Narrow Web & Label Reporter
- Published: September 01, 2006, By By Edward Boyle Contributing Editor
Serving Wine Label Demands
ENDINGEN AM KAISERSTUHL, GERMANY — VollherbstDruck, a company that specializes in the production and design of wine labels, took possession of its second Gallus TCS 250 press. The reason, says owner Dr. Franz-Josef Vollherbst, is the increasing customer demand in the wine industry for self-adhesive labels.
Until 2000, VollherbstDruck served these customers by outsourcing. However, when demand continued to grow, the company ordered its first Gallus TCS 250 rotary press with a working width of 250 mm. Managing director Andreas Wohnlich says Gallus was chosen after a thorough search. His company, he notes, was impressed with Gallus's commitment to quality and reliable machine construction.
The second TCS 250 has eight printing units, including one screen, five offset, foil embossing, and another screen unit. The company also took a Gallus service contract that includes a 24-hr hotline and remote maintenance option.
Supplier Information:
Gallus — PFFC-ASAP 380. www.gallus.org
Warranty is Expanded
HENDERSON, NY — Labelmate reports its label rewinders and unwinders now are backed by a 5-yr parts and labor limited warranty. This is an expansion of the previous warranty, which was 3 yrs.
Label Company M&As Continue
CHICAGO, IL — Thomas Blaige & Co., an advisor on packaging, plastics, and related transactions to US and foreign public and private corporations as well as private equity firms, has released “Label Market DealBriefing — Summer 2006.”
Focusing on M&As, the report says the high level of M&A activity in the label industry continues, “with early 2006 activity involving some of the largest names in label converting. This environment has created a very liquid market and a unique window of opportunity for both buyers and sellers of label businesses.”
According to DealBriefing, investors consider the label market an excellent choice, due to its fragmentation, which “translates into no existing dominant player and a ready universe of privately held and family held companies that need the liquidity that private equity can bring.”
There was a significant increase in M&A activity outside of the US and Canada in 2005, and cross-regional activity accounted for 35% of the total. More than one-third of 2005's cross-region transactions involved an Asian participant.
Acquisition activity in the RFID market is accelerating, DealBriefing says, with the trend being for larger companies to acquire smaller pure-play RFID companies in an effort to accelerate the development and commercialization of the technology.
For more information contact Thomas Blaige & Co. at 312/335-5417 or visit www.blaige.com.
Joint Show Set For Badger State
CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — The Intl. Assn. of Diecuttting and Diemaking (IADD) and the Foil Stamping and Embossing Assn. (FSEA), Topeka, KS, will hold the 2007 IADD/FSEA Odyssey exhibition at the Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee, WI, May 2-4.
The associations report the 2006 Odyssey was a great success for the partnership, with the “strategic alliance applauded by both attendees and exhibitors alike.”
The 2007 event again will include a fully operational TechShop floor, industry-specific education sessions, and an exhibition hall.
For more information contact IADD at 800/828-IADD or FSEA at 785/271-5816.
Avery Invests in Capacity
PAINESVILLE, OH — The Fasson Roll North America Div. of Avery Dennison Corp. is investing more than $20 million in new coating and finishing capacity at its Quakertown, PA, facility. A new asset will be installed at the facility to support continuous investment in the high-growth film materials market and the expanding product needs of the food, beverage, and household/personal care segments.
Agreeing to Increase Security
CAMBRIDGE, UK — Domino Printing Sciences reports it will combine its marking and coding solutions with the TIPS Serialised Product Tracking solution from Systech Intl., Cranbury, NJ. As a Systech Authorized Solutions Provider, Domino will offer pharmaceutical manufacturers an end-to-end solution to combat counterfeit product and increase patient safety.
Adding the Benefits of Digital
DUBLIN, IRELAND — AB Graphic reports it has supplied its first Omega Digicon HS converting system for pre-printed webs to Dublin-based Label Art Digital.
Label Art Digital's managing director, John Browne, believes “the digital revolution represents the future of labels, although traditional printing methods still have a role to play.” He cites the advantages in short-run work, the reduced lead times, and the benefits in test marketing new products and in personalization.
The Omega Digicon HS system was supplied to Label Art Digital to work off-line with a ws4050 digital print engine from HP Indigo. Features include an unwind unit with automatic tension control; semi-rotary hot foil stamping; a flexo print unit for UV-curable varnishes and coatings; a hot air system for drying water-based primers and varnishes; an over-laminating tower; semi-rotary die-cutting; waste matrix stripping; a slitting/rewinding system; and touchscreen operator interface.
Supplier Information:
AB Graphic Intl. — PFFC-ASAP 381. www.abgint.com
Hewlett Packard/Digital Printing Solutions — PFFC-ASAP 382. www.hp.com
New Label Study on the Way
NAPERVILLE, IL — The Tag and Label Mfrs. Inst. (TLMI) has commissioned market research consultant AWA Alexander Watson Assoc. to research and publish the 2007 edition of the “North American Label Study.”
The study, which is updated by TLMI every three years, informs those in the label industry about drivers shaping the p-s label market. It also provides benchmark-level researched market data and trend information. Included will be present and future demand for labels in the NAFTA region, including all available converting technologies. Data will be segmented by region and major end-use markets.
For more information contact TLMI at 630/357-9222 or visit www.tlmi.com.
Genstar Acquires Fort Dearborn
ELK GROVE, IL — Private equity firm Genstar Capital has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Fort Dearborn Co., a provider of decorative labels to the consumer goods industry.
Fort Dearborn management, along with many current shareholders, will participate in the new ownership. Current chief operating officer, Michael Anderson, will be president/CEO. Richard Adler Jr., now president/CEO, will stay on the board of directors and serve as an advisor.
