Tobacco and cosmetic-packaging converter Amcor Rentsch Europe (Rickenbach, Switzerland) installs the first Die Co-Ordinator DC 1060 system for foil-stamping and embossing from Insight Graphic Systems, Ltd. (East Kilbride, Scotland, UK).

First introduced into the European market in June, the Die Co-Ordinator (below) is a die-registration system that lets an operator prepare press-ready tooling before the job even gets to the press, says IGS. It scans the printed sheet about to be foil-stamped or embossed and compensates for temperature, so that the effects of board stretch and heat expansion are eliminated. Using existing honeycombs, dies and toggle hooks, the unit works with all flatbed platen presses. The ability to solve registration problems before going onto press makes it easier to maintain the highest quality levels, IGS says.

The Die Co-Ordinator is now being manufactured, marketed and supported in the US by West Babylon, NY-based supplier Sterling Toggle, Inc. (www.sterlingtoggle.com).

The newly patented RSP (Registered Scan Preset) system is Lincoln, RI-based Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp.'s latest technical achievement in gravure-printing technology (www.whcorp.com).

Available on W&H's newest line of HELIOSTAR® G direct-drive gravure presses, the RSP (above) automatically laser scans each gravure cylinder at every print station to establish initial mechanical register. Scanning of the moving substrate is then performed. Thereafter, the precise length is measured automatically—print nip to print nip—while taking all variables (from web elasticity and temperature to impression-roll diameter, geometric web length, web tension and many other factors) into consideration. After collecting these data, the RSP system precisely pre-registers each cylinder to provide for an exact start-up register. The process is said to result in significantly less material waste and higher productivity.

Australian converter Amcor, Ltd., is betting its new Hydro-Armour™ carton will revolutionize the way hydro-cooled, fresh produce is packaged. The submersible paper/film laminate box is meant to replace polystyrene-foam containers.

The first product in the lineup—the Hydro-Armour Bean Box (above)—reportedly withstands the high-moisture chilling environment of hydro-cooling, employed to quickly reduce the field temperature of beans and other vegetables. Amcor says it also delivers significant space savings and logistics efficiency with more beans per pallet and lower freight costs versus PS-foam boxes.

The new laminate technology is based on solid-fiber paperboard, says Amcor. The recyclable Hydro-Armour is available in black for retail display, or it can be printed to highlight branded products.