Greg Hrinya, Associate Editor07.13.15
From converting to finishing, label industry veterans arrived at EastPack 2015 to display their latest technological offerings. The show took place from June 9-11 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York, NY, USA.
EastPack featured product demonstrations, educational sessions, presentations, innovation tours and a tech theater. Visitors also had the opportunity to network and negotiate deals.
Suppliers and attendees alike were granted access to the seven other shows running concurrently at the Javits Center. In addition to EastPack, Atlantic Design & Manufacturing, ATX East, HBA Global, MD&M East, Pharmapack North America, PLASTEC East, and Quality Expo also took place.
The following companies in the label and packaging industries maintained a presence at the show:
Arjobex Polyart
Arjobex Polyart, a security solutions and synthetic paper provider, featured its Arjobex Security division at EastPack. The company’s synthetic papers are applicable for self-adhesive, in-mold, wet-glue labeling needs. Its line of security products is also suitable for authentication and protection against tampering. The company’s products are suitable for flexographic, offset and thermal transfer printing, as well as holographic and foil stamping.
“Booth traffic was brisk for us,” said Bruce Gordon, product services manager at Arjobex. “There were not an inordinate amount of leads, but we received several that were ‘high value.’ The networking opportunities were abundant, and we took advantage of that.”
Arjobex showcased Polyart TE, a tamper-evident security label, and AuthentiSeal, a tamper-evident facestock. Polyart TE delaminates and shreds on the first attempt to remove the label. Made of high-density polyethylene, the substrate is designed for harsh environments and extremely low temperatures.
According to the company, AuthentiSeal is 100% water resistant and features a blue security layer. The facestock has the look of a high-end coated paper and boasts the following attributes: high tack permanent adhesive, easy to diecut, customized security features, and finishing options like hot foil, thermal transfer and industrial inkjet. The labels are also compatible with track and trace solutions, and feature embedded security features. The embedded features include invisible UV fibers, Polydots and Polyspheres.
“AuthentiSeal is a customized TE pressure sensitive that can contain various covert security elements in the coating visible only under UV or IR,” added Gordon. “It can be custom engineered for a specific end user to authenticate the brand as real, so when combined with TE facestock, you have dual purpose brand protection and an anti-counterfeiting product.”
CCL
CCL, the world’s largest label company and supplier to a plethora of industries, displayed how its labeling techniques could be used in the healthcare industry. In addition to providing a look at secondary printed packaging with 100% vision inspection, CCL featured a product line that including labels for the following areas: multi-functional, expanded content (ECL), multi-lingual, syringe and vial, time and temperature indicators, and package inserts.
In dealing with the healthcare field, CCL showcased products designed to include as much information as possible on the label. The Multi Wrap Label is printed on both the front and back, and it is constructed for winding several times around a cylindrical item like a pill bottle. The ECL includes extra space for printing directions, information, multi-lingual and possible promotional information. Clear on Clear Labels were also on display, along with 2 and 3-Ply Labels.
CCL boasts over 100 production facilities in 28 countries, as well as over 10,400 employees.
Channeled Resources Group
Channeled Resources Group (CRG), an ISO-9001 certified company, was on hand to display and discuss its line of substrates, which includes custom coated paper, poly-coated paper and films in various weights, calipers and release coatings. Its complete line also features super calendared kraft, glassine, clay coated papers, polyester (PET), pressure sensitive, and low- and high-density polyethylene.
The company operates in an environmentally friendly manner and encourages the use of sustainable products. Channeled Resources offers recycling solutions for release liners and ways to avoid landfills, as well as convert waste to energy. It works with customers to develop sustainable solutions and manufacturers of self-adhesive labelstock, tapes, nonwovens, silicone coated release liners and adhesives to find suitable outlets for their bi-product.
According to the company, it prides itself on tailoring customized solutions to the needs of each customer. Channeled Resources serves the following markets: adhesives, lamination, diecutting, tape, industrial, graphics, and rubber and casting. CRG is based in Chicago, IL, USA.
