Enews May 2023

Nestlé Certifies Scodix PS850 Polymer for Ink Compliance

May 17, 2023

After extensive testing, the Scodix Polymer PolySense 850 (PS850) has been certified to be in compliance with Nestlé’s Guidance Note on Packaging Inks. Suitable for indirect food contact, PS850 is the latest Scodix polymer to be released for exclusive use with the Scodix Ultra 6000 system. The polymer is suitable for embellishments, including Scodix High Definition, Scodix Sense, Scodix Metallic, Scodix Foil, Scodix VDE and Scodix Cast&Cure.

As the largest publicly held food company in the world, Nestlé maintains strict and stringent testing of all vendor components in the supply chain. Achieving Nestlé compliance means that Scodix Polymer PS850 has passed migration tests for secondary food contact at SQTS labs in Switzerland, according to Swiss Ordinance. The certification for PS850 certifies that Scodix embellished packaging excludes harmful chemical contaminants and is a safe method of product decoration for food packaging.

Ziki Kuly, Scodix VP product marketing, said: “This is a great leap forward for customers needing the accreditation to win new types of work or for brands that want to upscale the impact of their food packaging. This is now not only possible, but economical and sustainable, even for multi-SKU designs and jobs requiring a short time-to-market.”

Scodix PS850 is a new polymer that adds both spot UV and foil embellishments. It joins the PS550 to create a family of indirect food contact products, but the new PS850 enables the user to enjoy the benefits of Smart High Definition (SHD) from the Ultra 6000. PS850 supports embellishments that emulate traditional hot foiling but offers print converters the flexibility of digital technology.

To learn more, visit www.scodix.com.

Date Announced for SGP Sustainability Summit

May 17, 2023

The Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP), an authority in sustainable printing certifications, will hold its first Sustainability Summit of 2023 on June 22 at the Eastman Kodak facility in Dayton, Ohio. The event theme is “The Power of Sustainable Print in the Digital World.”

The SGP Sustainability Summit brings together thought leaders and community stakeholders in pursuit of more accountable sustainable print supply chains. It will feature presentations and roundtable discussions given by industry leaders on the power of sustainable print in a digital world.

Some of the issues that will be discussed at the conference include carbon footprints, alignment with U.N., sustainable development goals, circularity and how SGP certification can help companies meet corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals and environment, social, and corporate governance (ESG) objectives.

To learn more, visit www.sgppartnership.org.

Monadnock Paper Mills Introduces Sustainable Signage Materials

May 17, 2023

Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc., Bennington, New Hampshire, is introducing its newest “Un-Plastic”® and sustainable wide format and signage materials: Boulevard™ and Pavilion™ PC 100.

Boulevard is a moisture-resistant durable poster paper that is suitable for both indoor and short-term outdoor applications. The base paper and scratch-resistant print-receptive coating are engineered for durability and performance for demanding environments.

Pavilion PC 100 is made with 100% post-consumer recycled waste fiber, satisfying the demand for more sustainable paper choices. It is bright white and has a matte-coated surface that is engineered for superior image reproduction. Pavilion is recyclable in the curbside mix paper waste bin.

Boulevard and Pavilion PC 100, like all Monadnock printing, packaging, and display and wall graphics, are FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) certified (FSC C018866), manufactured carbon neutral and made with 100% renewable Green-e certified wind-powered electricity, all under a third-party certified ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.

For more information, visit www.mpm.com/WideFormatMedia.

Two Sides North America Survey: Consumer Attitudes Improving

May 17, 2023

A new survey commissioned by Two Sides North America and conducted by Toluna, a global research firm, shows that as US consumers become increasingly aware of the environmental impacts of the products they use every day, there remains a wide gap between perception and reality when it comes to the sustainability of paper products – but the gap has narrowed over the past two years. Overall, 44% of consumers believe paper products are bad for the environment, down from 48% in 2021.

“It’s great to see improvement in consumer attitudes about paper and the environment, but we need to accelerate this trend if paper products are to remain competitive in an ever-changing marketplace,” said Kathi Rowzie, Two Sides North America president. “More and more consumers are factoring environmental impacts into their purchasing decisions, but all too often those decisions are based on longstanding myths, pop culture headlines and corporate greenwashing rather than facts.”

