1999 Top Flexible Package Printers

New Days, New Ways

Flexible packaging printers must continue to seek newer technologies and constructions, and more innovative ways to remain profitable and to lure new customers.

By David Luttenberger

Reflective of their industry moniker, printers in this segment must be "flexible" in the face of continued consolidation, pressing regulatory issues, and more demanding end-user interaction. These issues and others are forcing printers here to seek out new technologies, innovative manufacturing and management techniques, strategic partnerships and alliances and even new product offerings in order to maintain stability as individual companies, business units, and as a group.

As reported by pP Managing Editor Susan Friedman in March's State of the Industry Report, flexible's past two years' average 3.6 percent growth does not necessarily indicate stagnation. Respondents to the 1999 Top Flexible Packaging Printers Survey reported a cumulative sales total of $7.7 billion ('98 sales). That's up a billion and a half dollars over 1997 totals, and nearly $2 billion vs. 1996.

Projected profits and forecasts for grow in 1999 also indicate flexible packaging printers are mostly optimistic that in spite of so many negative pressures, they can find alternative or complementary processes, constructions and end-use markets.

In this year's survey of North America's largest flexible package printers, those categorized as "small" companies (less than $15 million in sales) seem most excited about the prospects for growth. As a group, they are looking to grow an average of 13.2 percent. Their "medium" and "large" counterparts ($15-$50 million, and greater than $51 million, respectively) are forecasting grow at 9.7 percent and 6.6 percent. However, the tide turns with respect to estimated profits. There, the larger printers are looking at 11 percent on average. Estimates by medium companies are at 6.9 percent, while those in the small range may fare slightly better at 8.5 percent.

13th Annual Survey

Rankings are based exclusively on sales of printed flexible packaging. All information pertaining to sales is provided by ranked companies, and is held in strict confidence by PP&C. Participation in this survey by both publicly and privately held companies is voluntary. Only flexible packaging converters based in North America have been included.

1. Bemis Co., Minneapolis, MN

Industries Served: Food

2. Printpack, Inc., Atlanta, GA

Industries Served: Food/Beverage, Confections, Snacks

3. American National Can, Chicago, IL

Industries Served: Food, Healthcare, Personal Care, Industrial

4. Reynolds Metals, Richmond, VA

Industries Served: Confections, Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care, Grocery Products, Tobacco

5. Union Camp, Wayne, NJ

Industries Served: Pet Food, Lawn/Garden, Cement, Charcoal, Food

6. Clondalkin Group, Philadelphia, PA

Industries Served: Agricultural/Horticulture, Food/Dairy, Pharm., Janitorial