packagePRINTING April 2009
2009 Top Flexible Packaging Converters
packagePRINTING’s 2009 Top Flexible Packaging Converters Survey. (Click on the link at top right to download a PDF of the ranking.)
Cost Cutting, Sustainability, and New Technologies at CMM
This Q&A with MaryBeth DeWitt, CMM International 2009 event director, previews this year’s show.
EFCA: Take 2 —Polischuk
Last month, I stated some reasons why I was against the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA)—pending legislation that could significantly alter the landscape of unionization for years to come. Within the last few weeks, the Printing Industries of America and the TLMI have issued strong position statements against EFCA (see p. 8 for TLMI’s statement). This is definitely a hot button in the printing industry—as it should be.
Flexible Focus
Surviving and growing in a tough competitive environment requires the capability to focus on a core business mission, while having the flexibility to respond to ever-changing market trends. Associated Labels (www.associated-labels.com), a Vancouver, Canada-based printing and packaging enterprise, is one company that has found much success adapting its core business (flexo-printed prime labels) with changing market demands (capabilities for flexible packaging and digital printing).
Maximize Your Anilox Investment
With anilox rolls being a main artery of the flexographic printing process, you would be foolish not to maximize their value. Not to sound trite, but the United States economy is hurting at the moment, and it’s not easy getting the most bang for your buck these days.
Opportunity’s Still Knocking
One packaging segment that usually takes center stage at this time of year is that of flexible packaging when supermarket shelves are stuffed with bulk packages of candy for many of us to use on Easter Sunday. This makes sense since retail food is the biggest revenue generator for flexible packaging, according to the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA, www.flexpack.org) 2008 State of the Industry Survey.
Recovery Act 101
President Obama signed into law a $787 billion stimulus bill on Feb. 17, 2009. Formally called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), this bill has enough money to provide $2,570 for every man, woman, and child in the U.S. (Do the math and you’ll find it’s based on a population of about 306 million.)
Time To Shine...
Round up of the latest offerings in UV inks and coatings for enhancing durability and high-end graphics.
