Printer News April 2011

TLMI Bestows Eugene Singer Award

GLOUCESTER, Mass.—The Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI) announced the winners of the prestigious Eugene Singer Award for Management Excellence. One of TLMI’s highest honors, this award recognizes excellence in business management measured and defined by an established set of growth and profitability ratios through the participation in the TLMI Management Ratio Study.

The Eugene Singer Award is given annually to four narrow-web converting companies, each company within a certain sales range category. The 2011 TLMI Eugene Singer Awards were given to the following companies at the association’s recent Converter Meeting in Palm Springs, Calif.:

• Centennial, Colo.-based Columbine Label Company won in the small company category for the first time. The small company category is defined by annual sales of less than $6 million.
• Fairfield, Ohio-based Kopco Graphics, Inc. won for the mid-range company category, defined by sales of $6 - $14 million. This is Kopco’s third TLMI Eugene Singer Award.
• Aurora, Ill.-based The Label Printers won for the medium company category, defined by sales of $15 - $35 million. This is The Label Printer’s second Eugene Singer Award.
• Longwood, Fla.-based Consolidated Label won for the large company category defined by sales greater than $35 million. This is Consolidated Label’s ninth Eugene Singer Award.

“TLMI would like to congratulate this year’s Eugene Singer Award Winners,” TLMI President, Frank Sablone, said. “The association’s converter members continue to realize the benefit of participating in the TLMI Ratio Study, and the tangible ongoing value the study provides to their businesses and to their business planning strategies. TLMI is honored to be able to continue to provide this service to our converter members.”
Shown with their TLMI Eugene Singer Awards (from left): Joel Carmany,
Consolidated Label; Lori Campbell, The Label Printers; Doug Kopp, Kopco Graphics; Greg Jackson, Columbine Label; and Art Yerecic, TLMI chairman.

FPA Achievement Awards
LINTHICUM, Md.—Breakthroughs in material innovation, shelf impact, consumer convenience, and sustainability are incorporated into the winning entries of the Flexible Packaging Association’s (FPA’S) 55th annual Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition. In all, 78 flexible packaging entries were evaluated in one or more competition categories, with 15 packages selected for a total of 20 Achievement Awards. Winning entries included:

Highest Achievement Awards

• ConforMIS Drill & Pin Kit Wallet; Beacon Converters, Inc.
• Fresh N Tasty Produce Pouch; Robbie

Gold Awards

• Australian Gold Tanning Set; CL&D Graphics, Inc.
• Fresh Step Cat Litter; Nordenia USA
• Liquiflex® Advance™ Films for Bulk Liquids; Curwood, Inc., A Bemis Company
• Nestle ONE Dog; Nordenia USA
• Spout Zippered Retort Pouch; Ampac

Silver Awards

• Cryovac® Oven Ease™ Bags; Sealed Air Corp. - Cryovac Food Packaging
• Hormel E-Z Zip® Pouch; Ampac
• John Soules Rotisserie Chicken; American Packaging Corporation
• Masa Pizza; Peruplast S.A.
• Safeway Frozen Pasta Quad Seal Package; Berry Plastics Corp.
• Trail’s End Classic Caramel Popcorn; DanaFilms, Inc. and Plastic Packaging Technologies, LLC
• Wyman’s of Maine Wild Blueberry Juice; Printpack, Inc.
• Zone Coated Rollstock; Oliver-Tolas™ Healthcare Packaging

Joint Venture for CCL in Middle East and India

TORONTO, Ontario—CCL Industries Inc. announced that it has signed a binding agreement to acquire a 50 percent interest in Pacman-CCL, a privately owned group of label companies based in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, with additional operations in Cairo, Egypt, and Muscat, Oman. Pacman-CCL has been a license holder of CCL Label since 2009. The remaining 50 percent interest in the venture will continue to be held by Ali Saeed Juma Albwardy who, through his holding entity, Albwardy Investment, has overseen the growth of the company for more than two decades.

CCL Industries will pay $18.5 million in cash to acquire its 50 percent interest in the venture. Pacman-CCL generated sales of $25.8 million in the year ending December 31, 2010, with net after tax earnings of approximately $4.6 million. Closing of this transaction is expected to occur this summer after certain administrative procedures are completed.

