Kala alongside HP Latex 630s at the Spanish HP Center
Kala's Mistral 1650 laminator takes pride of place at HP EMEA's demonstration and training center in Sant Cugat del Vallès near Barcelona, Spain. This 165 cm-wide machine from the Nouvoitou-based manufacturer of large-format finishing equipment is installed alongside HP's new Latex 630 printer range.
"Mistral 1650 is compatible, in particular, with this latest range of printers, as the latex can be laminated straight off the press. This, without bubbles, orange peel or blisters. At room temperature and with no lag time, rendering is optimal" says Patrick Marillier, Managing Director of Kala.
Johan Spies, large-format print product manager at HP, points out that the presence of the French manufacturer's machine at the HP Graphics Experience Center proves that the Mistral 1650 laminator is the ideal finishing solution to combine with the Latex 630.
Limited edition Perrier bottle designed by Starck
To celebrate its 160th anniversary, sparkling water brand Perrier asked French designer Philippe Starck to redesign its iconic green bottle.
The limited-edition, screen-printed Perrier + Starck, launched on the international market in mid-October, echoes Fresnel's lens and its diffraction the horizontal striations cut into the glass of the Perrier + Starck bottle create a play of light and optics to radiate the formidable source of energy and poetry contained in its bubbles", explains Perrier.
This is not the first time the century-old mineral water brand has collaborated with great artists. Perrier has worked with American painter Andy Warhol, Spanish artist Salvador Dalí, French poster artist Raymond Savignac and Japanese visual artist Takashi Murakami.
Stora Enso improves the biodiversity of its forests
Stora Enso is changing its operating model at its forestry sites in Finland to improve biodiversity. Starting in spring 2025, the Finnish-Swedish forestry and paper group will reduce the density of planted spruce trees from 1,800 to 1,600 softwood seedlings per hectare. This will increase mixed forests, defined as forests in which the main tree species do not exceed 75% of the area covered.
These forest types are environments where biodiversity thrives: hardwoods, in particular, create vital habitats for many threatened species. At present, however, hardwoods are in the minority in boreal forests.
Similar measures have already been taken to increase the share of hardwoods in Sweden, where Stora Enso owns 1.1 hectares of woodland.
"In our own forests, the long-term goal is to increase the share of hardwood-dominated forests on our land to 5%. To achieve this, we are identifying areas where hardwoods will have the greatest impact and creating 1,000 hectares of hardwood forest per year." says Emma Wikström, biodiversity program manager at Stora Enso Forest Assets.
