PostPress
Print Decorating, Binding and Finishing
American International Machinery, Inc. (AIM), Oak Creek, Wisconsin, the exclusive supplier for the Signature brand of converting equipment for the paperboard and corrugated industries, has announced the launch of its newly redesigned website.
Along with a fresh new look, the site offers easy navigation, in-depth information on new and used converting equipment, improved functionality and supporting documents to enhance productivity.
For more information, visit www.aim-inc.net.
Esko, a global supplier of integrated hardware and software for the packaging, label and wide format sectors, has made a $1.2 million in-kind gift to Indiana State University’s packaging engineering technology program. Esko support will include annual licensing for its design and production software platforms.
With the software donation, Indiana State students will have access to work with a leading global product portfolio that supports and manages the packaging and print processes for brand owners, retailers, designers, packaging manufacturers and more.
For more information, visit www.esko.com.
The MBO DPS 60 Dynamic perforating and scoring unit from Marlton, New Jersey-based MBO America, is a modular unit that applies dynamic or static, perf or score patterns, inline or across a web.
Along with such common applications as buck slip tear offs, return slips, coupons, bang tails and T-perfs, the DPS 60 can be used in conjunction with MBO buckle folders and plow tables for scoring, signature folding, direct mail and specialty applications.
Because of its modular design and small footprint, it can be used in nearly any inline or near-line finishing system, or added to an existing web press. Tooling choices together with either a hard anvil or a soft anvil on each cross-cassette position, create options for a wide range of applications.
For more information, visit www.mboamerica.com.
Xeikon America, Inc., Itasca, Illinois, and Anderson & Vreeland, Inc., corporate headquarters in Bryan, Ohio, have announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Anderson & Vreeland will sell the Xeikon line of dry toner and inkjet-based digital label presses in the US and Canada. The move, which was announced at the TLMI annual meeting, exponentially increases Xeikon’s sales strength in North America.
“As market dynamics continue to evolve, label converters are challenged to meet their customers’ evolving requirements. They need to find the right print production manufacturing process for this changing market,” said David Wilkins, vice president of sales, Xeikon America, Inc. “Anderson & Vreeland is a trusted advisor to the industry, providing label shops with inks, flexo plates, plate imagers and plate processors. They’re uniquely positioned to engage in such conversations, which now include Xeikon digital printing. This partnership has enormous potential for both our companies and, ultimately, our customers.”
A&V will begin offering Xeikon digital press solutions in early 2020 while the current Xeikon sales managers maintain their territory and account base. For each prospective customer, A&V will work in partnership with Xeikon’s regional sales managers to assemble the optimal configuration, and to assist in contract negotiation, ordering and installation. Xeikon will provide maintenance services and consumables for the digital presses after the sale is complete.
“We’ve seen a steadily increasing interest in digital label and packaging production among our customer base,” said Dave Miller, director, Digital Business Solutions, Anderson & Vreeland. “The quality of Xeikon meets their high standards. We have chosen to work with Xeikon because they have the broadest portfolio in the digital label space covering both UV inkjet and dry toner technologies, converting equipment, consumables, embellishment and workflow software.”
This partnership allows customers to build their own digital set-up to best serve their business rather than buying off-the-shelf solutions. For example, UV inkjet technology cannot print on natural paper for wine and spirits labels, but this is where dry toner excels. Conversely, where UV inkjet provides the most durable solution for labels, toner may require additional steps; for example, lamination or UV varnish for durability.
“We’re proud to add Xeikon presses to the portfolio of solutions we offer which includes being the Flint Group’s North American distributor, for Xeikon ThermoFlexX, Printing Plates and Rotec Sleeves,” said Miller.
For more information, visit www.andersonvreeland.com or www.xeikon.com.
Kansas City, Kansas-based Infinity® Foils has released the Foil Selection Guide, the company’s largest guide to date with its expanded foil shade range and increased product offering. It is also the industry’s most compressive shade guide, including foils for hot, cold or digital applications. Additionally, Infinity® Foils has added to its line new shades and grades formulated to work on the broadest range of applications for precision and reliability.
The company designed the guide around the end user and specifier.
“Our team wanted this Foil Selection Guide to speak to both designers and the printers/finishers. It’s shade-centric, and it’s so easy to use and follow that it makes the communication between the design community and the printers/finishers better streamlined,” said Jim Hutchison, president of Infinity® Foils, Inc.
Included in this special industry resource guide are Infinity® Foils’ coveted shade cross-reference charts, providing comprehensive industry shade matching tools for Infinity® Foils’ foil shades. It also includes convenient foil tear tabs, perfect for specifying the right Infinity® Foils’ foil shade, in order to further enhance clear communication between design and production of the project.
For more information, visit www.infinityfoils.com.
The Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) presented the inaugural PRINTING United tradeshow, which brought approximately 30,000 individuals to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas on Oct. 23-25. Occupying 724,000 gross sq. ft., the event – developed by the SGIA and business-to-business media company NAPCO Media – featured more than 680 exhibitors, more than 100 educational sessions and several events to further connect industry players.
The show floor featured an array of equipment, software and consumables to meet printers’ and their customers’ needs. Many products were worldwide debuts; others were shown in North America for the first time.
