Tag & Label Industry Timeline
- Published: August 28, 2003, By Edward Boyle, Contributing Editor
Since being established 70 years ago, the Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI) has enjoyed growth in membership and programs to become North America's leading association for the tag and label industry. Here are some important dates:
1845
Rubber-based p-s adhesives developed for surgical/medical cloth tapes. (Source: Klein, B. 1994. They Built an Industry. Lima, OH: Fairway Press.)
1862
First labels for product ID are produced in the US for apothecary industry. (Source: Klein, B. 1994. They Built an Industry. Lima, OH: Fairway Press.)
The 1930s & 1940s
As the Great Depression drags on, Americans turn to movies and big band music for fun; FDR begins the first of four terms. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the US enters WWII. War dominates life in the '40s, and war production pulls the US out of the Depression.
June 1933
The National Industrial Recovery Act requires manufacturers to form trade associations.*
June 15, 1933
Tag Manufacturers Institute (TMI) Organized.
1946
Mark Andy develops the flexographic tape printer. (Source: Klein, B. 1994. They Built an Industry. Lima, OH: Fairway Press.)
1947
3M develops a printable, self-wound tape.
TLMI Illuminator
Sprague Wise, president/CEO of Wise Tag & Label, is a self-proclaimed “pack rat,” so much so he has collected TLMI meeting programs, copies of the ILLUMINATOR, and various other artifacts since the late 1960s. And, he was generous enough to share them with us.
A few excerpts from the 1973 May/June issues of the ILLUMINATOR, published 30 years ago, are reprinted on this timeline. Many thanks to Sprague for saving and sharing these pieces of TLMI history!
The 1950s
During the Cold War, a “space race” gets underway, along with the Civil Rights Movement. Elvis Presley becomes a rock 'n' roll star — on TV.
1951
Permanent p-s adhesives developed. (Source: Klein, B. 1994. They Built an Industry. Lima, OH: Fairway Press.
1954
EDP address labels created. (Source: Klein, B. 1994. They Built an Industry. Lima, OH: Fairway Press.)
1956
Mark Andy develops the p-s label press.
1958
Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) organized. (Source: Klein, B. 1994. They Built an Industry. Lima, OH: Fairway Press.)
“Being a member of TLMI has been a rewarding experience for me both personally and professionally. When I was asked to recall a few memorable moments, I was at a loss to select just one or two. There were so many that defined who we are as a company and who I am now as an individual. Our association is a rare collection of like-minded business people who have enough confidence in their own abilities that they are more than willing to share their unique experiences with others.
That, in short, is what has made TLMI so successful: It offers something for everyone. The ‘newcomers’ to our industry gain insight from their peers who likely have a more in-depth knowledge of the people and processes that are driving its success. At the same time, our more ‘experienced’ members have an opportunity to flex their intellectual and technical muscles in the presence of their peers, while also gaining valuable insights into how to make their own established businesses even more successful.
Others benefit as well. Our customers gain from the knowledge we receive and the personal contacts we make as a result of our membership in TLMI; our employees gain as their managers better understand their unique problems and concerns as a result of the camaraderie expressed by other members; and our management grows in absolute terms in their ability to oversee the larger picture before them.
TLMI is unlike most trade organizations in that the trust exhibited by the members transcends that of most trade associations I have known, and we are uniquely qualified to carry on the work so properly begun by our predecessors. I, for one, am proud to have been a part of this team, and I encourage others to give of themselves for the greater good, because we all prosper as a result of this unselfish attitude.”
Suzanne Zaccone
TLMI president, 1998-2000
Graphic Solutions
“TLMI has helped CL&D improve in every area of its business, sales, technology, human resources, and planning. It is worth much more than the annual dues and is one of the best buys CL&D makes each year.”