Colordyne
Colordyne Technologies, a manufacturer of high-speed digital color printing systems powered by Memjet technology, used EastPack as an opportunity to unveil its new 2600 Series Mini Press. The digital printing system operates at print speeds up to 60 fpm (18 mpm), with a high resolution of 1600 x 1600 dpi.
The press’ Memjet inkhead features a printing width of 8.64” (219.5 mm) and can accommodate all four CMYK colors. The Mini Press is designed to have all of the performance attributes of a larger printing system but in a more compact, affordable solution.
The press’ size includes dimensions of 59” (1.5 m) in length and a height of 62.6” (1.59 m) with the user screen. It is also 36” (.91 m) wide and weighs 880 pounds (399 kg). The Colordyne control software features a capacitive touch screen that measures 15.6” (396 mm).
“The 2600 Series in comparison to our 1600 Series can do longer run lengths, and it has a much improved user interface and provides the user with a more reliable and productive printing platform,” said Taylor Buckthorpe, marketing director at Colordyne. “It gives you those creature comforts that you have on a large, production class digital printing press but in a smaller, more affordable, compact solution.”
The company’s 2600 Series was intended to bridge the gap between its 1600 Series Industrial Class products and the 3600 Series Production Class family of products. The press can be used for prime and pressure sensitive labels, tags and tickets, as well as labels containing smart packaging like RFID and NFC capabilities.
Delta ModTech
Delta ModTech, a supplier of converting and finishing systems, featured laser diecutting on the Delta Edge. Jason Newville, design engineer, was on hand to give live demonstrations and answer questions for visitors. The Minneapolis, MN-based company features a variety of cuts, a tight tolerance, minimal waste, and no maximum or minimum repeats with Edge laser technology.
Delta also offers multiple solutions in the label and packaging industries, including hot seal, cold seal and part placement packaging options. Its finishing equipment is designed for customers using digital printing or flexographic print modules. According to the company, one-stop integration is possible with Delta HMI software, which is supported by the Delta ModTech service team.
The company provides solutions for the medical and pharmaceutical, electronics, printing and packaging, consumer goods and automotive industries. Its service line ranges from unwinds/rewinds, to inspection stations, to integration, to print and finishing modules.
Excelitas Technologies
Excelitas Technologies, a provider of customized optoelectronics and electronic systems, was on hand to discuss its OmniCure line. OmniCure is a UV LED curing system for inks, coatings and adhesives. According to the company, its irradiance performance provides flexibility and simplified integration, while the front-end custom optics lead to efficient curing.
“OmniCure offers innovative UV curing systems that provide leading manufacturers worldwide with the most advanced, simple-to-use and reliable UV curing technology,” said Kathryn Barbe, product marketing manager, OmniCure, Excelitas. “OmniCure systems permit high throughput, low temperature application of solvent-free adhesives, inks and coatings in many precision manufactured assemblies. The primary advantages to UV curing are fast production speeds, high product yields and regulatory compliance with the virtual elimination of volatile organic compounds (VOC) through the use of reliable UV light curing systems. Other major process and performance advantages of UV curing include the absence of heat, water or solvents with superior heat and chemical resistance, excellent optical clarity and high shear strength when compared to many other non-UV cure adhesives.”
Excelitas, based in Mississauga, Ontario, offers various models depending on size. The AC275 and AC2110 are described as compact systems, while the AC450 and AC475 is a small area system. Its products range also includes large area systems.
“We were delighted to exhibit at the show this year,” added Barbe. “We were able to connect with professionals in the industry, as well as showcase some of our new AC275 and AC2110 air-cooled UV LED curing systems for inks, adhesives and coatings. The LED curing systems were well received by an enthusiastic crowd. Based on the success of this event, we are definitely looking forward to attending next year.”
MACtac
MACtac, based in Stow, OH, USA, displayed adhesive technologies for the healthcare industry. The company’s Medical line introduced products using Response adhesive systems, which are designed for In-Vitro diagnostic devices. According to Mactac, this line of acrylic adhesives offers a clean and inert product.
