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The innovative PVC-free, 100% recyclable solution for high-performance LFP

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A range of energy efficiency measures are contributing to progress towards achieving 2030 emission reduction targets.

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• Unveils break-through technologies backed by advanced R&D, recycling initiatives, and renewable materials
• Introduced a new BOPE (bi-oriented polyethylene) platform under the Ethy-Lyte trademark to replace PET films in lamination with PE sealants

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Eighteen years ago Pacific Southwest Container (PSC) in Modesto, Calif., installed its first GFI Innovations ink formulation dispenser to save prep time producing spot colors supplied by longtime ink system partner INX International. Today, the premier independent provider of packaging solutions in the western United States counts its two formulation dispensers as key tools to meet their sustainability goals and exceed customers’ expectations.
The patented formulation dispensers – another was added in 2010 – have since been rebranded as AccuBlend HV. They are part of an INX high-performance ink system which includes AccureX Precision Dispense Cylinders filled with INX base colors, and Colorbook software. Combined, they improve color consistency and have eliminated clean-up time, reduced waste and any lost press time waiting for ink to be delivered, and substantially decreased substrate waste.
“The GFI ink dispenser is the best thing that’s happened to our ink lab,” said Joel Soto, a veteran PSC ink technician. “It’s like having an extra team member who doesn’t need a break.”
A Packaging Leader with family roots
Pacific Southwest Container has grown dramatically since being founded in 1973 as a small family business serving local businesses in Modesto. After fifty-one years and three generations of ownership, it is one of the largest privately held packaging companies in the U.S. with over 1,000 team members working from four locations.
More than 400 of them are stationed at the Leckron Road complex on the city’s east side. The two building operation totals 730,000 square-feet of space and produces packaging solutions ranging from folding cartons and corrugated/flexo, to retail displays, basket carriers, and protective packaging. PSC is also the largest single face lamination producer in North America.
The company services an international client base involved in the agriculture, consumer electronics, craft beer, wine and spirits, medical devices, pet care and personal care products, retail and snack food, and technology industries. They produce box sizes designed for small confectionary items, up to large store displays.
One facet important to their success is the seven member offset ink group, led by team leader Bryan Redding. He began working at PSC 29 years ago as a manufacturing associate, earning promotions to become the pressroom shift supervisor and later as the planning/scheduling and ink room manager. He currently leads the pressroom, sheeting, and ink departments, so he knows all about longevity.
“I worked in prepress when we still used film, and worked every position on a litho press,” he recalled while mentioning the litho department runs seven days a week. “The GFI dispensers are the same machines we’ve used over the years. We have performed regular maintenance and replaced wear parts, too. Otherwise, we’ve only made software updates to them.”
Day-to-Day Durability, Precision, and Speed
PSC began formulating their own inks when they installed the initial GFI formulation dispenser. Utilizing INX’s expertise as their sole provider of conventional and LED base colors, they were ahead of the curve in achieving correct color. By having access to an infinite amount of color matching inks, they were already onboard when corporate customers began demanding brand-specific colors and custom color consistency for every production run across all media.
The formulation dispensers are used to mix spot colors for batch sizes in the 5-30 pound range. Redding said by having more color control capabilities and services in-house, including G7 master certified press operators, it allows PSC to offer unparalleled quality and speed to market.
“Our average run length is 15,000 sheets and our range is pretty broad, from 300 sheets to 300,000. Our dispensers are used mainly for production efficiency,” he acknowledged.
“The dispensers have helped with turnaround speed, and their accuracy and ease of use is good. It is particularly nice to be able to perform other tasks while dispensing a batch. We can efficiently blend spot colors as needed on site without having to wait for order processing and delivery from vendors. When we do purchase large batches, we can supplement it with the dispensers if more is needed to complete the job.”
“I have worked in our ink lab since before the GFI ink dispensers were installed,” added Soto. “When I first started, everything was done by hand and even our formulas were done on a spreadsheet. The GFI ink dispenser calculates all the math for us, which helps maximize our performance, production time, and efficiency, all while eliminating waste. It also manages our inventory so we do not over produce.”

