RPC upbeat despite cost increases

RPC, the rigid plastics packaging group, is optimistic about future sales potential although it continues to fight rising input costs.

In a trading statement today (28 September), the group said its operating profit before exceptional items for the first half of 2007 would be similar to last year's £18.4m, despite continued pressure from higher raw material costs.

RPC chief executive Ron Marsh said the group was "hanging on in there with maintained profits", although this was "not what we want to achieve in the long run".

"Even where we pass on 100% of increases we don't pass them on on day one, and it affects the margins anyway," he said.

However, Marsh pointed to sales growth in several major contracts, including the production of Kraft's Tassimo coffee discs.

RPC makes all the discs for the brand, as well as for Nestlé rival Dolce Gusto, and has been buoyed by an agreement in the US for Starbucks-branded Tassimo.

The firm is also producing the new plastic packaging for Heinz Baked Beanz.

"Wherever there's innovation we are well placed to lead it," said Marsh.

However, he said sales to the UK surface coatings market had been affected by the wet weather this summer.

Consultation continues over the closure of RPC's Thornaby and Hereford plants and the group expects exceptional costs to be higher than in the first half of 2006.

Finance charges will also be higher because of an increase in borrowings and in interest rates on the unhedged portion of RPC's bank debt.

Marsh bemoaned the continuing "huge and damaging" disparity between polymer costs for the European market and the rest of the world.

And he said raw materials suppliers had "taken advantage" of record oil prices to raise their prices.

"While spot prices for polypropylene and polyethylene have come down slightly, contract prices have gone up," he added.

However, respite could be on the way in the next couple of years if supply from new polymer production capacity in the Middle East leads to a decrease in prices.
Source: packagingnews

DuPont and Plantic Work on New Biopolymers

DuPont and Plantic Technologies, an Australian company specialising in starch-based biopolymers are to collaborate in the development and sale of renewably sourced polymers.

Plans include development of new, renewably sourced resins and sheet materials based on high-amylose corn starch as the renewable feedstock for applications including cosmetics, personal care and food packaging trays, caps and containers.

DuPont will also market and distribute Plantic's starch-based resins and sheet products.
Source: packaging-technology

Unisource Expands Packaging Division

Unisource Worldwide, a paper, packaging and facility supplies distributor, is expanding its packaging business to provide global supply chain support for manufacturers of high-technology products.

The Technology Packaging Group will design innovative precision packaging technologies that meet factory requirements, while optimising supply chain costs.

Group director Troy Swope says the initial focus will be on marketing its services to technical assembly and semiconductor manufacturing operations and the medical instruments, pharmaceutical and aerospace industries.

"The advantages we offer customers is that we have the knowledge and experience to address every facet of technology packaging and design and sourcing, with the added benefit of ensuring environmental sustainability," he says.
Source: packaging-technology

Print firms’ fury over claims of lower pay for migrant workers

Printers have reacted angrily to claims in a national newspaper that they are using migrants to drive down the pay and conditions of permanent British workers.

Quebecor World, St Ives and Trinity Mirror were named by The Guardian as being among UK companies that are supposedly exploiting migrant labour (see box). All three companies have refuted the story’s claims.

The article came as trade union Unite launched a campaign against, among other issues, the exploitation of migrant workers to coincide with the Labour Party conference this week.

Unite wants the government to sign up to the European Agency Temporary Workers directive, which guarantees parity of pay and conditions between agency and permanent staff.

But print bosses refuted claims made by the newspaper over the use of agency workers. Quebecor World UK managing director Andrew Parker said that claims about his firm were “absolutely not true” and added that the company had had no contact from the union.

Parker said: “Based on our customers’ requirements, we sub-contract part of the variable labour to a reputable organisation that supplies a managed service of skilled and semi-skilled labour to the printing and other industries. The workers have full UK employment rights.”

St Ives, which was accused of converting up to 25% of its Andover workforce to agency labour, also refuted the article’s claims.

Patrick Martell, St Ives operations director, said: “The facts about the Andover situation are simply inaccurate. We have around 120 staff at Andover, of which one is a casual worker, employed through a local agency.”

A Trinity Mirror spokesman said: “It is not true that migrant workers are paid lower rates. All of our agency staff, regardless of origin, are on the same rate of pay.”

The background for the article is understood to have come from a Unite survey, which uncovered “unacceptable differences” between terms and conditions for permanent and agency staff. Unite said that it was currently seeking to verify the findings of this survey with agencies and employers.

Tony Burke, Unite assistant general secretary, said the campaign targeted unequal pay and conditions between permanent and temporary staff and the “systematic replacement” of permanent staff with cheaper agency staff. “There’s no place for this sort of treatment in the industry,” he said.
Source: printweek

Wal-Mart's smaller detergent bottle to reduce packaging

Wal-Mart will decide whether to roll out a packaging-saving plan for liquid detergents to the UK and the rest of the world once it has assessed results in the US and Canada.

The retailer said yesterday (26 September) that it would sell only smaller bottles of double-concentrate liquid detergents in stores in the US and Canada from May 2008. Wal-Mart said this would save more than 45,000 tonnes of plastic resin, 59,000 tonnes of cardboard and 1.6 billion litres of water over three years.

Sales are expected to reach more than 800 million bottles over the same period in these two regions. Wal-Mart sells around a quarter of all the liquid detergent sold in the US.

Although the technology to concentrate liquid detergent has been available for more than a decade, Wal-Mart said it had been "little used due to lack of interest in commercialisation".

In 2005, the firm worked with Unilever to reduce the packaging of its liquid detergents and the following year unveiled "All Small & Mighty" bottles in the US.

These were launched in the UK earlier this year for the Persil and Surf brands. Unilever claimed the switch had reduced packaging by 40% and water usage and shipping volumes by 60%.

Procter & Gamble followed Unilever's lead in the US earlier this year.
Source: packagingnews

Lancashire plant could fill domestic PET recyclate vacuum

UK supply of recycled plastics for packaging is to receive a major boost in October when the country's most sophisticated PET and HDPE bottle recycling plant opens.

Intercontinental Recycling's site at Skelmersdale, Lancashire, is completing trials for an estimated input capacity of 30,000 tonnes, and a high projected yield of post-consumer recycled (PCR) PET flake and HDPE pellet in roughly equal volumes.

Intercontinental's initial PET output will be aimed at the sheet and non-food bottle market, said general manager Lee Clayton. But the subsequent addition of an extruder to allow food-grade PET pellet production is highly likely, alongside continued production of PCR flake for a range of feedstock options.

"It's a matter of establishing ourselves in markets for flake, which we know we have," said Clayton. "The natural progression is then to go to food-grade."

