Supplier News - November 2012

Strategic Alliance for Digital Finishing

ST. CROIX FALLS, Wis.—Brandtjen & Kluge and LasX Industries announced a strategic agreement in which the two companies will co-market an On Demand Laser Cutting and Converting Solution for folding cartons and other folded and glued products.

"LasX has been providing sheetfed laser cutting and robot handling systems since 2008," said William Dinauer, CEO of LasX Industries. "We are very pleased to be working with Kluge to provide a near digital solution for the production of folding cartons. This solution aligns perfectly with our vision of using laser converting, robotic, and digital workflow technologies for on-demand personalized packaging."

"The integration of Kluge converting equipment with LasX LaserSharp® technology provides a world-class solution for the near digital production of folding cartons," said Michael Aumann, CEO, at Brandtjen and Kluge. "Based on our testing of LaserSharp® cut and scored folding cartons, we are excited about the possibilities for the digital finishing and converting market. We are confident that we can provide exciting solutions for companies in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and consumer packaging space."

Girl Scout Cookie Package Gets New Look

NEW YORK—For the first time since 1999, all boxes of Girl Scout Cookies have a new look and a new purpose—to elevate the significance of the Girl Scout Cookie Program, a $790-million girl-led business. The iconic Girl Scout Cookie package showcases the five financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills that the Girl Scout Cookie Program teaches girls: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics.

The decision to update the package came about in 2010 as part of an overall brand refresh in advance of the organization's 100th anniversary on March 12, 2012. The package needed to be more contemporary to reflect the new brand identity and to embody the spirit of Girl Scouting, while showing customers how they can reconnect with the organization. GSUSA partnered with the New York office of Anthem Worldwide, the brand development division of Schawk Inc., to redesign the packaging to inspire and engage consumers.

"We have more than 50 million cookie customers across the country, and the cookie box is the most tangible and powerful way for us to communicate directly with consumers," said Girl Scouts of the USA Chief Executive Officer Anna Maria Chávez. "So it's no surprise that our new cookie package tells the story of the five skills girls learn from participating in the cookie program. We want people to know that with each purchase of Girl Scout Cookies, they are not just getting a delicious treat, they are helping girls to be future business leaders and to make a difference in their communities."

"Anthem is proud to capture the empowering essence of the Girl Scouts in these iconic brand packages," said Eric Ashworth, president of Schawk, Inc. "This moment of pride we feel is only the first of many moments of pride Girl Scouts everywhere will feel selling this year's cookies."

To execute the final design concept, Anthem and GSUSA worked with Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer David Hume Kennerly to photograph Girl Scouts around the New York Metro area. The final package design captures moments that show the power of girls working together as they engage in activities like greening a park, volunteering at a soup kitchen, and traveling to Paris. The Girl Scout Cookie package also features the GreenPalm logo, which speaks to the organizational commitment to addressing conservation and sustainability concerns related to Girl Scout Cookies.

"I cannot think of a better combination than having people learn what Girl Scouting does for girls while supporting our Movement through the Cookie Program," said Chávez.

Heidelberg Opens Manufacturing Plant in Detroit

KENNESAW, Ga.—Five years after introducing Saphira Aqueous Coatings to the market, Heidelberg recently began manufacturing the coatings at its new Hi-Tech Coatings plant, located in the Detroit suburb of Taylor, Mich. Hi-Tech Coatings International, Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Heidelberg Druckmaschinen.

The Taylor site is a further development of two existing European manufacturing facilities located in the UK and the Netherlands, both acquired by Heidelberg in 2008. The new plant boasts increased automation and streamlined material handling, improving both safety and workflow efficiency. The 32,000-sq.-ft. installation also has been designed to accommodate increased capacity as the business grows.

According to Thomas Topp, SVP consumables and CtP, Heidelberg North America, "The new coatings plant strengthens Heidelberg's commitment to help its customers achieve consistently high quality and high productivity while lowering waste and reducing cost. Centrally located for fast, convenient shipping, the new installation puts the quality and reliability of Saphira Aqueous Coatings within easy reach of companies across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico."

EFI Acquires Online Print Solutions
FOSTER CITY, Calif.—EFI™ has acquired Online Print Solutions (OPS), a provider of Web-to-print, dynamic publishing, and cross-media marketing solutions. OPS brings a decade of experience developing and deploying applications developed specifically to manage the unique needs of corporate storefronts, retail sites, and online design to variable data and cross-media solutions.

