Supplier News - August 2012

Blue Dog Bakery Unveils New Look
SEATTLE, Wash.—After 14 years of baking all-natural dog treats, Blue Dog Bakery has unveiled a fully refreshed packaging design across its product line. Working with the design team at Hornall Anderson, Ruffy, the brand's signature blue dog mascot, received a makeover that provides a modern look that uniquely reflects the all-natural treats inside.

Headquartered in Seattle, Wash., Blue Dog Bakery was founded in 1998 as the first all-natural dog treat brand sold in major grocery retailers. When CEO Kyle Polanski took the helm at Blue Dog Bakery in 2009, he began a charge to bring a fresh look to the brand to better compete with the 'big dogs' of the treat world.

"Ruffy has been, and always will be, a central piece of our branding, but it was time for our little blue dog to grow up," said Polanski. "For a brand our size, packaging is critical to our success and our new design ensures that we're perfectly positioned for growth and expansion."

The new packaging presents an updated look without straying too far from the familiar Blue Dog Bakery logo and Ruffy's unmistakable blue face. A simplified presentation highlights Blue Dog Bakery's unique offerings to consumers such as the fact that the treats are all natural, low fat, and made in the USA. Updated typefaces make for better readability, icons tout the treats' key benefits, and an "Our Community" section on box side panels highlight Blue Dog Bakery's support of various animal rescue organizations.

Compostable Film for Organic Tea

WIGTON, UK—Innovia Films' compostable cellulose-based material, NatureFlex™ NVR, has been chosen by Germany-based Lebensbaum, to pack its range of organic teas. The company has built a successful business position based on a combination of pure tasting ingredients, ecological foresight, and social responsibility.

Introducing packaging materials based on renewable resources is part of Lebensbaum's sustainability strategy. "NatureFlex™ combines the packaging quality and functionality we are looking for with our ambitious environmental consciousness, which fits with our mission." explains Managing Director Dr. Achim Mayr.

"We are delighted to offer new innovative packaging solutions based on NatureFlex™, especially for the tea and coffee industry," says Joachim Janz, sales account manager, Innovia Films. "Our customers can tick various boxes easily relating to product safety and the objective to use a sustainable packaging material."

2012 InterTech Awards

PITTSBURGH, Pa.—Printing Industries of America announced the recipients of the 2012 InterTech™ Technology Awards. The technologies receiving this award have been judged as truly innovative and are expected to advance the performance of the graphic communications industry.

The independent panel of judges deliberated over many technology nominations ranging from digital presses and related enhancements to a variety of mobile and Web-based software. Great strides in technology were demonstrated in color measurement and control, layout and finishing, security and low migration inks, inkjet and label presses, printable coatings, pressroom analytics, MIS, and product content management and publishing.

Twelve innovative technologies were selected to receive the award (listed alphabetically by company, with the technology named first):

1. Kodak NexPress Red Fluorescing Solution, Eastman Kodak Company
2. Enterworks® Enable, Enterworks
3. i-cut Suite, EskoArtwork
4. Fujifilm J Press 720, FUJIFILM North America Corp.
5. Prinect Performance Benchmarking, Heidelberg USA
6. Keen MIS and Web-to-Print, Keen Systems, Inc.
7. Color Control and Web Inspection System with AccuCam™, QuadTech
8. SunPak™ LMQ, Sun Chemical
9. iTechnique, Technique Business Systems Ltd.
10. Avatrex Transportable Imaging, Utopia Digital Technologies
11. Xeikon X-800 VariLane, Xeikon
12. i1Pro 2, X-Rite, Inc.

The InterTech Awards will be presented during the 2012 Premier Print Awards Gala October 7, in Chicago.

Custom Labelstocks

MILLS RIVER, N.C.—UPM Raflatac has launched a new Menu Service for labelstock converters located in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Using the service, customers can assemble several of UPM Raflatac's standard facestocks, adhesives, and liners to create more than 1,500 different product combinations, including custom roll-to-roll labelstocks for specific applications and end uses.

"UPM Raflatac's Menu Service empowers labelstock converters in a new way," says Jean-Marc Borel, specials business director, Americas, UPM Raflatac. "Instead of retrofitting standard products to meet their needs, customers can design special labelstocks that solve their unique business challenges and deliver exceptional quality and performance."

The company's new Menu Service complements its recently launched Small Roll Service and new Label Solutions Center in Fletcher, N.C., and allows UPM Raflatac to continue to offer customers a wider range of specially designed labelstock products.

Michelman Awarded Grant for R&D Center

CINCINNATI—Michelman has been awarded a $2.5 million Ohio Third Frontier Industrial Research and Development Center Grant for its new R&D center, that will be named the Michelman Advanced Materials Collaboration Center. It will be built at the site of the company's headquarters located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is currently scheduled for completion by the spring of 2013.

The grant will help create new jobs at the facility and will be used to enhance Michelman's ability to develop and commercialize new technologies including water-based coatings for paper and flexible packaging, and water-based surface modifiers, additives, and polymers for industries including fiberglass and composite materials, wood and floor care, industrial coatings, inks, and construction products.

According to Dr. Rick Michelman, VP/chief technology officer at Michelman, "The Ohio Third Frontier's stated strategic intent is to 'create an innovation ecosystem that supports the efficient and seamless transition of great ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace.' Our customers across all industry segments have come to expect 'great ideas' from Michelman. The addition of this new R&D center, as well as the collaborative approach we take within our R&D department will position us to develop effective solutions that will help our customers win well into the future."

PEOPLE

The Supervisory Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has appointed Dr. Gerold Linzbach as chief executive officers with effect date from September 1, 2012. He will be replacing Bernhard Schreier who will be leaving the company at the end of 2012.

"I would like to thank Bernhard Schreier for his achievements as Heidelberg CEO. In a career spanning a total of 37 years, 13 of them as CEO, he has truly made his mark on the company and has succeeded in guiding it through two major global economic crises and structural upheaval in the printing industry," said Robert J. Koehler, chairman of the Supervisory Board. "In Dr. Gerold Linzbach, we are delighted to have found a successor with international experience to press ahead with the company's strategic reorientation and ensure its return to profitability. Dr. Linzbach has many years of management and capital market expertise, which will help pave the way for a successful future at Heidelberg," he added.

Schawk has appointed Eric Ashworth to the position of president. In this role, he will direct the overall strategy and implementation of business tactics worldwide, and will also have executive oversight of the company's brand development business, which includes Brandimage and Anthem Worldwide.

Harper Corporation of America announced the promotions of Alan Rogers and Juan Bermudez. Rogers is the VP of sales for the United States and Canada and Bermudez is the VP of sales for Latin America.

Michelle Amescua and Matt Saltini have accepted positions as sales specialist - print and web processing for tesa tape, with responsibility for the tesa print product line. Amescua will cover the western region of the U.S. and Saltini will cover northeastern portions of the U.S.

FUJIFILM Holdings America Corp. has named Kaz Yamamura as the new president of FUJIFILM Holdings America Corp. and announced the promotion of Go Miyazaki to president and COO of FUJIFILM North America Corp. In his new role, Yamamura will also serve as the new chairman and CEO of FUJIFILM North America Corp., overseeing management of 11 Fujifilm companies that operate in the United States. Miyazaki will be responsible for management of the company's photo imaging, electronic imaging, graphic systems, optical devices, and motion picture business, as well as operations for Fujifilm in Canada. pP