The Agreement also binds CCL and Albwardy to complete an investment in a new facility currently under construction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2011. The partners have also agreed in principle to a prospective future greenfield investment by Pacman-CCL in India.

Geoffrey Martin, president and CEO of CCL Industries said, “We have enjoyed a great relationship with John Dawson, managing director of Pacman-CCL, and his team since we began the license arrangement in 2009. The two companies share many common customers, technologies, and business partners so this was a logical next step for both of us. We are especially proud to enter into a new partnership with Mr. Ali Albwardy as he is clearly one of the most highly regarded business leaders in this part of the world. The new venture continues to build on our strategy to invest in the world’s emerging markets that are so important for many of our consumer product customers.”

Ampac Is HD Flexo Certified

CINCINNATI, Ohio—Ampac, a global supplier in the retail, food, pet food, security, and medical packaging markets, was named the first HD Flexo certified printer in the Americas by EskoArtwork.

Ampac earned the distinction through the implementation of EskoArtwork’s HD Flexo High Definition Flexographic technology in the printing of flexible film in its Seattle facility. The process and use of HD digital flexographic technology provides high-resolution laser optics and advanced screening technologies to deliver extended color gamut, higher contrast, increased tonal range, and smoother vignettes.

Noticeable benefits in Ampac’s use of HD Flexo technology include the reduced time in prepress set up, reduced customer turnaround time, and cost savings. Jobs once using gravure print can now move to HD Flexo. Customers with small print runs, whether for surface or reverse print laminations, can now have gravure-like graphics without the higher prepress costs.

Ampac noted that the success of the implementation of EskoArtwork’s HD Flexo technology is due to the Seattle facility’s personnel. Ampac Art Director Joe Lydic said, “EskoArtwork gave us the tools, but it took the whole company to pull it off. We have the talented people to pull the plates and run the press. Our staff, in combination with the HD Flexo software and hardware upgrade, has allowed us to live up to our name and mission: Ampac - innovation in action.”

Smyth Companies Acquires Dow Industries

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Two premier label printers in North America are now one entity as Smyth Companies, LLC announced the acquisition of Dow Industries of Wilmington, Mass. Dow Industries is a highly decorated label printer that uses its high-definition flexographic printing processes to supply products for the health and beauty markets and other demanding consumer goods segments.

“Walter Dow has been a long-time friend whose company I’ve admired from afar, and I’m delighted that he has aligned with Smyth,” says John Hickey, Smyth CEO. “Our goal will be to provide the industry’s highest quality label production for those companies who demand the very best.”

Smyth has been in business for 133 years, and recently partnered with Novacap, a Montreal-based private equity firm, to help Smyth in its quest to be the most relevant label company in the industry for high-end consumer goods companies. With established production locations in Minnesota, Virginia, and Colorado, and the addition of the Dow facility in Massachusetts, Smyth will now employ approximately 400 people. The company specializes in package labeling for mass marketed consumer goods products, and serves clients in the food and beverage, personal care, household care, and beer markets, among others.

Smyth sought the acquisition of Dow because of its Eastern U.S. location, market reach, and print technologies. Dow Industries was founded in 1978 by Walter Dow.

PEOPLE

KINGSEY FALLS, Canada—Cascades Inc. announced the appointment of Mario Plourde as chief operating officer. In this role, he will work in close collaboration with the group presidents in the recovery, packaging, and tissue paper sectors, in the pursuit of operational and business objectives.

GARDEN GROVE, Calif.—All Barcode Systems announced that John Eichenmuller has joined the company as its Southern California account manager. He brings more than 30 years of experience to the company and will be the direct contact for its expanding base of clientele.

NEENAH, Wis.—Outlook Group Corp. announced the addition of Lacie Callan to the company’s marketing team. She brings a wealth of experience to her role as online marketing manager, with prior experience in brand management and e-commerce strategy.

NORCROSS, Ga.—Mike Bruner, mill manager with International Paper’s Courtland Mill in Courtland, Ala., has been named TAPPI/PIMA’s 2011 Mill Manager of the Year. This award recognizes the mill manager who has best demonstrated outstanding leadership, management, and organizational skills leading to improved results at the facility for which he or she is responsible. pP