Demand for food-grade PET is on the increase, and both Innocent and Ribena are having to source material from Europe in their move to 100% recycled PET bottles.

The Intercontinental plant, the result of a "multi million-pound investment", will start production months before the Closed Loop London PET recycling facility in Dagenham, east London, which is likely to begin operations in March or April 2008.

Clayton said: "Our aim must be to work with suppliers to increase the yield from bottle collections. But we can accept a range of qualities, and if feedstock from a local authority supplier temporarily falls below normal levels of contamination, we can still handle it."

Clayton and commercial manager Stuart Kershaw said the firm would like to source much of its mixed plastics bottle waste from the Merseyside-Greater Manchester corridor, but supply is likely to come from all parts of the UK.
Source: packagingnews

Adept Unveils High-Speed Packaging Robot

Vision-guided robotics specialists Adept Technology has unveiled a new high-speed kinematic robot with a unique four-arm design for pick-and-place packaging applications.

The Adept Quattro s650 features a rotational platform designed for maximum speed and acceleration in a one-at-a-time packaging, manufacturing, material handling, kitting and assembly applications in the food, medical and consumer goods industries.

Adept president John Dulchinos says the new technology is 'the world's fastest robot'.

"The Adept Quattro represents the first significantly new innovation in the industrial robotics market in many years," he says.

"The performance and capabilities of the Quattro kinematic enables a new class of cost-effective flexible packaging solutions."
Source: packaging-technology

KBA sells gravure business to Cerutti

German press giant Koenig & Bauer (KBA) has signed a deal to transfer its entire intellectual property portfolio to Italy's Cerutti group for an undisclosed sum.

The deal covers "know-how, industrial designs and patents" for its rotogravure printing presses aimed at the magazine, catalogue and decorative paper markets.
Cerutti makes rotogravure and flexo presses and also offers a range of die cutters. The new deal will see KBA manufacture folders for all new Cerutti publication rotogravure presses.

KBA said in a statement that it would continue to offer after-sales services for all equipment sold up to the date of the transaction.

It said that weak demand in the gravure sector, exacerbated by 18 months of slowing demand from the newspaper industry led to the decision.

The agreement will allow KBA to downsize operations at its newspaper production plants and expects "personnel changes" at its Frankenthal facility.

The deal is unlikely to affect the company’s full year financial expectations, it said.

Source: printweek

Does media ‘think smart’ about packaging?

Printed on 100-percent recycled fiber, the 16-page Sept. 17-20, 2007 USA Weekend newspaper supplement, “Think Smart, The Green Issue, a special midweek edition of your favorite weekend magazine,” delivered “37 exciting, easy ways to help Earth.” Among the issue’s packaging-related recommendations were the following:

• Buy eco-friendly cosmetics. Organic makeup is only part of it; consider the packaging, too. Some containers are designed to degrade, like Cargo’s PlantLove lipstick tubes (shown), which are made of corn. And the boxes they come in are infused with seeds; plant them and they’ll grow.

• Don’t microwave food in plastic. “Every plastic thing you buy starts as oil and never degrades,” according to Wendy Gordon, general manager of National Geographic’s The Green Guide.

• Use powder detergents. “Laundry liquids contain 70-percent to 80-percent water,” said Gordon in the issue. “It costs energy and packaging to bring this water to the consumer, which is unnecessary when your machine adds it.”

• Use biodegradable packing material. Grab biodegradable packaging peanuts to secure your stuff. Available at many packaging-supply stores, they’re made from cornstarch and will dissolve in water. No more wasted space in landfills. Organic packing materials are static-free. And don’t you hate it when Styrofoam peanuts stick to your clothes?”

• Skip the bottled water. The oil used to make plastic water bottles in this country is enough to fuel about 100,000 cars for one year. Plus, only one in six bottles was recycled in 2004.

A packaging response

Packaging World and Healthcare Packaging magazines help support the packaging community through articles that demonstrate to packaging professionals how certain packaging strategies, machinery, and materials benefit companies, particularly end-user packagers of foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and other consumer products. These publications report on the issues and trends that have an impact within the packaging community.

Because the publications support packaging, they carry a pro-packaging bias, but they’re fact-based. Editorials and opinion pieces such as this one are identified. Every case history application story is the result of improving a packaging process that was limiting in some way—perhaps an inefficient machine or line, the use of excessive labor or material, an outdated packaging design, etc. Each is a real-world testimonial from an end user.

Rarely, however, does mass media present stories where packaging helps prevent vital food or drugs from spoiling, or when a bottled water producer lightweights its bottles or a food manufacturer downgauges a packaging material. Four of the five examples above from “ThinkSmart, The Green Issue,” demonstrate a negative perspective regarding packaging.

With that in mind, it’s a good thing that sustainability is receiving so much attention from the trade press. Wherever your company operates in the packaging space, it wouldn’t hurt to demonstrate any pro-environmental efforts your company makes through its manufacturing or packaging operations through the media, whether local or national. Let the public know that not only do you provide a good product, but that you produce and package that product in an environmentally responsible manner.
Source: packworld

Clondalkin fixes sights on Eastern Europe and 'big acquisitions'

Clondalkin Group wants to buy more packaging businesses in Eastern Europe as part of plans to double turnover within five years.

In an exclusive interview with Packaging News, group finance director Colman O'Neill and specialist packaging division sales and marketing director Chris Hill outlined Clondalkin's ambitions to build on its presence in Poland, where it already operates in the carton, label and pharmaceutical sectors.

However, O'Neill said Clondalkin had no plans at this stage to start production in developing markets in the Far East.

With the acquisitions this year of Canada's Direct Plastics Group, Keller Crescent in the US, and Dublin-based Kenilworth Products, the Irish group's turnover has grown to around £600m (€870m).

O'Neill added that with the backing of private equity firm Warburg Pincus, which bought the group in 2004 and is known as a "development house", Clondalkin had the clout to go after "big acquisitions".

Clondalkin also plans to make greater use of its group identity. It has allowed acquired companies, such as Harlands of Hull, to continue to use well-established brand names, but O'Neill said the success of the Clondalkin brand in raising money in the financial world "should and ought to transfer to the business world as well".

However, Hill said this would not lead to the elimination of individual identities.

"There could be a downside to absorbing companies such as Harlands and them becoming Clondalkin this or that," he added. "We are looking at a hybrid, so people know these companies do belong to a big group."
Source: packagingnews

Global unions rally to force workers' rights deal from RR Donnelley

Unite has banded with other trade unions around the world to push multinational print powerhouse RR Donnelley to sign a global agreement on workers' rights.

National officer for the union, Steve Sibbald, met with delegates from unions such as Teamsters, which represents 1m members in North America, Conatig of Brazil, Filpac-CG of France, and Cep of Canada, earlier this month to push for action from Donnelley.

