MacDermid Printing Solutions

MONTREAL, Canada—At the FFTA’s Annual Forum and INFO*FLEX Exhibition in Montreal, Canada (May 6-9), Kodak announced that it will offer MacDermid Printing Solutions’ Digital MUST, Digital RAVE, and Digital EPIC printing plates to customers worldwide. This agreement is part of Kodak’s initiative to expand its package printing solutions portfolio to include digital flexographic plates, giving customers access to a full line of integrated prepress solutions from a single provider that includes workflow, proofing, digital plate imaging, and printing plates. “To grow revenue and increase profit, package printers are looking for consistent, stable, repeatable print that delivers high-impact results on the store shelf,” said Vic

Variable data in packaging comes in a variety of forms resulting from an assortment of needs. In some cases, the variable data might be beverage labeling indigenous to a geographic area or other targeted marketing materials. In other applications, the variable data comes in the form of 2D or traditional bar coding to help protect a brand against counterfeiting or diversion. And, in still other cases, the variable data exists as alphanumeric coding to authenticate promotional purchases. Digital presses are the engines used to print variable data. “Digital print engines are the most compatible with variable data as they are designed to manufacture data-driven

Short-run printing is a reality today for any package printer, and a converter’s ability to adapt to this reality will go a long way toward customer retention. Being able to offer customers the option of shorter runs is the equivalent of offering them a new product—such as a new substrate, a specialty ink, or the ability to soft proof. However, integrating the shorter jobs into conventional press runs can be a challenging proposition. On the one hand, no one wants to turn down business, but on the other hand, fitting the shorter job in between two longer runs means more planning and makeready. Profecta

PALO ALTO, Calif.—HP announced that InfoTrends Inc., an industry analyst firm, ranked the HP Indigo press line as the leading brand for digital presses in the U.S. high-volume segment. During the 2006 calendar year, HP Indigo presses reached a 41.9 percent market share in the high-volume segment, growing at an industry best 49.5 percent year-over-year. Representing the highest quality, highest volume digital color production devices on the market, the 1 million-plus production segment includes the HP Indigo presses 3050 , 5000 , w3200 and w3250 , as well as devices from Xerox, Kodak, and Xeikon. In the report, InfoTrends showed that HP Indigo leads

SANDY HOOK, Conn.—On February 27, during the Conference Board’s 2-day Leadership Conference on Global Corporate Citizenship at The Barclay Hotel in New York, Don Droppo, Jr., Curtis Packaging’s VP of marketing, addressed the topic of “Leveraging the Supply Chain for Competitive Advantage.” Droppo’s co-presenters on the panel were John A. Delfausse, vice president, global package development, Estee Lauder Companies and John Frey, director, corporate environmental strategy, Hewlett-Packard Company. Droppo’s presentation, “The Eco-Advantage,” focused on the role sustainable packaging plays in protecting the environment and the ways Curtis Packaging, which was founded in l845, has converted its operations to 100 percent clean, renewable energy. The

No business serious about its commitment to its customers would shy away from enhancing its product offerings. Current trends in the package-printing industry reflect just that, especially the trend toward short-run printing. One such enhancement is adding digital printing capabilities for your existing product lines. But just what is digital printing? When people say “digital printing” what do they mean? Defining digital printing “It really depends on what aspect you’re looking at,” says Dan Briley, North American category manager, industrial products, HP Indigo Digital Press. “In general, when you’re talking about the packaging application, digital printing refers to the fact that every single package,

BRUSSELS, Berlin—Labelexpo Europe 2007, taking place on 26-29, is expected to attract more than 23,000 visitors to Brussels from all over the world. With the ongoing growth of the label industry, more companies are exhibiting this year and an additional hall will make the show even larger than in 2005. With 90 percent sold, of exhibitor space sold, six halls will be packed with international suppliers unveiling their new machinery and innovations on this special global stage. With the global label industry continuing to grow steadily at a rate of 5-7 percent each year, Labelexpo Europe provides the opportunity for manufacturers to showcase their

CHICAGO, Ill.—The Digital Solutions Cooperative (Dscoop) Annual Conference wrapped up Saturday, February 3 at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, Florida, as a resounding success. Attendance doubled from last year with more than 700 customers, partners and HP representatives. The Solutions Showcase included 47 industry partners highlighting their products and services. “The Dscoop conference absolutely blew my expectations out of the water,” said Dscoop Chairman Jack Glacken. “In terms of attendance numbers and the quality of the education and key take-aways, everyone at the event went home with new business contacts and practical, actionable solutions for their companies. It was truly the definition of success.”

TAMPA, Fla.—HP announced that its North American HP Indigo Capture program has been a key driver for HP Indigo customers’ revenue and profit growth since its 2006 launch. Expanding its comprehensive offering of business development tools, training and programs, Capture is now adding a new Affiliate Program that provides free shipping and discounted prices for HP Indigo customers purchasing HP products including computers, networking solutions and more available through the HP online store. HP will be presenting its Capture program achievements, as well as unveiling details of the new HP Indigo Affiliate Program, in a keynote session today during the second annual Digital Solutions

CHICAGO, Ill.—GPA is participating in the HP “GO Digital” tour taking place across the U.S, which started in December 2006 and runs through March 2007. These twelve, one-day events feature in-depth discussions of how digital technologies, such as the HP Indigo press 5000, are generating more sales with more profitable rates of return for printers and their customers. The tour is in support of HP’s “Capture Business Success” program, which helps customers grow and manage their digital printing business. The seminars are open to existing HP Indigo customers as well as print service providers interested in learning more about the benefits of digital printing.