Schlagwort: DRUPA

Kellogg’s lets storeowners customize promotional materials
After the introduction of its print shop last October, the food manufacturer Kellogg’s added new seasonal and sports themes to its options for promotional materials. Shop owners can access the print shop and design a range of promotional pieces, including shelf talkers, posters, counter cards and digital media advertising. The print shop is linked to a profit calculator that to help retailers assess the profitability of their promotions.
More at CSPnet.com 

3D Systems offers a series of webinars
3D printing has been explored in research labs for decades but it has only recently become commercially viable. New markets and applications emerge and with it the demand for better knowledge of the technology, the potential and real-world applications. One of the largest manufacturers of 3D printers, 3D systems, offers a series of webinars co-hosted with customers to educate interested users about untapped markets, potential cost reductions and opportunities for growth.
More at NASDAQ 

Samsung unveils smart office platform at IFA
“A new way of printing” promises electronics manufacturer Samsung. The company will hold a press conference at IFA in Berlin on September 4, 2014 to showcase the features of the new Smart Office Platform alongside its multifunctional printers. This is the first time, Samsung will hold a press conference dedicated to its printer business.
More at Samsung Tomorrow 

3D printing for marketers
3D clearly has great potential in manufacturing but how do companies integrate the new technology in their marketing efforts? Marketing expert Ashley Friedlein discusses a variety of ways in which 3D printing can help companies create interactive experiences for their customers.
More at Marketing Week 

New hybrid machines for prototyping on the rise
3D printing has lately been all the rage in early prototyping. However, many companies use CNC milling to make models of their new products. Efforts to combine additive and subtractive manufacturing in one machine are underway. Design News provides an overview about current models of an all-in-one 3D printing/etching/milling machines.
More at Design News 

When Stratasys subsidiary MakerBot launched MakerBot Europe in the beginning of August, it was viewed as a clear indication that Europe has significant growth potential in the 3D printing prosumer and consumer market.

According to a report by Wohlers Associates, Europe is a major hub for 3D printing technology with 20 % of the high-end unit sales in 2013 originating from this region. “Our German reseller has been a MakerBot partner for a long time and has done a tremendous job building our business in the region”, says Jennifer Howard, PR director at MakerBot.

That’s why MakerBot turned the reseller office of Alexander Hafner in Stuttgart in Southern Germany into the new MakerBot Europe office. Alexander Hafner, who founded Hafners Büro in 1988, has been promoted to general manager of MakerBot Europe, an opportunity he values.

“We are very proud to be MakerBot’s partner of choice for this exciting step.  I think it is a unique opportunity in both of our companies’ histories”, says Hafner.

MakerBot Europe will encompass Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Serbia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and other European countries. While marketing, distribution and sales will be coordinated from the European office, manufacturing of all MakerBot products will remain in Brooklyn, New York.

MakerBot sees the biggest demand in Europe coming from small and medium-sized businesses that are in need of fast, reliable and inexpensive prototypes. “Architecture, engineering, industrial design, artists, educators, and entrepreneurs are all great segments that benefit from 3D printing”, says Howard.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Stratasys, MakerBot’s goals fit well with the company’s overall strategic goals: “Stratasys and MakerBot products are actually a nice compliment to each other as Stratasys focuses on the industrial sector and MakerBot focuses on the “prosumer” sector – one where engineers and architects can have both 3D printers – MakerBots on their desktop and Stratasys 3D printers for industrial 3D printing”, explains Howard.

Drupa renews its long-term cooperation with the Media Mundo industrial action group. As in 2011 and 2012, the trade fair will act as cooperation partner of the 5th Media Mundo congress in Dusseldorf on 17th and on 18th November 2014. This year, the congress will focus on the motto „rethink sustainability – economic motivation for sustainable media production“.

In contrast to the mottos of previous years, which concentrated on ecological behavior, one aspect of sustainable media production, the 5th Media Mundo congress will look into an equally important sustainability aspect: economy. Particularly affected by the current economic situation and faced with the challenge of having to consolidate its market position, the printing and media industry is looking for practical measures and the required initiative. The congress is supported by the WWF and the FSC as NGO partners, Antalis, IGEPA and the Swedish SCA group.

