Container Graphics

News on suppliers to the packaging printing industry, including items on Heidelberg, Bobst, Wilson Manufacturing, Multi-Plastics Inc., Nilpeter, Emerald Packaging and Gintzler Graphics.

CARY, N.C.—Container Graphics Corp. announces the opening of a new cutting die manufacturing and repair facility near Tacoma, Washington. The facility is strategically located to serve the corrugated packaging industry of the Pacific Northwest. The new facility will be managed by Guy Cunningham, technical sales representative, and will be part of Container Graphics’ western region which includes Modesto, California and Salt lake City, Utah. The western region is managed by Brian Bennett, vice president and general manager. At a recent company meeting, Bennett announced, “I am very pleased to be able to offer local support to our customers currently serviced by our Modesto,

The Flexographic Prepress Platemakers Association (FPPA) convened its ninth annual convention last month in Amelia Island, Fla. During the three-day conference, presenters from the supplier and provider communities shared their insights on a variety of topics. Following a keynote address by Bill Raaths, CEO of Great Northern Corp., sessions included “The Effect of Simultaneous Imaging and Direct UV Main Exposure on Digital Plates and Sleeves” by Ian Hole of Esko-Graphics; “Remote Digital Proofing: Contract Color and Content Proofing at Remote Sites” by Deborah Hutcheson of Agfa Corp.; “Forensically Invisible Brand Protection Packaging” by Kevin Harrell, Creo/Kodak; “In-the-Round Production Technology” by Dan Rosen of Flint

Plate mounting has improved dramatically in the past few years and can now cause less headaches in the pressroom. ONE FALSE MOVE and hundreds of dollars of substrate can find itself taking the long and winding road into the scrap bin, all because the plate was a fraction of an inch off. Any number of press operators will tell you that getting the plate on straight is frustrating, yet is a very important part of the job. Why not make it easier for your operators by offering them plate mounting tapes and equipment that practically do the work for them? Plate mounting

ACTION ROTARY DIE Manufacturing and retooling of engraved rotary dies and print cylinders. Includes adjustable, air-eject, removable blade sheeter/perf, multi-level including slit over perf, and thermal cutting dies. Specializes in deep engraved dies. Introducing vacuum dies and molecularly enhanced tool steels. Write 387, Visit www.actionrotary.com Adams Technologies Automated steel rule bending systems, laser dieboard systems, routers for strippers and counter cutters, water-jet rubber-cutting systems. Write 388, Visit www.adamstechnologies.com, American Die Technology A complete line of CNC and EDM dies. Our cryogenic treating process extends the die life of the Marathon dies. The Thermalizer holds up to abrasive materials. To aid press operators, we designed

ACTION ROTARY DIE Manufacturing and retooling of engraved rotary dies and print cylinders for the narrow-web printer. Includes adjustable, air-eject, removable blade sheeter/perf, multi-level including slit over perf, and thermal cutting dies. Specializes in deep engraved dies. Introducing vacuum dies and molecularly enhanced tool sheets. Visit www.actionrotary.com For Action Rotary Die Write 388 ADAMS TECHNOLOGIES Automated steel rule bending systems, laser dieboard systems, routers for strippers and counter cutters, water-jet rubber-cutting systems. Visit www.adamstechnologies.com American Die Technology A complete line of CNC and EDM dies. Our cryogenic treating process extends the die life of the Marathon dies. The Thermalizer holds up to

The key to a high-performance, flawless flexo printing plate is time—imaging time, processing time, and drying time. by Kate Sharon, Associate Editor EMERIL LAGASSE IS a thorough chef who doesn't take shortcuts when preparing his mouth-watering cuisine. He never skips over the most tedious of cooking chores, and he never forgets to "take it up a notch" or add a "bam!". As flexo platemakers take it up a notch to meet today's demands for faster turnarounds, shortcuts can quickly spoil the key ingredients consumer product companies need most to build their brands: accurate and consistent color. The platemaker's role is more important than ever

by Michael Paeth, President, FlexoGrafix The one thing consistent in the world of prepress is change ... daily! If keeping up with new software, proofing, screening technology, plate exposure technology, direct-to-plate, and the myriad of other ever-changing facets of prepress isn't for you, you are not alone. But before you put your work into the hands of a trade shop, you should evaluate your needs, and then evaluate the trade shop that will be getting your work. Here are the "Top 10" criteria (in ascending order) to keep in mind when deciding on a trade shop to handle your work. Since everyone's needs

Feeding the Beast On the surface, the 10th annual survey of North America's diemakers shows an industry growing its revenues. Beneath that facade, however, are individual companies struggling to remain technologically and financially in the black. by David Luttenberger, Consulting Editor Trends identified and either feared or embraced during the past several years continue to shape the cutting edge of the diemaking industry. Technologies that turn the craft of diemaking into science; more efficient, less manually intense and cost-effective machining and rule processing capabilities; and, industry consolidation continue to be harbingers of further change in a segment already deeply enveloped in transition. "A

Top diemakers push the $200 million sales envelope in the face of declining profit margins and projections for growth. By David Luttenberger Although the headlines herald a 7.2 percent increase to a record $193 million in sales during 1998, the top 25 diemakers' ledgers cry a different story. On the surface, say die industry insiders, it was a good year. However, expectations of continued consolidation and potential or already-realized forced sell-offs of non-core business units are cause for concern among diemakers who, on average, posted net sales of nearly a half-million dollars more in 1998 than in '97. New Era Die, who was