The North East Label Manufacturer’s Association (NELMA) hosted its 11th annual expo and networking reception on Thursday, May 2, at the Hotel Somerset Bridgewater in Somerset, NJ, USA. The event featured a tabletop exhibition and a networking reception. In addition to the attendees and exhibiting suppliers, several students from Millersville University were on hand to learn about the industry.

According to Steve Miller, president of NELMA, the show was yet another success. “I think that everyone got something out of this show,” he said. “Having several new vendors, we had a lot of new information available that we haven’t had before.”
Several of the exhibiting companies had news to share with visitors to their tabletops:

Environmental Inks told attendees about its new 60,000 square foot facility in Morganton, NC, USA, which is dedicated to UV inks and coatings. Representatives were also available to discuss the company’s successful Fast Match color delivery system, which they say is “85% right the first time and 95% right the second time.”

Custom adhesive provider 3 Sigma Corporation shared the news of a new coating line at its headquarters in Troy, OH, USA. It accommodates 80-inch wide web materials and can apply multiple coatings or adhesives on both the front and back of the web. It also features a laminating station, which is capable of producing pressure sensitive constructions with liner or multi-layered product designs.

Visitors to the Semper Exeter Paper booth were able to glimpse the company’s newest product: paper produced from coffee bean bags. Available in roll widths of 3-74 inches, it is composed of a 100% post-consumer waste blend of repurposed coffee bean bag fiber and other PCW materials. The paper has just recently entered the market.

Achem announced that the company is considering entering the heat sealable materials market in the future. The company is currently gathering test samples and hopes to move forward with a decision by 2014.

Representatives of Harper Corporation of America, a supplier of anilox rolls, were available at this year’s show to discuss the company’s new HEX Division. Launched in March, the new Echo-Xccessories division has allowed the company to introduce new items such as bridge and print sleeves.

Color science and technology provider X-Rite Corporation announced at the show that the company will discontinue its 500 and 900 spectro eye series of products. These products will be replaced by the company’s customizable X-Rite eXact, which was on display at the show. Additionally, the company says it will no longer develop its ColorMaster platform.

Representatives from Wausau Coated Products – a manufacturer of pressure sensitive products, label materials and custom coating technologies – announced that the company will enter the flexible packaging and folding cartons market for HP Indigo presses. The company will start with approximately eight flexible packaging products and two folding carton products.

Miller, president of NELMA, said that announcements like these are reason enough for continued patronage of the show.  “Those who support NELMA continue to reap the benefits of participation in our show,” he said. “I would like to thank everyone who vended and attended our 11th annual expo.”
  – Catherine Diamond

FLAG enjoying rapid growth
Flexo Label Advantage Group (FLAG), a marketing & buying group for independent label converters, has more than doubled it’s independent label converter membership over the last few months, with Q1 2013 being especially active as new members joined the group from Wisconsin, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. FLAG now has label converter members in 14 States, and several of those states have more than one member. 

“FLAG has built a solid foundation of independent label converter members and world class vendor partners who all understand that by working towards a common goal we will all benefit financially and otherwise. Word is getting out to label converters that buying as  a group without giving up individuality can bring significant bottom line savings. We are getting calls every week from people wanting to know if its right for them,” says FLAG founder John McKay.

“To become a FLAG Member it really has to be a good fit for the label converter, our vendor partners and for FLAG,” McKay says. “It’s not always right for everyone, but you never know until we’ve had a chance to talk. We fully expect our membership to double again in the next few months, which brings additional savings to all the members already on board. At some point FLAG will reach a level of membership where it doesn’t make sense to bring on any more, but right now we are looking for those who see FLAG as a good fit and are willing to commit to the program.”

Dscoop7 ranked among top US trade shows
Dscoop (the Digital Solutions Cooperative) has announced that Dscoop7, the association’s seventh annual conference that took place March 22-24, 2012 in Washington, DC, was named to the 2012 Trade Show News Network’s (TSNN) Top 250 Trade Shows in the United States list. The list represents the top 250 trade shows held last year in the US ranked by net square footage. “It is so exciting to maintain the momentum Dscoop has gained in the last eight years as we begin to prepare for 2014,” says Chris Petro, Dscoop global chairman. “Throughout the year Dscoop looks to develop new partnerships, build out our programs and provide new member benefits that allow our growing membership to continue to deliver superior print service.”

Building on a successful 2012 event, more than 2,000 attendees were at Dscoop8, February 21-23 in Nashville, TN, USA, marking a 30 percent increase in core North American attendees from last year’s event, including attendees from 38 countries around the world. The Dscoop8 Solutions Showcase featured a 33,830-plus net-square-foot exposition floor with 95 exhibiting Partners.

The Dscoop annual conference features three days of general sessions, educational workshops and deep-dive seminars. Reflecting the growing international scope of the North American event, select Dscoop8 sessions were translated into Portuguese and Spanish.

“Dscoop will continue to be the premier forum for the HP Graphic Arts community to come together to showcase the latest digital technologies, unveil new products and hear up-to-date advances in the industry year-round,” says Petro. “We look forward to continued success at Dscoop9 next March.”

Dscoop7 competed with a wide range of industries to make the list, including gift and home furnishings markets, aircraft, retail, commercial real estate, construction equipment and automotive specialty products.

Dscoop9 is scheduled for March 6-8, 2014 at the Gaylord Palms and Resort Conference Center in Orlando, FL. Online registration will open later this year. Dscoop also hosted its fourth annual Dscoop Asia, taking place May 12-13 in Beijing, China. The second annual EMEA conference will be November 6-8 in Rome, Italy.