Converting Industry News
- Published: January 01, 2002
Covering the Full Spectrum of Industry News, Events & Activities
Agreement
Acucote, DCM in Joint Agreement
GRAHAM, NC, USA—Acucote Inc. and Diversified Converter Materials Inc. (DCM), Cincinnati, OH, report a joint sales and marketing agreement for DCM's line of MagikStik removable adhesive products. Under the terms of the agreement, Acucote will market and sell the line of products through its existing national sales network.
Supplier News
Valmet Establishes New Tech Center
SAN GIORGIO MONFERRATO, ITALY—Valmet Converting has announced the launch of a new converting technology center (CTC) at Valmet Rotomec SpA, near Milan in northern Italy. This significant investment project was approved by the board of parent company Metso Corp. of Finland.
The CTC will be a “center of excellence” and a significant R&D facility for improving customer processes dedicated to the development of flexible packaging solutions, Valmet reports, adding that production-scale machinery will provide customers with an opportunity to enhance processes and redefine production concepts.
The CTC, which is scheduled to open mid-March this year, initially will feature Rotomec gravure and flexo printing technology; laminating; and Titan slitting/rewinding technology.
Creo to Emphasize Singular Focus
VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA—Creo Products Inc. reports it will consolidate all of the co.'s activities and businesses under one brand name and logo: Creo.
Beginning in January 2002, the change will phase out the use of the name CreoScitex, which currently designates the operating division of the co. that is focused on the graphic arts.
In addition, the Creo logo will be updated, and the co. will seek shareholder approval at its next annual General Meeting to change its legal name from Creo Products Inc. to Creo Inc.
According to CEO Amos Michelson, “Uniting all worldwide activities under the Creo brand will clarify the structure of our operations and eliminate any confusion with other brand names. We are proud of what we have accomplished since integrating the prepress assets of Scitex Corporation Ltd. in April 2000 under the CreoScitex banner.”
He adds, “We have grown to become a global company with a broader product line; more extensive interests; and a larger, more diverse group of people that contribute to our success. We hope to convey the spirit of this evolution by introducing the new logo and by broadening the scope of our company name.”
PCMC Div. Opts out of Mechanical Anilox Rolls
GREEN BAY, WI, USA—Northern Engraving and Machine. div. of Paper Converting Machine Co. will no longer accept orders for mechanical anilox roll engraving.
According to the company, this product line has accounted for less than 2% of its yearly sales and has been declining steadily over the past five years due to the strong market presence of lower-cost laser-engraved anilox rolls.
Northern Engraving will continue to supply engraved emboss rolls; pattern development; embossing stations; lab line testing facilities; and embossing solutions.
Black Clawson Program Aimed at Customer Service
FULTON, NY, USA—Black Clawson Converting Machinery LLC announces its newly packaged BC Encompass program. The service program for the converting and pelletizing industries includes operator training, replacement parts, preventative maintenance plans, installation services, and project management.
“The ultimate goal of BC Encompass is to simply offer customers more of what they need to stay profitable,” notes company spokesman Mark Panozzo. “We have found that many of our customers have reduced their maintenance staffs, are relying on leaner budgets, and need more skilled workers. We have simply packaged our services to meet these significant demands and help our customers stay profitable.”
Dow Shows Off Emulsion Polymers Technology
MIDLAND, MI, USA—The Emulsion Polymers Paper Group of The Dow Chemical Co., which pioneered latex for paper coatings and operates 19 plants in 15 countries, held a media day October 24 to talk about the present and the future.
Marketing executive Tyler Jeffrey explained that while Europe has been investing, growing, and expanding output in the manufacture of paper, North America has been shutting down mills and reducing employment. He added, however, that North America is primed for a technology leap.
On trends in fine papers, development associate Dr. Mark Pollock talked about consolidation and globalization; more six- and eight-color presses; and more demands on paper to maintain image quality and press runnability.
Linda H. Kim-Habermehl addressed the area of lightweight coated paper, reporting the goal is to use the coating to get more out of the paper with less. Donna Babcock, North American marketing manager for emulsion polymers, described MyAccount@Dow, a web service offering customers a password-protected site.
Among others addressing the group were Inderjit G. McManus, recently named global R&D director for emulsion polymers, and Femi Kotoye, technical service and development manager.
The day included a visit to Dow's Valmet pilot coater, recently upgraded with in-line calendering, as well as a tour of the technology lab, featuring an impressive array of equipment.
Enercon Lab Adds Friction/Peel Tester
MENOMONEE FALLS, WI, USA—Enercon has added a friction/peel tester to its surface treating laboratory to help customers identify the effects of various levels and types of surface treatments.