Trade unions have recognition from the company in the UK and Europe and Latin America, but global union UNI wants an agreement to cover North America, China and India on issues such as child labour, discrimination on the job and forced labour.

The union first raised its request in April and claimed that Donnelley has not responded at all since then.

"It is unthinkable that a company such as Donnelley should go against fundamental ILO standards regarding child labour, discrimination on the job, or forced labour," said Sibbald.

"Nevertheless, the lack of dialogue with a trade union of the importance of the Teamsters or the lack of response to the request for a meeting sent by UNI concerns us deeply, and we are sure that it must also concern most part of its shareholders."

UNI, which has 15m members around the world, has signed global agreements with other multinational companies in the sector, including Dutch Uradius, South African Nampak and Canadian Quebecor.

Duncan Brown, president of the UNI graphical working group on multinationals, said: "Global agreements are a key instrument for the companies as well as the unions to oversee the implementation of responsible corporate policies."

Donnelley was unavailable for comment.
Source: printweek

Nightingale Press takes delivery of ECRM DPX 2

Hertfordshire-based Nightingale Press has installed an ECRM DPX 2 computer-to-plate system from UK distributor Apex Digital Graphics.

Nightingale Press managing director Peter Mathews said the machine replaced an eight-year-old version of the original DPX System.

"The old one had never let us down, but we knew that it was time to upgrade the machine in order to keep our plate production at its optimum," Mathews said.

"We did take the opportunity to check the market to see if there were any other similar machines available from other suppliers, but we found nothing to compare with the output quality of the polyester plates produced by the DPX."

Mathews added that the DPX 2 provided additional features, such as a more efficient and more user-friendly software RIP, cleaning and replenishment alerts for the hardware and smaller chemistry tanks working in conjunction with the automated replenishment system.

Nightingale runs a two-colour Ryobi press and a single-colour Heidelberg, with production consisting of mainly short-run four-colour periodical, book and general commercial work. The company has also recently invested in a Konica Minolta C450 digital copier/printer for very short runs.

The ECRM DPX 2 made its UK debut at Northprint in Harrogate in April this year. It needs fewer sensors in the feed and vacuum systems, and the laser is now mounted on the control board, with a fibre optic cable transferring the light to the optical system.

It produces a maximum of 20 plates per hour at 2,540dpi and carries a list price of £32,950.
Source: printweek

Rexam Russia Bid Blocked

Rexam's $297m purchase of Russia's beverage can maker Rostar, has been blocked by Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS).

The FAS said the purchase would distort competition in the beverage can industry.

The proposed acquisition of Rostar would have given Rexam more than 96% of the Russian can-making market.

UK-based packaging company Rexam, who is currently the world's biggest maker of cans, has reportedly not given up on the venture.

Rexam, whose customers include Red Bull GmbH and PepsiCo, is seeking new markets as US growth in can consumption stagnates.
Source: packaging-technology

Europen looks for quicker and more open rulings on Euro law breaches

The European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment (Europen) has called for greater speed and transparency in the way the European Commission (EC) deals with member states that infringe community law.

While it welcomed much of an EC policy document, published on 5 September, it said proposals did "not go far enough", and called on national capitals to "act responsibly" when they sign up to legislation.

The policy document called for greater "clarity, simplicity, operability and enforceability" on legislation and better response mechanisms to deal with complaints. It also said there should be a prioritisation of cases and better dialogue between institutions and the general public.

However, Europen said the way in which the EC managed disputes over member states infringing EU laws was "frequently the cause of costly market disruptions for the packaging and packaged goods industries".

Europen also said the EC should seek "more effective involvement of complainants" and transparency in dealings with member states – such contacts remain confidential while infringement cases are investigated.

European has previously criticised some EU member states, including Belgium, Denmark, Germany and Hungary, for distorting the single packaging market by imposing 'stealth taxes'.
Source: packagingnews

Hobbs buys Lithrone S29 for five-colour boost

Hobbs the Printers has moved away from being a 100% Heidelberg house after buying in a five-colour Komori Lithrone S29.

The Southampton-based printer has replaced its four-colour Heidelberg 74 with the Lithrone, which will significantly increase its colour-printing capacity and attract new work, said the firm.

Graham Bromley, deputy managing director at £10m-turnover Hobbs, told printweek.com: "We were impressed with Komori's clear commitment at the top of the organisation.

"The machine has high levels of automation, a fantastic closed-loop colour control system and it runs alcohol-free, which was of great importance to our company."

The investment comes on the back of a £1m spend by the ISO 14001- and 18001-accredited company last year. The 180-strong company also acquired an HP Indigo 5000 digital press, an Autobond laminator, Horizon binder and upgrade of its Esko Scope workflow system as part of the outlay.

Hobbs' offerings include typesetting to print on demand for customers primarily in legal and financial, academic journals and the general publishing sector.

The company, which was was established in 1884, operates from a 7,430sqm plant and has clients based in London and Oxford.
Source: printweek

Packaging wields the power in luncheon meat market

About half of American households are purchasing luncheon meat sold in pouches, while sales of the product in other types of packaging have fallen, a new report says.

US households spent about $3.75bn on luncheon meat in pouches in 2006, marking a doubling of sales from 2003, according to US market analyst Nielson Homescan Consumer Facts.

Sales of luncheon meat not sold in pouches, however, went down, indicating that easy-to-handle packaging is the key driver in the processed meat industry, and perhaps is more important to consumers than the quality of the product itself.

"As a package form, deli pouches are seriously outpacing other segments of sliced and non-sliced lunchmeat," Nielson stated in the report.

Pouches containing the high-protein treat were bought by 56.2 per cent of American families, marking a doubling of sales from 2003, the report stated.

This segment also represents 34 percent of the dollar volume of the total lunchmeat category, compared with four years ago, when it contributed just 19 percent of sales, the report added.

Pouches of luncheon meat that ticked the health trend were particularly popular, the report said, with sales of organic, natural and low-fat pouches flying off the shelves.

According to Neilson, organic boasted a 68.6 percent growth leap in dollar sales to $15.1m, natural varieties soared by 47.8 percent in dollar sales to $98.6m, a growth rate double that of the prior year, while fat-presence data for lunchmeat showed explosive sales trends for the "absence of specific fat" varieties rose a massive 987.8 percent rise to $2.0 million in pouches.

However, sales of refrigerated sliced lunchmeat have fallen to $2.17bn, from $2.48bn in 2003.

"It has slid by 1.3 percent, 3.0 percent, 4.1 percent and 4.8 percent in dollar sales each year," the report said.

The food container market is currently experiencing overall growth in the US, as smaller household sizes and rising personal containers drive the demand for convenient packaging.

