tacosik, Kurz Transfer Products; Rob Watts, McLean Packaging; and Kennon Woodard, American Greetings.

RadTech Offers Sustainability Information on UV and Electron Beam (EB) Inks and Coatings

RadTech North America International, the association for Ultraviolet (UV) and Electron Beam (EB) technology, has created a detailed section on its website, www.radtech.org, on sustainability and UV/EB curing for inks and coatings. The page includes recent information on the 2022 4evergreen guidance that states that energy-curable fiberboard is recyclable, as well as a recent press release from the American Forest & Paper Association that states that UV/EB inks do not adversely impact the recyclability of paper substrates.

The page also includes a link to an article on a study commissioned by RadTech several years ago where both conventional ink systems and UV- and EB-cured inks and coatings were tested in a series of pilot deinking trails. The results indicated that all combinations easily were repulpable within normal operating parameters. This entire article can be found on the RadTech site and also is available on the FSEA Sustainability & Green Initiatives section of the FSEA site, www.fsea.com.

When It Comes to Folding/Gluing, Efficiency is Key

September 1, 2023

Compiled by Erin La Row, editor, PostPress

The automated folding/gluing process helps producers save time and money transforming flat, printed items into cartons and boxes. But as labor challenges continue across industries, finding skilled folding/gluing operators is tough for many companies.

PostPress talked with Kevin Koplin, director of operations with American International Machinery, Inc. (AIM)/Signature Folder Gluers, and Rick Pallante, president, Baumer hhs USA and Canada, about overcoming the challenges in today’s folding/gluing environment.

What recommended technologies, training and/or ancillary equipment can a company use with its folder-gluers to help decrease the learning curve and run folder-gluers more efficiently?

Koplin: The best way to economically find good gluer operators is to train them. Memory retention is one of the biggest challenges in today’s world. Use photos and videos. Select the most common and challenging jobs to create an in-house video. Supplement this with documentation, including pictures that mirror the videos that are produced. These will be enormously helpful to trainees and current operators.

Computerized makeready systems, both automatic and semi-automatic, can be a great addition to the standardization of the makeready process. An automatic makeready system allows operators to load the measurements of a job into the machine software where it will save the job. The software then calculates the measurements and moves its carriers to the measured location. Settings will be stored under the file name that is given to it. Operators can save their settings and then make minor adjustments with the push of a button. Subsequently, the file will be up to date for future runs. Semi-automatic makeready systems are similar to automatic ones, minus automation. Some systems allow the operator to set up the product and then save the product to the database. When the product is put on the machine again, the operator recalls the job to the screen and the computer loads the specifications. The information is sent to the machine’s dial indicators and then the operator moves the components to the stored location one at a time. The makeready still is done manually, but the machine is giving the operator the locations.

Automatic makeready systems can be a great addition to the standardization of the makeready process. Photo provided by American International Machinery, Inc.

Pallante: Folder-gluer operators are becoming a limited resource. The level of expertise of a folder-gluer operator has changed as well. Technicians are spending more time assisting operators with training for setting up the folder-gluer itself, in addition to their normal duties of installing the training on the gluing system. Machinery is becoming more complex as it is being asked to do many more things than it did in the past. Training is the most important thing an equipment company can provide. It’s done in-person at installation, but it has to be something that also is invested in after installation. Operator interfaces have changed so that they are more intuitive and less complex, even though they provide more capabilities than in the past. Many systems carry instructions in the Help section on the monitors. The more information operators can access easily and simply, the more it will help them in their responsibilities.

Finishers and folding carton manufacturers must run efficiently and have as little waste as possible to stay competitive and maintain margins. What are recommendations for a folder-gluer to help decrease waste and increase productivity?

Koplin: Sometimes it is impossible to avoid waste, but here are a few ways to keep it to a minimum. Setting up multiple jam switches in sensitive areas will avoid excessive product waste and decrease downtime and spoilage. Stopping the machine with the defective product will minimize damage to the cartons and the machine. Thus, operators will decrease downtime. Also, consider an inline carton ejector to remove bad products from the machine while it continues to run. This also takes the human factor out of the equation, meaning it ensures the waste will not be missed or packed in a case. Finally, preventative maintenance is very important. A properly functioning gluer that makes sure everything moves and works correctly is key to a strong successful setup. A preventative maintenance program to maintain the gluer is very important!

