Converting Industry News
- Published: December 01, 2002, By Deborah Donberg, Associate Managing Editor
Covering the Full Spectrum of Industry News, Events & Activities
Acquisitions
C&P Acquisition Expands Services
PATERSON, NJ, USA—Colter & Peterson, dedicated to selling and servicing paper cutters, finalized an agreement to acquire Des Moines, IA-based Amatco USA, exclusively handling knife trimmers.
According to Colter & Peterson president Bruce Peterson, the acquisition was a natural fit. “Combining the resources and people at Amatco with those at Colter & Peterson produces some great synergies. We both specialize in buying, selling, rebuilding, and servicing cutting machines. While Amatco focuses on three-knife trimmers, [our] specialty is paper cutters.”
The purchase is the second strategic acquisition in three months for Colter & Peterson; the company bought the Harris-Seybold parts div. from GSS in March.
Exopack Joins Forces with SF&A
SPARTANBURG, SC, USA—Exopack LLC has acquired the assets of Specialty Films & Assoc. (SF&A), Hebron, KY, to bring what it says is a new level of service and quality to the stand-up pouch marketplace.
“SF&A has done an admirable job of earning the respect of the industry,” reports Exopack president and CEO Patrick M. Woods. “Their innovative shaped and spouted pouches have won numerous awards. They fit perfectly into our strategy of aggressive growth in plastics-based consumer packaging….”
Education
Dunwoody Talks to Harper Regarding Industry Partnerships
MINNEAPOLIS, MN, USA—Dunwoody College of Technology reports it met with Harper Corp. of America, Charlotte, NC, to discuss their “Focus on Flexographic Training” initiative, to be implemented in April 2003.
“The school was motivated to concentrate on flexographic printing as a direct result of the growing need for skilled, well-trained personnel and the unusual growth opportunities in this dynamic market,” says Dr. Ben Wright, president of Dunwoody.
Adds VP Dick Pooley, “Our board of trustees was impressed with the unique success of the FFTA/TLMI Flexo in High Schools and Colleges program and the tremendous support the industry has given educational institutions throughout North America during the past decade, encouraging Dunwoody to become a more active participant.”
In 2002 Dunwoody was selected as the “Harper Flexo College of the Year” for its state-of-the-art curriculum and enthusiasm for training young people to become future flexographers.
FVTC Celebrates New PCMC Press
APPLETON, WI, USA—After a year-long campaign, Fox Valley Technical College celebrated the installation of an Avanti CI wide web press with a dedication ceremony, inviting more than 80 industry representatives for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The college purchased the $1.85 million flexo press from Paper Converting Machine Co. (PCMC), Green Bay, WI. Several companies helped coordinate the fundraising efforts, including the Flexographic Technical Assocation FVTC's Flexographic Education and Research Center, and the FVTC Foundation. The campaign committee was chaired by Jack Schloesser, president of OEC Graphics of Oshkosh, WI, who also happens to be one of the key financial contributors, along with PCMC, which provided the college with a significant discount on the Avanti press. Harper Corp. of America, Charlotte, NC, donated Platinum technology anilox rolls for the press.
Installations
CPFilms Adds Sputtering Machine to Its Arsenal
MARTINSVILLE, VA, USA—CPFilms' business unit of Solutia is expanding its vacuum-coating capability by installing a state-of-the-art, wide-width, high-speed sputtering machine at the Martinsville site. The new machine will enable metallic and reactive deposition and multilayer stacking on films from thicknesses of 0.5-10 mil and widths to 72 in. The machine features on-line monitoring systems, enhanced deposition uniformity, and the latest in process control software.
The company says it is aimed at the more sophisticated solar control film markets and high quality precision coatings market for the electronic display markets and markets in which high-precision metallic, alloy, or oxide coatings are required.
Mohawk Adds Sheeter for Versatility
COHOES, NY, USA —A new Evtec sheeter is now in place at Mohawk Specialty Converting Services to offer versatility to cut-sizes, specialty sizes, and small orders.
“The Evtec sheeter is a great addition to [our] line-up,” says Mohawk president and chief operating officer Tom O'Connor Jr. “It complements our six-pocket Bielomatik sheeter, which is geared to larger run sizes. The Evtec provides shorter run sizes on a wide range of sheet sizes. That means Mohawk is now positioned to handle everything from the large cut-size order to the small, custom-size order.”
The purchase of the new sheeter is part of Mohawk's $15 million capital expenditure to enhance productivity and respond to customer demand. In addition to the sheeters, Mohawk has a Jennerjahn winder to support the growing digital papers market.
SUPPLIER INFO
Evtec, Woodridge, IL; 630/783-8500; evtec.com
Bielomatik, Neuffen, Germany; +49 (0) 7025/12 -0; bielomatik.com
Jennerjahn Machine, Matthews, IN; 756/998-2733; jennerjahn.com
Association News
Professional Industry Women Find a Voice
CHICAGO, IL, USA—IDEAlliance and Raine Consulting Inc. have launched “Women in Graphics Media and Technology (WGMT),” an association formed to serve professional women in the graphic media and digital technology fields.
Susan Kelly, CEO and founder of Raine, says, “Recent estimates show the number of women leaders in the graphic communications industries will more than triple in the next ten years. We believe this rapid change in leadership creates a demand for support services. WGMT will be there.”
WGMT hopes to promote the professional development and growth of women through mentoring, job boards, networking, motivation, empowerment, venture consulting, recognition, and support services. Charter membership is open to all professionals (both women and men) that wish to contribute to the successful advancement of women within the converging fields of graphic media and digital technology. For more information contact Julie Brink at 630/629-3410; idealliance.org; raineconsulting.com.
Supplier News
Clariant Plants Receive Quality Accreditation
CHARLOTTE, NC,USA—Clariant Masterbatches, supplier of color and additive masterbatches, reports three facilities in its global network have received quality awards. The American Assn. for Laboratory Accreditation designated the Holden, MA, facility an accredited laboratory. Clariant's Minneapolis, MN, facility achieved the new ISP-9001-2000 standard revision. The Taiwan facility has achieved ISO-9001 status.