Green printing at drupa

Werner M. Dornscheidt, President and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, underlines drupa’s commitment to this subject: “The issue of green printing and sustainability across the entire process chain will be one of the focal points of drupa 2016. The aspect of sustainability has become a major concern of brand owners all over the world, and they expect their printed communication to adhere to “green” standards. This is a challenge for the industry and printing service providers, and they are well advised not to veer from the path that they have already chosen“.

Meanwhile, green printing has also become an important selling point. In the first “drupa Global Trends Report“, 48 % of all printing service providers reported that they used certified paper to accommodate customer requirements. Another 37 % operate a sustainable waste management system, and 33 % are committed to a certified environmental management system.

Economic production for competitiveness

“Economic production is an important motivation for achieving a sustainable media production, and as such it generates important effects of ecological sustainability“, says Rüdiger Maaß, Managing Director of the association of the media production industry. “Economy is the cornerstone of competitiveness – an issue that has become more important than ever before.“

The 5th Media Mundo congress will deal with topics such as “The effects of process optimisation“, “Energy efficiency“ and “Standardisation“. It will also provide an overview over different ways of thinking and provide some ideas on how to master this change and some answers the question of where this change might lead. International experts from science, environmental associations, politics and the industry will engage in a critical discussion about the current situation and about likely scenarios for the near future. Pioneers of sustainable media production will illustrate practical solutions as well as problems and unexpected challenges that they encountered.

Experts on sustainability

Dr. Daniel Dahm, member of the Club of Rome, has agreed to present a paper on the “The conflicting areas of global overshoot“. 45-year-old Dahm is founding member of the Utopia foundation and the “Oekosoziales Forum Deutschland” and is also member of different non-profit organisations. He has become internationally acclaimed because of his contribution to the Potsdam Manifesto of 2005. This paper explores the root causes of the current crisis and suggests a radical and far-reaching re-orientation for the future of human development.

The congress also presents the following speakers:

• Dr. Meike Gebhardt (Utopia AG): How much sustainability do consumers want?
• Uwe Lübbermann (Premium Cola): Marketing with potential for the future
• Peter Jeschke (GC Graphic Consult GmbH): Sustainability in printing
• Alexander Rossner (zukunftswerk eG): Communicating sustainability (Strategic tasks, practical advice and the argument of “benefit“)
• Michael Müller (IPM): Wasting resources leads to economic ruin (Top ten of the most striking action areas for printing service providers and purchasers of printed products)

Seico Epson’s financial results
Seico Epson has published their first quarter results for 2014. In the inkjet printer business, sales of high-capacity ink tank models and commercial printers expanded in line with expectations.
More at Epson

3D Systems buys Simbionix
3D Systems will acquire Simbionix, a global leader in 3D virtual reality surgical simulation and training, for 120 million $ in cash. This combination aims to expand 3DS Healthcare reach from the training to the operating room.
More at 3D Systems

US demand for pharmaceutical packaging
According to a new study by The Freedonia Group, demand for pharmaceutical packaging products in the United Stated will increase 4.9 % annually to 22.1 billion $ in 2018. Primary containers are to cover two-thirds of the total.
More at Packaging Europe

Landa-enabled Manroland Sheetfed press delayed
At drupa 2012, Manroland had signed an agreement with Landa with the aim of integrating his technology into a hybrid press. So far, the cost of Landa NanoInk is one of two factors currently preventing the implementation of this, according to chief executive Raphael Penuela.
More at PrintWeek

Sugar cane paperboard
Nature & More had developed a new sustainable packaging material made from plant waste collected after sugar cane is turned into commercial sugar. Now, the first retailers opt for the sugar cane packaging.
More at The Packer

Ryman Stationery offering 3D printing
Ryman Stationary is following amazon, Staples and Hope Depot in their attempt to make 3D printing available for the masses. The largest stationery store in the UK will soon sell 3D Systems Cube and Cube Pro 3D printers in stores and online.
More at 3D Printing Industry

