The shimmering excitement and anticipation of a special purchasing experience is offered by new iridescent shrink-label film for special holiday combination packs. Created to enhance consumer value for wine, spirit, upscale beverages, beauty and fragrance packaging, the film interacts with light, projecting a kaleidoscopic pattern of color. Iridescent shrink labels are made with PETG and PLA resins for an environmentally-friendly packaging material. Samples are available.

GILBRETH PACKAGING, 800/630-2413, www.gilbrethusa.com

The new Omega Digipharma digital-label converting line is based on co.’s popular Digicon and is aimed at pharmaceutical-label production where accuracy and high quality are critical. Designed for converting via an HP Indigo 4500 print engine, slitting and rewinding of labels up to 13-in. wide, the line is integrated with the fleyeVision system, which enables 100 percent print inspection. When a flaw is detected, the machine slows down, and the web stops with the defective image in a predefined position. Any further errors occurring in this production phase are stored in a memory back-up. As soon as the defective image has reached the stop position, it is displayed on screen for operator correction. Options include foil stamping, varnishing, diecutting, overlaminating and sheeting.

AB GRAPHIC INTERNATIONAL, 44/1262-671138, www.abgint.com

Aimed at the food-packaging market, co.’s new Casings Technology flexographic press and Puresheet sheeting system is said to permit accurate printing on both the front and reverse of sensitive films in register while reversing the web. It includes automatic register compensation, front and rear side, irrespective of variations in substrate characteristics. The technology is based on a turn bar that uses an air pillow under the actual width of the web. An edge compensator within the design avoids problems that can arise from material rolls that have been damaged during transportation or storage. The design is reportedly based on a 40-in. web width for speeds up to 1,215 fpm.

SOMA ENGINEERING, 420/465-350825, www.soma.cz

A new generation electron-beam laboratory system, the EZ Lab™, is said to be ideal for product development and testing. It enables in-house lab work of low-voltage EB formulations such as curing EB inks and coatings, EB laminating adhesives for various organic and inorganic substrates combinations, EB pressure-sensitive adhesives, and surface treatment of materials for new product development. Capable of processing webs up to 6-in. wide, it provides maximum EB-penetration depth of 1.2 mils (30 gsm) and a maximum speed up to 50 fpm. Free demonstrations are offered.

ENERGY SCIENCES INC., 978/694-9000, www.ebeam.com

FlexRoll® flexible roll-protection wrap guards edges of sensitive rolled and cylindrical products from nicks and tears, keeping them clean and free from abrasions, rips, wrinkles and smudges. The material’s evenly spaced notches enable its triangular fingers to bend quickly and easily around the edges of rolled and contoured products, acting as a barrier against damage during shipping, storage and handling. Ideal for converters of paper and other roll-stock materials where lighter-weight protection is appropriate, FlexRoll acts as a buffer that separates product from the walls and floors of trucks and warehouses. Available in calipers of 0.04 and 0.05 in., FlexRoll comes in 250-ft-long and is packaged two rolls per box. Custom sizes also are available.

LAMINATIONS, GREAT NORTHERN CORP., 800/925-2626, www.laminationsonline.com

New options for print finishing include co.’s automatic ProCut 74 and ProCut 105 diecutters with hologram stamping to not only create premium-quality packaging but help boost brand protection and anti-counterfeiting capabilities. The module works with two separate rolls of foil which are fed with millimeter precision via laser sensors, an additional motor and a specially developed steering system. In addition to hologram foils and individualized security foils, the unit can also process any kind of hot foil. Changeovers from embossing holograms to diecutting reportedly take less than 10 minutes. The units crease, nick, perforate and kiss-cut.

KAMA GMBH, 49/351-270360, fax: 49/351-2703690, www.kama.info

Up to 11-ft-long system

The Power Lightline (PLL) is an LED-based, scalable, illumination solution for web inspection. Available with white, red or green surface-mount LEDs, it is offered in lengths from 16 in. to 11 ft. Output intensity is controlled in 1.3-in. segments via an Ethernet interface. Profiles for different applications can be created, stored and recalled. Integrated sensors monitor the PLL and report over-temperature conditions as well as LED, power supply and software failures.

