FINAT Educational Handbook: Self Adhesive Labeling

FINAT, the international association for the self-adhesive labeling industry, announces the launch and availability of its fully revised and updated Educational Handbook.

Since its foundation in 1958, FINAT has contributed significantly to the dynamic development of the sector, and has enabled it to remain at the forefront of innovation today. The organisation provides leading sources of information for the sector and its supply chain, such as the Educational Handbook.

"The self-adhesive label sector continues to expand with new technologies, materials and external developments, bringing about a diversity of exciting new innovations and applications," says Kurt Walker, President of FINAT. “Keeping pace with accelerating change is a challenge for everyone in the industry, and knowledge, education and training are essential vehicles to stimulate future growth and development."

Educational Handbook Version 2.0

The present edition was commissioned to 4impression Training based in the UK. Among other sources, it draws from the range of ‘e-modules’ they developed on behalf of FINAT previously, and from the FINAT Knowledge Hub, the internet library of articles and archives accessible to FINAT members via www.finat.com.  

The new FINAT Educational Handbook aims to be the key reference source for the combined knowledge embedded in the association and covers the various stages and aspects of the unique self-adhesive labels and labeling process. This edition replaces the existing version that was first published in its original language (English) by FINAT in 1996 and later released in German, French and Spanish, with authorized translations in Italian and Turkish issued by the respective national associations.

To allow easy access to the numerous cross references and links provided in the text, this edition is made available in electronic format. This protected PDF file allows users not only to conveniently read this book on PC, laptop or tablet reader, but also to cross-link within the book or link from the present document to the underlying reference on the FINAT website or other source. In electronic format, the Educational Handbook will be a ‘living’ document to be updated at regular intervals, in response to new developments.

Future Oriented

“There have been significant changes in label materials and technology in recent years, aimed at meeting a growing demand for new label stocks, shorter runs, industry digitization, migration-free inks, rising costs and ever-faster moves towards a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly label-usage requirement,” comments industry expert Mike Fairley. “It is therefore an opportune time to produce a new and up-dated edition of the FINAT Educational Handbook to introduce and explain the latest industry thinking and technologies, especially highlighting the key advances made by digital printing.”

New Chapters, New Insights

Apart from the updated chapters such as digital printing, the new FINAT Educational Handbook has been completed with entirely new, or completely re-written chapters, including:

Embellishments

This new chapter on Embellishments explores a host of surface decoration techniques for self-adhesive labels. “Increasingly brand owners are seeking to differentiate their products in order to make them stand out on the retailer’s shelves. Fortunately new technologies have given the printer more opportunities to offer decorative embellishments to a wider range of market sectors and margins can be improved by offering customers a range of decorative choices. This chapter provides a deep and comprehensive insight into these choices including cold foiling, metallic inks and textured finishes,” says Robert Shimmin, Marketing Director, 4impression Training.

Design, Repro, Pre-press