Tape Converting 'Blog

"Spool Rules"

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:26:00 +0000

The Paper, Film and Foil Converter Online Magazine (PFFC) offers some advice and information for those who are spooling materials

PFFC-Online's September issue has a section devoted to traverse winding, specifically spooling nonwoven materials and laminates.

To view this article, visit www.pffc-online.com.

LabelExpo Europe 2009

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:33:00 +0000

LabelExpo Europe will take place this week in Brussels

This year's LabelExpo will take place September 23rd through the 26th at the Brussels Expo. The event is geared towards printers, converters, brand owners and suppliers interested in printing and packaging trends and technologies.

This event is the world's largest for the label, product decoration, web printing and converting industry. There will be over 500 exhibitors from around the world and more products, launches and more live demonstrations than any other event in our industry.

The circus themed event is sure to entertain and educate. To learn more about this event, visit LabelExpo-Europe.com

How to Prevent Unwinding Roll Static?

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:31:00 +0000

PFFC Online offers a great article answering the question "How can you prevent unwinding roll static?"

The article says you can help alleviate many static problems by doing two things:

One-"Do a quick "static check" on the roll to see if it is "hot"
Two-Monitor the static on the unwinding film to verify that your incoming material meets your specifications

The article goes through more of the specifics in detail about ways to further prevent static problems. The read the article in its entirety, visit PFFC Online.

Converters Playing a Role in Product Security

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:12:00 +0000

Product authenticity and security are not new issues to manufacturers. However, technology is creating ways the converter and other suppliers can help combat this problem.

You might not realize what kind of security measures are actually in a product's packaging today. From inks that change colors when removed to holograms only a micrograph can see, it is no secret counterfeiters are up against a wide array of security features.

The recent issue of the Paper, Film and Foil Converter had an interesting section describing the various ways manufacturers are attempting to secure their brands and products, as well as the ways converters, flexographic printers and suppliers can help.

The article suggests several methods of printing, coating and other approaches that a converter can take. To read the entire July Issue of PFFC, visit their site online.

Slitting Special Report

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:51:00 +0000

The June 2009 Paper, Film and Foil Converter (PFFC) E-Zine offers valuable information for the converter

PFFC gives "the skinny on slitting" in their June 2009 E-Zine issue. The report is broken down into five different sections:

How tension impacts your process
Faster job setups are possible
Converter does the impossible
Directory of contract slitters
Custom marketplace

This E-Zine can be viewed in its entirety for free at PFFC-online.com

The Pago Group Aquires Converter

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:05:00 +0000

"Pago Acquires Interest in Thai Converter"

"The Pago Group, an international manufacturer of self-adhesive labels and labeling systems, is to acquire a minority shareholding interest in Salee Printing, a producer of self-adhesive labels based in Thailand. The Thai label manufacturer will in future be present on the market under the new name of Pago Salee Printing Co. Ltd."

To read this entire article from Labels and Labeling, visit www.labelsandlabeling.com

Advantage Solutions

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:20:00 +0000

Avery Dennison Specialty Tape Division launched program called Advantage Solutions.

Advantage Solutions is a program focused on the industrial tape converter. This program will initially offer those involved information about the market, provide business ideas, new product additions, product category overviews, new service improvements, publications, company news and much more.

The goal of this program is to provide the best range of high-performance tapes fast, to offer partnership programs and be responsive to their customers needs in order to help gain new business.

To learn more about this program contact your Avery Dennison Sales Representative.

AIMCAL Converting Portal

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:10:00 +0000

The Association of Industrial Metalizers, Coaters and Laminators, AIMCAL, introduced their new Converting Portal.

AIMCAL introduced their new Converting Portal. This tool offers a great deal of information for the industry professional. Such information includes:

Books and Publications
Technical Proceedings
Webinars
Jobs
Training and Tutorials
Industry Events

You can visit their Converting Portal by visiting http://www.convertingportal.com/

For more information about the Association of Industrial Metalizers, Coaters and Laminators, visit http://www.aimcal.org/.

Great Flexographic Printing Resource

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:13:00 +0000

FlexoExchange, a website dedicated to the "Flexo" community, offers a great tool to its visitors.