As companies continue to resort to unsubstantiated “go green, go paperless” marketing claims to help them cut costs, 68% of consumers surveyed believe that electronic communication is more environmentally friendly than print on paper, up from 67% in 2021. Clearly, consumers want to do the right things when it comes to the environment but are often misled by corporate greenwashing that fails to acknowledge the environmental impacts of digital communication.

Learn more at www.twosidesna.org.

BOBST Acquires Majority Share in Dücker Robotics

May 17, 2023

Bobst Group SA, (BOBST), Mex, Switzerland, has acquired 70% of the equity in Dücker Robotics s.r.l., Momo, Italy. Dücker Robotics is a leader in the use of robots in both loading and palletizing in the corrugated board sector, while offering opportunities in the folding cart industry.

The current team at Dücker Robotics will remain in place. The strategic agreement closed on April 28, 2023, and is part of BOBST’s industry vision for the future of the packaging world where the entire packaging production line will be connected and more automated.

To learn more, visit www.bobst.com.

Standard Announces Book Block Solution

May 17, 2023

Standard Finishing Systems, Andover, Massachusetts, a supplier of postpress and paper handling solutions, recently announced the release of the Hunkeler Starbook Plowfolder Book Block Solution, designed to run inline or near-line in high-volume digital print environments.

The Starbook Plowfolder combines unwinding, plowfolding, dynamic cutting and starwheel book delivery into a solution that produces glued book blocks from 4- , 6- or 8-page signatures. On the front end, the Hunkeler UW8 Unwinder can handle web widths up to 22.5″ and up to 1,980 lbs. For wider media or continuous production, the UW7 Unwinder, RS8 Automated Roll Splicer, or RX8 Automated Media Changer are also compatible.

The Hunkeler PF8 Plowfolder’s fold pressing units ensure a tight, high-quality fold. It also features a web guide for continuous fine adjustment of the web edge for accuracy and stability. In the cutting section, the Hunkeler CS8-B Rotary Cross Cutter converts the folded paper web into 4-up, 6-up or 8-up signatures. The CS8-B’s Dynacut function allows for dynamic changes in signature cut length during continuous production. Book blocks are delivered individually or in stacks of multiple book blocks via the Hunkeler BD8 Book Delivery Module. The BD8, featuring Hunkeler’s patented starwheel delivery system and a modular design, delivers glued, flat book blocks with straight spines.

The Starbook Plowfolder Book Block Solution is optimal for short- or long-run lengths, including book-of-one and variable thickness applications. It can run at speeds of up to 820 feet per minute.

To learn more, visit www.standardfinishing.com.

BOBST Boosts Digital-Age Manufacturing on VISIONFOLD and NOVAFOLD

May 17, 2023

True to its vision to advance sector-wide connectivity and digitalization, Mex, Switzerland-based BOBST has enhanced its middle-range folder-gluers with the implementation of the SPHERE machine interface. Combined with improved ergonomics, both machines take a decisive step into the future of folding-gluing. This evolution allows folding carton converters to further optimize the production workflow and enable efficient data flow between physical equipment and digital solutions.

With regular improvements and innovations in their folder-gluer line, BOBST goes forward to offer the best possible solutions to converters in the folding carton industry. In 2022, the brand-new NOVAFOLD 50 l 80 l 110 was introduced, featuring the blank aligner and 4&6-corner device. Offering speeds of up to 300 m/min and up to 18,000 4-and 6-corner boxes per hour, the launch of this versatile folder-gluer has been a resounding success.

The equally modular all-rounder, the VISIONFOLD 50 l 80 l 110, is available as a motorized version and can be run with speeds of up to 350 m/min, producing up to 22,000 4-and 6-corner boxes per hour.

To learn more, visit www.bobst.com.

Labelexpo Mexico 2023 Called an “Astounding Success”

May 17, 2023

The inaugural Labelexpo Mexico 2023 exhibition, held at the World Trade Center in Mexico City, has been hailed an “astounding” success, attracting 5,878 visitors from 46 countries and 145 exhibitors.

While the great majority of visitors (80 percent) were from Mexico, there were significant numbers from the United States, China, Columbia, Brazil, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador and Argentina.

