During Label Congress, which took place from September 29-30, Baldwin featured its IoT connected press technologies. The company’s newest products have been designed to optimize print quality, including its Guardian PQV 100% Inspection and Defect Removal Platform, as well as its all-new XP Connect Series LED UV solution. The XP Connect Series LED UV is completely optimized for narrow to mid-web curing, and it is compatible with dual-ink technology available from leading ink suppliers.

All of Baldwin’s press technologies now feature data connectivity for Industry 4.0 through its AMP IoT platform, which were showcased at Label Congress. “The AMP platform continuously monitors key production data from the connected Baldwin systems on-press, and combines this with key press data and information from MIS and workflow systems to provide a complete real-time and historical picture of production through the lens of data analytics,” explains Steve Metcalf, Baldwin’s chief marketing and IoT officer. “A powerful rules and alerts engine provides the ability to dynamically improve and optimize quality control and equipment efficiency to help avert production issues and improve operator performance.”

According to Metcalf, Baldwin is ideally suited for success in the label converting industry due to the breadth of its product portfolio, and the connected aspect of its technologies on-press. From surface (corona) treatment, to UV and LED curing, 100% defect detection and color measurement – all connected through our AMP IoT platform – Baldwin is able to deliver data-driven insights and analytics into the production process.

“Industry 4.0 is the future for all industries, and Baldwin’s platform will play a key role in moving label converters towards this future,” says Metcalf. “Our teams across our business segments have performed exceptionally during the pandemic times. Challenges with the supply chain, restrictions for travel as well as access to customer premises have required some very creative solutions, and some of the adaptations bring incredible efficiencies that were long overdue in our industry… such as remote service support through AR tools, which we will continue to leverage post-pandemic.”

Label Congress provided Baldwin with the opportunity to explain to visitors how its technologies have been positioned for the future of label and package printing.

“Shows have always played a critical role in our industry, and we have missed not only the excitement and idea generation, but the human interaction,” concludes Metcalf. “There is a palpable energy at shows and conferences that is hard to replicate online. We are very excited to interact with the industry again in this intimate way.”