CONVERTER CLIPS
- Published: August 01, 2007, By Edited by Deborah Donberg Associate Managing Editor
Covering the Full Spectrum of Converting Industry News, Events & Activities
K Show on the Horizon
CHICAGO, IL—During the week of October 24–31, the Fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany, will be bustling with K 2007, the 17th Intl. Trade Fair for Plastics + Rubber.
Organized by PlasticsEurope Deutschland e.V. and Messe Düsseldorf, the event’s topics will include high-tech materials, transport, production, energy efficiency, environmental protection, durability, design, and trends. Featured will be a presentation stage as well as an “experience tunnel” offering plastics-based solutions.
With a new hall, the exhibit space will be about 86,000 sq ft larger than in 2004. Organizers say the show is completely booked, and they expect more than 2,900 companies from 57 countries to exhibit their wares.
For more information visit mdna.com.
Technology is Driving Specialty Films
CLEVELAND, OH—Specialty film demand is predicted to grow 4.8%/yr to $7.3 billion in 2010, with gains driven by increasing performance requirements in a number of markets, the popularity of technologies such as modified atmosphere and case-ready packaging, and improved processing methods in film coating and metallization. Emerging markets such as biodegradable trash bags and soluble oral delivery products also will be factors. These are the conclusions of a new study by The Freedonia Group.
| Specialty Film Demand (million dollars) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Annual Growth | |||||
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 00/05 | 05/10 |
| Total Demand | 4,618 | 5,782 | 7,295 | 4.6 | 4.8 |
| Barrier | 2,073 | 2,866 | 3,740 | 6.7 | 5.5 |
| Decorative | 977 | 1,023 | 1,110 | 0.9 | 1.6 |
| Breathable | 488 | 637 | 780 | 5.5 | 4.1 |
| Safety & Security | 442 | 517 | 615 | 3.2 | 3.5 |
| Conductive | 392 | 388 | 541 | -0.2 | 6.9 |
| Other | 246 | 351 | 509 | 7.4 | 7.7 |
| ®2007 by The Freedonia Group | |||||
Further gains will be inhibited by market maturity or weak demand for end-use products in a number of specialty film applications, including PVC decorative films, breathable films for personal care products, and interlayer films for motor vehicle windows.
Barrier films will remain the largest segment, representing more than one-half of total demand for specialty films in 2010. Demand for conductive films is expected to rise at a strong pace through 2010, driven by a resurgent US electronics industry. The market for flexible printed circuit boards is expected to rebound from declines posted during the period of 2000-2005, benefiting demand for polyimide and polyester films used in their manufacture.
Biodegradable and water-soluble films are expected to see double-digit gains, the former from environmental concerns and increased commercialization of bio-based polymers and the latter from the introduction of medicinal and health products in dissolvable thin film form.
For more information visit freedoniagroup.com.
Coex Line Producing Sheeting
TROISDORF, GERMANY—Reifenhauser and Appleton’s Performance Packaging Div. have designed and installed a wide web three-layer coextrusion line for Appleton’s Milton, WI, facility.
The Reifenhauser line, which features the REIcotherm thickness control system and the REIcofly noncontact turning bar system, can produce coex sheeting to 106 in. wide with roll diameters to 47 in.
Ampac Acquires Converter
CINCINNATI, OH—Ampac Packaging has acquired privately held Mohawk Northern Plastics, Auburn, WA, for an undisclosed amount. Mohawk is a fully integrated flexible packaging manufacturer serving food, beverage, home/garden, and industrial markets. It supplies Apex2000 and Apex3000 coextruded films and has prepress capabilities as well as ten-color flexo printing.
Mohawk’s entire leadership team with continue with Ampac, including chairman Bill Gates and president Dan McFarland. Mohawk’s 200 employees will become part of Ampac Flexible headed by VP and general manager George Thomas.
Neff to Celebrate Expansion
SIMPSONVILLE, KY—Neff Packaging Solutions, a provider of custom packaging to consumer packaged goods, health/beauty aids, and medical/pharmaceutical firms, is expanding into a 122,000-sq-ft production facility in Simpsonville. The expansion will include additional office and manufacturing area.
In celebration of the new space, Neff will hold an open house on September 18 that will include plant tours and seminars on Sustainability in Packaging and Paperboard Packaging. For information e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 800/445-4383.
Spray Technology Redesigned
SPARTANBURG, SC—Consultex Systems reports the redesign of its patented Rotor Spray technology for the film/sheet industry.
The 30-year-old+ company patented the Alternating-Rotor-Rotation technology for its coater in 1998 and now includes a smoothing roll in the IQ-140. The components are modular now for easy cleaning and maintenance, says the company, and the coater can be implemented either in blown or cast film lines.