The show featured a wide range of working machinery, with Nilpeter demonstrating its FA-17 printing shrink sleeves, and digital presses on display from Mark Andy, Epson, Konica Minolta, Durst and Pulisi.

Tasha Ventimiglia, Labelexpo Americas group director, said: “We saw at the show the trends driving the growth of the Mexican label industry. For example, the tequila market is booming not just in Mexico but in the US as well, with lots of highly embellished labels from challenger brands appearing on store shelves. And a lot of foreign investment is happening in Mexico, mostly due to its strategic position to serve the US market, with international companies like Tesla and others building plants in Mexico, creating further opportunities for local label converters.”

The next edition of Labelexpo Mexico will be held in Guadalajara in 2025. Label Summit Latin America has been confirmed for Bogota, Colombia, from March 12-13, 2024.

To learn more, visit www.labelexpo.com.

Are Your Corporate Cell Phone Policies Up to Date?

March 15, 2023

By Ralph G. Martinez, Esq. and Ed Rigsbee, CAE, CSP

If employees are punching in a telephone number or raising a cell phone to their ears while driving, their employers might be liable. A growing number of states in the US and several foreign countries are making it a crime to use a cell phone while driving unless one’s cell phone operates “hands-free” or is a “hands-free” device. Employees should know their company’s current, written policy on cell phone use while driving on the job.

Productivity and connectedness

Technological advances improve productivity and connectedness. Drivers across the US redeem some of their driving time each day by staying connected with parents, children and friends during their commute. Many also conduct business by telephone during these long commutes or travel times. In decades past, drivers would have to pull over to the side of the highway when they found a telephone booth or a pay telephone. This may return as the preferred way to stay connected en route, particularly for driving minors.

Technology may give us advantages, but they sometimes bring unexpected changes in our lifestyle. The law all over the world is responding to the increased number of accidents that involve drivers being distracted on cell phones. The law is merely catching up to the new risk introduced by new technology that has been embraced and exploited.

Higher potential liability for employers

The protection of new safety laws also creates new risks for business owners and leaders. In most areas of the US, if employees violate a safety law while involved in a car accident on the job, they and their employer may be held negligent, even if they are otherwise driving well. Generally, the concept is referred to as negligence per se. Lawyers use the principle of negligence per se as a shortcut to establish liability in lawsuits to win damages for people injured in accidents. The new wave of cell phone laws are safety laws designed to eliminate distractions and prevent accidents. Depending on the extent of the injuries, this financial risk to an employer could be very substantial. If the cited employee driver has violated the cell phone law before, significant punitive damages could be assessed against the employer. Negligence per se as a principle will be used more frequently in personal injury cases when a driver was using a cell phone.

Employee handbook and written policy

Employers should adopt a written policy and/or amend the employee handbook to require strict compliance by employees with the hands-free cell phone law that is adopted by their country, state, city, county or township. Many businesses may instruct their employees not to use cell phones while driving and to let incoming calls go to voicemail, to be returned outside of the car in a safe area.

If a business issues cell phones to its employees, or necessarily requires the use of a cell phone by its employees, make sure that the cell phones can be used hands free. Note that a cell phone that has a speaker phone function will not necessarily comply with the law. Employers that hire employees under the age of 18 should prohibit their use of a cell phone in a car. The policy should be acknowledged by employees in writing and enforced by the company. An attorney can help businesses assess the specific risk and how to protect against that risk with an appropriate policy and implemented management practice. The authors have developed a policy and are helping many businesses protect against this new risk from this safety law. Adjusting to these developments not only will allow employees to drive more safely on the highways but also continue with their business efforts – in both cases, undistracted.

Ed Rigsbee is the founder and CEO of the 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity Cigar PEG Philanthropy through Fun and president at Rigsbee Research, which conducts qualitative member ROI research and consulting for associations and societies. He holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) and Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) accreditation. Rigsbee is the author of the The ROI of Membership – Today’s Missing Link for Explosive Growth, PartnerShift, Developing Strategic Alliances and The Art of Partnering. Resources are available at www.rigsbee.com.

