Business Management - Industry Trends

Thermal transfer printing is a proven, versatile printing process that continues to expand its reach. THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTING is a proven, industrial printing process that can be tailored to meet a wide range of application needs. Its tracks can be found in everything from coffee bags, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, snack foods, prepared foods, and processed meats and cheeses, says Glenn Breslauer, director of IT marketing for Bell-Mark Corp. (Pine Brook, N.J.). One of the reasons for this widespread use is its ability to print variable information. "Thermal transfer allows a package to be coded with variable information in real-time," states Breslauer. "Not only

FLEXIBLE PACKAGING CONTINUES to be an area for growth opportunities in the package printing industry, even in an economic recovery that is spotty at best. Several market drivers for this growth potential were identified in a study done in 2002 by The Freedonia Group titled, "World Converted Flexible Packaging." These drivers include: the expansion of end-use markets such as snack foods, pet and prepared foods, and pharmaceuticals; the continuing trend for conversion of rigid packaging to new flexible packaging alternatives; the need to reduce packaging costs and volume; and the increased use of stand-up pouches and liquid flexible packaging. The Flexible Packaging Association's

One flexible package printer looked across the Atlantic to save its shop. ALMOST TWO YEARS ago, Lawson Mardon USA Inc., an Alcan Packaging Company in Bellwood, Ill. realized it was at a competitive disadvantage. Other companies in the flexible food packaging industry were beginning to deliver flatter, clearer products. Suddenly, some of Alcan's most important customers began scaling back their orders. To make matters worse, Alcan needed to increase capacity, but because of its location in a residential area, there was no room for expansion. Alcan's management team contemplated integrating, for the first time in the history of the site, solventless, off-line

Package printers are looking for as many different ink options as possible, according to this year's ink usage survey. by Sean Riley, Associate Editor If package printers decided one thing last year in terms of ink use, it is that there is no such thing as too many options. More so than in any other year, converters who responded to packagePrinting's annual ink usage survey are looking for more ink options and ink suppliers in an allout effort to create unique applications that jump out at consumers. Last year, 60 percent of respondents said they use a single supplier for all of

Flexible packaging players continue to regroup in order to ensure future growth. by Susan Friedman, Editor Though consultants say consolidation activity in the packaging industry is slowing, the face of the flexible packaging industry continues to be changed by mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. In packagePRINTING's annual Top Flexible Packaging Converters Survey, such past participants as Duralam, Pac One, and Rex Int'l are now part of larger players' umbrella portfolios. And International Paper's flexible packaging division, sold to Exo-Tech Packaging LLC in 2001, is now called Exopack. Of the estimated $19 billion flexpack market, more than $14 billion in total sales is represented in the

packagePRINTING went straight to its readers to explore trends in specialty, application-specific, and hybrid ink usage. by Kate Tomlinson, Assistant Editor THIS YEAR, packagePRINTING's annual ink survey spread its wings to cover more emerging usage trends. Among the findings: hybrid ink systems, while fairly new to the scene, are beginning to carve a niche for themselves. And, as printers expand their substrate capabilities, the use of application-specific inks is becoming commonplace. In addition, the tried-and-true specialty ink market continues to grow and release new products. Despite online purchasing's growth in many segments, the numbers show package printers are still fairly hesitant about this buying

packagePRINTING's annual ranking balances converters' conservative business outlook with clear evidence of growth. by Susan Friedman, Editor Here's the financial low-down: Of the nearly $12 billion in collective sales reported for 2000 by the flexible packaging converters listed below, 75 percent is concentrated in the top ten companies' revenues. Overall, 2000 profit margins for the segment averaged 7.75 percent, with a high of 20 percent and a low of zero percent reported. Annual growth rates for the past year averaged 12.5 percent. Though packagePRINTING's State of the Industry report (see pP March 2001) portrayed a heavily conservative flexible packaging business climate for 2001, at

Package printers still put metallic inks to work more often than other specialty formulations, but printing with custom-blended colors is even more commonplace. By Kate Tomlinson, Assistant Editor TWO YEARS AGO, packagePRINTING's annual ink usage survey asked tag and label, flexible packaging, and folding carton converters to identify their top specialty inks choices. The response was overwhelmingly in favor of metallic inks—83 percent of respondents had put metallics to work during 1998. pP's 2001 survey revisited this topic to find not much has changed. Due to some new options in specialty ink, usage percentages are spread over a wider spectrum, but metallics are still

Package printers share their picks and pans of specialty inks vital to on-the-shelf package differentiation. By Susan Friedman This time last year, packagePRINTING's ink survey revealed that more of its readers were using water-based inks than any other. At the same time, despite a slight usage decline, a solid number of converters planned to stay loyal to solvents. And excitement bubbled over UV quality and makeready benefits, particularly for narrow-web flexo. pP's 1999 ink survey deviates from the mainstream of solvent, water, UV and soy to take a closer look at the specifics of the specialty inks market: preferences, prices, press issues and more.

Black thermal transfer ribbon's popularity suggests a steady industrial applications stronghold, although the color spectrum is widening. by Susan Friedman With a bar code or other variable data as a calling card, thermal transfer printed packaging commonly carries identification, shipping or tracking information. Thermal transfer's sharp, crisp output has made it the on-demand printing method of choice for newer bar codes that can be read from a distance, and improved compliance labeling, states René Gallet, thermal products manager at Printronix, Irvine, CA. A similar following in higher-end package printing remains to be seen. Thermal transfer speeds of six to eight inches per minute remain