Why Pay More for Eco-Friendly Labels?
Essentially you do not have to pay more. Here at IMEC Media, we find it very satisfying to be able to offer greener printing options that don't cost any more than those following standard techniques. This approach lets you keep an eye on your bottom line while you also help to steward the environment. Our label manufacturing involves high-performing adhesive and water-based inks. In addition, all of the face stock [...]
What are the Challenges Facing the Paper Recycling Industry?
The processing of recycled paper presents some distinct challenges. Interestingly, it is the smallest element in the process that presents the biggest challenge: as pressure-sensitive adhesives combine with recycled paper, this can produce small particles, known as "stickies." The build-up of these particles on equipment can cause defects in the final product paper. The results: lower product selling prices, increased downtime, and costs for equipment cleanup. In fact, the estimated [...]
What is the difference between solvent based and water based inks when producing eco-friendly product labels?
There Is The Health Impact of Solvent-Based Inks: For many years, it was traditional in the printing industry to employ solvent-based inks. These inks contain higher levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a set of chemicals widely used as ingredients in such household products as paints, varnishes, and waxes, as well as cleaning, disinfectant, cosmetic, degreasing and hobby products. According to the EPA, they are of concern as a source for [...]
What is a Recycling Compatible Label Adhesive ?
Companies are now developing new label adhesive products compatible with the existing recycling stream. One example is an innovative label adhesive produced by Avery Dennison — the new TrueCutTM All-Temp Adhesive Technology, or AT2550. This label adhesive has been created specifically for paper face stocks, and it is specially designed to be used for shipping and weigh-scale purposes as well as warehouse and logistics applications. A great feature of the [...]
California May Impose Toughest Rules on Recycling Labels
California lawmakers have approved what advocacy groups say are the nation’s strongest protections against falsely labeling items as recyclable when they in fact are destined for landfills. The measure sent to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom for his consideration would reserve the “chasing arrows” recycling symbol for items that actually can be recycled. The author of the bill named SB 343, Democratic Sen. Ben Allen, said in a statement that it will force truth [...]
What is the significance of Using Recyclable Label Products?
What Are the Economic and Ecological Benefits of Recyclable Label Products and Paper Fiber? The benefits to using recyclable/recoverable paper in the production of packaging, labels, and other printed products are many. They include: The reduction in the use of virgin timber, to be replaced by recycled wood pulp and other wood products. The cultivation of stands of timber specifically to be harvested for paper production, leaving other climax forests [...]
Avery Dennison receives USDA BioPreferred Certification
Avery Dennison has achieved BioPreferred Certification from the USDA (US Department of Agriculture) for C4500, a new hot melt adhesive offering brands new opportunities to promote sustainable packaging to their customers by replacing petroleum-derived products with renewable agricultural resources. The USDA BioPreferred Certification program validates the biobased content of products through third-party testing. Certified products can promote their biobased content on product labels, providing consumers with reliable and accurate information [...]
Sustainable Packaging – Can Seaweed Reduce the Scourge of Plastic Waste?
From a pile of seaweed to a cardboard box. That’s what sustainable packaging leader DS Smith now is exploring to determine if seaweed fibers can be used as a raw material in paper and packaging products amid increasing demand for recyclable goods from business customers and consumers. In an industry first, DS Smith could use seaweed across its packaging network as an alternative fiber source to wood to move to [...]
7 Types of Metal Asset Labels
Aluminium is a popular material for metal asset labels due to its durability and resistance to many common contaminants and sources of damage. Aluminium can be used in many industries and environments. There are many asset label options available based on specific applications. The options for metal asset labels include: Foil Asset Labels. With a thin anodized Aluminium face stock, foil asset labels retain the excellent durability of metal while [...]
A Guide to Selecting Aluminium or Metal Asset Labels
Aluminium is a popular material for metal asset labels due to its durability and resistance to many common contaminants and sources of damage. Aluminium asset labels are used globally for asset management and tracking systems in all industries. Some of the key benefits of metal asset labels are that they are available in several types, and durability characteristics together with other features that are important in a system. Consider the [...]
5 Reasons Why Heavy Duty or Metal Asset Labels Work Best in Asset Tracking Systems
Asset management systems are designed to be reliable and accurate tracking systems a key component of these systems are asset labels. that is reliable and accurate. Issues such as improper scanning, missing labels, and inaccurate information can all lead to additional costs for your operation and wasted time. Using labels that are well-matched with your durability requirements will reduce the risk of asset tracking errors. This includes any potential exposure [...]
