On 6 February BPIF Labels held its AGM at the offices of CPI (Centre for Process Innovation Limited) in Sedgefield. In total 20 label converters and suppliers attended.
John Bambery, chairman, informed those present of the achievements made by the association over the past 12 months which include holding two technical seminars and publishing a definitive ‘Good Manufacturing Guide’ for the printing of labels and related packaging for the food, drinks and sensitive products sectors. The guide seeks to address the issues surrounding ink migration.
Mr Bambery then went on to describe what the coming year has in store for BPIF Labels. There will be two technical seminars: the first will have a conventional bias and be held at Breadsall Priory, Derbyshire, on 21 and 22 May. The second seminar will have a digital printing theme and will be held at The Forest of Arden, Warwickshire, on 8 and 9 October. The association also plans to start on two more ‘Good Manufacturing Guides’. One will tackle the issue of waste management and the other will concern label specifications. Representatives from both sides of the industry will be chosen to help draft these guides and will be published in early 2014.
Following on from the AGM, the group was informed about the services that the CPI has to offer. An outline was presented by Alan McClelland, commercial manager, and there then followed a detailed presentation by Neil Porter, ISS technical print manager, of the type of products that CPI has been prototyping.
Mr Porter then led a tour and explained the equipment that had been installed and the achievements that have been made so far. The facility is unique in that all prototyping and production sampling is being carried out on standard production equipment the main item being a Nilpeter six colour 330 mm wide press, fitted with UV flexo, gravure, silk screen and litho print heads, plus a DEK 248 lineo pick and place machine. The CPI is anxious to keep the industry informed of the prototyping that is being developed and the production samples that are being produced. They need to know which companies are prepared to take any of these developments to full production.
Mr Bambery agreed that BPIF Labels will become a clearing house and keep a record of those companies who are willing to become involved in this process. It would appear that this facility is keeping the UK firmly ahead in the area of printed electronics and some of the possibilities shown were really inspirational.
