Fujifilm Graphic Systems U.S.A.

Indications of a North American economic recovery are popping up everywhere. From a large jump in new orders by U.S. non-manufacturers to a continued increase in long-term housing demand, there is ample reason to be hopeful.

Industry News on the package printing industry, including Mark Andy, Kodak, Esko, Spectrol, Inc., Nilpeter, Menasha Packaging, FORGE GUARD

There have been some notable developments in the digital production landscape for folding cartons, but overall the landscape has not changed significantly in the past year and a half.

At its 2013 Annual Conference in Orlando, FL, NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies elected a new chairman, two new directors and re-elected several returning directors.

Fujifilm Corp., together with Fujifilm Global Graphic Systems Co., Ltd. (Fujifilm), has entered a strategic partnership with Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) in the area of inkjet printing. This will allow Heidelberg to gain access to Fujifilm's inkjet technology, and Fujifilm will leverage Heidelberg's strengths in engineering and manufacturing.

News on suppliers to the packaging printing industry, including items from Mondi Americas, HP and Labelexpo, Eskom Xeikon, OEC Graphics, Goss and Schawk.

PRINT 13 and CPP EXPO had a successful five-day run in McCormick Place. "Two common themes seemed to be repeated by attendees and exhibitors alike at the show this year," reported Ralph Nappi, president of the Graphic Arts Show Company. "First, a sense of optimism existed that has not been evidenced in our industry for a few years; the second was the surprising number of deals that were inked at the show."

FFEI has partnered with Fujifilm North America for the sale of its Graphium digital UV inkjet press in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

New commercial print, wide-format and packaging solutions, featuring the latest innovations in inkjet and workflow technologies, will be on display at the Fujifilm North America, Graphic Systems Division booth at PRINT 13.

The folding carton printers interviewed for this story face mostly the same agenda of business issues as the managers of other kinds of printing businesses. Two items of special interest in their segment—competition from offshore packaging manufacturers, and paperboard supply—came up in the conversations.