Pallante: Companies are is measuring their own key performance indicators and overall equipment effectiveness. Both of these can be dependent on having the system run as long as possible with the fewest stops and lowest amount of production waste. Quality control (QC) systems – whether moisture-based, UV- tracer-sensitive or camera-based – indicate to the operator how accurately the glue is being placed on the carton. With adhesive dispensing applicators that are reliable and repeatable, the tolerance on the glue pattern can be kept constant. If the pattern begins to move, there can be several factors that are causing this that can be addressed. These can be machine-related, such as a belt slipping or a worn encoder, or glue-related, such as a different glue or viscosity being introduced, or a change in the carton diecut. The determination between a good and a bad carton is measured in millimeters and milliseconds. The sooner it can be recognized, the sooner it can be corrected. Sometimes, operators will try and turn off the QC system rather than look for the cause. Most systems now have fail-safes that prevent that from happening, which will ensure quality produced cartons arrive at the customer.

What new challenges have been seen in recent months with customers that have folding/gluing operations (paper stocks, printing inks, glues, etc.)? And what recommendations can be made for these challenges?

Koplin: The biggest challenge is the lack of personnel. This last generation of retirees is not replaceable – we have to build operators. This is why automation is so critical. The labor pool simply isn’t there. Fluctuations are seen in substrates. Paper mills look for cost reductions on their end, and more additives are found in the boards. And special applications such as security tags, labels, tape, inserts and imprinting, cause challenges. For these reasons, AIM/Signature had additional lengths added to the gluer to support any future ancillary equipment.

Supply chain challenges continue to be an issue with unpredictable lead times and material shortages worldwide. Standard items, such as electronics, paper, belts, etc., that were once a few days out now are taking weeks or longer. Unfortunately, this is out of manufacturers’ control, so being proactive and having extra parts on hand before the machine goes down is one recommendation.

Pallante: Thankfully, these are becoming less as the supply chain starts to catch up to demand. Customers were trying to run different adhesives due to availability. This can start a glue pattern late or increase tailing at the end of the pattern. Having the best dispensing technology with a strong, robust coil and fast closing can better manage these changing viscosities. On the carton front, more cartons are being made from recycled content. This content typically contains UV from printing, as well as UV tracers used in the adhesives. QC systems that are dependent on UV tracers for glue detection can become “blind” as they can no longer detect the difference between the UV tracers in the glue and the UV now in the carton fibers. Customers are having to move to moisture- or camera-based technologies to combat this situation.

Run lengths for folding cartons and other products continue to decrease. What type of ancillary or other equipment accessories should a folder-gluer have to help with quick set-up and makeready?

Koplin: Once again, computerized makeready systems truly make set-ups go faster, thus allowing for more makereadies in less time.

Having enough tooling to make fixtures, such as lock-bottom assemblies that can be mounted to the machine instead of having to put individual parts together each time, cuts down on time considerably. There should be no reason that all parts are taken apart each time and reassembled for the following job. With additional tooling, operators also can put together special components while another job is running. Pre-manufactured parts, such as Z-Fold attachments, are available to eliminate having to do any assembly.

Pallante: From the gluing side, operators want to be able to easily access a program from the controller that saves the information so if a job is run again, the parameters can be pulled up easily and quickly. They also can do a “copy and paste” using one program to quickly create another. For the applicator, having an applicator that closes securely matters. Operators need to be able to leave it for an extended period of time and not have to worry about covering the nozzle tip every time. They need to be able to start the system up and glue that first carton. A quality applicator will provide that.

What new technologies are on the horizon that will help with the efficiency and productivity of folder-gluer equipment and/or ancillary equipment?