2023’s Hottest Print Design Trends

March 15, 2023

By Sabine Lenz, PaperSpecs

Each year, a handful of printing and finishing techniques set the industry on fire, transforming the way designers create their work and spread their message – and even the way they think. If you’re looking for a way to help your clients jumpstart their creativity while giving you a competitive edge, you really can’t afford to ignore them.

1. Hand-sewn look and feel

We all like to feel we are part of a select few; that we have come across something rare and handcrafted – that we are one of the lucky ones to get our hands on it. While by no means purely handmade, Singer sewn and exposed Smyth binding convey this feeling to clients and consumers, and that’s what matters.

The handmade look and feel instantly gives them a sense of the product and company – its culture and history. As a result, they feel a strong connection to the brand. Make this trend your own by using contrasting threads to make it stand out even more.

2. High-end binding

On the flip side, high-end binding elevates elaborate artbooks and high-end brochures and allows even marketing materials to feel more like coffee table books.

Binding for these is done in the known hard case fashion, with the case being covered in tactile cover materials and embellished with hot foil stamping, or in the increasingly trendy Swiss binding style. Instead of being inserted and mounted in casebound fashion, in Swiss binding the text block is glued right on top of the inside back cover of the book’s case.

While from the outside the book looks like a nice casebound book, once the cover is opened, the text block’s spine is revealed. In most cases, the text block is Smyth bound, yet feel free to use perfect bound or saddlestitched text blocks, too.

3. Haptic

In this over-digitalized world where everyone is glued to their smartphone or computer screen, people yearn for a tactile experience. Tactile effects on marketing materials and packaging, in particular, have become increasingly popular. These can stimulate our non-visual senses and create a stronger emotional connection with the product or brand.

The easiest way to add a haptic experience to a printed piece is with our choice of substrate, with classic finishes like linen and laid experiencing a resurgence. Even the choice of printing technique can provide a “built-in” haptic feel. Letterpress printing, especially when using a soft sheet, allows for a nice impression similar to a light deboss, while engraving – where the ink sits on top of the sheet – provides an embossed feel.

And, of course, there are numerous finishing techniques that add that extra tactile experience, from traditional embossing, debossing, raised UV and polymer options to a suite of laminates that offer more than just a soft-touch finish. There also are specialty coatings, including sandpaper and leather textures, that provide intriguing options and can be applied inline.

4. Scent

While scented inks have been around for a while, they now are– finally – trendy, from offering an intriguing aroma right out of the box to “scratch-and-sniff” or Rub’nSmell options. Depending on the effect desired, the scent can be added to the coating or varnish and thus applied inline with the print run.

And this is not just for packaging or marketing pieces. All of the trends we are talking about today also are applicable to envelopes. Case in point: Until the end of July 2023, the United States Postal Service is offering the Tactile, Sensory and Interactive (TSI) mail piece promotion, with the goal of encouraging mailers to utilize the power of the senses in their mail pieces to increase response rates.

Lemon, piña colada, leather or… There are so many scents to choose from that enhance the printed piece and tickle the nose.

You can be forgiven for thinking that this is a passing fad, but when companies like Starbucks have their own aroma task force – yep, there is an actual department for this – you should take the science of scent seriously.

5. Vivid colors

As the value of design rises, brands are going crazier than ever with colors in an attempt to stand out from the crowd.

While bold colors have been trending in the online world for a while – thanks to enhanced print technologies, we now see designers going bold, loud and brighter than ever in their printed pieces. The secret sauces (or in our case, inks) are neon or fluorescent inks.

Naturally, you can apply them with traditional printing techniques – offset, letterpress or silk screen. But what’s fueling the popularity of this trend now is the ability to print these colors digitally. Depending on the press provider, you can add neon yellow, pink, orange, violet, green… Encourage your clients to crank up their design’s “look at me” factor by using these vibrant neon colors as spot colors.

But it is not just about the neon effect. It also is about extending the overall color gamut you can achieve. When we are talking 5-, 6- or 7-color printing, we are adding more colors to a conventional 4-color process.

This is popular for two reasons:

We can increase the overall range of colors, which allows for really rich hues.
The extra colors (and thus enhanced gamut) can be used to reproduce a special hue that is out of range of the normal CMYK mix; meaning you can match around 94% of Pantone colors.

