INNOVATION NEWS Sandon Global, Hamilton- Schades Push Tolerances
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will benefit from session summaries featuring key take- aways and overviews of each session, along with an ex- ecutive summary of the full program – all easily accessible via a mobile phone, making the process as seamless as possible. What To Expect Day 1 – Automation, smart packaging and AI in focus On September 15, the program promises to deliver fo- cused sessions on automation, AI, smart packaging, and diversification into flexible packaging (shrink sleeves and pouches) and inline carton converting. The Converter Panel Navigating Growth, Change and Opportunity , featuring Dale Coates, CEO and President of TLMI, and Thomas Dahbura, President of Hub Labels, will explore workforce development and retention, practical AI implementation, succession planning in family and pri- vately held businesses, and capex strategy in an uncertain economy. For converters expanding beyond pressure-sensitive, the session on Understanding Flex Pack Materials and Pouching will break down key material structures and the converting processes behind pouch production. The day concludes with a hands-on AI in Action work- shop, where attendees will learn to build and customize an AI agent tailored to their specific business requirements. Day 2 – Industry insights and opportunities On September 16, the program will continue with key- note sessions delivering actionable intelligence on key industry trends. Mark Denzler, President and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, will address today’s manufacturing reality in North America and its implications for print and packaging operations, while Corey Reardon, President and CEO of AWA Alexander Watson Associates, will deliver data-driven market insights for label and pack- age printing professionals. Breaking Out The day’s breakout sessions include The Talent Land- scape: Navigating Today’s Labor Market presented by Claudia St. John, Founder and CEO of The Workplace Ad- visors, offering actionable strategies to attract, develop, and retain talent amid labor shortages and evolving skill requirements. Inside M&A Activity in the Label Market presented by Thomas Blaige, Chairman and CEO of Blaige & Compa- ny, examines private equity activity, strategic acquisitions, valuation trends, and how dealmaking is reshaping oper- ational strategy. The program concludes with a dedicated women’s roundtable open to all attendees at no additional cost. The session will explore topics including career pathways and mentorship, community building and peer networks, per- sonal branding and visibility, balancing work and life, and preparing future generations with essential skills.
Sandon Global has completed a 15-month technical collaboration with Hamilton-Schades Labels Ltd, part of the Schades Group, achieving anilox tolerances be- yond established flexographic industry standards, ac- cording to the company. The project set out to determine whether tight- er control of anilox volume consistency could be achieved and sustained in a production environment. The objective was to improve color stability and re- peatability on press, while also reducing makeready time, minimizing waste and improving overall process predictability.
Led by flexo industry veteran Paul Larkin, Technical Director at Hamilton-Schades Labels, the collabora- tion focused on challenging established assumptions around anilox tolerances and their direct influence on color control in process printing. A structured program of measurement and valida- tion underpinned the work including the assessment of 106 anilox rolls in operation at the company. Each engraving was inspected and quantified to establish baseline volume consistency and identify variation across the installed inventory. The project aim for Sandon was to provide an an- ilox that gave even greater accuracy than current in- dustry standards. The challenge was to establish the optimal combination of volume and line count to en- sure consistent reproduction across repeat jobs, new press installations and replacement rolls to achieve the highest print quality standards possible. Testing in- cluded optical density, color balance and print perfor- mance across paper and film substrates, with Sandon Global’s Fluid UV cell structure used for all process inks throughout the program. Pictured left to right: Paul Mitchell, Regional Sales Manager – UK & Ireland, Sandon Global; Dr Siddharth Lokachari, Research and Technical Manager - Plasma Coatings Division, Sandon Global; Dr Menghui Zhu, Research Development Technical Manager - Laser Pro- cessing Division, Sandon Global; Paul Larkin, Technical Director, Hamilton-Schades Labels.
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