Koplin: Adding detection (glue, doubles, window, bar code, etc.) works well to remove waste from the machine without disrupting production. Detection also takes the human factor out of having to sort through cartons prior to packing to find bad products, which then allows them to pack more efficiently and accurately. Print detection also is becoming more common and is required by some customers, especially pharmaceuticals. Print inspection – both words and color – guarantees the wrong product or misprinted product will not be sent through the machine. This also can be tied to the inline ejector to remove prior to packing.

Pallante: Artificial intelligence (AI) is going to change things, maybe not as quickly as end users would hope, but I think it will come into play with preventive maintenance calculations. Being able to gather the data and allow it to be manipulated by customers for use by their systems will be the next big thing for this industry. Getting the data will be a challenge. It’s going to be more than counting strokes. It’s going to be asking how this stroke compared to the last stroke. Is there a trend? Can it be changed internally, or should the operator be notified that maintenance is imminent? It’s going to be very interesting to see what lies just over the horizon.

PostPress magazine would like to thank Kevin Koplin, director of operations with American International Machinery, Inc. (AIM)/Signature Folder Gluers –
www.signaturefoldergluers.com and Rick Pallante, president, Baumer hhs USA and Canada – www.baumerhhs.com for their assistance with this article.

Industry Influencer: George White

September 1, 2023

George White can make the case for greeting cards in today’s digital world. The greeting card industry veteran has witnessed industry changes over the years to include e-cards, m-cards and social media, but what hasn’t changed is the strong need for more authentic, lasting connections. That’s where greeting cards shine. Sixty-five percent of consumers agree that receiving cards in the mail lifts their spirits. ¹ White has spent most of his career making sure those special moments continue.

PostPress recently sat down with White to discuss the challenges facing the greeting card industry and where White sees the industry going in light of a more digital world and sustainability demands.

How did your career develop in the greeting card industry, and what is your role now?

I was hired as the general manager of the Alternative Markets Strategic Business Unit at Gibson Greetings in 1997 – a job for which I had zero experience and less training. But that was the point: The president of Gibson previously had worked with me when I was a consultant on entertainment trading cards, and he wanted someone to bring a fresh perspective to the greeting card industry. Two years later, I was managing all greeting cards at Gibson – and then the company was sold to American Greetings, so I left the industry for a few years.

I then became president of Up With Paper, the original pop-up greeting card company, in 2004, and retain that title today, although my main role now is as CEO of CM Paula, a holding company that owns Up With Paper and three other firms across highly diversified industries. I also have been on the Executive Committee (EC) of the Greeting Card Association (GCA) since 2007, served as president in 2020-21 and will rotate off the EC later this year.

How do you see the greeting card industry embracing global trends, such as the circular economy and sustainability demands from consumers and others?

The most important thing a greeting card can do is to facilitate and/or further the relationship between two humans. That has been and will continue to be the number-one driver in how greeting card makers design and produce their cards, and in the cards consumers purchase.

That said, sustainability is of growing importance for both makers and consumers. We will see accelerating growth in efforts to produce more sustainable cards, such as the use of recycled, alternative or FSC paper for card production; a reduction in the use of non-recyclable polybags or other packaging; an emphasis on more sustainable embellishments; and production and/or processing in net-zero facilities. Europe currently is ahead of the US in this department, and the solutions to more deeply embed the greeting card industry in the circular economy vary dramatically, but adherence to those solutions in the US is accelerating.

What are the biggest challenges the greeting card industry faces? How should the industry respond to successfully grow and thrive?

The obvious challenges are to ensure that retailers of all sizes and types understand how well greeting cards will sell for them – well beyond traditional stationery stores and large grocery and drug stores – AND to combat lazy media stories that greeting cards are no longer relevant. That could not be further from the truth based on the strong sales of cards to millennials.

Frankly, our biggest challenge may well be the health of the US Postal Service, which traditionally has delivered nearly 60% of purchased greeting cards to their final recipient. The rapid price increases, deterioration of service and the inability of USPS to well handle thicker, heavier and odd-sized envelopes with the types of unique cards millennials prefer are combining to make it much more difficult for consumers to send the cards they want to their friends and family. If that continues, it will put a lot of negative pressure on card sales.