According to the Freedonia Group, US demand for food containers will climb 3.3 per cent a year and reach $23.5 billion by 2011.

Plastic containers and bags will experience the fastest growth, with the market worth $9.9bn in 2011 from $8.0bn in 2006, driven by its performance attributes and an increasing demand for smaller packages sizes, the group said.

As a material for rigid packaging, plastic will continue to outpace paperboard, metal and glass in terms of percentage growth. Rigid plastic container demand is expected to grow 6.3 per cent each year from $3.3bn in 2006 to $4.5bn in 2011.

Stand-up pouches with their visual appeal, product differentiation, convenience and portability will drive demand, along with reclosability and freshness protection, the study said.

The study estimates that container demand for the fruit and vegetable market with increase at an average pace, faster growth will be experienced for pouches, bags, salad containers and other ready-to-cook fresh produce sold in plastic packaging.

Gains are expected especially for meat and related products, dairy, and frozen specialty foods, because of shipment growth and more convenience targeted products on the market, which are often value added and designed to extend shelf life or aid access.
Source: packwire

Packaging Hall of Fame selects three inductees

Terry Bedell, William LeMaire, and Jerome Heckman will be inducted into the Packaging Hall of Fame™ Class of 2007 at a ceremony in October as part of Pack Expo Las Vegas. PELV is produced by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (www.pmmi.org). The Packaging Hall of Fame is administered by the PMMI Education and Training Foundation.


Now retired, Terry Bedell has always championed packaging's role in the environment. He devoted 28 years working at Clorox, overseeing the first major redesign of the Clorox bleach bottle, the introduction of a trigger-sprayer package for Formula 409, and the developments of the following: a water-soluble package for Act laundry detergent, the Fresh Step crystals stand-up pouch, the Clorox bleach pen, and Clorox toilet and bath wands. Bedell managed packaging- and product-related environmental issues for Clorox as director of environmental packaging for 10 years. He also served in leadership roles with trade associations and is recognized as an industry expert on packaging and solid waste issues and household hazardous waste.


William LeMaire produced informational vehicles that promoted the dissemination and understanding of packaging developments, first with Package Engineering magazine in 1972, finishing with the sale of Packaging Strategies in 1999. He provided information and insight for engineering, purchasing, marketing, and management functions of food and pharmaceutical companies, extending the understanding of the complex relationships of packaging with the product and the consumer.


PMMI describes Jerome Heckman as "one of the most prominent attorneys working on the global regulation of packaging for over 50 years. One of Heckman's greatest achievements was establishing the FDA's Food Contact Notification Program. Heckman was also instrumental in the passage of the FDA Modernization Act in 1997, which helped create the FCN Program." Among Heckman's awards and honors are the Director's Special Citation Award from the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition in 2000 for his role in the creation of the FCN Program and the International Achievement Award from the International Society of Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology in 2005.

Each year since 1971, the Packaging Hall of Fame has recognized professionals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of packaging technology.

TYB930/850A/850B Gilding and Mould Cutting Dual-purpose Machine

Main Technical Parameter:

Mdel Area of large lettering plate Max.Area of paper Continuous lettering speed Groups of foil-feeding Times of skip Max.electro thermal power Motor power Machine's weight Overall Dimensions(L×W×H) TYB850A 800×500mm 940×550mm 24 ± 1(storkes/min) 2(sets) 0-99(times) 6kw 2.2kw 2400kg 1700×1300×1700mm TYB850B 800×500mm 940×550mm 24 ± 1(storkes/min) 3(sets) 0-99(times) 6kw 2.2kw 2400kg 1700×1300×1700mm TYB930 900×550mm 1040×600mm 24 ± 1(storkes/min) 3(sets) 0-99(times) 6kw 2.2kw 2800kg 1750×1350×1750mm

Model TYMK930/720 Gilding and Mould Cutting Dual-purpose Machine

Main Technical Parameter:

Model Area of large lettering plate Continuous lettering speed Groups of foil-feeding Common foil feeding Times of skip Total electro thermal power Machine'sweight Overall dimensions(L×W×H) TYMK 720 720×520MM 26 ± 2 (storkes/min) 2(sets) 1-450mm 0-99(times) 6kw 2000kg 1700×1400×1700mm TYMK 930 900×600mm 23 ± 2(storkes/min) 3(sets) 1-600mm 0-99(times) 10kw 3000kg 1800×1600×1750mm

Microcomputer Gilding and Mould Cutting Dual-purpose Machine

Feature: The machine is controlled by a chip microprocessor, with the foil-feeding rubber roller of electrochemical aluminum driven by the stepping motor. User can simaltaneously use two sets or three sets of stepping motor and separately set length and leapfrog parameters to make the most effective using of electrochemical aluminum. The purpose of this model is to ensure that the system runs stably and reliably so that the machine can be maintained by anybody.

Main Technical Parameter:

Model Area of large lettering plate Continuous lettering speed Groups of foil-feeding Common foil feeding Times of skip Total electro thermal power Machine's weight Overall dimensions(L×W×H) TYMK 930 900×600mm 23±2次/分 3组 1-600mm 0-99次 10kw 3000kg 1800×1600×1750mm

QFJ1100-2800C Multi-functional Computer Control Dissection Rewinder

Feature: This machine can dissect, cut and rewind materials from 50 gram to 800 gram in weight, such as various paper, polypropylene and polyethylene for printing and packing, composite material, mono layer aluminum foil, and so on. It has the features of photo electricity tracing rectification system, hydraulic rectification system, rolling materials automatic hoist, precise dissection width, high working speed, etc.

Main Technical Parameter:

Mainframe power Torgue motor Speed of dissection Max. Letoff diameter Max. Windup diameter Weight Overall dimensions(L×W×H) 3-15kw 40-100N/m 16-200m/min 1500mm 1300mm 2500-8000kg 2600×2200-3500×1600mm

HJ-800/1300 Vertical and Horizontal Cutting Machine

Feature: The machine is applied to the vertical and horizontal cutting of the paper, trademark, cigarette mark, calendar, package box for wine, combined paper-plastic material etc.

Function: horizontal-cut by flat-knife, automatic feeding and stacking, photoelectric tacking.

