Future Links April 21st 2015
Today our news roundup from the printing industry covers Autodesk’s new project with toymaker Mattel, an inkjet printer for printed circuit boards, an assembly-line style 3D printer, Heidelberg’s new packaging guide, Coca-Cola’s new plant-based bottle, H.B. Fuller’s low-heat hot melt adhesive and a new owner for parts of Paperlinx’ business.
Autodesk teams up with toy-maker Mattel
Software maker Autodesk and toy manufacturer Mattel are partnering on a new project that will allow kids to design and customize their own toys. The first app will be available in the second half of 2015 along with a dedicated printing hub.
More at Venture Beat
Printed circuit boards become reality
Printed circuit boards have been the holy grail of printed electronics and huge advances have been made in this area in recent months, yet most of them were not ready for use outside of university or research settings. This is about to change with Nano Dimension’s new PCB – Printed Circuit Board – 3D printer. The Dragonfly 2020 3D Printer is a 3D inkjet deposition printer that can print complete, multi-layer circuit boards using insulating and conductive nano-inks.
More at 3D Print
Assembly-line style 3D printer for multiple jobs
It has a retro-feel but is actually cutting-edge technology. The ECHOdrive’s vacuum system moves a sheet of plastic over the printing plate. The printer can thus extrude onto a completely flat plastic surface and then that surface can move away and off of the plate. This way, multiple print jobs can be run on the same printer in assembly-line style.
More at Tech Crunch
Heidelberg published packaging guides
Heidelberg USA has published the first of four volumes of ‘A Guide to Heidelberg Packaging’, a unique handbook showcasing Heidelberg’s portfolio of packaging solutions, with a focus on folding carton and label production.
More at Graphic Repro Online
Coca-Cola considers using 100 percent plant-based bottle
Coca-Cola is exploring ways to increase the percentage of bioplastics in its bottles. The newest bottle is the 100 percent bio-based PlantBottle – called PlantBottle 2.0 – and represents a step towards a future where Coca-Cola will be using no oil-based material in its bottles, according to the company.
More at Packaging Digest
H.B. Fuller introduces low temperature hot melt adhesives
It seems like a paradox but H.B. Fuller’s new hot melt adhesives like it cool(er). The adhesives are applied at temperatures as low as 100°C to 135°C. Manufacturers can significantly cut energy consumption. Depending on their energy source, this also means lower CO2 emissions.
More at Packaging Europe
Parts of Paperlinx UK find buyer
Premier Paper has bought the assets of two Paperlinx subsidiaries that supplied paper to the business forms, direct mail, and high-speed inkjet markets. The operation will be called Premier Reel Paper after the acquisition and will operate out of its existing site near Nottingham.
More at ProPrint