Masterpiece Graphix supplies are available through Tailored Solutions’ Label Traxx as a supplier partner. MGX became available on Label Traxx earlier this year and customers have enjoyed issuing PO’s and tracking inventory from their software with ease. Label Traxx makes ordering the full line of MGX’s digital materials easy, fast and reliable with the convenience of automatic inventory updates.

Label Traxx is a job management software system created by Tailored Solutions specifically for narrow web printers and printers who specialize in in-line roll converting. It enables different departments within a printing company to communicate easily via twelve user modules including Estimating, Job Costing, Quality Control, and Job Coster. Each module is a complete end-to-end solution that contains everything needed to streamline communication throughout the organization and to efficiently manage the print business. MGX customers using the Label Traxx system are able to reduce their order entry time by connecting directly and securely to Masterpiece Graphix, eliminating double entries and greatly reducing erroneous entries.

MGX, through Label Traxx, provides immediate order confirmation and advance shipment notice data. Utilizing the convenient bar code scanning feature of Label Traxx, users have the ability to scan incoming and work-in-process MGX material to maintain an accurate inventory count with ease. Many MGX customers that utilize Label Traxx have noticed that keeping track of material inventory is much easier and that ordering MGX material through the software is fast, convenient and easy to do.

For more information on Tailored Solution’s Label Traxx, please visit their website. For MGX-specific information about the Label Traxx system, please contact Masterpiece Graphix’s customer service at 636.349.6401 x211, or via email.

In the world of retail packaging shelf appeal is crucial in appealing to consumers and increasing revenue. One way to improve retail visibility is to utilize eye-catching graphics on a unique container that stands out from the competitions’ products. In-mold labeling is a way to catch attention on retail shelves as well as a one-pass manufacturing process that can reduce application costs and secondary operations in your digital print manufacturing applications.

In-mold labeling, or IML, is a process in which a label or product decoration is applied when the object is being formed in the mold. A label or appliqué with a heat-activated adhesive is placed in the open mold and held in place during production. The mold is then closed and molten plastic resin is extruded or injected into the mold cavity where it forms the desired shape of the object or container. The hot plastic adheres to the label, embedding the label into the container and making it an integral part of the molded object. The finished appearance of IML creates a seamless, no-label look that could not be achieved with conventional labeling methods. Many IML labels are printed on the same material as the container, like polyethylene, polypropylene or styrene.

In-mold labeling has been popular in Europe for some time. According to a 2004 article, an estimated 85-95% of food applications utilize IML in Europe. In contrast, only 5% of food packaging in North America currently uses IML. However, In-mold labeling is quickly gaining popularity in this market for its physical, visual and economical characteristics. It has been estimated that IML will grow 6%-10% in the North American market annually over the next several years.

Because the in-mold label is a part of the finished object, the label is very durable and almost impossible to remove. In-mold durable labels are resistant to squeezing, stains, peeling, water, chemicals and abrasion: these conditions can destroy a conventional pressure-sensitive label. In some cases an in-mold label can increase the sidewall strength of the finished product.

Another advantage to in-mold labeling is production efficiency; IML eliminates the need for a separate labeling process which can save your company labor and machinery costs when compared to traditional labeling. The efficient process yields a very low material scrap rate; a typical percentage for an IML operation is less than one percent. Some could argue that in-mold labeling saves energy with a one-pass manufacturing process, making it an “eco-friendly” option. In addition, many IML containers are recyclable, and because the IML label is constructed from the same material as the container, the entire package can be reground and recycled without having to remove the label.

IML technology can add a variety of products to your manufacturing capabilities. Many containers can be in-mold labeled like blow-molded bottles, injection-molded open top PP containers and other plastic articles. Durable goods like drinkware, computer cases, cell phones, and sporting equipment can also be manufactured using an in-mold process.

The possibilities for IML applications are endless, and can be applied to many industries your company may already serve. In-mold labeling is an excellent option for beverage bottles, food containers, liquid detergents, personal care, household cleaners, automotive products, agricultural and garden products, and even durable goods production. IML can also be found in many toy and instructional labeling applications and is sometimes referred to as in-mold decorating (IMD) in the manufacturing realm.

Digital print technology in conjunction with in-mold labeling can be used to create vibrant, colorful packaging that is visually appealing on store shelves. HP Indigo ink chemistry makes it an ideal option for IML print jobs. Digital print’s variable data technology can be utilized to create custom, market-specific products that will appeal to each customer segment.