Mike Dowling
TLMI president, 2000-2002
CL&D Graphics
| 2002 | Jim Valestrino | Los Angeles Label Co. |
| 2000 - 2002 | Michael Dowling | CL&D Graphics Inc. |
| 1998 - 2000 | Suzanne Zaccone | Graphic Solutions Inc |
| 1996 - 1998 | Thomas J. Cobery | Label Art |
| 1994 - 1996 | George Noah | Lewis Label Products |
| 1992 - 1994 | Pat Patrick | Label America |
| 1990 - 1992 | Darrell Dochstader | Gar — Doc Inc. |
| 1989 - 1990 | Richard D. Schwartz | Aladdin Label Inc. |
| 1987 - 1988 | James English | Kalamazoo Label Co. |
| 1985 - 1986 | Paul Dunphy | Design Label Mfg. |
| 1984 | Jerry Nerad | Professional Tape |
| 1982 - 1983 | Donald W. Buchta | Mid America Tag and Label |
| 1981 - 1982 | Leonard J. Peterson | Label Art Inc. |
| 1980 - 1981 | Jack L. Page | Kalamazoo Label Co. |
| 1978 - 1979 | David L. Peirce | Denney-Reyburn Co. |
| 1976 - 1977 | Robert D. Fletcher | Avery Label Co. |
| 1974 - 1975 | William W. Muir Jr. | Grand Rapids Label Co. |
| 1972 - 1973 | Richard J. Pearson | Avery Products Corp. |
| 1970 - 1971 | Richard H. Gifford | H.M. Gifford Mfg. |
| 1968 - 1969 | Price H. Gwynn III | Package Products Co. |
| 1967 | Howard E. Gorton | Dennison Mfg. Co. |
| 1965 - 1966 | John S. Torrey | Avery Label Co. |
| 1964 | L.F. Gehrig | Ennis Business Forms Inc. |
| 1962 - 1963 | Robert W. Swett | American Tag Co. |
| 1959 - 1961 | George E. Phelps | Allen-Bailey Tag Co. Inc. |
| 1957 - 1958 | Howard E. Gorton | Dennison Mfg. Co. |
| 1955 - 1956 | D.M. Swett | American Tag Co. |
| 1953 - 1954 | H.C. McElroy | Ennis Business Forms Inc. |
| 1951 - 1952 | W.C. Bailey Jr. | The Reyburn Mfg. Co. |
| 1949 - 1950 | Gibbons G. Cornwell | The Denney Tag Co. |
| 1947 - 1948 | A.G. Shennan | International Tag and Salesbook |
| 1944 - 1946 | P.M. Pope | A. Kimball Co. |
| 1941 - 1943 | W.C. Bailey Jr. | The Reyburn Mfg. Co. |
| 1940 | A.P. Williams | Dennison Mfg. Co. |
| 1939 | A.G. Shennan | International Tag and Salesbook |
| 1938 | A.P. Williams | Dennison Mfg. Co. |
| 1937 | E.J. McKay | Robinson Tag and Label Co. |
| 1934 - 1936 | E.M. Anderson | American Tag Co. |
| 1933 | Elmer Floback | Acme Tag Co. |
The 1960s
The Vietnam War rages; Kennedy and King are assassinated. Hippies set the counterculture style, and The Beatles make an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.
1962
The Roll Label Manufacturers Association and the Tag Manufacturers Institute merge, creating TLMI. (Source: Klein, B. 1994. They Built an Industry. Lima, OH: Fairway Press.
1962
Membership expands to include label converters; renamed TLMI.
1964
Glossary of Terms published.
1966
Membership expands to include suppliers (associate members).
TLMI Illuminator
“The Department of Energy recently requested the support of many trade associations in efforts to conserve energy resources. Secretary of Commerce Frederick B. Dent appealed to American businesses and industry to deal with the very tight fuel energy situation that ‘has neared crisis proportions in certain areas of the country….’”
Excerpt from a letter used in the ongoing TLMI membership drive: “The most important problem that anyone in business faces today is trying to keep one step ahead of a rapidly changing, increasingly complex marketplace.”
Some things never change!
It was announced “the $100 billion food industry has finally developed a ‘universal product code’ that would provide a standard labeling language that can be read by electronic scanners….”
The 1970s
A time of Watergate and the anti-war movement. Intel introduces the microprocessor, and the Vietnam War comes to an end. We wear mood rings, platform shoes, and leisure suits; buy pet rocks; and celebrate our nation's bicentennial.
TLMI Illuminator
Avery Products Corp. released its annual report, showing net revenues of $184.6 million for 1972.
The TLMI Tag Technical Committee (including member Sprague Wise) met in Philadelphia in March and reported: “In 1972, the 92nd Congress failed to act on metric system conversion. The (U.S.) Senate had unanimously passed a bill to make the conversion to metric measurements mandatory within the Federal Government in ten years.”
1973
The Management Ratio report instituted. This study is said to present the only reliable financial statistics available for the tag and label industry.
1974
First edition of the TLMI Buyers Guide issued.
1974
Gallus markets the first high-speed rotary letterpress. (Source: Klein, B. 1994. They Built an Industry. Lima, OH: Fairway Press.)