HK printer buys debt from CBA
1010 Printing Group from Hong Kong has bought the $51m debt of Opus Group from the Commonwealth Bank for $20m. This move makes the company its effective owner and by far its biggest lender.
More at ProPrint

Roland DG Corporation changes board
Following a successful year, Roland DG Corporation carries out several changes and additions to its board of directors. Sales of the company’s wide-format inkjet printers, vinyl cutters, engravers, 3D rapid prototyping equipment, dental mills and impact printers had increased by 34.8 %.
More at Graphic Display World

Canon USA expanding
Canon USA has presented six new models in its imagePROGRAF lineup. According to the company, these devices offer faster printing speeds and lower operation costs as compared to their predecessors.
More at Canon

Kodak video interview
Brendan Perring from Print7 News, a video platform for the printing industry, speaks to Kodak’s David McGuiness about their process-free plates and other topics.
More at Print7 TV

German label paper market
Manufacturers of label paper supplying the German market reported strong deliveries in the first half of the year, according to EUWID. However, prices for paper did not change during the second and third quarter.
More at EUWID Paper

Heidelberg standby function for green printing
All presses from Heidelberg equipped with the Prinect Press Center now come with the new standby function. According to the company, this enables the press to be switched to an energy-saving mode that significantly reduces CO₂ emissions.
More at Heidelberg

Multiple material printing by NASA
Especially 3D printing in space sometimes requires parts composed of several different materials. Researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory have developed a new solution for this problem that allows a 3D printer to switch between different types of alloys.
More at Network World

Sustainable material seminar
Early bird discount for the seminar by the British Coating Federation on new green raw materials for paint, coatings and ink manufacturers expires today. The event takes place at Nottingham Belfry Hotel on 16^th September 2014.
More at BCF

James Cropper simplifies paper division
James Cropper combines its two paper divisions, Speciality Paper and Converting, into one business to simplify customer service. The new company will operate from the traditional manufacturing and administration base in Burneside, Cumbria.
More at Packaging Europe

Smart 3D printer
MIT researchers have developed an add-on for any standard 3D printer that manages to use laser scanner and a webcam to detect the placement and orientation of an item left on the print bed. It means you could for example resume printing a job that was interrupted or failed.
More at 3D Printing Industry

iSys receives certification
The Canadian Imaging Systems Group has received section 3 certification by PIRA for its EDGE 850 digital label printer. Thus it meets requirements to print GHS-compliant drum and chemical labels according to BS5609 standards.
More at the Labelling Blog

Extra strong printing material
Typical objects printed with resins are not very durable, especially when created for use as functional parts. To fill this void, TMadeSolid, Inc. now sells a new material called “Tough Resin” for objects that need to be able to handle wear and tear.
More at 3D Print

Delta Packaging expanding in Poland
Delta Packaging from Belfast opens a 10,000 m² factory near Katowice in Poland following the 40m £ investment plan in April which involved the expansion of the Belfast site. The factory will produce sustainable, folding cartonboard packaging products.
More at Packaging News

Adhesive recycling problems
Adhesives themselves are not recyclable, but the papers to which they are affixed, are. According to this article, customers are still hesitant to new greener adhesives.
More at L&NW

Fusion Paperboard closing mill
Fusion Paperboard from Connecticut will shut down its paper mill in Sprague, CT, in September. The mill produces 100 % recycled, food-grade paperboard.
More at Paper Age

So far, developments in the field of printed electronics have focused merely on expensive high-end gadgets like phones, cameras and wearable devices. But this technique can also be used to make packaging more exciting and functional. What makes a product stick out more than flashing LEDs and displays with additional information? A university project has now found a way to make this more affordable for the broad market.

In order to bring electronics on packaging, they must be produced the way color inks are applied on a package with high printing speed and in ambient conditions. However currently, printed electronics based products are far too expensive for its wide spread application in packaging. The reason behind this is that the integrated production is missing.

At the moment, robotic assembly of different electronic components such as battery, display and circuits are done on one substrate which is manufactured by different producers. Therefore establishment of a new automatic assembly line requires huge initial investment. Few manufacturers are willing to take this since it presents such a new and experimental technology.