The 4,000-sq.-ft. PRINTING United Experience Zone was a highlight of the show floor and allowed attendees to traverse through simulated home, retail, restaurant and outdoor environments, highlighting print’s presence in everyday life.
Sponsored by Canon, Drytac, EFI, Fisher Textiles, FUJIFILM, Konica Minolta, Kornit Digital, OKI Data Americas, Ricoh, S-One Holdings Corporation, Stahls’, Top Value Fabrics, Ultraflex and Xeikon, the Experience Zone included brochures describing how each piece was printed and pointing attendees to the booths where they could learn more about the applications used to produce the pieces.
The PRINTING United educational experience kicked off before the show floor officially opened, with three half-day intensives on Tuesday, Oct. 22. More than 100 educational sessions – including a full education track and three amphitheaters on the show floor – were designed specifically so attendees could find relevant, expert-led educational sessions at any time. Attendees took part in comprehensive tracks for the graphics, apparel, functional/industrial, in-plant, commercial and packaging communities.
Pre-show registration for the next show, PRINTING United 2020 (Oct. 21–23), has topped 6,000 attendees. With over 1 million gross sq. ft., more than two-thirds of the show floor has been reserved. PRINTING United 2020 will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Show details can be found soon at www.PRINTINGUnited.com. Those interested in exhibiting may contact John Woodstock, VP sales, SGIA, at [email protected] or 703.359.1332.
Health and safety for workers is top-of-mind for today’s manufacturers. Use these US government resources to help protect and safeguard the workforce.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration addresses especially harmful hazards via its national and local emphasis programs.
National Emphasis Programs are temporary programs that focus on particular hazards and high-hazard industries. To learn about OSHA’s current National Emphasis Programs, visit www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/nep.
Local Emphasis Programs are enforcement strategies designed and implemented at the regional office and/or area office levels. These programs address hazards or industries that pose a particular risk to workers in the office’s jurisdiction. To identify OSHA’s 10 regions and their Local Emphasis Programs, visit www.osha.gov/enforcement/directives/lep.
The National Safety Council offers a free “Opioids at Work Employer Toolkit” to explain the opioid crisis and help businesses support workers who may be affected by it.
The toolkit includes sample policies, fact sheets, presentations, five-minute safety talks, posters, white papers, reports and videos for implementing a workplace program on opioids. Request a toolkit at https://safety.nsc.org/rxemployerkit.
The Department of Health and Human Services offers a comprehensive “Drug-Free Workplace Toolkit” to help manufacturers tackle substance misuse and abuse.
Businesses can use this toolkit to support workplace health and safety by creating and maintaining drug-free workplace policies and programs. These policies and programs may include preventing the misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; addressing substance misuse within the context of workplace health and wellness programs; and providing intervention services for employees. The toolkit, available at www.samhsa.gov/workplace/toolkit, includes resources to:
Manufacturers can be proactive with help from the Department of Homeland Security’s 12-page Emergency Action Plan Guide on Active Shooter Preparedness.
Organizations are encouraged to use this guide to document the initial steps toward creating an active shooter preparedness plan. This guide is not meant to replace an organization’s Emergency Action Plan. Rather, it is a tool that begins the plan development process.
Download the guide at www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/active-shooter-emergency-action-plan-112017-508v2.pdf.
Consider Run, Hide, Fight as described on the Department of Homeland Security’s ready.gov website.
RUN and escape, if possible.
HIDE, if escape is not possible.
FIGHT as an absolute last resort.
“Run, Hide, Fight” – an active threat defense video – is available in multiple languages at www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUra6uw6CXK9SNLZeddcLIufDY5OfnMpU.
Be proactive, be prepared and take action to improve safety at the workplace and support a healthy workforce.
The Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) and online graphics hub PaperSpecs have released the Foil Cheat Sheet, a metallic foil decorating reference for graphic designers.
The Foil Cheat Sheet contains a section detailing and illustrating each of the following techniques and materials: Hot Foil Stamping, Cold Foil Transfer, Toner Digital Foil, Varnish Digital Foil and Foil Substrates. FSEA and PaperSpecs worked closely to outline the advantages and disadvantages of each type of metallic foil process, providing valuable information to print and packaging designers who may be unfamiliar with the variety of available foil decorating options.
A video displaying the Foil Cheat Sheet can be viewed online.
For each process, the guide lists potential providers, available colors, run lengths, paper options (coated or uncoated), advantages and disadvantages. At the back of the piece is a foldout chart comparing all techniques side by side.
“It’s hard to make use of a finishing option if you don’t know what’s possible,” said FSEA Executive Director Jeff Peterson. “Designers want to use foil on their projects, but don’t always know what technology is available – or feasible, based on the project. There are a lot of questions about digital foil technologies and where they fit in with traditional hot foil stamping and cold foil options. The Foil Cheat Sheet helps to answer those questions.”
“This project was inspired by the countless times I’ve mentioned digital foiling in presentations or conversations at design conferences, only to discover that no one had any idea what I was talking about,” said Sabine Lenz, principal at design firm PaperSpecs, who spearheaded the project, along with FSEA. “To me it was vital that creatives have an overview of their foiling options – especially the short-run ones provided by digital; something that they could turn to as a reference time and time again.”
A free pdf download is available at www.foilcheatsheet.com. Information on ordering a print version of the Foil Cheat Sheet is available at www.fsea.com.
