November / December 2008



Features:



Horizon Label


A commitment to quality and customer service is integral to the success of this small but growing New Jersey converter.
By Steve Katz

Digital Printing


Its enthusiastic acceptance by converters of all sizes has helped the large player, the smaller suppliers and the hopefuls meet growing demand and introduce more powerful products.
By Jack Kenny

Digital Finishing


The manufacturers of digital finishing equipment are enjoying the popularity of today’s digital printing presses.
By Jack Kenny

Promotional Labeling


Economic strife has retailers, marketers and converters exploring the impact this diverse niche of products can provide.
By Steve Katz

Labels in Russia


The thirteenth Russian Label exhibition – Etiketka-Labelshow – took place in October. L&NW dispatched its Europe correspondent to Moscow to check the health of the Russian label business.
By John Penhallow

Labelexpo Americas ’08


We continue our roundup of the companies and their products that made Labelexpo 2008 in Chicago the premier North American industry event of the year.

TLMI 2008 Awards



Departments:



Narrow Web Europe


What is packaging?
By John Penhallow

Minding My Own Business


Seeing the glass as quarter full
By Elisha Tropper

Letters from the Earth


Fight ‘Green Fatigue’
By Calvin Frost

Field Report


Business scents
By Larry Arway

Printing Lean


Training Within Industry
By Tom Southworth

The Blogsmith


Social media blogs
By Peter Renton



October 2008



Features:



Online Exclusive: 'We Are Not Happy'


Economic strife strains sales and margins of label converters.
By Jack Kenny & Steve Katz

Companies to Watch


L&NW pays tribute to a select group of converters who are making noteworthy contributions to the health of the industry.
By John Penhallow, Steve Katz, and Jack Kenny

China's Label Market


China is a huge and potentially profitable market, but there are many obstacles to overcome.
By Steve Katz

TLMI's 75th Anniversary


The Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute receives tributes from some of its most active members.
By Jack Kenny

Linerless Labels


Free of release liner, these labels may be limited in shape but are more eco-friendly.
By Steve Katz

Adhesive Applicators


Applying adhesive to the web in stripes, patterns or spots can open up new markets to converters.
By Jack Kenny

Project LIFE


A new program from TLMI gives its members the capability of certifying that their plants, practices and products meet or exceed environmental standards.
By Jack Kenny

Labelexpo Americas '08


This year's Labelexpo, held in Chicago, drew a crowd of more than 12,000 attendees.

Departments:



Narrow Web Europe


Agfa: a digital dilemma
By John Penhallow

Minding My Own Business


An era worth celebrating
By Elisha Tropper

Letters from the Earth


Are you sincere?
By Calvin Frost

Field Report


The power of service
By Larry Arway

Printing Lean


Steering the wrong course
By Tom Southworth

The Blogsmith


Blogging China
By Peter Renton



September 2008



Features:



Penmar Industries


A Connecticut converter sees growth in a tough market by pursuing new opportunities and maintaining top quality standards.
By Jack Kenny

Specialty Papers


Environmental concerns are proving to be a driving force behind innovation and change for this important product.
By Steve Katz

Sleeves


Sleeves have been used for years by wide web printers, but only recently have narrow web converters begun to explore this alternative technology, both for image and ink transfer.
By Jack Kenny

Special Effects Labels


In the wake of the sustainability movement and the desire to be cost effective, special effects labels continue to evolve.
By Steve Katz

Departments:



Narrow Web Europe


Europe's press makers: Under siege?
By John Penhallow

Minding My Own Business


Survive to thrive
By Elisha Tropper

Letters from the Earth


By Calvin Frost

Field Report


Saving lives, reducing costs
By Larry Arway

Printing Lean


Becoming Lean
By Tom Southworth

The Blogsmith


Sales management blogs
By Peter Renton



July / August 2008



Features:



Mid Atlantic Label


It’s an exciting time for this award winning Maryland converter.
By Steve Katz

2008 Mid-Year Economic Report


A year of challenge
By Jack Kenny

Waste Recycling


As label converters strive for sustainability, it's important to take a look at what can become of waste.
By Steve Katz

Anilox Roll Specifications:


The author makes a case for the use of anilox cell volume as the best specification for achieving optimum ink performance and color reproduction.
By Dan Foy

Departments:



Narrow Web Europe


On the trade show trail
By John Penhallow

Minding My Own Business


Dealing with the Curve
By Elisha Tropper

Letters from the Earth


Learning from students
By Calvin Frost

Printing Lean


Manufacturing Extension Partnerships
By Tom Southworth

The Blogsmith


Economics blogs
By Peter Renton



May / June 2008



Features:



Star Label Products


A Pennsylvania converter, focusing on food and cosmetics, has the capacity and speed
By Jack Kenny

Greening the Workplace


Efforts at environmental improvement range from the simple to the complex,
By Jack Kenny

Plant Safety


Clear, organized and detailed safety programs protect the converter's greatest asset: people.
By Steve Katz

European Label Markets


Europe is a grand mixture – an agglomeration, some might say – of cultures and economies.
By John Penhallow

Materials Handling


Materials are tools of the trade, and must be handled
By Steve Katz

Label Summit Latin America


Long considered to be an emerging market for labels, Latin America is proving itself
By Steve Katz

Departments:



Narrow Web Europe


FINAT: Fighting fit at fifty
By John Penhallow

Minding My Own Business


Desperately seeking relevance
By Elisha Tropper

Letters from the Earth


Driving Green
By Calvin Frost

Field Report


Sweet, juicy and green
By Larry Arway

Printing Lean


'Clean' manufacturing is green manufacturing
By Tom Southworth

The Blogsmith


Workplace Safety Blogs
By Peter Renton



April 2008



Features:



The Control Group


A New Jersey converter has found a profitable niche
By Jack Kenny

Color Management


Refinements to color management in the digital age
By Liam O’Hara

Proofing Systems


With digital now dominant, label converters and their customers have a myriad of choices
By Steve Katz

Midweb Flexo


It’s a big investment that comes with challenges, but a midweb press can open doors to profitable markets.
By Jack Kenny

Release Liners


The release liner industry enjoys steady growth, but must address rising

Departments:



Narrow Web Europe


Return of the non-returnable bottle
By John Penhallow

Minding My Own Business


Six keys
By Elisha Tropper

Letters from the Earth


Crisis and commitment
By Calvin Frost

Field Report


Wrap artist
By Larry Arway

The Lean Report


Questions and Answers
By Tom Southworth

The Blogsmith


Color Management Blogs
By Peter Renton



March 2008



Features:



Dion Label Printing


Market diversity, pursuit of digital printing and a focus on environmental quality are hallmarks of this Massachusetts converter.
By Jack Kenny

RFID Label Market


A look at the RFID label industry since Wal-Mart’s well known mandate.
By Leah Genuario

Smart Labels


Today’s smart labels come in many forms and functions, not just RFID.
By Leah Genuario

Static Control


A moving web will create static electricity under any conditions.
By Jack Kenny

The Importance of Maintaining & Managing Anilox Inventory for Flexo Operations


By Bill Poulson

Foil: Challenges & Solutions


By Brian Hill

Online Exclusive: Scammers Target Converters


Label printers beware: Imposters are going after your dollars
By Jack Kenny

Departments:



Narrow Web Europe


Drupa is the showcase for the latest inkjet technology
By Barry Hunt

Minding My Own Business


King of the Concrete Jungle
By Elisha Tropper

Letters from the Earth


We just don't get it
By Calvin Frost

Field Report


Hang it all
By Larry Arway

Printing Lean


Kaizen
By Tom Southworth

The Blogsmith


RFID blogs
By Peter Renton



January / February 2008



Features:



Narrow Web Profile: Tabco Inc.


Specialization in a strong industry and technological savvy are keys to success for this Kansas converter.
By Jack Kenny

Wine Labeling


More so than with most products, labels sell wine. Converters work closely with wineries to provide the labels that meet or exceed expectations.
By Michelle Sartor

Foil Application


However it is applied, foil in its many varieties makes a label stand out from the crowd.
By Jack Kenny

Print Management Systems


Ever evolving to help printers and converters manage the intricacies of their operations, print management systems continue to improve business and production functions in new and useful ways. Some companies design their own systems, while others employ those designed for label converters. For this feature article we invited six developers of such systems to describe their products and what they offer to the printer.

Departments:



Narrow Web Europe


Label materials take a hit as UPM cuts back production
By Barry Hunt

Minding My Own Business


Late to the party
By Elisha Tropper

Letters from the Earth


Money
By Calvin Frost

Field Report


A diecutting challenge
By Larry Arway

Printing Lean


Kanban
By Tom Southworth

The Blogsmith


Wine industry blogs
By Peter Renton