Masterpiece Graphix currently carries many IML-ready substrates for your digital press. We offer thermo-formable digital substrates like polyethylene, polypropylene, styrene, PET, HDPE, PolyArt®, and other polyolefin substrates that are ideal for IML applications. If you already have a substrate in mind, MGX can help you make it IML-ready. Masterpiece Graphix serves other in-mold label printers in the manufacturing industry and can offer guidance and suggestions in substrates and applications. For more information on the in-mold labeling industry, please visit the In-Mold Decoration Association (IMDA) website. To learn more about the multitude of digital in-mold labeling options available through MGX, please contact your MGX sales rep.

On September 14-16, the label industry will gather in Chicago for Label Expo 2010 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center to meet with their peers, promote their offerings and to learn the latest industry trends.  Digital technology is poised to have a huge presence. Masterpiece Graphix will be on hand to meet with digital printers and learn about the new press technologies and capabilities in the label marketplace.

Label Expo attendees have the opportunity to see MGX materials in action and on press on three different digital presses. Masterpiece Graphix will be supplying the HP Indigo WS6000, EFI Jetrion 4380 and the Xeikon 3500 demo machines with MGX digital material at Label Expo. MGX digital material experts will be available on all three days of the conference to personally meet with printers interested in digital substrate solutions and resources for their business.

If you would like to meet up with MGX at Label Expo, please contact us! We want to meet you! Email MGX, call 636.349.6401 x225, or directly contact your MGX sales rep. MGX is also on Twitter! If you are a Twitter user, follow MGX and direct message us to set up a meeting at the show. MGX digital material experts will be on hand to meet with you, and to help your company select the best MGX digital substrates for all of your innovative and demanding print applications.

Question From An MGX Customer & HP Indigo Roll Press Operator:

Our company has experimented with cheaper digital stocks from other suppliers. While attempting to print on some of these products, we are experiencing inconsistent UV coating and frequent web breaks. We’ve also noticed a shorter blanket lifespan: we are finding that we need to replace the blanket more often then we used to. All of these issues are causing downtime on our press and the UV coating inconsistencies are resulting in rejected labels, reprints and waste. Why are we experiencing these problems with non-MGX stock?

Answer:

It is likely the stock that you are describing hasn’t been treated with a contiguous coating. Every MGX digital material is optimized with the best contiguous coating process in the industry, which will give you the best possible print quality, consistent UV coating, and long blanket life. Other materials on the market are not coated; rather a digital solution is mixed in the pulp at the time of manufacture. This method of treatment is usually less expensive but can cause a multitude of digital press issues including brittleness, web breaks, inconsistent UV coatings, and shortened PIP and blanket life. Here’s a little more detail on the issues raised in the query above:

Coated vs. Non-Coated Materials

Substrates can be digitally treated when the paper is manufactured by mixing digital coating with the paper fibers. This creates a substrate with digital coating “peppered” throughout the entire substrate. Digital inks will adhere to this coating during printing; however, this coating method leaves many areas of the substrate untreated for digital printing. As you can see in the diagram on the right, the black orbs in the diagram illustrate the digital-receptive coating. As the picture shows, many microscopic areas of the material’s surface will be left without digital treatment. Because of this, digital inks will only adhere to the portions of the material that contain the digital coating, leaving many uncoated “holes” within the material. Therefore, digital inks can lift off of the non-coated portions of the substrate which can cause picking and ink lift-off. Ink lift-off from the substrate can also stick to the digital press blanket, leading to more frequent blanket replacement and press downtime.

UV Coating Inconsistencies

The entire surface grain of these other materials is not consistently coated, which can lead to inconsistent UV coating. One MGX customer experienced these problems when using a cheaper, non-coated product –  a glossy UV coating appeared matte and splotchy on the finished printed product and was subsequently rejected by the client. Another downside to this coating method is that the digital treatment is embedded throughout the substrate and not just on the surface of the material. This can cause the substrate to be brittle, causing web breaks, downtime, and potential problems on your press. One MGX customer using a non-coated material experienced three web breaks and over an hour of downtime on their machine due to the brittleness of the non-coated stock.