IMEC Media Installs First Mark Andy Evolution in Ireland
First Mark Andy Evolution in Ireland Installed By IMEC Media - Since Simon J Burke set up IMEC Media in 1999 the company has enjoyed an extended period of solid growth – but it was the installation of a Mark Andy Evolution press in 2020 that really kick-started the business in terms of increased productivity and new market opportunities. Today, the operation that began with four people in a [...]
Metal Tags Are The Asset Identification Solution of Choice in Harsh Environments
With over 20 years of manufacturing experience IMEC Media offers a range of processes to enable us to produce metal tags with a finish to meet your specification. These processes include anodised aluminium labels, etched stainless steel nameplates and etched brass nameplates, all suitable for a range of applications. aluminium labels are used where a durable, hard wearing and scuff resistant finish is required. We can either screen print or digitally print the required graphics, both of [...]
Johnson & Johnson take first steps towards recycling education for consumers
In a move to educate consumers on recycling, Johnson & Johnson has adopted the How2Recycle standardised labelling system. The How2Recycle label is a US-based system that clearly communicates recycling instructions to consumers, providing specific instructions on how each product can be recycled. Over 100 companies and thousands of name brand products are now carrying the How2Recycle label on products. One of the world’s largest consumer wellness and personal care products [...]
Beautiful Cosmetics Labelling for Top Cosmetic Products
An unattractive label is not a “good look” for a beauty product. Aesthetics are an important factor when investing in labels for cosmetics and beauty products, but it’s not the only aspect that you need to consider. Here are some tips that you should follow when it’s time to design and order labels for your beauty products. Consider Regulation The EU Cosmetic Regulation The EU Cosmetic Regulation 1223/2009 [...]
Minimalistic Label Design Options
The minimalist movement is making its way into label design as more brands are heading away from flashy and opting for simple. You’ve surely heard the phrase, “less is more,” which can be especially true when it comes to the design of your product labels. A minimalist’s mantra is to remove the unnecessary. In an era of information overload, brands are realizing that customers appreciate minimal labeling. It’s an effective [...]
In The US, The FDA’s New Sugar Label Could Seriously Reduce Heart Disease and Diabetes
Sugar content has been flagged as one of the main contributors of childhood obesity in the world, let us look at a recent initiative by the FDA (The Food & Drug Administration in the US). Cardiovascular disease and diabetes are two leading causes of death in the US, responsible for over 715 thousand deaths in 2016 alone, yet both are preventable and reversible. And one of the major risk factors for both of these chronic [...]
Mark Andy extends digital shrink sleeve capability
Mark Andy is to unveil a proprietary and industry unique recipe for ‘true digital hybrid shrink sleeve production’ for its Digital Series HD platform. To be unveiled at a shrink sleeve workshop next month, ‘Shrinking to Expand: A hands-on workshop to grow your business through shrink sleeves’, this development is said by the company to support the need for more profitable and productive shrink runs. Shrink sleeves are one [...]
THE FREEDOM OF DIGITAL LABEL PRINTING
Whether you have been in the printing industry for decades or you are just gaining some traction with a side project, there’s no doubt that you’re in need of some beautiful custom labels to get your products moving. The most basic question to tackle in your label journey — will digital printing work for me ? BENEFITS OF DIGITAL PRINTING Eco-friendly: Because the digital printing process does not use all [...]
LED, Is the Shining Light in UV Technology Innovation
By far the biggest driver for growth of the UV market is the rise of LED technology. UV LED is growing at almost six times that of mercury-based technologies. Today, it’s worth $200 million of the US$700 million market but will reach US$1 billion by 2023. Robert Rae, technology development manager at GEW, identifies a lower investment cost and greater availability of suitable products as changing the conversation when it [...]
Durable Aluminium Asset Tags
IMEC Media’s Aluminum Asset Tags are designed with extreme durability to withstand the harshest environments for indoor AND outdoor tracking applications. You determine label content of company name, asset number, and/or bar code information. These aluminum bar code labels are constructed of anodized aluminum face stock, with a high-performance permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive and/or holes for mechanical attachment. The adhesive is designed to permanently bond to high surface energy metals and plastics, and textured [...]
