Flexible Packaging Association

Top Flexible Packaging Converters — A Very Good Year

If Frank Sinatra were to look back on 2006’s flexible packaging market, he might break into “It Was a Very Good Year.” About 85 percent of the converters that responded to packagePRINTING’s Top Flexible Packaging Converters Survey reported that their businesses experienced growth in 2006, while 15 percent said business stayed the same or decreased. Overall, flexible packaging converters are using a majority of their capacity. About 61 percent of respondents are operating at capacity levels of between 80 and 90 percent, while 39 percent are operating at less than 80 percent. Nearly all of the respondents anticipate that they will expand their package

MERRILL, Wis.—C&H Packaging, a subsidiary of Appleton’s Performance Packaging Division was recently honored with the FPA’s highest award for Environmental Achievement for the Malto Bella Gourmet Malt Balls package. The gold award was earned through the creative use of new environmentally friendly inks and adhesives. Throughout the design phase of this package, the C&H Packaging team worked closely with suppliers to ensure that the best combination of materials, inks, and adhesives were being used to offer environmental improvements, as well as to enhance performance and lower costs. These combined efforts eliminated emissions and solvents, reduced the amount of ink needed and dramatically improved substrate

There’s a lot of the action in the package-printing industry coming from the flexible packaging sector. You can’t go into a supermarket these days and not see some new packaging configuration for products that previously had been packaged in a different form—tuna fish in a flat pouch, drinks in stand-up pouches, frozen foods in plastic bags—just to mention a few. From a printing and converting standpoint, even some of the more trendy labeling applications require press and converting capabilities geared toward the processing of flexible, unsupported materials. These include shrink sleeve labeling, in-mold labeling, and even pressure-sensitive film labels. It is not surprising

FPA’s 2007 Environmental Summit and Safety Conference January 24-26, 2007 The TradeWinds Island Grand Resort St. Petersburg Beach, Florida The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) is pleased to present its Environmental Summit and Safety Conference. The conference agendas were developed by industry peers and designed to address pertinent issues facing converters and suppliers in today’s converting industry environment. The agendas include presenters from both industry and government, and are aimed at providing real take-home value for attendees. Environmental and/or safety professionals and managers at both corporate and plant levels will benefit from the programs. FPA members and non-members can register for either or both of

Chicago, IL—Alcan announces the appointment of Ilene Gordon, 53, to president and chief executive officer of Alcan Packaging and senior vice president of Alcan Inc. Ms. Gordon, who is presently president of Alcan Packaging Food Americas sector, succeeds Christel Bories, who was recently appointed president and CEO of Alcan Engineered Products. Both appointments take effect December 1, 2006. Ms. Gordon also becomes a member of Alcan’s executive committee. She will relocate her primary office from Chicago, U.S.A., to Paris, France, where the group is headquartered. Ms. Gordon will be succeeded in her present role by Mike Schmitt, currently president of Alcan Packaging Food Americas’ Food and

Chicago, IL—Alcan announces the appointment of Ilene Gordon, 53, to president and chief executive officer of Alcan Packaging and senior vice president of Alcan Inc. Ms. Gordon, who is presently president of Alcan Packaging Food Americas sector, succeeds Christel Bories, who was recently appointed president and CEO of Alcan Engineered Products. Both appointments take effect December 1, 2006. Ms. Gordon also becomes a member of Alcan’s executive committee. She will relocate her primary office from Chicago, U.S.A., to Paris, France, where the group is headquartered. Ms. Gordon will be succeeded in her present role by Mike Schmitt, currently president of Alcan Packaging Food Americas’ Food and

LINTHICUM, Md.—The Flexible Packaging Association’s 2006 Fall Executive Conference will be held Wednesday, October 4, 2006 at The Drake Hotel in Chicago. The conference theme is "The Impact of Globalization on the U.S. Flexible Packaging Industry." The agenda includes presentations by Michael Richmond, PhD of Packaging & Technology Integrated Solutions and Graham Cox of Pira International. The presentation will detail the results of research conducted on the dynamics of globalization and the opportunities it creates within the industry. Also featured are author John Caslione, Neil Rogers of Procter & Gamble, Amit Sheth of Environmental Packaging International, and a panel discussion on global sourcing strategies.

Harper names new president; founders nominated for education awards CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Harper Corporation announced that Margaret Harper Kluttz accepted the position of president effective July 1, 2006. Daughter of founders Ron and Katherine Harper, Kluttz has served the company for 34 years, as production manager, administration manager, customer service manager, vice president of administration, and executive vice president. “We have a tremendous management group and an energetic, well-trained workforce,” said Kluttz. “Harper has spent an enormous amount of time, effort, and dollars on the training and education of our entire team, especially in the past few years. We feel confident and well prepared to

Top Flexible Packaging Converters — Cornerstones of Success