Digital materials coated with a contiguous coating method are evenly coated throughout the surface of the substrate. You can see the difference in the graphic (right), with the digital coating pictured in black. As the diagram illustrates, contiguous coating leaves no breaks or “holes” in the coating so the ink is always in contact with the digital treatment. Substrates with contiguous coating feature heavier ink coverage so colors have the potential to be as rich and vibrant as possible. Items digitally printed on contiguous-coated substrates are also more robust and durable with little to no ink lift-off in tape tests and less web breaks during production.

Extended Blanket Life

Contiguous-coated materials also extend the life of your blanket as there is less residual ink that adheres to the blanket. Digital ink that flakes off the non-coated portions of the substrate will stick to the blanket, leading to more frequent blanket replacement and less downtime. Extended blanket life saves you time, money and maintenance hassles.

With advances in digital printing, photography and scanning technologies, counterfeiters have more tools than ever to mimic a product.  These technologies make it easy to copy a brand and hard to discern a genuine product or document from a counterfeit. As new security printing and packaging technologies emerge, copycats quickly take note and scramble to produce reproductions of the new process. Therefore the brand protection and security market is constantly developing new technologies and processes to stay one step ahead of criminals.

Why do counterfeiters take such extreme measures to produce realistic copies of a product? It’s profitable to copy a successful product, piggybacking on the item’s sales and stealing potential revenue from the original manufacturer. According to the International Authentication Association (IAA), the illegal practice of counterfeiting costs industries anywhere between $200 billion and $600 billion dollars per year (see L&NW article). All industries are susceptible but some face more risks than others: Pharmaceuticals, software, music, automobile/machinery parts, and movies are all markets that currently combat fraudulent reproduction of their products. Even brand-name commodities and licensed products face the risk of counterfeit.

Essentially there are four categories of brand protection strategies that printers and manufacturers can choose to implement individually or as a combination for security printing:

• Overt: This category is obvious to both the customer and the manufacturer, and is classified by the unique packaging or look of the product or brand. One of the most common forms of overt security packaging is tamper-evident labeling. Other examples include complex label graphics that are difficult to replicate, or the use of hard-to-attain holographic or exotic material within the design. This strategy is coincidentally the most complex because in many cases the unique packaging is exactly what the counterfeiter is trying to copy.

• Covert/Forensic: These security features are hard to identify by the customer or even the naked eye. However, covert features are hard to mimic because they are hard to identify without specialized equipment. One application of covert packaging is to incorporate security ink into the printed product so the image fluoresces when placed under ultraviolet (UV) light Kodak Nexpress recently released red florescent ink that is invisible to the naked eye but can be used for security printing applications. A printer may also choose to utilize security paper into the product which when copied, displays a message that deters counterfeiters.

• Numbering/Coding: Digital printers are perfectly poised to utilize variable data as a security feature for their customers. Setting up a system that is unique to each item is a way to be certain that each product is unique and therefore hard to mimic. Utilizing algorithms, sequential numbering or custom barcodes to create a custom label for each product is a way to integrate security as well as information into the product. These forms of variable data can contain useful data such as print date or product origin.

• Information Linkage: Advances in digital technology has allowed manufacturers to use embed “smart” sensors within their products so they can track and identify their items easily. The most common form of information linkage security packaging is radio-frequency identification (RFID). These smart sensors can be embedded in the packaging upon manufacture, which allows for scanning of an item to determine authenticity. RFID tags can even track movement of items within a certain area with the right equipment. RFID technology is an emerging and developing tool which may come to replace conventional barcodes in the future.

Masterpiece Graphix has many substrate options available for security printing applications. Holographic materials, exotic substrates, security paper and tamper-evident polyester and self-destructive labeling materials are all available through MGX, ready to run on your digital press. MGX carries RIT-certified DeterX® Gray Void Security Paper (R1419 as rolls, MGX-1303 as sheets) for the HP Indigo. This unique paper is HP Indigo-certified for the WS6000, WS4050, 5000, 5500, and WS45000. This paper is stocked with a gray/blue pattern that reads “COPY” when duplicated. This digital substrate is perfect for printing checks, coupons, rebates, event tickets and other secure document applications. Custom colors and hidden messages are also available. For more information on DeterX® papers or custom security solutions for your application, please contact your MGX sales rep.