The institute of Print and Media technology of the Technical University of Chemnitz (pmTUC) tried to solve this problem and took an initiative to develop cost-effective electronics for smart packaging. Under the guidance of Prof. Arved Hübler, the institute had already produced various innovative products in the past. For example, they reported the first printed solar cell on paper substrate in 2011. In the same year the institute printed loudspeaker on paper.

Now a new project at pmTUC funded by EXIST, a support program of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy, has started. This initiative aims to commercialize printed electronics for smart packaging application. To do so, the scientists prints different components directly on one substrate by using only standard printing machines.

So far, the project has brought a spin-off named Saralon. The word itself is a combination of the old language Sanskrit and means “simple” while the phrase “on” comes from electronic combining the approach and the intercultural structure of the project.

The team has already developed different ideas for actual application. These products are currently being presented to companies and are expected to be launched soon. One of them for example includes a printed battery, printed finger touch sensor and a printed display on a package. Whenever an end user touches it, a display will be activated. This can show a text message, a picture or corporate logo.

The electronics can easily be incorporated to any existing package, with an already existing production technique. As the complete compounds are made from environment friendly materials, the disposal of the package is not a big issue. As an additional feature, the special packaging can be used as an anti-counterfeiting device, which is impossible to copy. According to Saralon, the price of the product will be little higher than holograms. The battery is supposed to last for six months.

Another product sample is a bottle label with integrated battery, circuit, LED and a humidity sensor. Once touched lightly with a finger, the sweat activates the sensor, which then sends an electrical signal through the printed circuit to the LED.

A third one works the same way. Only this time, LEDs on the outside and inside are activated and supported by a reflecting foil on the inside. That way the glass packaging on the inside appears to be glowing. All components apart form the LED are very flexible and thin and can therefore be printed on any surfaces.

Another manufacturer adopts 3D
Many tooling and machining companies are beginning to understand that 3D printing is less than a danger of eliminating their businesses entirely than a necessary part of the prototyping process. Now, tooling and manufacturing company James Tool as well has started offering 3D printing services in order to stay relevant within its industry sector.
More at 3D Printing Industry

Amazon as well joins 3D
Amazon will launch an online store for 3D printed items that allows consumers to customize and personalize items like jewelry. They company will work with companies that make 3D printed items such as Mixee Labs and Sculpteo.
More at Phys.org

Ink cost estimation
When calculating the ink price for high-speed or high-speed sheetfed inkjet presses a basic analysis simply won’t do. This article takes a look at the incredibly complex area when comparing rival systems and the bigger picture beyond the ink price.
More at Printweek

German folding boxes
According to the German folding box association “Fachverband Faltschachtel-Industrie”, the German industry in this sector is the leading one in Europe. They report production numbers to be stable at a high level. This information is taken from a German article.
More at Verpacken Aktuell

NZ packaging empire selling
After having built the world’s largest packaging empire, Graeme Hart is considering asset sales worth US7.9 billion $ to reduce debts and test the waters for selling his remaining businesses.
More at Sidney Morning Herald

Golden Pixel Award
There is two months left to enter the Austrian Golden Pixel Award 2014 for innovative printing projects. The award ceremony will be held in Vienna on 10^th November.
More at Druckdeal

Inkjet evaluation
In the past, most print companies relied mainly on offset technology. Now print pattern is shifting towards high speed inkjet systems that produce high volumes in transaction, direct mail and books. This blog post considers the reasons for the current shift in printing.
More at The Digital Nirvana

Healthcare packaging acquisition
Nelipak Corporation has bought the Debond Corporation (Flexpak). The new company will operate under the name of Nelipak Healthcare Packaging.
More at Medical Plastics News

Giant 3D printer
Yesterday, we reported the launch of a new program that allows printing objects larger than the actual printer. But that might not even be necessary with this one: Japanese company GenKei presented a 4-meter tall printer designed for printing architectural elements, full scale furniture, products, and life size figures.
More at 3Ders

TriMas expanding
TriMas Corporation has acquired Lion Holdings for 27m $. The acquisition is supposed to broaden the company’s Asian market coverage.
More at The Wall Street Transcript