Tetra Pak & Veolia Team Up for Packaging Sustainability
Tetra Pak has secured a significant packaging sustainability boost by partnering with recycling specialists Veolia to ensure that all material components of its cartons have end-use recycling value. While the paperboard component can already be converted into cartons and paper towels, Veolia’s systems will also enable the polymer and aluminum (PolyAl) mix to be converted into industrial applications such as oil canisters and pots (HDPE) as well as crates and [...]
Thermal Transfer Printing V Direct Thermal, What suits your needs?
Most modern tabletop labels printers like those from Intermec, Zebra, Datamax, Sato and others are able to print in thermal-transfer and direct thermal modes. But there is a big difference in how this is achieved and why you would use one method or the other. Let’s look at them. When you send a file with label content to your printer, it is sent to the print head which heats up [...]
RFID Tag Technology – A look back 10 years on
This article was originally written in 2010, an interesting read now to look back on RFID tag and its adoption as a technology since then. Most label converters have passed over the opportunity to move into RFID tag production because they cannot see a way of making profits from what is, on its own, a low value commodity item. Most of the big projects in the RFID sector have involved [...]
Label Printing and Packaging Industry – Some Predictions for 2019
For the label printing industry in 2019, the manufacturing sector appears headed towards a continuing and faster pace of consolidation. Some markets are now going through the inter-generational change that occurred in Australia in the last 15 years. Combine this with the increasing sophistication of consumers requiring higher quality labels and you will see some converters sell rather than take on the necessary capital costs. Owners and participants in [...]
Custom Label Printing Terms & Definitions
Custom Label Printing Terms & Definitions – We’ve compiled a list of label definitions ranging from common to technical terms to help you better understand the complexities of custom label printing. 4 Colour Process: Printing process that uses a combination of the four standard inks: cyan, magenta, yellow, and ‘key’ black (CMYK) to produce full-color results. Adhesive: A substance capable of holding materials together by surface attachment. Absorption: In a [...]
IMEC Media Are Proud of Their ISO 9001 Certification
IMEC Media ltd are proud of their ISO 9001 Certification. Encompassing a network of standards institutes in 162 countries, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is the world’s largest developer and publisher of international standards. ISO 9001:2015 is the globally recognised standard for quality systems, and IMEC Media Ltd is proud to have earned the certification. ISO certified companies, such as IMEC Media Ltd, must create and follow a carefully [...]
Label Copy Position – IMEC Media Knowledge Base
Label Copy Position: This is the first part of our new knowledge base features, we aim to provide vital information in a simple manner to our clients new and old. Here’s how different application methods affect the label orientation: For hand-applied labels, the direction usually does not matter. For machine-applied labels and labels that will go through a secondary printing process, the label copy position is critical. If the labels are [...]
Label Printing For Food Products
Are your labels as appetising as your food products? IMEC Media Ltd manufactures a wide range of labels for food. Our expertise in the production of labels has made us the provider of choice for many companies and their products. Depending on possible application, food labels have a broad range of demands that involve many factors. For example, where will the product be stored? At what temperature? How long will the [...]
Thermal Paper Price Increases – The Trend Continues for 2018
At the beginning of 2018, we got more bad news for thermal paper prices, with more price increases announced. After few months of chemical and paper shortage that started in 2017, the critical situation stays unchanged in 2018. The short supply of leuco dye with increasing demand lead to higher cost for regular paper supply. The world thermal paper suppliers have announced the price increase one by one. Mitsubishi HiTec [...]
UPM Raflatac – RW85C increases recycling efficiency
UPM Raflatac – RW85C increases recycling efficiency for labelling PET containers in industries including food and beverage. Reducing plastic waste is a high priority on the global packaging agenda, and companies are looking for solutions to maximize the recyclability of PET containers and promote a circular economy. UPM Raflatac has developed innovative and sustainable new film labels with RW85C wash-off adhesive and 90% post-consumer recycled content PET liners can help [...]
Product Labels Help Products Stand Out in Retail
Using Speciality Coatings and Product Labels to Help Products Stand Out in the Supermarket Aisle – Traditionally Product labels and packaging were developed and used for purely functional purposes, including the transport, storage and protection of everyday goods. Now we live in a different world where product labels and packaging drives sales, communication, advertising, branding, and product security. Shoppers have changed as well. Today’s youngest adults, the Millennials, are digitally [...]