We are always looking for tools to make our lives just a little bit easier. This website offers a great deal of information and flexographic, packaging and converting news.

One of the sections that might help you during your everyday is their Calculators section. This section not only lets you download distortion charts, but it also links you to five online calculators. The calculators featured are distortion, ink blend ratio, roll diameter, roll length and ink consumption.

To visit FlexoExchange and utilize their online information and tools, click FLEXO.

More Consolidation

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:25:00 +0000

Cenveo acquires Nashua Corporation

Cenveo, Inc. is the third largest graphics communications company in North America. Nashua Corporation is a 160 year old manufacturer and converter of label and specialty paper products. In the middle of this month, Cenveo signed an agreement to acquire Nashua for approximately 44 million U.S. dollars.

To read more about this acquisition visit www.labelsandlabeling.com.

R. Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:15:00 +0000

Label Industry Global Awards is still accepting votes for this years R. Stanton Avery Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Label Industry Global Awards is the opportunity for those in the label industry to show recognition for achievements over the year. This award in particular is a look an individual's contribution to the industry.

To see a full list of the nominees and cast your vote, visit www.labelawards.com

Flat Die Technology and Solar Energy

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:15:00 +0000

Innovation in the Solar Energy Industry is linked to flat die converting technologies.

According to an article located on Paper, Film & Foil Converter Online, flat die systems used in commercial solar applications promise to reduce the costs of flexible solar systems and make insulation easier.

The innovation made possible through using flexible matterials in converted shapes and sizes can help make solar technology available for many people.

To read this entire article, visit PFFC-Online.com

AIMCAL Converting School

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:00:00 +0000

AIMCAL Converting School adds new classes to its 2009 schedule.

According to Paper, Film and Foil Converter Online, the Association of Industrial Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators (AIMCAL) will add a Roller Performance Workshop and a Center Winding Workshop to their 2009 schedule.

To read more, including brief workshop descriptions, visit Paper, Film and Foil Converter Online.

Finger Lift Tabs

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:33:00 +0000

I like the double coated adhesive system that I am currently using. However, I need to remove long strips of release liner easily, without the liner tearing. What is my best alternative?

It is possible to have a tape converter take your adhesive system and have it coated onto a release liner. When they slit the rolls down from the master, they can score away a portion of the adhesive and create a dry edge or finger lift tab. This will make removing the release liner much easier.

For more information on what a converter can do for you, visit BudnickConverting.com.

MSI

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:31:00 +0000

How do you calculate MSI for a roll of flexible material and what does it have to do with the price?

It is quite simple to convert your measurements into MSIs. Just remember one MSI is equal to one thousand square inches and its easiest to work backwards!

Lets say you material is 9.75 inches wide by 5000 feet long.

•The first step is converting all your measurements into inches.
(5000 feet X 12 (inches/foot) = 60,000 inches)
•Then multiply your width by your length to get square inches
(60,000 inches X 9.75 inches = 585,000 square inches)
•Finally, divide square inches by 1,000 to get your MSI per roll value
(585,000 square inches / 1,000 = 585 MSI per roll)

Converters often quote prices in MSI and they do so by multiplying the number of MSI per roll by the resale price per MSI. In this case, if the price per MSI was $0.105, your price per roll would be $61.43. (585 MSI X $0.105 = $61.425 per roll)

Target Price

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:27:00 +0000

When I call into my materials converter for a new project, they always want a target price. Why?

The amount you have budgeted for your new project will help to determine which manufacturers' product your converter may consider for your application, in addition to the cost of the supplementary processing needed to convert the material to the form you need. Your target price allows them to get creative in all aspects of the sourcing and manufacturing process to meet your goal.

Giving a target price will also help your converter build a case with the manufacturer they select to get the best possible price for you. It may be possible to get deviated pricing from certain vendors for competitive situations, discounts for higher volume purchases and preferred terms if your converter has a preferential relationship with those certain vendors. Vendors like 3M have "Preferred Converters" and tesa has "tesa net partners." The most reliable converters have such relationships and working with them can ensure you get the right product in the right form for your application.