These adhesives are available in standard and customized options, including free film, single-coated and double-coated product constructions. Various liner, face, adhesive or coat-weight configurations are also offered.
In addition to adhesives, Mactac showcased a range of single and double-coated tapes for medical uses requiring direct skin contact. They can be removed without causing irritation and have been tested following ISO-10993 guidelines. These tapes utilize solvent-free Acrysure-next gen and Silk medical adhesive systems.
Ritrama
A substrate supplier of pressure sensitive film labelstocks for the prime, beverage, health and beauty, and OEM markets, Ritrama focused on its new product, SafeShield, at EastPack. SafeShield is a 6.0-mil clear film made out of thermoplastic aliphatic polycaprolactone polyurethane with an antimicrobial additive. The urethane is designed to eliminate gels and other blemishes. According to the company, this film offers excellent protection while improving the appearance of the surface underneath.
SafeShield features clear gloss and a semi-permanent acrylic, #6, as well as a 3.0-mil polyester release liner. In addition to passing SAE J400 Gravel-O-Meter testing (ASTM D3170), this product boasts UV resistance for added durability and better clarity due to the film release liner. It is used for applications on touchscreens and other commonly touched surfaces.
Syracuse Label & Surround Printing
Syracuse Label is a Liverpool, NY-based converter that featured shrink sleeves at EastPack. In what it calls the “next generation in surround printing,” Syracuse Label’s products are designed for complex contours, containers of various shapes and sizes, and safety. According to the company, its natural safety seal shrink provides a perforation to make it easier to open the container.
Syracuse’s new line of shrink capabilities includes 2-10 color Nilpeter servo presses, a Karville Seamer, a Karville Steam Shrink Tunnel, a Karville Cutter and Esko prepress software. The Esko software provides 3-D PDF art proofs.
Employee owned and TLMI LIFE-certified, Syracuse Label also offers digital printing capabilities. In order to provide short to mid-length runs, instant registration, plateless printing, substrate versatility, variable data solutions and color matching, the company is equipped with an HP Indigo WS6600 and an EFI Jetrion 4000.
For more pictures of the event, click here for the slideshow.
EastPack featured product demonstrations, educational sessions, presentations, innovation tours and a tech theater. Visitors also had the opportunity to network and negotiate deals.
Suppliers and attendees alike were granted access to the seven other shows running concurrently at the Javits Center. In addition to EastPack, Atlantic Design & Manufacturing, ATX East, HBA Global, MD&M East, Pharmapack North America, PLASTEC East, and Quality Expo also took place.
The following companies in the label and packaging industries maintained a presence at the show:
Arjobex Polyart
Arjobex Polyart, a security solutions and synthetic paper provider, featured its Arjobex Security division at EastPack. The company’s synthetic papers are applicable for self-adhesive, in-mold, wet-glue labeling needs. Its line of security products is also suitable for authentication and protection against tampering. The company’s products are suitable for flexographic, offset and thermal transfer printing, as well as holographic and foil stamping.
“Booth traffic was brisk for us,” said Bruce Gordon, product services manager at Arjobex. “There were not an inordinate amount of leads, but we received several that were ‘high value.’ The networking opportunities were abundant, and we took advantage of that.”
Arjobex showcased Polyart TE, a tamper-evident security label, and AuthentiSeal, a tamper-evident facestock. Polyart TE delaminates and shreds on the first attempt to remove the label. Made of high-density polyethylene, the substrate is designed for harsh environments and extremely low temperatures.
According to the company, AuthentiSeal is 100% water resistant and features a blue security layer. The facestock has the look of a high-end coated paper and boasts the following attributes: high tack permanent adhesive, easy to diecut, customized security features, and finishing options like hot foil, thermal transfer and industrial inkjet. The labels are also compatible with track and trace solutions, and feature embedded security features. The embedded features include invisible UV fibers, Polydots and Polyspheres.
“AuthentiSeal is a customized TE pressure sensitive that can contain various covert security elements in the coating visible only under UV or IR,” added Gordon. “It can be custom engineered for a specific end user to authenticate the brand as real, so when combined with TE facestock, you have dual purpose brand protection and an anti-counterfeiting product.”
