Printer News - July 2012

Awards for Sustainable Design
ATLANTA—The Pepperidge Farm Deli Flats Package received both an AmeriStar Award in the Food Category and a Gold DuPont Packaging Award for Excellence in Innovation and Waste Reduction. Pepperidge Farm shares the awards with Printpack, CP Flexible Packaging, and Sealstrip Corp.

The new, unique horizontal flow wrap package features a pressure-sensitive Sealstrip® closure (instead of a conventional zipper). The Sealstrip® creates an easy-open package that is also resealable multiple times. Removal of the tray used in the old package design resulted in 65 percent less plastic usage in the new package, making the package considerably more sustainable. Because material use is less, 25 percent more packages ship in the same amount of space as the old packages did. The eliminated tray also means there is less inbound freight to Pepperidge Farm. The result is fewer trucks on the road, a reduced carbon footprint for the package, and a reduction in overall freight costs for Pepperidge Farm.

Great Northern Marks 50 Years

APPLETON, Wis.—Great Northern Corp. recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, having grown from a handful of employees operating leased equipment in a rented building to an industry leader with more than 1,000 employees operating in seven states. Great Northern is one of the nation's largest independent producers of corrugated packaging and supplies consumer packaging, point-of-sale displays, edge protection solutions, and protective roll cradles.

J. James Davis and Robert W. Brown are still active on the board of directors of the privately held company, which they founded in 1962 on the site of the current headquarters. They credit the company's success, growth, and future potential to the core values that have guided it from the beginning: integrity, personal commitment, entrepreneurial spirit, and a shared future.

That entrepreneurial spirit is still a vital part of the culture at Great Northern, said Brown. "If we think we can do something to get an adequate return, and particularly if it isn't exactly like the other products we're making, we really encourage that kind of thinking."

Craft Beers Embrace Pressure-Sensitive Labels

MASON, Ohio—Spear is helping the craft and regional beer industries transition to pressure-sensitive (p-s) labeling technology that is used by leading global beer manufacturers. Due to its graphic, performance, and cost benefits, p-s is becoming a leading alternative to cut stack/wet glue (CS/WG) labels in the global beverage industry.

Cold Spring Brewing Company began brewing beverages in 1854. It began transitioning from CS/WG labels to p-s labels in 2001. After several years of side-by-side comparison, Cold Spring converted all its production to p-s labeling due to improved line efficiency and flexibility; elimination of glue preparation and clean-up; and additional material options, including white or metalized paper substrates and white, clear, and metalized film.

Lift Bridge Brewing Company also converted its brands from CS/WG labels to paper p-s. Since the conversion, Lift Bridge has changed its label sizes twice without any change part implications.

Brau Brothers had launched its brands with CS/WG labels, but made the decision in 2011 to fully convert to p-s labels. The functionality and flexibility of Spear's labels allowed Brau Brothers to invest in a new p-s labeler to better manage the line changeover demands being driven by its ever-growing SKU portfolio.

WS Packaging Acquires Consolidated Products

GREEN BAY, Wis.—WS Packaging Group, Inc. has acquired Knoxville, Tenn.-based Consolidated Products Inc. Consolidated Products produces compliance labels for industrial products; manufactures flexo, digital, and domed labels; markets thermal transfer printers and ribbons, as well as automation equipment; specializes in providing turnkey RFID and warehouse management solutions; and provides both offset and digitally produced directions-for-use manuals and instruction sheets.

"Having Consolidated Products as part of WS Packaging's future is a win-win situation," said Rex Lane, chief executive officer of WS Packaging. "With more than 24 years of experience, adding their vast knowledge of the converting business and their other capabilities to our product offering strengthens our strategic initiatives to be a true single-source provider for a broad range of our customers' printing and packaging needs."

"We're excited to join forces with WS Packaging," said Kirk Icuss, president of Consolidated Products. "Our two companies have the same philosophy and commitment to product quality and creating long-lasting partnerships with our customers, based on continuous support and delivering value. Combining the capabilities of our two companies creates a powerful resource for all our customers, associates, and business partners."

Hub Labels Receives L.I.F.E. Certification

GLOUCESTER, Mass.—Hagerstown, Md.-based Hub Labels has recently been awarded L.I.F.E. (Label Initiative for the Environment) certification from TLMI. The Project L.I.F.E. program was developed specifically for the narrow-web marketplace in order to assist TLMI members in finding cost-effective ways to reduce their companies' environmental footprint. Hub Labels is the 33rd facility to achieve certification.

PEOPLE

Eagle Flexible Packaging, Inc. has appointed Scott Hansen as director of sales and marketing. He will be chartered with directing product development efforts specifically around Eagle's Nviro™ product line that uses low VOC inks and adhesives.

International Paper Company announced the election of Ilene S. Gordon to its Board of Directors effective October 1, 2012. She is chairman, president, and CEO of Ingredion Inc. and had previously served as president and chief executive officer of Rio Tinto's Alcan Packaging. pP