VOLPI USA, 800/68-VOLPI, www.volpiusa.com

For film/sheet applications

Newly redesigned, patented Rotor-Spray coating technology—the IQ-141—for the film/sheet industry includes a smoothing roll. Due to its relatively small size, the coater can be implemented either in blown- or cast-film lines. It applies chemicals with absolute uniformity and can change add-on rates “on-the-fly,” co. says. The IQ-141 is ideal for the application print primers, anti-statics, anti-fogs and release agents. Co. also offers unwind and rewind stations that include IR dryers, static eliminators, Ahlbrandt corona-treating station and the chemicals to be applied such as anti-stats and anti-fogs.

CONSULTEX SYSTEMS, 800/266-9669, www.consultexsystems.com

Fits packaging-gravure cylinders

The new CellEye calibration method is said to result in outstanding repeat accuracy for packaging-gravure cylinders. The volume-oriented measuring process records the exact geometry of the engraving cell and also takes into account the real stylus angle and stylus wear. CellEye also enables users to monitor the highlights, midtones and shadows separately from each other. Variations in the engraving copper and stylus wear are now compensated for by the new measuring process. CellEye thus produces much more reliable color results for originals in proof and print for new and repeat jobs.

HELL GRAVURE SYSTEMS GMBH, 49/431-23770, www.hell-gravure.de

Handles anilox, plate sleeves

The new SleeveWrak™ Double-Decker Rack is an unusual, two-tiered, vertical storage unit for narrow-web anilox and/or plate sleeves up to 30 in. long. Each sleeve is held in position by a pair of specially designed guides and stored vertically, which minimizes compression of the expansion layer of the sleeve. The rack also features a built-in rubber belt that supports the bottom end of the sleeve and keeps the ends from becoming damaged or chipped. Each rack, which comes standard with 32 pairs of adjustable guides, can accommodate up to 50 narrow-web anilox and/or plate sleeves with the addition of further guides.

HARPER SCIENTIFIC, 704/588-3371, www.HarperScientific.com

Cuts energy use by 67 percent

By recycling hot, dry air to raise the temperature of new resin entering the drying hopper, co.’s EnergySmart™ polymer-drying system can reduce energy consumption in high-volume PET operations by up to two-thirds, compared to conventional desiccant dryers, co. says. Energy challenges are especially acute in PET drying because the material needs to be dried at very high temperatures. The EnergySmart dryer is a “two-stage” system, incorporating a hot-air circuit and a dehumidified-air circuit. Air is dried to a -40 deg F dewpoint and heated to 350 deg F, as recommended by PET resin suppliers.

CONAIR, 412/312-6000, www.conairnet.com

Source runs up to three LED heads

The CF2000 UV-visible LED-light source controller power supply allows independent multiple-head control for up to three LED heads, accessible via either front-panel manual control or remote interface via a PC USB or RS232 interface. The CF2000 is capable of driving up to three separate LED heads, available at 365, 395 and 455 nm. The long life of LEDs avoids the production disruptions associated with replacing traditional UV bulbs, while providing better process control through its stable output power, narrow output spectrum and lack of excess heating, co. says.

CLEARSTONE TECHNOLOGIES, INC., 612/824-4846, www.clearstonetech.com

Hot-melt, liquid applications

Co.’s LogiComm adhesive-gun driver is a high-performance electric unit with a flexible design that supports applications across the packaging, nonwovens, and paper and paper-converting industries. Installation is simple; the user selects the gun type from the menu and the corresponding settings load automatically. Advanced diagnostics and LED indicators further simplify setup and troubleshooting. Users can also save settings and perform firmware upgrades via the internal USB port. The LogiComm driver has four trigger inputs to interface to a pattern control, PLC or other device.

NORDSON CORP., 800/683-2314, www.nordson.com

Ideal for food packaging

AMPLIFY™ IO versatile ionomers deliver a combination of performance, processing and economics that makes them ideal for demanding applications such as food packaging, medical and other retail packaging, co. says. AMPLIFY IO functional polymers offer excellent optics for good product appearance; high-melt strength for outstanding thermoformability; impact and abrasion/scratch resistance for durability; and adhesion to polyethylene, metals, glass and nylon. AMPLIFY IO polymers can be processed via injection molding, films and coatings.

DOW CHEMICAL CO., 989/638-7251, www.dow.com