Main Technical Parameter:

Horizontal-cut speed Horizontal-cut width Horizontal-cut length position accuracy mechanical pace Total power 80m/min 200-1300mm 20-1500mm ±0.3mm/pcs 20-150time/min 4.5kw Note: Type I without skew adjustment device and automatic paper stacking device, Type II with skew adjustment device and no automatic paper stacking device, Type III with both skew adjustment device and automatic paper stacking device

Model HQD-1100/1300 Computer Control High-precision Crosscutting Machine

Main Technical Parameter:

Model Max. Cutting width Max. Unwinding diameter Cutting length Cutting speed Cutting accuracy Error of diagonal length of cut finished product Range of paper Stacking height Total power Machine weight Overall dimension 1100 1100mm φ1600mm 200-1300mm 50m/min ±0.15-0.2mm ±0.2mm 70-350g/m2 1000mm 8.0kw 6000kg 8600×3000×1800mm 1300 1300mm φ1600mm 200-1300mm 50m/min ±0.15-0.2mm ±0.2 70-350g/m2 1000mm 8.0kw 7000kg 8600×3000×1800mm

HQD-1100/1300Servo Driving Computer Control High-precision Crosscutting Machine

Feature： This machine is applied for vertically and horizontally cutting golden and silver cardboard, plain paper with rainbow pattern, P-holographic paper,white cardboard, plastic rolled material etc. This machine adopts an advanced control mode , and achieves synchro-operation by centrally controlling the speed of main machine, servo motor and feeding motor, with the advantages of high cutting accuracy, high speed and easy feeding. Its control apparatus is using an industrial control computer with advanced technology, consisting of 15″digital color display, photoelectric sensor, Japanese Panasonic servo motor and driver as well as high quality transducer.

Main Technical Parameter:

Model Max. Cutting width Max. Unwinding diameter Cutting length Cutting speed Cutting accuracy Range of paper Stacking height Total power Machine weight Overall dimension 1100 1100mm φ1600mm 200-1300mm 50m/min ±0.15-0.2mm 70-350g/m2 500mm 8.0kw 6000kg 8600×2100×1200mm 1300 1300mm φ1600mm 200-1300mm 50m/min ±0.15-0.2mm 70-350g/m2 500mm 8.0kw 7000kg 8600×2400×1200mm

Flat Indention Tangential Machine ML Model

Ruling Engine for Self Adhesive WS600

Cutting Machine for Electrochemical Aluminium HX-680

Eyelet Machine for Paper Products CK-600

Squared Embossing Machine for Book Covers/Paper Shredder HX-650

Corrugated Paperboard Glue-Coating Machine SJ Series

Counter-pattern Regulating Glue-Coating Machine SJ Series

Manual Operation Corner Cutter CJ-60

Double-end Buttonhole Drilling Machine

High-speed Electric Drilling Machine-HX210

Double-end Drilling Machine HX210A(Manual Operation/Pneumatic)

Multifunctional Stamping Machine-HX358

Packaging Federation's Searle calls for balance in Tory packaging policy

Packaging Federation chief Dick Searle has criticised the Conservatives' Quality of Life policy report for being "too black and white" in its views on packaging, but said it was "a step in the right direction".

The report, which was published yesterday (13 September), is likely to form the backbone of the Tories' environmental policy, but Searle said there was still a "lack of joined-up thinking" about packaging waste.

"When will we start looking at environmental balance [for the disposal of materials]?" he asked. "The report suggests that nothing that is recyclable should be incinerated, but shipping plastic across the country to incineration is not always the best option."

The report also said that by 2010, no aluminium should be sent to landfill, and by 2015, no biodegradeable materials.

Searle backed the proposed creation of a National Resources Trust, saying there needed to be "a focal point and better leadership" in the debate, and said the report was also "quite good at identifying issues with local authority collection that need to be addressed".

But he said the continued disproportionate focus on packaging was "frustrating", and failed to look at the bigger picture of implementing "a massive change in lifestyle".

The report also considers deposits on drinks bottles, using refillable containers in supermarkets, and exempting manufacturers of compostable packaging from take-back liabilities.

Source: packagingnews

Pliant Unveils New Packaging Film

Pliant Corporation, a blown, coextruded film manufacturer, has introduced a new line of engineered films for food and liquid packaging applications.

The films can be used for dry and liquid products and are engineered to reduce flavour and aroma transfer through packaging to ensure products remain fresh.

Pliant says using flexible packaging for bulk food and liquid can help manufacturers meet sustainability objectives through reducing packaging materials.

The film also enables manufacturers to provide cleaner and more convenient access to products as well as a more compact way to store ingredients than traditional canisters.
Source: packaging-technology

Packaging and Films Association to fight London plastic bags tax

The Packaging and Films Association (PAFA) will fight the case for plastic bags with "science rather than spin", after London Councils launched a consultation on possible taxes or even an outright ban on free shopping bags.

Spokesman Peter Woodall said PAFA would work hard to convince people that removing plastic carrier bags was not necessarily the most environmentally friendly option.

"We estimate that a switch to paper bags would be like putting an extra 32,000 lorries on London's roads," he said.

Moreover, a ban would have to apply to all outlets, not just the major multiples, so smaller businesses would be hit hard.

"Charity shops rely on reused plastic bags for people to bring their items to the store, and take purchases away," added Woodall.

London Councils, the body that represents the capital's local authorities, is asking Londoners to consider a full range of options for carrier bags – from doing nothing to an outright ban on all bags, or just plastic ones.

The consultation will run until Friday 26 October. To take part, visit www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/thebigquestion.

• Flexible packaging manufacturer Skymark, based in Herefordshire, is to give away its 'Million Bags 4 Life' reusable shopping bags to retailers free of charge. Companies can advertise on the bags to "promote the reduction of plastic waste", and revenue will be invested in projects such as recycling capabilities. For more information, visit http://www.millionbags4life.com/.
Source: packagingnews

Pantone reacts to Goe criticism with colour guide revision

Pantone has updated the colour guide to its new Goe spot colour system following industry criticism at the Graph Expo show in Chicago.

The company today (14 September) stated explicitly that the RGB values on its colour guides are sRGB, after VIGC, the Flemish Innovation Centre for Graphic Communication, said the system had "serious issues in terms of design and documentation".

VIGC managing director Eddy Hagen contacted Pantone after testing the new system on two Adobe Photoshop documents, one with sRGB as its colour space and the other with AdobeRGB.

He selected a colour patch from the new system and entered the RGB numbers provided, which resulted in different colours.

VIGC has applauded Pantone for its speedy response, but has called on the company to apply the same specifications to the patches and the user interface of its software.

Pantone Goe has 2,058 colours and is designed to make it easier for printers to achieve high-quality results.

The Goe launch comes as Pantone is taken over by X-Rite in a £90m ($180m) deal.
Source: packagingnews

PrintIT! goes from strength to strength with best year yet

The print industry's schools initiative PrintIT! has signed up record numbers of both schools and students for this academic year.

Some 500 schools – up 21% on last year's 412 – are participating in the project, with an average of 43 students per school getting involved. Last year, the figure averaged 40.

The project, which is aimed at Year 10 students in their first-year GCSE, has become so popular that PrintIT! is finding demand from students in Year 9 as well.

