Plastic Suppliers, Inc.

News on suppliers to the packaging printing industry, including items on Toray Plastics, Anderson & Vreeland/EskoArtwork, PCT Engineered Systems, MacDermid, All Printing Resources, Label Vision Systems, Luminite, and Mark Andy/Flexo Image Graphics.

George L. Thomas, a 40-year veteran of the packaging industry, has been appointed president/CEO of Plastic Suppliers, Inc. In his new position, he will focus his efforts on continuing to build Plastic Suppliers as a market leader in manufacturing and distribution.

Last month, the staff at packagePRINTING packed its bags and flew to Chicago for Labelexpo -Americas. This was my second time attending this show. My first go at it was two years ago. I had just started with packagePRINTING and had only gotten a taste of the package-printing industry for about two months, before I stepped on the showroom floor for the first time. Needless to say, I was completely overwhelmed and felt as if I had stepped into another world. I knew very little about tradeshows and knew even less about the printing presses and equipment I would see on the floor. And,

COLUMBUS, OHIO—Plastic Suppliers was one of 29 Ohio companies recognized by Ohio Governor Bob Taft for its commitment to exporting products while increasing jobs statewide in relation to increased exportation. Established in 1985, the “E” Award acknowledges those Ohio companies that have increased sales volume through exports, increased Ohio-based employment as a direct result of exporting activity, or developed and implemented a strategy to expand their international sales. “To succeed in today’s global economy, Ohio businesses must look beyond our nation’s borders and explore opportunities in foreign markets,” the Governor said. “These companies are growing and creating jobs here in Ohio as a result

Companies developing film materials are staying one step ahead by staying in close contact with their customers. NEW PLASTIC FILM materials are making a big splash in the marketplace and in many instances are replacing some of the tried-and-true substrates of years past, such as paper and foil. With a variety of different uses, packagePRINTING asked a sampling of film suppliers what they see as the trends in the film material market. Ultimate world domination Not really, but Gretchen Adams of AET Films said films such as AET's are slowly replacing more traditional printed substrates, such as paper. "AET Films is the only independent

Want a way to make a product's label look great? One answer is to make it look like there's no label. THE CLEAR, NO-LABEL-LOOK label is a rage with consumer products companies (CPCs). These companies are driven by the need to differentiate their products and to make them look fresh and unique. And right now, one means to create that unique shelf appeal is coming from clear film labels. "The no-label-look is a way that marketers and end-users [CPCs] can create differentiation to gain market share," says Terce Henriquez, vice president of global label sales for AET Films. Meeting market needs The no-label look

Acucote Pressure-sensitive labelstocks with environmentally safe, water-based, permanent, removable, and specialty adhesive formulations. Write 977, Visit www.acucote.com API Foils Hot stamping foils and supplies: metallic, pigment, pearl, specialty, and holographic foils. Write 978, Visit www.api-worldwide.com Avery Dennison, Fasson Roll N.A. Innovative Fasson-brand pressure-sensitive and non-adhesive paper, film, and specialty roll products used by label converters and consumer products packaging designers and manufacturers. Productivity, profitability, and growth achieved with innovative Fasson Advantage™ offering best-in-class service solutions such as next-day delivery, Fasson EXACT™ and RollXchange, an online marketplace for trading surplus roll products. Write 979, Visit www.fasson.com Arjobex Polyart™

Shrink stock continues to steal the spotlight in the world of labels. TO EFFECTIVELY MARKET a consumer product, follow these directions: apply brightly printed shrink label to a smartly-shaped container and watch it fly off the store shelf. Okay, it's not that easy and maybe shrink sleeves aren't that good. But shrink labels are growing at an astounding rate, and their brilliant, 360° graphics and ability to contour to sleek container designs appeal to consumers. Simply put, shrink labels look good and sell their products. Endless possibilities Body labels such as shrink sleeves are expected to grow at a clip of about

Acucote Pressure-sensitive labelstocks with environmentally safe, water-based, permanent, removable, and specialty adhesive formulations. Specialists in thermal transfer media. Visit www.acucote.com API Foils Hot stamping foils and supplies: metallic, pigment, pearl, specialty, and holographic foils. Visit www.api-worldwide.com Avery Dennison, Fasson Roll N.A. Innovative self-adhesive solutions for consumer products and label products. Fasson-brand pressure-sensitive and non-adhesive coated papers, films, and foils in roll form are widely used in brand identity, bar code labeling systems, product identification, and other applications by label converters and consumer products package designers and manufacturers. Visit www.fasson.com Contract Converting Contract Converting's Roll Express™ program

These products and companies were the most sought-after in 2002 by packagePRINTING readers. Top 10: Prepress Equipment 1. Creo—PDF-based packaging workflow Prinergy Powerpack, copydot scanning systems, film imagers, and CtP devices 2. Agfa—Workflow and color management systems including the AgfaScan XY-15 Plus, Sherpa 43 Inkjet system, and Lithostar plates 3. Kodak Polychrome Graphics—Offers Digital and conventional plates, film, and proofing and color technologies including the Kodak Approval XP unit 4. BASF—Offers Nyloflex® and Nyloprint® equipment combinations for processing photopolymer flexo and letterpress plates and sleeves 5. MacDermid—Broad range of sheet, liquid, digital, and water-wash photopolymer plates, platemaking equipment, sleeves,