It is hard to envision an alternative that can deliver to any household in the US, quickly and at a reasonable price, so our response has to be to halt the negative slide at USPS.

What trends are emerging in the design, production and distribution of greeting cards that will influence the future of the industry?

As indicated, as the influence of millennial consumers continues to grow in our industry, the design, production and distribution of greeting cards will need to continue to change to meet that demand. That means more small and diversified designers and makers; more small-batch production with more embellishments, done more sustainably; and broader and thinner distribution – meaning more stores will carry cards, but with a lower number of cards in each location, with the cards carried matching the customer psychographics of that location.

What are your predictions for the greeting card industry in the next five to 10 years?

The greeting card industry is in a good place. We have a record number of small makers in the industry, and while our largest card buyers by volume, baby boomers, are declining, our largest segment by dollars, millennials, are only now entering their primary card-buying life stages – getting married, having babies and buying a house (not necessarily in that order!) – as they are now 29-42 years old.

I would expect mass-market card sections in Walmart and Kroger stores to get smaller, but the number and variety of retailers carrying greeting cards will continue to expand.

Embellishments will continue to drive sales and pricing as millennials continue to look for differentiated cards that reflect who they are AND their relationship with recipients of their cards.

Overall, I expect greeting card volume to continue a slow decline, but overall greeting card dollar sales to enjoy a slow increase. In short, the next five to 10 years are a good time for small makers, for suppliers able to help them produce unique, differentiated cards for the millennial market and for small retailers who have women customers with money and taste and carry the right greeting cards for them.

Reference

“Greeting Cards – Facts and Info to Know,” The Greeting Card Association, www.greetingcard.org

AIM Becomes Authorized Distributor for Tünkers Packing System

August 28, 2023

Press release submitted on behalf of American International Machinery

American International Machinery, Inc. (AIM), the exclusive supplier for the Signature brand of converting equipment for the paperboard and corrugated industries, is pleased to announce they have partnered with Tünkers as the authorized distributor in North America for their semi-automatic packaging system, the FAS 480.

The FAS 480 is designed for easy maneuverability and can be used on any folder gluer
machine. It has an independent electric drive allowing operators to control the carton flow speed directly from the packaging machine itself. The FAS 480 turns the carton to the right or left as it exits the gluer for easier packaging by the operator, increasing output by up to 50%.

The FAS 480 supports all standard folding boxes of solid board, E-Flute, and B-Flute including straight line, 4&6 corner, and crash-lock cartons. It can handle boxes with a minimum size of 40mm up to a maximum of 420mm wide by 480mm long.

“We are very pleased to partner with Tünkers, a second generation, family owned company that values innovation and customer needs just as we do,” states Kevin Koplin, managing director for AIM. “The FAS 480 is an efficient and reliable semi automatic packer that will be a fantastic option for many of our customers looking to increase productivity on existing equipment.”

AIM technicians can perform service and maintenance functions on the FAS 480 for customers in North America.

For more information on the Tünkers FAS 480 semi automatic packer, contact AIM at
sales@americanintl.com or 414.764.3223. You can also visit their website at www.aim-inc.net.

Mohawk Now the North American Distribution Partner for Fedrigoni Papers

August 8, 2023

Press release submitted on behalf of Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc. and the Fedgrigoni Group

Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc. and the Fedrigoni Group are pleased to announce that effective today August 01, 2023, Mohawk will be the distributor of Fedrigoni’s Specialty Fine Papers for North America.

Mohawk is North America’s largest privately owned manufacturer of fine papers and envelopes, and Fedrigoni is the leading global player in the manufacture of high-added-value specialty papers for luxury packaging and other creative applications.

Mohawk’s distribution partners and community of creatives and printers will have full access to the Fedrigoni creative portfolio (with the exception of Fedrigoni digital papers, distributed by GPA). Mohawk and Fedrigoni have committed to bringing both inventory support and marketing focus to bolster the growing luxury packaging and creative solutions print segments.

