Supplier News - February 2012
EskoArtwork Installs 2,000th CDI
GENT, Belgium—EskoArtwork announced the 2,000th installation of a Cyrel® Digital Imager (CDI) at VCG Connect UK. The installation is the second CDI Spark 5080 with HD Flexo for VCG Connect, a leading provider of digital reprographics services.
Juergen Andresen, EskoArtwork VP, flexo business, comments: "It is fantastic we have reached this exciting milestone just a few years after the installation of the 1,000th CDI and after less than two years of the 1,500th installation. It's clear that the interest in this technology is growing as brand owners and converters continuously look to digital flexo for its enhanced print quality, increased productivity, and consistent results from plate run to plate run."
Jim McCormack, managing director for VCG Connect, says: "We are known for our leading-edge innovative technology and that is why we work with EskoArtwork…We can now extend our tonal range with smooth vignettes, highlights, and shadows and also adjust imaging resolution from job-to-job and produce sharper and more accurate imaging. As a result of the high quality, we have just won a major contract with a huge brand and 2012 will see us export over £750,000 of printing plates to nine countries."
VCG Connect also adopted HD Flexo and McCormack adds: "Since the investment in HD Flexo, we've seen a marked increase in the quality of the final product, which has gone down very well with our customers. They like the flat top dots that enable them to run fewer colors at a lower cost or achieve finer detail."
Chapter 11 for Kodak
ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Eastman Kodak Company announced that it and its U.S. subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for chapter 11 business reorganization. The business reorganization is intended to bolster liquidity in the U.S. and abroad, monetize non-strategic intellectual property, fairly resolve legacy liabilities, and enable the company to focus on its most valuable business lines.
Kodak has obtained a fully-committed, $950 million debtor-in-possession credit facility with an 18-month maturity from Citigroup to enhance liquidity and working capital. The credit facility is subject to Court approval and other conditions precedent. The company believes that it has sufficient liquidity to operate its business during chapter 11, and to continue the flow of goods and services to its customers in the ordinary course.
"Kodak is taking a significant step toward enabling our enterprise to complete its transformation," said Antonio M. Perez, Chairman and CEO. "At the same time as we have created our digital business, we have also already effectively exited certain traditional operations, closing 13 manufacturing plants and 130 processing labs, and reducing our workforce by 47,000 since 2003. Now we must complete the transformation by further addressing our cost structure and effectively monetizing non-core IP assets. We look forward to working with our stakeholders to emerge a lean, world-class, digital imaging and materials science company."
RotoMetrics Opens Office in Mumbai
EUREKA, Mo.—RotoMetrics® announced the opening of a new Sales and Liaison Office in Mumbai, India. According to Shaun Pullen, RotoMetrics regional sales director, the new office reflects the company's commitment to be the leading supplier of precision tooling to India's growing printing and packaging industries.
Bobst Group Announces Midwest Rep
ROSELAND, N.J.—The Bobst Group's Business Unit Web Fed has entered into partnership with Chicago-based IMH Strategy for representation of its Fisher & Krecke C.I. Flexographic and Rotomec Coating & Laminating and Gravure lines for the flexible packaging market in the Midwestern United States.
PEOPLE
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—X-Rite, Inc. announced the appointment of Vic Stalam as senior VP of sales and marketing, overseeing all sales, marketing, and services activities for the Americas and EMEA regions. He will also serve on X-Rite's senior leadership team as a corporate officer.
BRYAN, Ohio—Rob Tolland has been appointed south regional sales manager for Anderson & Vreeland, Inc. In this position, he will supervise sales and support for A&V's customers throughout a 16-state southern U.S. region.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.—Maxcess announced the promotion of Doug Knudtson to COO. In his new role, he will focus on accelerating improvement efforts which are underway globally.
DES MOINES, Iowa—Michael Hoft has joined the Environmental Inks sales team as the southern regional account manager, with responsibilities for Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, and Southern Louisiana.
CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Joan Cekovsky-Kaza has joined Flint Group Flexographic Products as sales director, North America, responsible for setting strategy and developing sales through territory managers, and managing distributor and agent relationships in the U.S. and Canada. pP