1975
Membership expands to include Canadian, Mexican companies.
1976
Membership expands to include international members.
1978
TLMI Awards Competition launched for converter members.
1979
TLMI Scholarship established with $1,000 awarded to Rochester Institute of Technology.
“There has never been a meeting in my 30 years with TLMI that I didn't take away something important, although our members have not always agreed on where our industry was headed. Back in the late '60s or early '70s, TLMI held a meeting in New Orleans where one of the topics was: “Are hot melt adhesives here to stay?” The consensus at that conference was a resounding no! People just wouldn't be willing to invest in this new and unproven technology. Well, 30 years later, hot melt is here — and here to stay.
During a later meeting in Washington, DC, the question was raised as to whether flexo could successfully print high quality, four-color process. Again, the majority of the people at that meeting said no. And, my guess is that if they're still in business today, most of them are doing just that.
Finally, when TLMI was invited to serve as a co-sponsor of Labelexpo in the late 1980s, some of our members were so upset they threatened to leave the organization! ‘What if we were associated with a show that failed?’ Well, Labelexpo has since proven to be a great source of financial support to TLMI, and of knowledge to the industry.
As you can see, TLMI has proven to be a valuable source of information and a forum for the free exchange of ideas. That, in large part, has been the secret to its success.”
Jim English
TLMI president, 1987-1988
Kalamazoo Label
The 1980s
The “Me Generation” plays video games; Ronald Reagan serves two terms; and hostile takeovers, leveraged buyouts, and mega-mergers dominate the business news. Computers come of age, and tainted Tylenol changes the way drugs and food items are packaged.
1981
The laser-engraved anilox roll is developed. (Source: Klein, B. 1994. They Built an Industry. Lima, OH: Fairway Press.)
1986
Management Ratio Study becomes the basis for the coveted “Best Managed Company Award.”
1987
TLMI initiates Converter of the Year award.
1989
TLMI co-sponsors Labelexpo USA
World Label Association Awards program initiated, a joint effort with TLMI, FINAT, and the Japan Label Printing Federation. This competition recognizes the highest quality of label printing in the world.
The 1990s
The electronic age truly arrives, with computers in almost every household and the world connected by the World Wide Web. Clinton serves two terms, and the fall of Communism that began at end of '80s continues. Oklahoma's Federal Building suffers a terrorist attack, and by the era's end, concerns about a Y2K bug prove to be mostly unfounded.
1990
President George Bush recognizes TLMI president-elect Pat Patrick in a White House ceremony acknowledging the TLMI ALLIES program (American Label Leaders Involved in Eradicating Substance Abuse).
The “Created with Pride” quality campaign is launched to increase customer awareness of TLMI members as quality label houses.
1991
TLMI becomes “self-managed;” moves to Iowa City, IA.
1992
Management Ratio Study renamed the TLMI Eugene Singer Award in honor of its founder.
Fourth Glossary of Terms for Pressure Sensitive Labels published.
1993
The Environmentally Sensible Practices Release Liner Recycling Program established to provide label customers with an environmentally sound alternative to landfilling used liner.
TLMI Technical Conference re-instituted after a five-year absence.
1994
The first TLMI North American Label Study released.
Revised TLMI Label Manual of Recommended Standard Specifications issued.
TLMI hosts first joint meeting with its European counterpart, FINAT, in Williamsburg, VA.
1995
TLMI begins support of Flexo In High School Program.
TLMI launches Frequent Flyer Campaign, asking members to donate unused frequent flyer miles to be used by children with life-threatening illnesses.
1996
TLMI moves headquarters to Naperville, IL
Second edition of the North American Label Study released.
TLMI establishes World Wide Web site.
1997
TLMI and FINAT hold second joint meeting in May in Rome.
TLMI membership reaches 396 member companies and divisions.
1998
TLMI and its member companies reach an initial goal of donating 1 million frequent flyer miles to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Third edition of the North American Label Study released.
The 2000s
The new millennium begins. Terrorists attack the World Trade Center on 9/11; the economy slumps. US declares a war on terrorism.
2000
TLMI/FINAT hold third joint meeting in Palm Beach, FL.
2001
TLMI reaches milestone of raising $500,000 for Scholarship Fund.
Fourth edition of the North American Label Study released.
Revised TLMI Standards Manual released.
2003
Fourth TLMI/FINAT meeting held in Austria.
TLMI Supplier of the Year Award established.
TLMI Environmental Leadership Award established.