Anywhere you look on retail shelves, flexible packaging, or flexpack, is emerging as an economical and practical option for prime packaging. According to the Flexible Packaging Association, the total size of the flexible packaging industry was $25.6 billion in 2008 (see article). With the trends that are emerging in digital packaging, there is no reason that the flexpack market will not increase along with digital press use in the coming years.

Flexible packaging presents an opportunity for narrow web digital press users who currently print pressure-sensitive tags and labels to expand their product offerings for additional revenue streams.  Its unique characteristics make it an ideal digital substrate.

There are many reasons why a brand manager would select flexpack for a digital press application:

• Short Runs: Printers can produce small quantities of flexible packages economically, making the design ideal for smaller brands or sample sizes. Short run packaging also allows for mass customization of products tailored to the specific needs of the consumer. Combined with the variable data technology of digital printing, customization can be taken a step further. Digital press users can create unique packaging graphics with different dynamic data such as serial numbers and barcodes for each item printed. With fast on-demand digital printing, printers can produce lower quantities on an as-needed basis, reducing inventory and warehouse space.

• Cost-effective & Greener Packaging: Packaging constructed with flexpack technology can reduce material costs as well as the size and weight of the finished package. Smaller, lighter packages take up less space, reducing warehouse space and transportation costs as a result. In addition, reduction in packaging materials can be economical, cutting material costs. In combination with digital’s profitable short-run advantages, flexible packaging presents itself as an economical choice in today’s market.

• Barrier Construction: Flexible packaging contains layers of materials that create a functional barrier, lending itself to many product applications. Barriers keep contents fresh in food packaging. Barriers are also useful in chemical packaging to keep potentially hazardous material within the package.

• Convenience: Flexpack is the ideal way to produce snack containers or smaller single-use portions. The economical advantages to flexible packaging make it an excellent choice for shorter-life products or convenience items. 

Masterpiece Graphix is the one-stop resource for digital flexible packaging materials and information, and can supply all of the substrates you need for your specific application. Digital-ready heat-sealable films, cosmetic web, co-ex, LDPE, BOPP, polyester, and snack web are just a few of the flexpack substrate options that MGX offers. MGX substrates are of the best possible quality, featuring superior printability, excellent ink adhesion and can be customized to your packaging requirements.

Customers continue to purchase MGX materials to produce flexible packaging for candies, bread bags, food items, potato chips, and hazardous materials. With our expertise, MGX can help you select and build a material specifically for your flexpack application. For more information on flexible packaging substrates from Masterpiece Graphix, please contact your MGX sales rep.

Have you recently installed a new HP Indigo WS6000, or are you considering the purchase? MGX wants to provide you with FREE certified material to run on your new machine! All you have to do is contact MGX and request our WS6000 Welcome Kit. We will send you a whopping 10,000 feet of FREE HP Indigo-Certified material for use on your new 6000, including:

• 2500’ Masterpiece Premium 100# Gloss Calibration Paper (R1341)
• 2500’ 60# Unsupported Setup Paper (R1267)
• 2500’ 2.6 mil White BOPP/Perm/40# (R0440)
• 2500’ 60# Semigloss/Perm/40# (R1332)
• 500’ Acpo Polypropylene Digital Overlaminate (410DIG)
• 2500’ 2 mil Clear BOPP/Perm/40# (if available) (R1126)

All the substrates in our welcome kit have been certified by HP to run on the WS6000. To request your free HP Indigo WS6000 Welcome Kit, please call 636-349-6401 x225 or email sales@mgxdigital.com.

Recently it has come to our attention that there are a few rumors making the rounds about Masterpiece Graphix. As a digital treatment center, we take great pride in our reputation and want to dispel any misconceptions about our business. Below are the actual facts about Masterpiece Graphix, so don’t believe any misinformation to the contrary!

MGX Offers More Than Just HP Indigo Roll Materials: Masterpiece Graphix has been coating HP Indigo roll materials for over a decade. However, MGX is also now offering sheet materials for HP Indigo presses. We keep many stocked sheet material solutions in-house, ready to order and run on your HP Indigo sheet press. In addition, MGX also offers material solutions for the EFI Jetrion industrial label roll press, as well as compatible substrates for dry toner sheet presses like the Xerox iGen and Kodak NexPress. We are continuously adding new digital press technologies to our list of coating capabilities, so if a customer brings a desired material/digital press combination to us, we can help formulate a coating solution.