Its growing popularity is placing increased pressure on the 100 or so printers that have twinned with the schools to contribute to the project.

PrintIT! project director at Proskills Paul Evans told printweek.com that getting involved "is a fairly altruistic thing", but can lead to strong, and even business, relationships between them.

The initiative has also introduced a new category to its awards of "Best Twinners" to recognise the work of these companies, which give up their time to talk to the schools and sometimes bring students onsite to familiarise them with the industry.

The Fairtrade Foundation-orientated design project forms part of the study course for GCSE Graphic Products students, and is curriculum mapped, with a host of resources available to teachers and a prizes of up to £20,000 for schools and students.
Source: printweek

Printing World magazine merges with sister title PrintBuyer

As of the September 2007 issue, out today (14 September), PrintBuyer magazine will be integrated into Printing World, thus expanding the title to more than 50 pages of in-depth editorial coverage.

Printing World has added an extra environmental page offering the definitive word on making print greener. Through this column, readers will have the chance to voice opinions on relevant environmental issues and debunk the environmental myths that pervade the sector. Email printingworld.editorial@haymarket.com if you want to take an active part in this section of the magazine.

The integrated PrintBuyer magazine continues to extend its range of practical information for print buyers. September’s best practice feature leads readers through the pros and cons of e-auctions. An additional new feature will profile a print buyer. This month, we find out how Gordon Jansen, design and production manager at the NSPCC, has made savings of £2.5m over the last three years.

Also, in this month's PrintBuyer will be the combined spotlight and league table feature, looking at finishing techniques to add value to printed products.

In December's issue, this feature will take an in-depth look at the UK's greenest printers and their products and how the growth of purely digital printers means they will now merit their own league table and spotlight on their wares. They will be inspected early in the new year.

The circulation of Printing World is now extremely comprehensive with a further 6,500 print buyers added to its current distribution list of more than 8,000 print professionals, bringing the total circulation to more than 14,500.
Source: printweek

Xerox lands £41m print deal with auto firm Europart

Xerox has bagged a £41m pan-European deal to supply print services to leading car and machinery parts supplier Europart, bringing extra work to its print partners.

Under the terms of the seven-year deal, Xerox Global Services will manage the group's on- and off-site services from March 2008.

It is to remove existing printing kit at Europart, including three Xerox iGen3 production presses and 600 departmental scanners, printers and faxes.

The latter kit will be replaced with 232 networked multifunction Xerox machines, while Xerox Premier Partners will take over the production of Europart documents, including sales and marketing brochures.

Xerox has 38 Premier Partners in the UK, including Hewitt Digital, Adare and Image Data.

The deal also includes invoice approval and delivery order management systems, plus customer contact centre services through a partnership with SNT AG.

Once in place, the new contract guarantees savings of 20% in some areas of the business.

Europart director Alexander Graf von Matuschka-Greiffenclau said: "We have been extremely impressed by both the advisory skills and creative solutions that Xerox has offered us."

There was no incumbent supplier replaced, nor were there any competitors to the deal.
Source: printweek

Alcan's packaging arm discusses Mumbai acquisition

An Indian company is in talks with Alcan in the hope it can purchase its packaging company, a report in India's Economic Times says.

The Mumbai-based personal care packaging company Essel Propack will be propelled as a global leader if the deal goes ahead with Montreal-based Alcan Packaging Beauty.

Neither company has responded to media questions on the deal.

Alcan is preparing for a proposed takeover by mining giant Rio Tinto for almost $38bn – part of which includes selling off its packaging unit under aspects of the acquisition deal.
Source: packaging-technology

Tetra Pak pushes for higher carton recycling rate

Tetra Pak UK hopes to offer beverage carton recycling in more than 70% of UK local authorities by the end of 2007.

The company currently offers recycling facilities in more than 50% of municipalities in the UK as part of its drive to decrease landfill from beverage cartons in Europe.

Beverage carton recycling rates have grown to 30% in Europe over the last decade, according to a report this week from the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE), of which Tetra Pak is a member.

Approximately 12 billion beverage cartons, representing 313,000 tonnes, were recycled in Europe in 2006, the report said.

"This is one of our practical responses to tackling climate change," said ACE president Erika Mink.

Combined recycling and recovery rates reached 639,000 tonnes within the EU, Switzerland and Norway.

Polish ACE members also signed a voluntary agreement with the food, juice and dairy associations, the packaging chain and the Polish environment ministry to deliver a 15% recycling rate of beverage cartons by 2014.

ACE focuses on technical innovations to recover the non-fibre components of the packs and encourages collections in countries without collection schemes.
Source: packagingnews

Coke Gets a Grip on Changing Times

North American's said they wanted it and soon, after more than a decade, Coca-Cola will release a new bottle design in early 2008.

The beverage maker has reflected environmental concerns by reducing the amount of polyethylene terephthalate by 5% for its new bottles.

The real change comes, however, with the company's moves to action its 'Get a Grip on Your Thirst' slogan with new contours it says makes the bottle easier to hold, with a shorter cap that also improves opening.

The new bottle will be on US shelves early next year.
Source: packaging-technology

Technotrans shows off alcohol-reduction kit

Technotrans hopes to raise awareness of alcohol-reduction throughout the printing process at Komori's Facing the Future workshop this October.

The liquid technology systems supplier will showcase its products on a range of Komori machines at the Leeds event, which runs on 8-11 October.

On display will be a Komori Lithrone 640 fitted with an array of technotrans technology for reducing alcohol-usage, such as the beta.c 220L, combining dampening solution preparation with ink roller temperature control in a single unit.

Alcosmart measures the alcohol concentration to very fine tolerances, vital when dosing below 5%, while its beta.f dampening solution fine filtration unit is retrofitted to keep the dampening solution clean and consistent.

This ensures that print quality is enhanced, while costs are minimised by reducing chemistry, filters and maintenance time.

In addition, technotrans will be demonstrating its Softflow dampening filtration technology on a Komori Lithrone 1029.

It offers a large filter area up to three times bigger than a normal mat filter, and only requires changing every three to four months.

Standard retrofits are available for under £600, including installation

Technotrans operations director Peter Benton told printweek.com: "In the print industry, there is a lot of investment in new machinery, but often there is a lot you can do with the older machinery by adding to it, at a lower-cost.

"There is so much pressure put on printers. A major drive behind buying new equipment is often to consider the environment and gain accreditations."
Source: printweek

XMPie unveils mid-range variable data bundle

XMPie is strengthening its variable-data publishing (VDP) offerings with the release of uDirect Studio.

The package combines VDP software uDirect Standard with image personalisation programme uImage 3.0.