Tampa Tube Part of Summer
WELCOME, NC—Summer Industries has purchased Tampa Tube Containers, Tampa, FL, a manufacturer of paper tubes, cores, and containers. Tampa Tubes now operates as Summer Industries, Tampa Tube Div.
The Tampa facility will continue to produce paper tubes, cores, and rigid paperboard containers (composite cans). Summer will add new capabilities, which will allow the Tampa facility to serve more market segments, including sizes offered, precision dimensional controls, and JIT delivery.
All-Star Conference for TAPPI
NORCROSS, GA—There won’t be a home run derby when the 2007 TAPPI PLACE Conference convenes September 16–19 at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark in St. Louis, MO, but the conference program will feature an all-star lineup of speakers and topics.
Rob Peck presents the keynote address, “Keeping all the balls in the air,” advice on meeting everyday challenges and staying focused. According to TAPPI, this will be a light-hearted, humorous presentation in which Peck helps multi-tasking professionals rediscover a life balance that links learning with laughter.
For more information, visit tappiplace.org.
Kodak Offering MacDermid Plates
ROCHESTER, NY—Kodak is expanding its package printing solutions portfolio to include digital flexographic plates through an agreement with MacDermid Printing Solutions, Atlanta, GA. Kodak will offer MacDermid’s Digital MUST, Digital RAVE, and Digital EPIC plates to customers worldwide.
Vic Stalam, director of market segments and VP, Packaging Products, for Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group, says, “This agreement…will make it easier for our customers to access a complete digital solution including workflow, proofing, imaging, and plates….”
Conwed Keeps Acquiring
MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Conwed Global Netting Solutions, a manufacturer of extruded and oriented plastic netting, has acquired Etiquetas y Empaques S.A. de C.V., Guadalajara, Mexico, a converter and printer of extruded and knitted plastic header bags for packaging produce, toys, and specialty items. This is the sixth acquisition for Conwed in the past four years and the second outside the US.
“The Etiquetas y Empaques acquisition allows us to expand our netting capabilities in the produce packaging market,” says Conwed president and CEO Mark Lewry. “…we will be in a position to offer our customers unique value-added packaging solutions and extend our geographic service area to the West Coast and Mexico, as well as Central and South America.”
Tyvek Turns 40
WILMINGTON, DE—DuPont Tyvek is celebrating its 40th anniversary as a supplier of the nonwoven material. Matthew L. Trerotola, VP and general manager—DuPont Nonwovens, says Tyvek “… revolutionized the selective barrier as the first nonwoven that is not permeable to particulates, mold, and bacteria, while still letting beneficial elements like clean air pass through.”
The company adds that, while the most commonly known application is HomeWrap, Tyvek also is used in envelopes, tags and labels, indoor and outdoor signs and banners, sterile medical and industrial packaging, bags, and more.
Dymax Acquires Crosslink
TORRINGTON, CT—Dymax Corp. has acquired Crosslink Technologies, Fort Wayne, IN, a manufacturer and distributor of high-performance structural adhesives, sealants, coatings, and dispensing equipment.
The acquisition expands Dymax’s product offerings to include a wider variety of multi-functional cyanoacrylates, epoxy-based coatings, encapsulants, and light-curing adhesives.
Asia to Lead in Radiation Curing
GAITHERSBURG, MD—Fusion UV Systems carries a report in its newsletter that by 2010 Asia will be the leading consumer in both volume and dollars of radiation-cured coatings, inks, and adhesives. This is the finding of the consulting firm of Kusumgar, Nerlfi & Growney. Europe and North America are maturing regions, together accounting for almost two-thirds of the dollar value in radiation curing. Asia is the second largest consuming region in volume behind Europe, and it is the runner-up in dollars behind North America. A 9%/yr growth rate is forecast for Asian consumption, led by the surge in China. Globally, a 6% annual growth rate is forecast through 2010.
Honors for Dienes Machines
SPENCER, MA—Dienes Corp. won two recent awards for its equipment.
In April 2007 the company won the IDEA-07 show’s equipment achievement award for best product over the past three years for its Quik-Set automatic positioning systems that move all knife holders simultaneously.
In March 2007 Dienes Werke, Overath, Germany, won the ICE-07 show’s innovation award for advanced products for the PSG DF-145 knife holder for manual overlap control.
Michelman’s New Partners
CINCINNATI, OH—Michelman has added three new European distribution partners. Campi y Jové will serve as exclusive agent in Spain and Portugal for the entire Michelman line, including coatings, emulsions, dispersions, and powders in applications including flexible packaging, paper coating, and chemical specialties. Chemical specialties will be available in France through agent Safic Alcan and in the Nordic region through IMCD Group.
