Manroland Inc.

Extended color printing could be the next best thing to the eye of the beholder in the package-printing industry. PHILOSOPHICALLY SPEAKING, THE exact nature of color may be in dispute forever. As far as brand owners and the package and label printers who work with them are concerned, however, color is a concrete, measurable reality and the most critical component of print quality. If the job of the packaging or label designers is to create shelf appeal and ensure brand recognition, the job of packaging and label printers is to lock in those attributes by reproducing those designs as faithfully, efficiently, and affordably as

WESTMONT, Ill.—The Printing Systems Division of MAN AG, parent of MAN Roland Inc., raised its operating profits to $3.9 million in 2004, representing a $38 million gain over the previous year. In a recently released report to investors, MAN AG indicated that the year-end figures signify the division's return to the growth track. "Printing Systems achieved an operating turnaround," the report stated. "The highly profitable web-fed sector and the sheetfed presses, which were able to reduce their losses, both contributed equally to this improved performance." New press orders rose 20 percent, from $2,081 million in 2003 to $2,491 million in 2004, indicating that MAN

Arkay Packaging, over the past 80-plus years, has become known for quality and innovation with folding carton manufacturing. ARKAY PACKAGING IS a company on the cutting edge of the package printing industry. After 83 years of business, the folding carton printer continues to think outside the box, creating and producing unique packages for its customers. The company began as a printing and label printshop by a Russian immigrant, Max Kaneff, in downtown New York. It has grown into a third-generation, family-owed industry leader, serving some of the largest and most respected names in the cosmetic, and health and beauty aid markets. From structural design

For sprucing up a product's image, foil decorating has lots to offer. HERE'S ONE WAY to make a product stand out on a store shelf: don't make it bright and shiny. It will stand out—just like the Model T once did when Henry Ford said that cars come in one color, black. Today's products that are vying for the consumers' purchasing dollars must be bright and shiny. It's a fact of life on the store shelf. Although there is no question that high-end products must provide this high-quality look, it is also necessary for just about any product category, at any pricing

Terms define technology, but for package printers, wide-format presses are enabling them to define their industry. by Joy English, Assistant Editor THE PACKAGE-PRINTING industry is filled with numerous terms and definitions, spelling out the processes that form its daily functions. Although these definitions help with understanding and categorization, in the end, it's the equipment that must perform. Today's wide-format presses do this well, providing the converter with everything from ease of operation and increased speeds and widths to customization. Functionality Multifunctionality, especially in regards to press capabilities, is vital to a converter's ability to add value to its customers' printing jobs. And top press

Caraustar's Chicago Carton Plant uses its strengths in sheetfed offset printing to be a best-value supplier of paperboard packaging. SHEETFED OFFSET PRINTING is a specialty at Caraustar's Chicago Carton Plant. They've been doing it for the past 40 years, since the founding of the original Crane Carton Company by Alan Crane. The plant provides printed virgin and recycled paperboard materials to a variety of end-use markets, including dry and frozen foods, hardware, automotive, entertainment, and software. With Caraustar's status as one of the largest North American producers of recycled paperboard, Paul Curtis, general manager of Caraustar's Chicago and Grand Rapids, Mich. plants, says

Check below for this *Web exclusive* listing of companies supplying such corollary press accessories as temperature control systems, cleaning solutions and equipment, replacement knives, and grinders: AAA Press International Web cleaners, corona treaters, auxiliary dryers, print stations, roll handling devices, tension controls, strobes, slitter assemblies, static neutralizers, rewind tables, platemounters, etc. Visit www.aaapress.com Adheso-Graphics Manufactures and distributes pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes—sticky back, transfer, and D/C—to the printing industry. Visit www.adheso-graphics.com Alliance Knife Straight and circular machine knives for paper converting, graphic arts, business forms, pulp and paper, plastic, rubber, metalworking, and woodworking. Andantex USA Your complete source for high-precision motion control

The integration of digital print into conventional press formats sets the road to the future in comfortable surroundings. by Jessica Millward, Associate Editor AS YET, DIGITAL print isn't installed in an overwhelming number of packaging plants. Suppliers realize, however, that the nature of the market will require the integration of digital techniques in the not-too-distant future, and are preparing accordingly. "The converter is being forced by their customers to advance print capabilities to match market demands," observes Chris Faust, digital sales manager, Chromas Technologies. He identifies the common reason for investing in digital print capability as the pressure to deliver packaging on-demand, with new

Sheetfed offset press manufacturers key in on efficiency, larger formats, and specialty needs, and wave off flexo competition. by Susan Friedman, Editor One of the best competitive edges carton converters can develop these days is the capability to get product out the door faster than the other guys. "Our customers are focusing strictly on productivity," says Bob McKinney, director of marketing for KBA North America, Sheetfed Division. "Converters want to increase margins through efficiency." Sheetfed offset press manufacturers are well aware of this fact, and each is ready with a game plan. "With run length continuing to drop, faster, more accurate makeready with less

Adheso Graphics Manufactures and distributes pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes—sticky back, transfer, and D/C—to the printing industry. Visit www.adheso-graphics.com Alliance Knife Straight and circular machine knives for paper converting, graphic arts, business forms, pulp and paper, plastic, rubber, metalworking, and woodworking. Autogrind Complete range of grinders for in-house sharpening of all types of circular knives and perf wheels. Automatän The Automatän Inkontrol (TM) systems automatically check, monitor, and adjust flexo ink pH and viscosity through print runs to ensure that correct pH and viscosity are being maintained. Windows-based for maximum versatility. Visit www.automatan.com AWS Div., Grafix North America Supplies process cooling and temperature