Fedrigoni’s collection of beautifully crafted, responsible, and innovative papers are the perfect complement to Mohawk’s legacy of paper brands. Fedrigoni Materica, Woodstock, Freelife Cento, and Sirio Pearl are just a curated sampling of what is possible to create with Fedrigoni specialty papers. Fedrigoni Paper offers tailor-made solutions for print and packaging customers, alongside a collection of more than 3,000 items available from stock.

“We are delighted to evolve our strategic partnership agreement by bringing together Mohawk’s trusted and valued relationship with the North American market to expand Fedrigoni’s capability to promote its specialty papers in the creative community and better meet all needs of image-conscious clients for all the ways they print, says Melissa Stevens, Chief Revenue Officer of Mohawk.

“The alliance with Mohawk will accelerate our geographic expansion in the US in the increasingly promising sector of specialty papers for luxury packaging and other creative and technical solutions,” states Ilan Schinazi, Chief Commercial Officer of Fedrigoni Paper. “We are determined to grow our market-leading position by leveraging the reshoring trend in the US and our deep customer partnerships with top luxury brands in Europe, and developing our relationships with US brands.”

Shared core values of craftsmanship, innovation, and sustainability make this distribution partnership both a natural extension of their existing agreements and a valuable opportunity for our mutual customers to strengthen their brand identity and ESG strategies for all their specialty print. Mohawk and Fedrigoni will be actively working together in the market to promote the value of specialty papers and the unique and creative solutions paper-based materials can bring to a brand.

drupa next age: Platform for networking and new business

July 25, 2023

Press release submitted on behalf of Messe Düsseldorf North America

The special area drupa next age (dna) sets the scene for newcomers and young talents from the print and packaging sector in a targeted manner. With Deborah Corn and Frank Tueckmantel, drupa has enlisted two strong partners with longstanding industry expertise for organizing and designing this show-in-show for cross-sectional technologies.

Big ideas, small budgets – many young companies find it hard to make the right contacts and establish their exciting and forward-looking solutions on the market. For this target group, drupa has created a special platform: drupa next age (dna). Here, newcomers, young talents, start-ups and long-established companies can network on a level playing field, find matching cooperation partners and exchange innovative business ideas. For some participants, this is the opportunity to present themselves to an international professional audience for the first time ever.

“In today’s digital age, there is one thing technology can’t replace: personal communication,” explains Frank Tueckmantel, who, together with Deborah Corn, is responsible for designing the dna program. “Here’s why Face-to-Face marketing matters: no Tweet, Snap, or chat can ever replace a real human connection. Face-to-face marketing is all about visibility and trust. Moreover, in-person interaction fosters engagement. For this reason I’m honored and excited to work together with drupa on the 2024 drupa dna program, hopefully engaging with many of the attendees that will participate in the largest get together our industry has to offer.”

Participation made easy thanks to Plug-and-Play
To make participation easy, drupa focuses on a transparent stand concept with flexible modules and Plug-and-Play at drupa dna. Presentations, panel discussions and interviews on the dna Stage complement the exhibition area in Hall 7.0, providing the ideal forum for attracting investors with new business models, product solutions and technologies. The focal themes at dna will include: Additive Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, Business Intelligence, New Materials, Platform Economy, Predictive Maintenance, Printed Electronics, Remote Services, New Business Models and Process Design. At present, interested companies can still register for participation at the dna Forum – and there are even several ways to get involved: as an exhibitor, sponsor or speaker.

“drupa dna is the ‘Big Bang’ for new companies, new ideas and fresh perspectives that will form and define the future of print,” confirms Deborah Corn. “Our curated program is designed to provide a global stage for global conversations focused on the technology, tools and people who are pushing the industry forward and enabling unique business opportunities for the graphic communication value chain. I encourage everyone to stop by Hall 7.0 during their time at drupa and get a head start on creating a profitable future.”

Companies interested in exhibiting or taking part as sponsors at the trend forum dna will be assisted by Benedikt Salmen from the drupa team (SalmenB@messe-duesseldorf.de). Companies interested in taking part as speakers can obtain more information from Deborah Corn (deborah@printmediacentr.com) and Frank Tueckmantel (tuecki@mac.com).

