Printer News - June 2011

TLMI Members Win World Label Awards
PALM BEACH, Fla.—The World Label Awards Competition includes first-place winners from association label competitions around the globe including TLMI, the Japanese Label Foundation (JFLP), Europe's FINAT, the Australian Label Association (LATMA), and Self Adhesive Label Manufacturers Association of New Zealand (SALMA).

This year's TLMI converter member award winners include:

• ASL Print FX won for its 'Dan Aykroyd Sauvignon Blanc' label

• McDowell Label & Screen Printing won twice for 'Hempz Original Body Moisturizer' and 'Hempz Pure Herbal Extracts' labels

• Smyth Companies, Inc. won for 'The Silver Ticket' label

• Bonham Label LLC won for the company's 'Van Ruiten Pinot Noir' label

• YORK Label won two awards for 'Jade Mountain' and 'Decoy' labels

• TAPP Technologies of Canada won for its 'Quails Gate' label

• MPI Label Systems of California won for the company's 'Sloth' label

• Dow Industries won for 'IZOD Body Spray'

TLMI converter member honorable mention award winners include:

• Labeltronix for its 'Lean 'N complete' label

• Consolidated Label Company for 'Kana Cuban Coffee Roasters' label

ASL Print FX's award-winning label

Multi-Color's New Latin American Operations

CINCINNATI, Ohio—Multi-Color Corporation (MCC) announced agreements to buy 70 percent ownership in two label operations in Latin America: one in Santiago, Chile and the other in Mendoza, Argentina, with regional partner Fernando Aravena owning the remaining 30 percent. Aravena has more than 25 years experience in the Latin American label industry as owner and manager of operations in Chile, Argentina, Mexico, and Peru.

Existing business assets will be transferred to two new companies, Collotype Labels (Chile) S.A. and Collotype Labels (Argentina) S.A. The companies will focus on providing premium labels to the expanding Latin American wine and spirit markets and thus will operate using MCC's Collotype trade name.

"We have been keen to establish operations in Latin America and see this as an attractive first step," said MCC President and CEO, Nigel Vinecombe. "We have known Mr. Aravena for many years and appreciate this opportunity to partner with him and his established team. They have a proven track record in the region, have recently invested in the latest pressure-sensitive label technology and have long-standing customer relationships. Together we see exciting growth opportunities in these developing markets."

CCL Signs License Agreement for Indonesia

TORONTO, Ontario—CCL Industries Inc. has signed a license agreement with PT. Master Label, a privately owned Indonesian manufacturer of pressure-sensitive labels and plastic tubes.

The agreement, effective May 1, 2011, grants Master Label exclusive rights to manufacture and sell CCL Label and CCL Tube products in the country of Indonesia under a licensing arrangement.

Master Label has two plants located close to Jakarta with sales of approximately $15 million and is the largest label converter located in Indonesia. The company will change its corporate identity to formats used in CCL's Label and Tube businesses as part of the licensing arrangement, but will remain entirely privately owned.

Geoffrey Martin, president and CEO of CCL Industries, said, "Master Label is the most respected name in the label industry in one of the largest and most important emerging markets in the world. We are pleased to bring our global customer relationships and technical know-how to this new and strategically important geographic territory for the company."

Walle Corp. Certified 
for HD Flexo

MIAMISBURG, Ohio—Label supplier, Walle Corporation, is leveraging EskoArtwork's HD Flexo high-definition flexographic screening technology to provide a high-quality and environmentally-friendly alternative to gravure. The company has achieved two significant 'firsts' as an HD Flexo user—its Winchester, Ky. facility was the site of the first North American installation of HD Flexo, and the company is the first label printer to become an HD Flexo certified user.

"We have been a pioneer in flexographic printing for over 25 years," says Sean Keeney, Walle's president and CEO. "HD Flexo has advanced flexography, narrowing the quality gap with gravure. We are pleased to have been the first to invest in HD Flexo, and we are proud that we are now the first label printer to be officially recognized with HD Flexo certification in North America."

HD Flexo helped Walle in the development of EcoFlex™, a high-quality shrink sleeve label solution that competes successfully against rotogravure, which has historically been the dominant printing method for shrink sleeves. "With EcoFlex, we have the best possible solution for shrink sleeve production, offering customers high-fidelity printing using HD Flexo technology to provide full coverage, 360-degree imaging, and premier graphics at a lower cost, faster, and with increased flexibility," says Keeney.

Graphic Packaging International Expands

MARIETTA, Ga.—Graphic Packaging International, Inc., a subsidiary of Graphic Packaging Holding Company, has completed its acquisition of substantially all of the assets and business of Sierra Pacific Packaging, Inc., a producer of folding cartons, beverage carriers, and corrugated boxes for the consumer packaged goods industry.

"This is a unique opportunity that provides us with a strategic location to service customers on the West Coast and allows us to participate in the fast-growing craft beer and litho-lam wine box markets," says Graphic Packaging CEO David Scheible. "We are pleased that the majority of the Sierra management team and employees will be joining Graphic, ensuring a smooth transition."

WS Packaging 
Partners with Italian Labeler Manufacturer

GREEN BAY, Wis.—WS Packaging Group, Inc. has partnered with ILTI S.r.l. of Mantova, Italy, to expand its Automated Systems Division (ASD) portfolio to include a series of rotary labelers designed for pressure-sensitive label applications. WS Packaging has acquired the exclusive distribution rights of the high-speed rotary equipment within the United States and Mexico.

"Expanding our ASD family of products allows us to better support and grow with our clients' application needs," says Scott Fisher, chief innovation and operations officer for WS Packaging. "ILTI designs and manufactures superior rotary technology not found in North America today, and our combined capabilities provide the highest technical expertise to provide a single resource for both labels and application equipment to service the demanding needs of Fortune 500 clients."

PEOPLE

SANDY HOOK, Conn.—Curtis Packaging announced the addition of industry-veteran, Dena Goldstein to its team of account executives. She brings 30 years of industry experience managing high-end accounts in the fragrance, cosmetics, and gourmet confections industries.

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Excelsus Solutions has added four new staff members to accommodate its growing customer base. Tony Harris has been named VP of sales and marketing; Lesia A. Telega joins the company as an account representative; Jason A. Thomas has been hired as a prepress Mac operator; and Tony Dungan is its color specialist and fine art print manager.

DECATUR, Ill.—Huston Patterson recently named Zachary Kowa as its new director of logistics. He will focus on increasing efficiencies and reducing turn times for the company's clients.

NEENAH, Wis.—Menasha Packaging has promoted Jerry Hessel to the newly created position of executive vice president, business development, and Mike Riegsecker to vice president, corrugated businesses.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.—Imagine! Print Solutions announced that Dean Pospesel has joined its team as vice president of business development, and Craig Mandery as its vice president of manufacturing.

NEENAH, Wis.—Bemis Company announced the promotion of Jerry S. Krempa to vice president and controller of the company, reporting to Scott Ullem, Bemis' CFO. Krempa succeeds Stanley A. Jaffy, who will assume the role of vice president of finance. pP