3D printing for pipelines
Oil and gas safety is extremely important as pipelines can fail due to defects such as cracks or dents. Now, Industrial Inspection Systems from Canada is using 3D printing to provide automated non-destructive testing and examination solutions.
More at Afinia

Printed cameras
The National Science Foundation of China has awarded Dr. Felice Torrisi, a scientist in Graphene Technology, with a research fellowship. The aim of the project is to look at how graphene and two-dimensional materials could enable a technology for printing cheap flexible cameras.
More at Printed Electronics

Concerns about plain packaging
According to recently disclosed government documents, confectionary giant Mars had written to the Department of Health to express concerns about plain packaging. The company was afraid it would be introduced to other sectors including food and drink suppliers.
More at Packaging News

German patent infringement
Canon is filing a patent infringement complaint in Germany with the District Court of Düsseldorf. They sue Thomas Zenkel, owner of the domain “tintenalarm.de,” for infringement of the German portion of Canon’s European patent 2 087 407.
More at Canon

New sublimation ink
Xennia Technology has introduced a range of sublimation inks for polyester fabric inkjet printing using both coated and uncoated transfer papers. The product can be used with Kyocera and Epson printhead based systems.
More at Image Reports

Print larger objects than printer
In the past, many extremely large 3D printers have been introduced to market. The Indian company CCTech has taken a different approach and launched a CAD plugin that works by dividing the designs of large objects into smaller connectable pieces.
More at 3D Print

Amcor joins recycling program
Rigid plastic packaging manufacturer Amcor has joined The Recycling Partnership, a collaborative, industry funded initiative to support recycling in the United Stated. Other members so far are for example Alcoa Foundation, American Chemistry Council, American Forest & Paper Association and Sonoco Products.
More at Packaging Gateway

Henkel works with Comexi
Henkel India has chosen the Comexi Group, a specialist in machinery solutions for the flexible packaging industry, as a partner. Together, they want to start the first professional training academy and demo center for flexible packaging in India, Middle East and Africa.
More at Packaging Europe

Colorizing during a 3D Print
So far, few companies managed the process of 3D printing numerous colors on one object. German scientist now published a new patent for a process which will enable a printer to coat a polymer filament with color or a material, just prior to it being extruded from the printer.
More at 3D Print

Interactive labels
Berkshire Labels has introduced a new range of labels using the Linkz interactive print platform. The product will enable customers to access additional online content.
More at PrintWeek

Offset online seminar
Printing Impression is hosting the free webinar “Myth Busters: Comparing ‘Offset 2.0′ vs. Digital Presses for Short-Run, Static Jobs” sponsored by Heidelberg. You can take part next Tuesday, 29^th July at 2 p.m. ET.
Register

Canon second quarter
Canon has released their results for the second quarter 2014. They reported for example steady growth in demand for office multifunction devices and laser printers.
More at Canon

Xerox’ results
Xerox as well has announced their second-quarter 2014 earnings.  Total revenue of 5.3 billion $ was down 2 or 3 % in constant currency.
More at Xerox

Heidelberg’s plans
During their annual general meeting for the 2013/2014 financial year, Heidelberg discussed the company’s strategy and the balance sheet figures for the past financial year. The company outlined its short-term plans, including the aim to achieve an EBITDA margin of 8 % for the 2015/16 financial year.
More at PackPrint World

German packaging
The German Association of Plastic Packaging (IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen) reports positive results for 2013. For example, production output rose by around 2.4 % to 4.3m tonnes.
More at Plastics Packaging

New European packaging director
James Hosford is the new European director of sales at Global packaging and processing solutions specialist tna. He will be responsible for the commercial operations in Europe, Russia & CIS, Israel and North Africa.
More at Packaging Europe

Mark Andy expanding
As part of their expansion plans in Europe, Mark Andy has appointed two new sales agents in Germany. Labels & Labeling spoke with the company about this appointment and their visions for the future.
More at Labels & Labeling

Bioprinting research
Bio 3D printing company Organovo and Johnson & Johnson have signed an agreement to advance research in bioprinting. Together, they want to evaluate the use of 3D printed tissue in a drug discovery setting
More at 3Ders