Its uDirect Studio product takes the middle ground between the relatively simple rules and data functionality of uDirect Standard and the sophisticated data and programming models found in uDirect Professional.

The software integrates VDP and image personalisation for Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator users.

It also includes support for uChart, which offers provision for integrated variable-data graphs and charts.

XMPie president Jacob Aizikowitz said: "With uDirect Studio, the design and print communities can elevate the impact of VDP by demonstrating that creativity is just as critical as information relevancy."

The company is also set to launch uImage Extension Server for PersonalEffect, its uDirect Studio-compatible publishing software. The add-on improves the overall processing time for uImage-intensive VDP jobs in PersonalEffect.

UK pricing and launch dates were not available at the time of writing.
Source: printweek

Firstan management eye acquisitions after buyout

Firstan, the Cambridge-based packaging printer, is on the lookout for acquisitions after completing a secondary buyout from Lloyds TSB Development Capital.

The deal, backed by asset-based lending firm KBC Business Capital, completes a process started in 1999 when Firstan managing director Andrew Hartwig led a management buyout of the firm with backing from Lloyds.

Hartwig, along with his brother Paul, who is the firm's production director, and sales director Jeff Oakley, are behind the latest deal.

The £15m-turnover firm, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, employs around 130 staff at its Cambridge site, where it runs four six-colour UV Mitsubishi presses.

Paul Hartwig said the firm wanted to make acquisitions in the UK and possibly overseas in the future.

The latest transaction has enabled Firstan to buy out Lloyds TSB's share in the business and repay loan stock.

Firstan specialises in packaging for the food, pharmaceutical and confectionery markets and offers a full range of services including design, printing, finishing and logistics.
Source: packagingnews

MBO team takes control at M&H Plastics

M&H Plastics, the Beccles-based plastics packaging producer, has been bought by its management with backing from the Bank of Scotland.

The management team, led by chief executive Mark Bryant, will hold a majority stake in the business, while Bank of Scotland Integrated Finance, which has provided a debt and equity package, will take a minority holding.

M&H employs around 500 staff at its 45,000sqm site in Beccles, where it produces plastic bottles, caps, flexible tubes, jars and containers for the personal and healthcare markets. The firm also has a plant in Virginia in the US.

M&H had been bought by affiliates of JP Morgan Partners in 2003. In August 2006, CCMP Capital took on the management of the investment on behalf of JP Morgan.
Source: packagingnews

Quebecor and Wyndeham lose top Emap contracts to gravure

Emap has rejigged printing for some of its top consumer titles, resulting in a major blow for Quebecor World and signalling a switch to gravure for two high-profile titles.

The loss of the 558,000-circulation celebrity gossip magazine Heat to Polestar Varnicoat will leave a substantial hole in the production schedule of Corby-based Quebecor World.

Emap group production director Debrah Read said: “I really want to make clear that this [loss of Heat] isn’t through any performance-related issue. The only reason Que­be­cor won’t be printing Heat any more is that we’ve reviewed our paper stocks… and gravure is much more suitable.”

Polestar sales and marketing director James Povey added: “We’re delighted. Heat is such a major brand and we’ve wanted to print the title for many years.”

As a fillip for the Canadian-giant’s troubled UK site, Emap has moved 84,000-circulation weekly music magazine Kerrang! from Polestar to Quebecor World.

Both Heat and Kerrang! will switch in mid-October and Heat covers will be printed by Wyndeham Impact.

However, Wyndeham also suffered in the mini-review, with the news that First magazine, which was relaunched this week, has also switched to gravure.

“The reason for going gravure with First was its new larger format [340mm deep] and that we wanted gravure production values on a silk stock,” said Read.

The 107,000-circulation womens’ weekly has moved from Wyndeham Heron to Polestar’s Varnicoat and Greaves sites, where it will be printed for six issues before then moving permanently to Prinovis Liverpool.

More, which relaunched as a weekly rather than fortnightly this week, has been retained by Pindar Tewkes­bury. Read said the 260,000-run womens’ title would benefit from “increased volumes” as part of its relaunch.
Source: printweek

Consumers Confused by Green Packaging

Despite the recent emphasis on going 'green', consumers are still confused over what certain packaging terms, such as biodegradable and biopolymer mean and do not understand the best ways of recycling packaging, according to recent research.

The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) in the UK found consumers had little idea on how packaging would break down upon disposal, or if current infrastructure was available for its recycling.

Having spoken with more than 400 respondents, WRAP says it has now published a 'statement' on biopolymers to help brands and retailers better understand and label 'green' packaging.

WRAP executive director Phillip Ward says better labelling is required by the industry to help educate consumers on the full environmental benefits of new packaging.

"There is a lot of confusion about compostable packaging and biopolymers, both amongst consumers and in the industry," Ward says.

"Some of these new materials do have great potential but it is vital that they are introduced carefully, with the correct infrastructure in place, so that they can be dealt with properly once they have been used."
Source: packaging-technology

Researchers smash the inkjet resolution barrier

Scientists at the University of Illinois have made an inkjet breakthrough that offers higher print resolutions by using nano-scale nozzles and electrically induced fluid flow.

The jet-printing innovation produces dots as small as 250 nanometres (nm) and lines as narrow as 700nm.

But John Rogers, a founder professor at the Materials Science and Engineering department, told printweek.com that even greater resolutions are possible.

"We have results that suggest that possibility of 100nm. These dimensions correspond to 100,000dpi," he said. "These resolutions are experimental. We routinely can achieve dots of 1-2microns in diameter, corresponding to approximately 10,000dpi."

To achieve this level of detail, the researchers use a process known as electrohydrodynamic jet (e-jet) printing, in which electrical fields draw ink through the printhead.

The printhead used has 300nm-diameter gold-coated microcapillary nozzles mounted on a computer-controlled mechanical support.

The team successfully printed an array of fully operational transistors and electrodes onto a substrate. It is now looking into scaling up the nozzle count to improve print speeds.

In regards to real-world applications, Rogers said: "Security applications would be one example." The process could be used to create fine patterns that would be impossible to copy or replicate.

"We are most interested, however, in using the tool and approach to fabricate functional devices, in printed electronics, photovoltaics and biotechnology areas," he added.

Rogers said it could offer an economical way to print e-paper displays because "as with conventional inkjet, the materials are utilised in an efficient manner".

However, commercial realisation is some way off.

"If challenges could be overcome, one might see niche applications in five to 10 years," he said.

Source: printweek

Report tracks consolidation of plastic packaging sector

Merger mania and consolidation has hit Europe's plastics packaging sector, with private equity playing a major role in consolidating the industry, according to a new report.

The interest of private equity in the segment could help make the packaging supply chain more efficient for processors. But the trend is also consolidating suppliers, making manufacturers more dependent on fewer sources holding greater pricing power.