Thanks to those expanded color options – even in the digital printing world – expect color schemes in 2023 to get even more vibrant and luminous.

6. Shimmer and foil

Metallic effects in design are becoming uber-trendy. From packaging to business cards, the metallic shimmer gives any printed item a luxurious, expensive feel.

Granted, the shimmer that foil brings has been on trend for a while now. But beyond foil stamping, several newer technologies are becoming more widely available, offering creatives new possibilities and creating a resurgence for this high-end look.

From hot and cold foil to metallized substrates and digital foiling options, there is a “shimmer” for every print run and budget.

7. Personalization

A 2020 McKinsey study found that personalization will be the prime driver of marketing success within five years. Which means, we are just in time.

Nobody wants to be bothered by irrelevant coupons, emails or texts, but we all do want to be informed of offers that meet our needs. Personalization beyond a simple mail-merge approach offers meaningful, relevant customer communication.

While the technology for this – variable data printing – has been around for a while, few brands are fully embracing it. Successful brands need to focus on good customer data, insightful analytics and, above all, ensuring that they protect customer privacy.

8. Augmented reality (AR)

As you know, AR enhances the user’s perception of the real world by adding a computer-simulated layer of information on top of it. In print, one of the most used interactions is when the activation is triggered by scanning a specific item or “marker.”

But trying to convince customers to download an app can be tricky, let alone providing an app that’s compatible with all the different types of phones and operating systems out there.

That’s why marketers have started looking seriously into WebAR; it may not have the power of full AR, but it still has plenty of potential.

WebAR refers to augmented reality experiences that are accessed through a web browser rather than an app. This means all you need is your smartphone or tablet and an internet connection – no apps required.

With the introduction of ARKit and ARCore (the Apple and Google AR developer platforms) and web-based AR platforms such as the 8th Wall, marketers now have a big opportunity to create innovative campaigns that integrate the digital and physical worlds.

Whether it’s through augmenting product packaging with interactive content, virtual tours in brick-and-mortar shops, or “try before you buy” at-home opportunities (Starbucks and IKEA are two obvious examples), augmented reality is enriching the customer experience digitally in a way that few technologies can.

9. Sustainability

Sustainability is an overarching trend – one that goes beyond recycled paper but encompasses the whole printed piece. No, this trend does not sparkle or shimmer, but I encourage you to be aware of the sustainability, recyclability, etc. of the papers, printing and finishing techniques and embellishments you offer.

For any print project this means:

Reduce. The most effective way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place.

Right-size. This is not only important to the final cost of the product, but also to its perceived environmental impact.
Print on demand. Ask yourself: What is the quantity my customer needs right now? What is the longevity of the piece? Thanks to digital printing and finishing, there really is no need to overproduce.
Reduce overall waste. Here is your chance to help creatives understand how to best utilize a press sheet. They’re eager to be more sustainable and open to your advice.

Reuse. Help your customers explore ways in which they might be able to repurpose their packaging and materials – and, yes, this includes dielines and other tools.

Recycle. From recycled papers to substrates made with recycled jeans, T-shirts and even coffee cups, there is no shortage of innovative materials. Be the one to bring these exciting options to your clients; they will appreciate your forward, sustainable thinking.

And beyond simply using recycled materials, ensure that the packaging or marketing materials you help create are recyclable.

There are misconceptions aplenty about recyclability of transfer foils and laminates, to name just a few. Be ready to provide your clients with insights and statistics to help them understand that we as an industry are pulling in the same direction they are, and we’re doing everything we can to ensure our materials and technologies are used in the most economic and sustainable ways possible.

These are the nine top print design trends, but are they all for you or your clients? Probably not. But mix and match two or more of these trends and you will delight your customers with the opportunities you can provide.

PaperSpecs.com is an innovative online hub for brand owners and graphic designers who actively spec paper and print, and refuse to be limited by short print runs or tight budgets. Through videos, hands-on/virtual “[unboxed]” events, blog posts and more, PaperSpecs provides trends, insights and access to crucial, hands-on tools and resources to help creatives craft printed pieces that WOW their clients. Learn more at www.paperspecs.com/get-weekly-tips.