About Deborah Corn:
Deborah Corn is the Intergalactic Ambassador to The Printerverse, providing printspiration, education and resources to print and marketing professionals around the world, helping them achieve creative and business success through their printed materials. She is the host of Podcasts from The Printerverse playing in 146 countries, producer of ProjectPeacock.TV, founder of International Print Day, Print Across America and Girl #1 at Girls Who Print – the largest independent, global organization for women in the industry. Through her website PrintMediaCentr.com, content endeavors and social channels, Deborah engages with more than 250,000 printing professionals, print buyers, marketers and students worldwide.

About Frank Tueckmantel:
Frank Tueckmantel, Ambassador of Face-To-Face Marketing, spent his entire career in the print industry. In his last role at EFI he served as the VP of Corporate Marketing. In this role he and his team oversaw all worldwide face-to-face marketing activities, like trade show and customer events activities.

About drupa:
Under the umbrella of the megatrends sustainability and digitalization, the international print and packaging sector will meet at the drupa from May 28 May – June 7, 2024, at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany. The world’s leading trade fair for print technologies is synonymous with inspiration, innovations, high-caliber knowledge transfer and intensive networking. This is where the international top decision-makers of the industry meet and exchange ideas on current technology trends and ground-breaking developments. For more information: www.drupa.com

Free Registration Opens for Plastics Industry Expos and Conferences in Cleveland, Ohio

July 23, 2023

Press release submitted on behalf of AMI

Free online registration has now opened for the AMI Plastics World Expos which are being held at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio on November 15-16, 2023.

Taking place for the fourth time, the event will be the biggest plastics industry gathering in North America this year. It brings together four focused exhibitions: the Plastics Recycling World Expo, Compounding World Expo, Plastics Extrusion World Expo and Polymer Testing World Expo.

By registering in advance, visitors will receive free admission to all four exhibitions, featuring more than 300 suppliers, plus free entry to five conference theaters hosting technical presentations, educational seminars and business debates. Attendees and exhibitors will also have the option to buy tickets ($50 each) for a networking party at the Punch Bowl Social on the evening of November 15.

“The event will provide visitors with a great opportunity to meet and compare suppliers from around the world, as well as giving them the chance to learn from business leaders and technical experts in the conference theaters,” said Andy Beevers, Events Director at AMI. “When we ran these expos in Cleveland last year, they attracted more than 4,600 visitors including buyers and specifiers from leading extruders, recyclers, compounders, OEMs and brand owners”.

The four expos will occupy the largest halls at the state-of-the-art Huntington Convention Center in downtown Cleveland. They will feature a wide array of leading manufacturers of extrusion, compounding, recycling and testing equipment, plus suppliers of a huge variety of polymers, additives and related services.

The exhibitor line-up already includes companies such as AdvanSix, Ampacet, BASF, Buss, BYK, Chroma Color, Clariant, Cloeren, Coperion, CPM, Cumberland, Davis-Standard, Dover Chemical, Entek, Erema, Evonik, Farrel Pomini, Galata Chemicals, Genox, Gneuss, Graham Engineering, Heritage Plastics, IMCD, JSW, KraussMaffei, Leistritz, Lindner, Maag, Milliken, MDI, Netzsch, NFM, NGR, Nordson, Omya, Orion, Perkin Elmer, Polystar, PTi, Q-Lab, Reifenhäuser, Sanitized, Sesotec, SI Group, Steer, Step 2, Struktol, ThermoFisher, TPEI, US Extruders, Vecoplan, Wacker, Windmoeller & Hoelscher, Zwick/Roell and hundreds more.

The very limited number of remaining booths are filling up fast. To find out more about exhibiting at any of the expos, visit www.amiplastics.com/events/exhibitions.

The five focused conference theatres will feature more than 100 expert speakers over the two days, including influential representatives from leading compounders, extruders, recyclers and testing organizations.

To book your free ticket for the expos and conferences, which is valid for both days of the event, visit: www.ami.ltd/Plastics-World-Expos-NA

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