MGX is More Than Just a “Custom House”: Masterpiece offers turnkey, ready-to-run material solutions for all available HP Indigo press models. Since we’ve successfully coated over 800 different facestock/adhesive combinations for the HP Indigo, we are confident that we can offer HP Indigo-compatible substrates that will run flawlessly the first time. In addition, MGX offers RIT-certified material solutions for many press models like the WS6000. Certification means that the material has been thoroughly tested by the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Printing Applications Laboratory to run trouble-free on a particular HP Indigo model.

MGX Offers Toll Coating, And More: Masterpiece Graphix can ship you digitally-coated, ready-to-print stock from nearly every industry supplier. Of course, you can always ship your desired material to us for coating, but it’s not necessary. Substrates can be ordered directly from us and quickly shipped to you once the material has been coated. Many materials arrive at your location six business days after your order.

MGX Carries Material Mainstays As Well As Exotic Substrates: In fact, MGX carries ALL the industry mainstays like semigloss and BOPP, as well as the tricky, hard to coat substrates. Masterpiece Graphix is essentially a one-stop-shop for Indigo-compatible materials, offering everything from papers to plastics, pressure-sensitives to polycarbonate. No matter the material you desire, MGX has the material you need, at competitive prices. More on this below…

MGX Offers Competitive Pricing on Industry Mainstays: MGX can offer excellent pricing on all the digital material you need, including industry staples like papers and films. You can rely on MGX to provide competitive pricing on all of your needed materials, not just the exotic, hard-to-find stocks. Please don’t hesitate to contact MGX for pricing on any material; we will get it to you quickly, and can answer any questions you have on a particular material. Ordering materials from MGX cuts your bottom line in other ways: running MGX substrates provide increased pip and blanket life on your machine, which in turn lowers your downtime and maintenance costs. Our materials also offer the longest shelf life in the industry.

MGX Provides Customized Stocking Solutions For Your Company: MGX can create a custom stocking option to fit your business model. Substrates can be ordered from us directly, or materials can be drop-shipped to us for coating. If you plan to regularly order the same material, MGX can help you develop a custom stocking solution, ensuring that you always have digital-ready material in-house, the way you want them.

MGX has partnered with EFI Jetrion to coat materials for use on the Jetrion 4000 and 4830 industrial inkjet roll presses as an EFI-certified Jetrion treatment center. Masterpiece Graphix currently offers an EFI-certified material for the Jetrion: 54# Semigloss/Perm/40# (R1338). As part of the EFI and MGX partnership, every new Jetrion press purchase now ships with a free roll of this material.

In addition to the EFI-certified material, MGX has also formulated two Jetrion-compatible substrates: 2.3 mil white BOPP and 57# Semigloss/Perm/40#. Many white BOPP materials that MGX typically coats for the HP Indigo can also be formulated to be compatible with the EFI Jetrion.

The 4380 is the latest edition to the EFI Jetrion UV inkjet series of presses, designed to produce high-quality, narrow-web digital labels. The 4380 touts a wider web width and faster linear speeds and over twice the throughput than its predecessor, the Jetrion 4000. The 4830 can print up to 8.3 inches wide on a 9 inch roll, allowing 2-up 4-inch labels. The wider print zone enables label converters to efficiently take on more print jobs. The 4380 is unique in allowing press operators to profitably produce both long and short-run label jobs. The press also features white ink capability, and can print directly on pre-printed rolls or pre-diecut labels.

EFI launched its new Jetrion 4830 UV inkjet system during Labelexpo Europe 2009 and subsequently won the LabelExpo Europe Label Industry Award for New Innovation for the 4380. The 4380 recently won the 2010 European Digital Press (EDP) Association Award for the “Best Industrial (Specialty) Printing Solution” category.

As a digital material provider, Masterpiece Graphix can optimize materials for HP Indigo, EFI Jetrion or other digital press applications. MGX can help digital press users develop new substrates for use on their digital liquid toner, dry toner, and inkjet presses. If you would like to develop a new digital-ready material for your specific digital press application, please contact MGX for more information.

Masterpiece Graphix is offering an exciting new promotion: if a new customer signs up with a six-month material contract and agrees to meet the minimum order requirement per month, that customer will receive a FREE Apple iPad, courtesy of MGX! This promotion is only being offered to new MGX customers. Please contact us for more information.