Sustainability in Action
This insight supports PSC’s commitment to sustainability. The ISO 14001:2015 environmental management system certification they adhere to requires them to measure and improve environmental performance by reducing, reusing, and recycling 100% of their paper waste. Keeping up with customer demand requires consistent use of the ink formulation dispensers to feed PSC’s fleet of offset presses.
“The dispensers reduce waste and allow us to benefit from several things,” said Redding. “With the ability to make ink on demand, we can reduce excess overages and address any work off ink that we may have into other like-color batches. Thus, we have also decreased our waste ink disposal fees.”
Reliable Support, Minimal Maintenance
With INX ink and GFI formulation dispensers circling the bases by meeting speed, accuracy, and efficiency requirements, Redding said they knock it out of the ballpark when it comes to reliability.
“We don’t interact with GFI personnel very often, which is good. When we need support, they are easy to reach and help us find a fast solution,” said Redding, adding the dispensers are “wonderfully low maintenance machines. All we do is clean the dispenser carousel every three months and perform regularly prescribed greasing.”
Soto, who uses the formulation dispensers on every shift he works, marvels at the number of hours saved.
“When it was first installed,” he recalled, “I noticed a huge difference and could focus prioritizing my time on other tasks. We used to weigh everything out by hand, and it has saved us so much time and money. I would recommend any ink lab, no matter what size, to have a GFI ink dispenser.”
www.inxinternational.com

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Lecta is set to take part, for the very first time, in two of this year’s flagship international packaging events: All4Pack Emballage in Paris and Sustainable Packaging Summit in Amsterdam. Attending these events brings a close to an intense year for the company in terms of participating in trade fairs. It is also a clear sign of Lecta’s commitment to innovative paper solutions for more sustainable packaging.

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Lecta kündigt seine Teilnahme zum ersten Mal an zwei der wichtigsten Veranstaltungen der internationalen Verpackungsindustrie dieses Jahres an, der All4Pack Emballage in Paris und dem Sustainable Packaging Summit in Amsterdam. Mit der Teilnahme an diesen Branchenveranstaltungen schließt das Unternehmen ein Jahr intensiver Messeaktivitäten ab und unterstreicht sein klares Bekenntnis zu innovativen Papierlösungen für nachhaltigere Verpackungen.

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International flexible packaging solutions specialist Korozo Group is showing its extensive portfolio of advanced innovations suitable for various food applications to Pack Expo International 2024, running this week (3-6 November) in Chicago.

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New Monobloc Libraries in PantoneLIVE enable consistent Pantone colour standards on aerosols, aluminium tubes, cartridges, and felt pen cases.

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Sun Chemical has released its Autumn 2024 Regulatory Newsletter which offers customers a comprehensive guide to the important global regulatory updates from the last year that impact the printing and packaging markets.

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Sustainability consultant Steve Lister has spent two decades working with global brands to help them operate more sustainably. At Packaging Innovations & Empack he shared how the landscape is changing and why design is more important than ever

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UPM Raflatac, a global supplier of sustainable labeling solutions, is expanding its direct thermal (DT) linerless label offering with the launch of its new OptiCut™ WashOff solution.

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Two Sides has challenged over 2,800 organisations found to be communicating greenwashing messages to their customers, resulting in more than 1,260 organisations removing or changing misleading anti-paper statements.

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Antalis has announced the introduction of 40 new finishes to its Coala Interior Film range of high-quality self-adhesive architectural vinyls, designed to give new life to spaces while meeting the latest technical requirements of renovation.

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UPM Specialty Papers and Eastman have co-created a novel biopolymer coated paper packaging solution, designed for food applications requiring grease and oxygen barriers.

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Metsä Board, a leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards, has developed a multipurpose, space-saving promotional packaging for HejBuddy, a Finnish cosmetics brand. Offering flexibility and luxury appeal, the new lightweight packaging is made of micro-flute corrugated board using Metsä Board’s white kraftliner.

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Quadpack’s ShapeUp family grows, with a new, monomaterial tube that dispenses creams in custom shapes

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As the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) nears implementation, the demand for mono-material packaging solutions has never been more critical. In response, Constantia Flexibles proudly announces that one of its innovative pharmaceutical packaging solutions, PERPETUA ALTA, has earned the RecyClass Letter of Compatibility (Design for Recycling).

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• New concept: Processing of paper pearls instead of plastic granules
• Reliable process: Stable shot weight thanks to "aXw Control RecyclatePilot"
• Exemplary: Sustainable applications for packaging and the furniture industry

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Siegwerk's comprehensive Business Partner Code of Conduct underscores its unwavering commitment to human rights, environmental stewardship, and ethical business practices.

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• Design for Recycling: RayoFloat™ shrink sleeves support the recycling of the rigid packaging in the PET, HDPE and PP recycling streams
• Future-proof: Shrink sleeve material endorsed by the Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR), Extrupet in South Africa and EPBP in Europe
• Alternative for widely used PET-G, PVC or OPS sleeves that are still used and should be phased out to improve recycling and enable food grade recycling

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