For more information about a preferred converter, visit BudnickConverting.com

A Green Initiative

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:49:00 +0000

Converters Face Challenges and Opportunities with Pushes Towards Sustainability

Paper, Film & Foil Converter Online recently revealed their 2009 Coating and Laminating Special Report. One of the most interesting pieces covers the challenges and opportunities converters will face in 2009, due to the green initiatives around the world.

"In the face of climate change, using less energy and creating fewer volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions increasingly are part of the equation for converters (PFFC Online, March 24, 2009)."

To read this article in its entirety and learn more about this pressing topic, visit PFFC Online.

Canadia Converter Helps Provide Clean Drinking Water In Africa

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:53:00 +0000

Associated Lables completes a water project in Uganda to provide clean drinking water for entire village.

Visit Converting Magazine to read more about this heart warming story.

Die-Cut Tape Parts

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:33:00 +0000

Die-Cut Tapes Save Time and Money

Die-cut pieces of tape normally cost more than the same product in rolled form, due to the converting services required. However, they can save you an incredible amount of time and money in the long run. This is primarily due to the faster application and consistency you find using such parts.

A die-cut part is made specifically for your application, which saves you time applying the product. Human error is also limited, which means less time and money reworking a specific project.

Furthermore, a die-cut part removes almost any variability, limiting rework time and money, but also improving your products consistency.

Visit www.BudnickConverting.com to learn about the additional benefits of die-cut parts.

Medical Device Adhesive Workshops

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:07:00 +0000

Henkel Corporation will host two Loctite medical device adhesive training workshops

One workshope will be held on March 26, 2009 in Irvine, California and another will be held on April 23, 2009 in San Diego, California.

The workshops will aim to educate on proper joint design for adhesive assembly, selecting the appropriate adhesive technology and processing-equipment requirements.

To read more, visit AdhesivesAndSealants.com.

Determining the Right Tool

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:30:00 +0000

What typically determines the type of tooling required when die-cutting material?

There are four main factors that determine what type of tool should be used. You need to ask yourself these four questions:

What is the length of the job?
What type of material is being cut?
What is the accuracy or tolerance of the cut material?
What type of press will you be using?

Once you know the answers to these questions, you will typically be able to determine the appropriate tool.

Rewind Slitting

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:03:00 +0000

What is rewind slitting?

Rewind slitting is the preferred method for slitting large volumes of standard sized rolls of pressure-sensitive tape. In this process, large master rolls of jumbos are used to unwind tape and then are rewound layer over layer across a set of prespaced cores.

"Green" Laminator

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:18:00 +0000

"Green" Laminator Cuts Energy Consumption, Handles Triple-ply Materials

To read this entire article, visit Converting Magazines's website.

Lathe Slitting For Today's Converting Plants

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:01:00 +0000

"Slitting without rewinding" is now highly automated, computer-controlled for rapid production."

To read Carlo Cevenini, President of Cevenini USA LLC's entire article visit www.convertingmagazine.com.

In-Line Laser Cutting

noreply@blogger.com (TapeBlog Admin) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:45:00 +0000

What are the benefits of in-line laser cutting?

No tooling required

Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) processing means parts can be created from your drawings or computer files.

No design limitations

Laser cutting overcomes the limitations of mechanical tooling. This allows design engineers the freedom to specify part dimensions that optimize finished goods.

Quality parts

The high-speed motion system manipulates the laser beam at a rate of 200 inches/second to cut parts to your desired dimension while processing material at speeds up to 100 feet/minute. This process keeps specialty part costs down and helps meet both prototype and full scale production requirements.

A variety of part dimensions on the same roll

In-line laser processing provides you with a variety of parts on the same roll or sheet. If you require a variety of die-cuts for a single unit, they can all be supplied right next to each other.

Eliminate adhesive flow

Many of today's specialty fastening adhesives tend to flow (bond back to itself) after traditional die-cutting. Laser cutting actually vaporizes the kerf where mechanical die-cutting only displaces the substrate. By vaporizing material, laser cutting prevents cut parts from bonding back to themselves when matrices (scrap material) are left with the finished product. In-line laser procedures also allow matrix removal on many materials that were once inseparable. By removing surrounding scrap material from your finished parts, productivity can be increased with automated application processes.

To learn more about in-line laser cutting, visit BudnickConverting.com