Converter looks at some of the highlights of last year’s Emballage 2010 packaging exhibition in Paris
Quadraxis used the show to launch the latest version of its Thermo3D Suite.
The Thermo 3D Suite solution, which, the company claims, has already won over
several industry leaders worldwide, allows designers and prepress operators to measure the distortions suffered by the design and to pre-distort accordingly to up for the thermoforming process, being assured of what the company says is ‘a perfect result’.
With this new V.2 version, Quadraxis is attempting to strengthen its Thermo 3D Suite’s position as the so-called ‘must-have’ tool for printers, thermoformers as well as designers.
Among numerous improvements, Thermo 3D Suite V.2 now offers new features such as self-loading connections between Adobe Illustrator and Pigmentz, which helps to manage the 3D content, or new plug-ins to support the thermoformed part’s design and the images’ export.
The solution is now available in French, English, Spanish and Japanese. The distortions’ calculation takes hours of operator time and weeks of lead-time during the design and prepress stages – which considerably delays the production process or forces designers to modify their initial design. Thermo 3D Suite V.2, says Quadraxis, gives free rein to imagination and allows brand owners, designers and prepress operators to rethink their capabilities.
The idea is to enable companies to decorate any object regardless of its shape and the material used.
Covering North and South America, Europe, Middle-East and Africa, Quadraxis, provides tailor-made services, training, technical support as well as upgrade maintenance. In four simple steps, the company explains, a customer can create the 3D template of any object, apply the artwork on the template, make the distortions’ calculation, pre-distort the design as theywish and rapidly get a reliable 3D proof.
(contact: fanny.jaubert@quadraxis.com)
EskoArtwork shared a demonstration stand with its partner, Dassault Systems. The companies presented their solutions for optimising packaging operations and managing label production, which are aimed at the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry.
In addition, Décathlon-Oxylane provided a testimonial at the Emballage ‘Pack Vision’ conference. The company explained the raft of benefits it has enjoyed since implementing EskoArtwork solutions, such as reduced costs, tighter quality control, excellent reliability and faster time to market launch.
In 2010, EskoArtwork introduced HD Flexo 2.0, which enables users to produce even c (SID) for vivid packaging colours. The result can be achieved while printing with standard flexo inks and anilox rollers. HD Flexo 2.0 is particularly useful for printers of flexible and corrugated cardboard packaging, as well as photoengravers that want to improve the ‘shelf impact’ of branded products.
The Kongsberg i-XE10 Automated digital finishing solution automates the entire finishing process. It is a complete solution for moulding practically everything that can be printed on light, flexible media. The Kongsberg i-XE10 Automated, which is equipped with a stacker and new machine feeder, has been specially designed to meet growing demand for finishing short runs of small-format digital prints.
(contact: jef.stoffels@esko.com)
On the film side, Innovia Films launched a new grade of NatureFlex at the show.
The new film, NatureFlex N913, comprises NatureFlex together with a proprietary sealant layer and it is the first of a brand new family of NatureFlexproducts which will further increase the technical capabilities of the cellulose-based packaging film.
The advantages of NatureFlex N913, says Innovia, include a barrier to moisture and a good barrier to gases and aromas, in addition to enhanced sealing qualities and seal integrity.
Derived from renewable resources, NatureFlexfilms are certified to meet the European EN 13432 and American ASTM D6400 composting norms.
“NatureFlexN913 film is ideal for a vast array of products that require packaging performance in both ‘moist’ and ‘dry’ areas including meat, cheese, cereals, confectionery, fresh produce, snacks, household products and personal care items. There is a perception in the marketplace that bio-films cannot perform as well as conventional packaging films, but with both the barrier and sealing properties of NatureFlexN913, this is no longer the case,” states Paul Barker, Innovia Films’ product manager, NatureFlex and Cellophane.
(contact: zena.bergmann@innoviafilms.com)
FINAT presented key findings from the Label Printer Forum & Beverage round table 2010 reflecting the challenges and opportunities of labelling in the beverage industry from concept to consumer. This presentation delivered insights into the latest trends and developments in the labelling supply chain, especially regarding self-adhesive labels in the beverage sector an was presented by Jules Lejeune, managing director at FINAT; Fréderic Leval, general manager at GPL France and Mark Ruijgrok, global business director beer at Avery Dennison Roll Materials Europe, The Netherlands.