Diversified Labeling Solutions (DLS) has announced that Bill Johnstone has been appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He succeeds outgoing CEO, Jim Kersten, who retired at the end of 2022.

With more than thirty years’ experience in the print and label industries, Johnstone brings a wealth of experience to his new role. Since joining DLS as COO in June, 2021, Johnstone has been instrumental in optimizing and aligning the operations of DLS’ five nationwide locations. Additionally, he has worked closely with Kersten and DLS’ management team to ensure an orderly management transition.

“As I enter this new phase, I feel especially fortunate to be doing so with DLS’ experienced and knowledgeable leadership team,” says Johnstone. He continues, “DLS is a company with a track record of success. Our nationwide production capacity and operational excellence allows DLS to provide our distributor customers with an outstanding selection of label products and services and outstanding customer service. Under my leadership, DLS will continue to build on this.”

Plus, converting specialist GM (Grafisk Maskinfabrik) has launched the DC350Flex+ Wine line for premium embellishment of labels. The new 350 mm-wide finishing line offers a combination of technologies, in a single pass, at a very competitive cost level, GM says. With a flexo varnish unit, hot stamping for foiling and embossing, screen printing, and 130 m/min rotary diecutting as standard, it gives label converters a new, more profitable way to enter luxury markets, such as high-end wine, spirits, and cosmetics.

“We have learned in the past few years that even when times are tough, consumers are still prepared to pay a premium for a little bit of luxury to treat themselves, which means that brand owners are looking for ways to add a luxury look to their labels,” says GM’s CEO Uffe Nielsen. “The cost, however, is always the main factor, so label converters need high-quality machinery with high productivity that can deliver without breaking the bank.”

The star of the show on the DC350Flex+ Wine line is the 50-ton hot stamping module, which uses multiple foil streams and features a turning tower for the largest possible design options. Running at a speed of 70 m/min, this all-in-one machine enables precision embossing and foiling in one process saving time and space. It also comes with an integrated foil saver to reduce the waste of costly foils and with GM’s special QuickMount technology for faster mounting of embossing plates.

Here are the highest-trafficked news items for the week ending on January 13:

1. Diversified Labeling Solutions appoints Bill Johnstone CEO

2. GM launches DC350Flex+ Wine & Spirits line for label embellishment

3. Stanpac adds new Speedmaster XL 106 from Heidelberg

4. Schreiner MediPharm debuts Needle-Trap innovation in Paris 

5. Mondi wins eight WorldStar Global Packaging Awards