CCL
CCL, the world’s largest label company and supplier to a plethora of industries, displayed how its labeling techniques could be used in the healthcare industry. In addition to providing a look at secondary printed packaging with 100% vision inspection, CCL featured a product line that including labels for the following areas: multi-functional, expanded content (ECL), multi-lingual, syringe and vial, time and temperature indicators, and package inserts.
In dealing with the healthcare field, CCL showcased products designed to include as much information as possible on the label. The Multi Wrap Label is printed on both the front and back, and it is constructed for winding several times around a cylindrical item like a pill bottle. The ECL includes extra space for printing directions, information, multi-lingual and possible promotional information. Clear on Clear Labels were also on display, along with 2 and 3-Ply Labels.
CCL boasts over 100 production facilities in 28 countries, as well as over 10,400 employees.
Channeled Resources Group
Channeled Resources Group (CRG), an ISO-9001 certified company, was on hand to display and discuss its line of substrates, which includes custom coated paper, poly-coated paper and films in various weights, calipers and release coatings. Its complete line also features super calendared kraft, glassine, clay coated papers, polyester (PET), pressure sensitive, and low- and high-density polyethylene.
The company operates in an environmentally friendly manner and encourages the use of sustainable products. Channeled Resources offers recycling solutions for release liners and ways to avoid landfills, as well as convert waste to energy. It works with customers to develop sustainable solutions and manufacturers of self-adhesive labelstock, tapes, nonwovens, silicone coated release liners and adhesives to find suitable outlets for their bi-product.
According to the company, it prides itself on tailoring customized solutions to the needs of each customer. Channeled Resources serves the following markets: adhesives, lamination, diecutting, tape, industrial, graphics, and rubber and casting. CRG is based in Chicago, IL, USA.
Colordyne
Colordyne Technologies, a manufacturer of high-speed digital color printing systems powered by Memjet technology, used EastPack as an opportunity to unveil its new 2600 Series Mini Press. The digital printing system operates at print speeds up to 60 fpm (18 mpm), with a high resolution of 1600 x 1600 dpi.
The press’ Memjet inkhead features a printing width of 8.64” (219.5 mm) and can accommodate all four CMYK colors. The Mini Press is designed to have all of the performance attributes of a larger printing system but in a more compact, affordable solution.
The press’ size includes dimensions of 59” (1.5 m) in length and a height of 62.6” (1.59 m) with the user screen. It is also 36” (.91 m) wide and weighs 880 pounds (399 kg). The Colordyne control software features a capacitive touch screen that measures 15.6” (396 mm).
“The 2600 Series in comparison to our 1600 Series can do longer run lengths, and it has a much improved user interface and provides the user with a more reliable and productive printing platform,” said Taylor Buckthorpe, marketing director at Colordyne. “It gives you those creature comforts that you have on a large, production class digital printing press but in a smaller, more affordable, compact solution.”
The company’s 2600 Series was intended to bridge the gap between its 1600 Series Industrial Class products and the 3600 Series Production Class family of products. The press can be used for prime and pressure sensitive labels, tags and tickets, as well as labels containing smart packaging like RFID and NFC capabilities.
Delta ModTech
Delta ModTech, a supplier of converting and finishing systems, featured laser diecutting on the Delta Edge. Jason Newville, design engineer, was on hand to give live demonstrations and answer questions for visitors. The Minneapolis, MN-based company features a variety of cuts, a tight tolerance, minimal waste, and no maximum or minimum repeats with Edge laser technology.
Delta also offers multiple solutions in the label and packaging industries, including hot seal, cold seal and part placement packaging options. Its finishing equipment is designed for customers using digital printing or flexographic print modules. According to the company, one-stop integration is possible with Delta HMI software, which is supported by the Delta ModTech service team.
The company provides solutions for the medical and pharmaceutical, electronics, printing and packaging, consumer goods and automotive industries. Its service line ranges from unwinds/rewinds, to inspection stations, to integration, to print and finishing modules.