Flint Makes Some Moves
PLYMOUTH, MI—Flint Group has relocated its administrative offices from Ann Arbor, MI, to 14909 N. Beck Rd., Plymouth, MI 48170-2411; 734/781-4600. Laboratories will relocate from Ann Arbor to 1130 James L. Hart Pkwy., Ypsilanti, MI 48197-7194; 734/879-5000.
Flint says the moves are a result of corporate staff reductions and decentralization of R&D activities following the union of Flint Ink with XSYS Print Solutions in late 2005.
ESI Adds On to Meet Demand
WILMINGTON, MAEnergy Sciences Inc. (ESI) will increase its manufacturing capacity with new manufacturing personnel and assembly bays in an effort to meet demand for its EZCure low-voltage EB systems.
" “It is our goal to significantly reduce manufacturing and shipping time to better meet our customers’ requests,” says general manager Ed Maguire. “These efforts should allow us to meet the growing demand for EB worldwide.”
Machines Prove to be a Hit at CMM
ROSEMONT, IL—Nearly 7,000 attendees walked the floors of the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center June 4–7 for CMM Intl. 2007. PennWell, owner and producer of the show, points to the “abundance of running equipment from many of the industry’s leading suppliers…” as one of the highlights of the event.
“We placed a special emphasis on bringing operating equipment back to the show floor this year,” says Jim Enos, CMM show director and PennWell VP. “Converters around the world told us this was their number one request, so we created two new Technology Centers and incentives for all exhibitors to bring operating machinery.”
Bobst Group, one of the sponsors of the Flexible Packaging Center, consummated the sale of a multimillion-dollar Rotomec MW80 gravure press to Amgraph Packaging on the final day of the show.
Another sponsor of the Flexible Packaging Center, Comexi North America, sold two of the Evo solventless laminators that were on display, one to Sunshine Plastics and one to Package Printing Co.
PennWell has issued the results of a survey of almost 900 attendees, and according to one of the results, 88% who visited the Technology Centers ranked them as “exceptional” to “met expectations” in terms of driving traffic to CMM 2007. Other findings indicated 98% of attendees and 82% of exhibitors said they received good value and “exceeded or met their expectations at the show. When asked to rate the value of attending, 81% answered either “excellent” (27%) or “good” (54%). When asked to rate the value of exhibiting at the event, 75% said it “exceeded” (27%) or “met expectations” (48%), while 7% rated it an “exceptional” value.
David J. Lanska, a 25-year veteran of the industry, held a press conference to discuss his book Common-Sense Flexography, a new release from PIA/GATF Press. Lanska dispels myths, highlights best practices, and provides troubleshooting suggestions in a humorous, conversational tone while offering case studies, technical tips, and a comprehensive glossary of terms. The illustrated book is available for $99 at www.gain.net.
PennWell says the next CMM Intl. will return to Rosemont June 1–4, 2009. For more information visit http://cmm09.events.pennnet.com. And for a sampling of products featured at CMM 2007, see this month’s “What’s New Products” section beginning on p44 (with more to come in future months).
People
Equipos y Servicios Westek, managed by Sebastian Limon-Lason and Ulrich Pruefer, is named exclusive representative in Mexico for Atlas, Chicago, IL.
Heberto Pachon takes over as president of Nipson America, Elk Grove Village, IL.
Mark Fussnecker is now service manager for Circonix Technologies, Ringwood, NJ.
Flexo Concepts, Plymouth, MA, adds Scott Abber in technical sales.
Guy Van Puyvelde is appointed senior VP, sales and marketing at Esko, Gent, Belgium.
Domino Printing Sciences, Cambridge, UK, announces Ben Rock as director of global accounts, a newly created position.
Parkinson Technologies, Woonsocket, RI, appoints Peter Termyn president and CEO and names Mark Fisher as its new operations manager.
Al Hodge joins Standex Engraving Group, Sandston, VA, to direct the domestic sales force and expanding global sales opportunities.
Milton Coleman accepts the position of manager of product marketing and technical support at Bosch Rexroth—Linear Motion and Assembly Technologies Group, Charlotte, NC.
Davis-Standard, Pawcatuck, CT, has relocated the Extrusion Systems portion of its European business from Ekrath, Germany, to the D-S Brookes facility in Birmingham, UK. Mark Woodgate will serve as business director and Ivor Watts is the unit’s manufacturing manager.
Brampton Engineering, Brampton, ON, Canada, appoints Adolfo Edgar regional sales manager BE US with responsibility in the eastern US.