In the report Applied Market Information (AMI) found that the top 50 companies represent about 40 per cent of the total sales of plastics packaging in Europe in 2006, compared to 30 per cent in 2002.

The top players ranked are therefore becoming more and more powerful, according to the report.

AMI found that 14 of Europe's top 50 plastics packaging companies are now owned by private equity investors, compared with just one in 2002.

The 50 groups ranked by AMI in the report were selected on the basis of sales of plastics packaging in Europe.

From its estimates AMI calculates that the 50 groups accounted for sales of about €21bn in 2006 and used some 7.7 million tonnes of polymer materials at over 650 plants.

In AMI's top 50 plastics packaging producers survey, Amcor led the roost with estimated annual plastics packaging sales in Europe totalling €2,070m.

Australia-based Amcor only recently knocked the Austrian company Alpla-Werke off the top position, having integrated Schmalbach Lubeca's polyethylene terephthalate (PET) business into its operations.

Europe's third largest plastics packaging company, Alcan Packaging, is due to be sold this year. Rio Tinto's bid of $38.1bn for the Canada-based Alcan has been accepted by Alcan's board of directors and an announcement is expected in the third quarter of 2007.

The two companies have agreed to sell off Alcan Packaging as part of the take-over deal announced in July 2007.

"Other acquisitions highlighted in the report illustrate the high level of corporate change and restructuring taking place amongst leading plastics packaging companies," AMI stated. "These groups can often only survive in the competitive packaging business by focusing on niche segments and by expanding internationally, not just within a European context, but also globally."

The strategy so far has been achieved through a process of either divestment or merger and acquisition.

"Nearly all the major companies covered in AMI's survey have seen some significant change in structure or ownership in recent years," the analyst stated.

Other notable acquisitions over the past 12 months include Sun Capital Partners purchase of Autobar, and the sale this year by Cinven and JP Morgan of Klöckner Pentaplast to the Blackstone Group, and OEP's sale of Mauser AG to DIC.

The top 10 plastics packaging producers in Europe ranked by sales are Amcor, Alpla-Werke, Alcan Packaging, Huhtamäki, Sealed Air, Linpac, RPC, RKW, Global Closure Systems, and Klöckner Pentaplast.
Source: foodproductiondaily

Procter & Gamble unveils 'sustainable living' label

Procter and Gamble (P&G) has launched its own eco-label, in conjunction with four environmental organisations, to help "promote sustainable living".

The Future Friendly label is a response to findings that 64% of Britons want to lead more sustainable lives but are "not sure" how to go about it.

A P&G spokeswoman said the new label acted as a "signpost" for consumers to recognise products that "help them be more environmentally friendly".

In March, the Carbon Trust launched a label showing a product's carbon footprint from source to store in conjunction with Walkers, Boots and Innocent.

Future Friendly is "not a carbon label", but recognises the company's "efforts at making their products better for the environment", said Matthew Wright, director of customer insight at the Energy Saving Trust.

P&G already displays the AISE "sustainable cleaning" logo in line with the charter of the international association for soaps, detergents and maintenance products.

Signatories must independently prove they take sustainability into account in their development and manufacturing processes.

The Future Friendly logo is initially being rolled out on Lenor, Ariel, Fairy and Flash all-purpose cleaner, but P&G hopes to extend it to other brands.

Source: packagingnews

Flint hikes ink costs across Europe

Flint Group has increased printing ink prices in all market segments in Europe to offset the continued escalation in raw materials costs.

The Luxembourg-based company said increased global demand for chemicals and derivatives had driven prices to record levels.

The removal of VAT refunds on Chinese exports in July 2007 had caused "double-digit increases" for pigments and other key raw materials.

Flint Group Europe president Dirk Aulbert said that in the current environment, absorbing these costs was "simply not an option".

The company said it would contact customers with more specific information, and would honour all existing supply contracts.

Flint manufactures items such as plates, flexographic sleeve systems and inks for the printing, converting and graphic arts industries from 170 facilities worldwide.

It employs 8,300 staff and expects 2007 revenues to hit £1.73bn (€2.55bn).
Source: packagingnews

Print jobs on the line as air travel goes paperless

Suppliers of paper airline tickets will be forced to scout out new revenue streams following the International Air Transport Association (IATA) filing its final, 16.5m-strong order.

As of 1 June 2008, IATA will offer 100% e-ticketing as part of a drive that began in June 2004. This last order will provide enough stock to cover all requirements leading up to the deadline.

Munich, Germany-based Bartsch International, a leading supplier to the air industry and one of IATA's strategic partners, will be one of the worst hit, as "20% of turnover is ticketing".

Daniel Novacek, sales representative at Bartsch, which includes BMI on its client list, told printweek.com: "Many firms that supply paper tickets will collapse, and we'll end up with fewer suppliers."

The firm currently employs 275 staff, but plans to cut numbers to 220 because of the loss of IATA work.

However, Novacek earmarked new product lines and other markets as probable future earners.

"IATA is a big customer, but there are also others. For example, North Africa, the Near East and Russia – they still use paper tickets," he added.

"We have also developed new products, such as RFID baggage tags."

IATA chief executive Giovanni Bisignani said: "The cost saving of US$9 (£4.45) for every e-ticket compared with a paper ticket adds up to US$3bn (£1.47bn) in annual savings for the industry.

"And eliminating paper will save the equivalent of 50,000 mature trees each year. E-ticketing is a winning proposition for everyone."
Source: printweek

DTI's Adobe platform wins over Scottish Provincial Press Group

Digital Technology International (DTI) has completed a "half million-pound" deal to deploy its Adobe InDesign-enabled software portfolio with ex-Quark user Scottish Provincial Press Group (SPPG).

The publishing software firm began installing its NewsSpeed, AdSpeed and PlanSpeed products across the regional publisher's 15 newspapers, which include The Inverness Courier and The Northern Times, in January 2006.

SPPG will now use NewsSpeed, comprising SpeedWriter, PageSpeed and WireSpeed, to create a unified system for editorial information. Its ad delivery will be controlled electronically through AdSpeed, while PlanSpeed will link the system, which supports 100-plus users, via a central database.

SPPG project manager Jules Marchant told printweek.com that it was the advent of OS X and a perceived lack of compatibility that motivated the move to InDesign and DTI products.

"With the release of OS X, Quark didn't make a move to redesign their product. Most people chose InDesign over Quark.

While it was too early to estimate the financial benefits, Marchant said that "before, we were trying to support a very old product that was way past its sell-by date", and that the new system was "more reliable".

Marchant added that DTI's "professionalism and customer service" helped clinch the deal.
Source: printweek