Excelitas Technologies
Excelitas Technologies, a provider of customized optoelectronics and electronic systems, was on hand to discuss its OmniCure line. OmniCure is a UV LED curing system for inks, coatings and adhesives. According to the company, its irradiance performance provides flexibility and simplified integration, while the front-end custom optics lead to efficient curing.
“OmniCure offers innovative UV curing systems that provide leading manufacturers worldwide with the most advanced, simple-to-use and reliable UV curing technology,” said Kathryn Barbe, product marketing manager, OmniCure, Excelitas. “OmniCure systems permit high throughput, low temperature application of solvent-free adhesives, inks and coatings in many precision manufactured assemblies. The primary advantages to UV curing are fast production speeds, high product yields and regulatory compliance with the virtual elimination of volatile organic compounds (VOC) through the use of reliable UV light curing systems. Other major process and performance advantages of UV curing include the absence of heat, water or solvents with superior heat and chemical resistance, excellent optical clarity and high shear strength when compared to many other non-UV cure adhesives.”
Excelitas, based in Mississauga, Ontario, offers various models depending on size. The AC275 and AC2110 are described as compact systems, while the AC450 and AC475 is a small area system. Its products range also includes large area systems.
“We were delighted to exhibit at the show this year,” added Barbe. “We were able to connect with professionals in the industry, as well as showcase some of our new AC275 and AC2110 air-cooled UV LED curing systems for inks, adhesives and coatings. The LED curing systems were well received by an enthusiastic crowd. Based on the success of this event, we are definitely looking forward to attending next year.”
MACtac
MACtac, based in Stow, OH, USA, displayed adhesive technologies for the healthcare industry. The company’s Medical line introduced products using Response adhesive systems, which are designed for In-Vitro diagnostic devices. According to Mactac, this line of acrylic adhesives offers a clean and inert product.
These adhesives are available in standard and customized options, including free film, single-coated and double-coated product constructions. Various liner, face, adhesive or coat-weight configurations are also offered.
In addition to adhesives, Mactac showcased a range of single and double-coated tapes for medical uses requiring direct skin contact. They can be removed without causing irritation and have been tested following ISO-10993 guidelines. These tapes utilize solvent-free Acrysure-next gen and Silk medical adhesive systems.
Ritrama
A substrate supplier of pressure sensitive film labelstocks for the prime, beverage, health and beauty, and OEM markets, Ritrama focused on its new product, SafeShield, at EastPack. SafeShield is a 6.0-mil clear film made out of thermoplastic aliphatic polycaprolactone polyurethane with an antimicrobial additive. The urethane is designed to eliminate gels and other blemishes. According to the company, this film offers excellent protection while improving the appearance of the surface underneath.
SafeShield features clear gloss and a semi-permanent acrylic, #6, as well as a 3.0-mil polyester release liner. In addition to passing SAE J400 Gravel-O-Meter testing (ASTM D3170), this product boasts UV resistance for added durability and better clarity due to the film release liner. It is used for applications on touchscreens and other commonly touched surfaces.
Syracuse Label & Surround Printing
Syracuse Label is a Liverpool, NY-based converter that featured shrink sleeves at EastPack. In what it calls the “next generation in surround printing,” Syracuse Label’s products are designed for complex contours, containers of various shapes and sizes, and safety. According to the company, its natural safety seal shrink provides a perforation to make it easier to open the container.
Syracuse’s new line of shrink capabilities includes 2-10 color Nilpeter servo presses, a Karville Seamer, a Karville Steam Shrink Tunnel, a Karville Cutter and Esko prepress software. The Esko software provides 3-D PDF art proofs.
Employee owned and TLMI LIFE-certified, Syracuse Label also offers digital printing capabilities. In order to provide short to mid-length runs, instant registration, plateless printing, substrate versatility, variable data solutions and color matching, the company is equipped with an HP Indigo WS6600 and an EFI Jetrion 4000.
For more pictures of the event, click here for the slideshow.