Product manager Roy Wolf explains, “The addition of this diagnostic tool…will benefit our customers who participate in standard corona treating trial runs, but more importantly, it will help our customers more accurately identify the effects of various atmospheric plasma treatments.”
Show News
K 2001 Brings Out Buyers
DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY—The Fairgrounds in Düsseldorf welcomed the 2001 K show October 25-November 1, with 2,885 exhibitors from 53 nations and more than 230,000 visitors from around the world.
“In light of the current worldwide political and economic situation, we are very pleased with the results,” reports Karlheinz Wismer, president and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, organizer of the show. “While visitor numbers were 12 percent lower than at K 98, no one I spoke to was disappointed. Exhibitors were impressed with the trade visitors' professional caliber, the large number of international guests, and the unexpected high eagerness to invest.”
New exhibitors included companies from Libya, Lithuania, Malta, and the United Arab Emirates. The second largest foreign exhibitor contingent (after Italy) was from the US, with 146 companies presenting products and services. For a sampling of products on display at K 2001 see “What's New Products” beginning on p. 20.
The next K show will take place October 20-27, 2004, at the Fairgrounds. For information contact Messe Düsseldorf North America at ph: 312/781-5180; mdna.com.
Graphics of the Americas Hits Florida in February
MIAMI BEACH, FL, USA—Miami is not a bad place to spend a few days in February. Add to the sun and sea more than 1,600 exhibits covering presses, equipment, products, and consumables in the printing, converting, and imaging industries, and you will have Graphics of the Americas 2002.
Sponsored by the Printing Assocation of Florida Inc. (PAF), the event will take place February 1-3 at the Miami Beach Convention Ctr. It has a 27-yr track record and offers exhibitors markets from the southeastern US as well as Latin America.
Included is a conference program covering topics such as printing process color on the small offset press; digital technology update; color management solutions; and much more.
Among the special events occurring before, during, and after the show are the Foil Stamping & Embossing Assn. National Convention (January 30); PAF seminar program (January 31); opening ceremonies (February 1); Career Awareness Day (February 1); and a Salsa party (February 2).
For more information contact PAF at 305/558-4855; 800/749-4855; graphicsoftheamericas.com.
Partnership
MAN Roland Partners with Flint Ink
WESTMONT, IL, USA—MAN Roland Inc. has entered into a cooperative agreement with Flint Ink North America, Ann Arbor, MI, designed to boost pressroom performance for North American printers.
Notes Yves Rogivue, CEO of MAN Roland, “We continually strive to improve our strong worldwide position by focusing on long-term partnerships with best-in-class companies like Flint Ink that play a critical role in the printing process.”
Kevin Oakes, director of business development at MAN Roland, adds, “While our customers aren't locked into working with our partners, we want to be able to recommend providers whose products have been tested and proven to work with our press systems. It's one way we can make their lives easier.”
Industry Studies
Multi-Client Study on Oxygen Scavengers Offered
CHICAGO, IL, USA—The article on “Oxygen Scavengers” that appeared in the November 2001 issue of PFFC, p 54, authored by Dr. Boh C. Tsai and George M. Schroeder, was extracted from a new multi-client study entitled “Oxygen Scavenger Technologies, Applications, and Markets: A Strategic Analysis for the Packaging Industry.”
In addition to providing market analysis, business analysis, technical analysis, and legal analysis, the study includes 60 charts detailing the active/passive barrier relationship between oxygen scavenging materials (at various cost and performance levels) and major conventional barrier resins such as EVOH, MXD-6 nylon, amorphous nylon, PEN, PET, and PVDC. The cost/performance thresholds for more than 1,800 passive and active barrier combinations are provided in the study.
For more information contact George O. Schroeder Assoc. Inc., Box 7500, Appleton, WI; ph: 920/739-0396; packaginginsite.com.
Alliances
BASF Group, Heidelberg Alliance Announced
MOUNT OLIVE, NJ, USA—BASF's North American Printing Systems Group has formed an alliance with Heidelberg Canada Graphic Equipment Ltd. to distribute BASF's line of K+E Printing Inks in Canada.
The alliance reportedly will allow both BASF and Heidelberg to improve their distribution of printing inks and related products to major businesses in Canada. It will also allow each company to focus on its respective strengths, offer a higher level of service to customers, and achieve growth in the graphic arts industry, says BASF.
SPI and Omnexus Form Strategic Alliance
DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY—The Society of the Plastics Industry Inc. (SPI) and Omnexus, the global eMarketplace for the plastics industry, have announced their intent to form a strategic alliance.
“Through this exciting alliance,” explains SPI president Donald K. Duncan, “SPI members will be able to learn first-hand about the benefits of Omnexus through our association's publications, seminars, meetings, and web site.” In return, he adds, Omnexus will help educate the industry about the benefits of SPI membership and products and services through its own web site and communications network.
