Future Links February 5th 2015

3D printed blood vessels may make bypass surgery safer
The science around coronary bypass operations has been evolving steadily. To eliminate the need for blood vessels transplanted from the leg or another part of the body, scientists have been developing an electrospinning technique for vascular grafts. This technique has had its drawbacks and now, scientists at Shanghai University’s Rapid Manufacturing Engineering Center are looking into ways to combine electrospinning with 3D printing for safer vascular grafts.
More at 3D Print

Western Concord Manufacturing installs AVT’s print inspection system
Delivering consistent quality is key for professional printers. Western Concord Manufacturing, based in Vancouver, Canada, has now partnered with AVT, a leading provider of print inspection, print process control, and quality assurance systems. To guarantee consistent print quality, AVT’s system visually inspects all types of print defects, including color variations, mis-registration, streaks, splashes, misprints among others.
More at Healthcare Packaging 

The 2015 Wide Format Top Product Awards are open for entry
Wide-Format Imaging magazine has opened the polls for the Tenth Annual Top Product Awards to recognize the best products for 2015, including pre-press software and hardware, ink, media, finishing supplies and hardware, as well as output device, in the sign and graphics industry. The entries can be submitted until February 15, 2015.
More at My Print Resource

Müller Martini presents new binder
The Swiss company Müller Martini is entering a new market segment with its new binder for the lower and medium performance range. The binder works for medium or short runs, down to runs of one copy. Applications include photo books, personalized catalogues, and high-quality brochures. The binder is suitable for offset or digital print production.
More at i-Grafix

Sappi invests in additional testing capabilities at its paper lab
Sappi has made a six-figure investment to further expand its paper testing capabilities in a Paper Lab at its mill in Alfeld, Germany. The Paper Lab is being used to test key quality parameters of paper production from all five paper machines at the site, and across the entire drum width. Roughness on the top and screen side are measured in accordance with a number of criteria, including fiber orientation, formation and air permeability among others.
More at Labels & Labeling

APP’s evaluation shows mixed results
The long-awaited independent report into Indonesian paper giant Asia Pulp and Paper’s operations has finally been published. It finds the paper giant has stayed true to its zero-deforestation pledge but has a long way to go in other areas. Improvements that are not fully implemented include policies for conflict resolution, community engagement, transparency, and peatland management.
More at ProPrint

Recyclability and sustainability is not a priority in all food packaging
A new report by a non-profit called As you Sow says the food industry is not doing enough to ensure recyclability and compostability of its packaging. Only about half of consumer packaging in the U.S. ends up being recycled, and the rest ends up as litter or in a landfill, according to the report.
More at CBC