"We are very pleased to bring OPS into our growing Web-to-print customer community and combine our world-class offerings in the market," said Marc Olin, senior vice president and general manager of EFI's Productivity Software division. "With our track-record of providing the industry's largest and most comprehensive cloud offering, EFI has seen Web-to-print expand and become a standard way of doing business around the world. We see great potential in continuing to expand our offerings in Web-to-print and further leverage our unique ability to provide an integrated workflow with our MIS and our industry-leading Fiery® controllers."

OPS software will become part of EFI's Productivity Software portfolio. EFI intends to continue to offer both Digital StoreFront® and OPS products to the market, and in the near future, integrate key OPS features and technologies supporting cross-media marketing and variable data printing into the EFI Digital StoreFront platform, as well as with EFI MIS software. EFI also plans to integrate the OPS platform into its Fiery digital front ends to provide seamless connectivity for OPS clients to the wide range of Xerox, Ricoh, Canon, Konica Minolta, and other Fiery-driven printers.

"The OPS team and I are very excited about joining EFI, a clear leader in MIS/ERP and eCommerce software for print," said Mark McGowan, the founder of OPS. "We look forward to sharing our expertise in the areas of Web-to-print, cross-media marketing, and variable data printing to enhance EFI products. We are committed to continuing to provide the next generation of Web-to-print and marketing solutions."

Schober Adds R&D Capabilities

FAIRFIELD, Ohio—Schober USA has recently installed a new rotary diecutting machine in its Fairfield facility to provide research and development services for North American customers. The new machine, which is complemented by two similar units at the Schober GmbH facility in Germany, enhances the company's ability to assist customers with diecutting, punching, creasing, embossing, and other rotary application developments. Additionally, the machine can be used on a contract basis for product or process development, running samples, or even small production runs converting various materials.

Trelleborg Expands in Brazil

SPARTANBURG, S.C.—Trelleborg has opened a new state-of-the-art facility in São Paulo, Brazil. The 161,458-sq.-ft. plant will provide specialized production of printing solutions in Brazil to allow the company to create a platform for local presence in the region and growth in the graphic arts industry.

"Trelleborg has a long-term strategy to invest in markets with encouraging growth potential and with the graphics industry a growing and highly attractive market, increasing our presence in South and Latin America was the next logical step and central to our expansion strategy," says Dario Porta, president of Trelleborg Coated Systems, which is part of the Trelleborg Engineered Systems business area. "As well as establishing advanced production of printing solutions in a modern facility that is excellently located, this move will allow us to provide customers in the region with specialist, technical, on-the-ground service and support, in turn bringing us closer to the action and our customer base."

Siegwerk Center for Printing Excellence

DES MOINES, Iowa—To support forecasted growth throughout the region, Siegwerk Canada and USA (CUSA) began construction of a new Center for Printing Excellence. Ground-breaking took place in August, and the facility is projected to be operational by the end of the year. It will be located at the company's headquarters in Des Moines.

The Center for Printing Excellence will house a pilot press with capabilities to print 5-color gravure or 4-color flexo for use with solvent-based or water-based technology. There will also be space to add extrusion lamination capability, which is projected to be completed in 2013. The facility will be dedicated to ink product development, as well as co-development with customers and suppliers on specific projects. The pilot press will also allow for accelerated trialing and commercialization of new products/technologies to help save Siegwerk customers press time and costs.

PEOPLE

Anderson & Vreeland has appointed Dale Grabow as technical sales representative. He will provide technical sales and support for A&V customers in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, and North and South Dakota.

Tim Isbell and Mario Salamanca have been promoted to industry managers for Channeled Resources Group. Isbell will be responsible for the Global Solutions division and Salamanca will be responsible for CRG's Pressure Sensitive Label division.

Davis-Standard announced the consolidation of its global sales and marketing team, combining the company's extrusion and converting equipment lines into one product portfolio. Leading this effort is Bob Florence who has been hired as VP of global sales and marketing. He will oversee the direction of Davis-Standard's sales, product management, marketing, and proposal/estimating groups worldwide. In addition, the company has hired Chetan Balsara as VP and chief information officer; Sekaran Murugaiah as VP of business development for Asia-Pacific; and Todd Pearson as VP of global operational excellence.

Harris & Bruno International welcomed Don Newberry as the regional sales manager focusing on the Eastern United States.

Elsner Engineering Works announced that Bert Elsner, II has been promoted to CEO, president, and treasurer of the third generation family firm. He is the fifth Elsner to head the firm in its 79-year history. The company has also promoted Robert D. Van Sant to vice president, CFO, and secretary.

Michael O'Hare has been appointed to the direct sales team of UEI® Group. He will service customers in the Northeast U.S. for the Universal Engraving and Infinity Foils business units.

Southern Lithoplate, Inc. named graphic arts industry veteran Joe Lillo as VP of commercial sales, responsible for the strategic growth of the company's commercial plate business. pP