September 2006 Issue
Avery Dennison RFID Introduces New RFID 101 Multimedia Training Tool
CLINTON, S.C.—Avery Dennison RFID announced that it has produced RFID 101, a multimedia training tool that combines a live narrator with animations, photos and video to walk the viewer through the history of RFID, technology basics, applications and markets, system components, RFID label converting, and tag testing and quality. Each major topic is a separate module, allowing the viewer to watch the presentation from start to finish (about 55 minutes) or to customize the presentation by watching select modules. Content for RFID 101 was developed by the technical team based at Avery Dennison RFID’s Atlanta Technical Center (ATC). Much of the content was inspired by
CPP EXPO Approaches Sell-out Status
H.A. Bruno, organizer of CPP EXPO, to be held Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, 2006 at McCormick Place in Chicago is pleased to announce that space reservations continue at a brisk pace. The original space allocated for CPP EXPO is near 100 percent occupation with the anticipation of selling-out within the next 30 days. Participation in the Chicago debut of CPP EXPO will include some of the industry’s leading suppliers, which has fueled exhibit space sales and the estimated expansion of the converting exhibit space. These suppliers include: Ashe Converting Equipment, Comexi, Faustel, ITW, Karlville, and Nordmeccanica Group. There will also be an increased
Curtis Packaging Purchases 100% Clean, Renewable Energy
SANDY HOOK, Conn.—Curtis Packaging Corporation announced today its agreement with Community Energy, Inc. to purchase clean, pollution free, renewable energy equal to 100 percent of its energy usage. This purchase illustrates the company’s continued commitment to the environment and the community. Curtis Packaging, one of the nation’s leaders in packaging design and printing, will purchase a portion of its clean energy commitment through the CTCleanEnergyOptions Program, with the majority of the renewable energy being sourced from wind power. Curtis is one of the first printing and packaging companies in the nation to be both Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and use 100 percent renewable energy.
Headlines — September 2006
Harper names new president; founders nominated for education awards CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Harper Corporation announced that Margaret Harper Kluttz accepted the position of president effective July 1, 2006. Daughter of founders Ron and Katherine Harper, Kluttz has served the company for 34 years, as production manager, administration manager, customer service manager, vice president of administration, and executive vice president. “We have a tremendous management group and an energetic, well-trained workforce,” said Kluttz. “Harper has spent an enormous amount of time, effort, and dollars on the training and education of our entire team, especially in the past few years. We feel confident and well prepared to
Hold ‘Em, Fold ‘Em
Companies that design and build folders/gluers are working hard to help their customers maintain a competitive edge. packagePRINTING talked to a number of companies that produce high-performance folder/gluers to get their view on what their customers need. Alan Thompson, product manager, Bobst Group USA—Today’s customers are seeking the best “price-to-performance” that money can buy. Many base their decision based upon the amount of work which is being farmed out. Bringing this work in-house not only ensures better cost control, but better quality control of the finished product. Secondly, potential savings in makeready time and improved run speeds are also evaluated by customers with
Just in Time
If you ask die manufacturers and converters what the most important emerging trend in the diecutting market is, you’ll understandably get a variety of answers. This market is as diverse as the applications that use dies in their finishing processes. The name of the game if you’re a converter or die manufacturer these days is adaptation. Gone is the separation of church and state between large-volume and small-volume diecutting operations. Now, large volume converters can take those last minute jobs and use lasers on their presses to run the smaller jobs. Die manufacturers are also learning to adapt. Rotary die makers must address
People
Maxcess International recruited Lee Nanney to provide local sales and support for Fife, MAGPOWR, and Tidland. Also, Scott Haney joined the Maxcess management team as product manager. Presstek, Inc. appointed Klaus Schleicher to director, international business development. Ernie Stokes Sr. joined Lederle as director of international sales. Harper Corporation America announced that Ron Case was promoted to production supervisor at the company’s Charlotte, N.C. facility. The Montalvo Corporation promoted Joseph Croyle to the position of applications specialist. Kodak’s Graphic Communications Group has named Michael K. Howard vice president of marketing for its Digital Printing Solutions business. Davis-Standard, LLC promoted Robert M. Armstrong to vice president and chief financial officer. Sandvik
Quality Control: Measure it, Control it!
The roles of quality control (QC) equipment and systems in the pressroom and in the prepress area are related, but distinct. By the same token, color management and color process control are related, but are separate concepts. While color management means managing your devices such that you output color accurately and consistently, quality control or color process control ensures that the color will be consistent across processes and substrates. QC clearly represents a very specific challenge in packaging, given the variety of different substrates and disciplines commonly applied to a given brand. Nevertheless, color process control has had a tough row to hoe for
Reeling in Wine Consumers
Candlelight, Chateaubriand for two, gypsy violins, a bottle of your favorite wine on ice. The sommelier presents the bottle for your inspection. Very nice; very nice indeed. But wait, look at that label! What exquisite detail. Those colors, that texture! Honey, look! The recipe for a perfect evening? Doubtful, but there’s no denying the power of a perfectly crafted wine label to lift an ordinary experience to the realm of the sublime. “We built our business on the mythology behind people buying wine based on the label,” says Doug Sage, wine market manager for Tapp Technologies. He adds that studies have shown that
Renaissance Mark to Consolidate its Printing Business
Renaissance Mark, Inc. announced that it intends to consolidate its Napa label-printing business into its Montreal, Canada, and Sparks, Nev. locations. Louis Belliveau, chief operating officer for Renaissance Mark, stated that both locations have state-of-the-art, world-class label-printing technology specifically designed to produce custom wine labels. Craig Bakken, vice president of sales and marketing, confirmed that Renaissance Mark has a long-term commitment to the wine industry in Napa and worldwide. “Our relationship with our cusomers is a key factor in this decision. We are dedicated to bringing innovation and cost containment to our clients in the Napa/Sonoma wine market and our customers globally,” he said. “This
RFID Craze
RFID is everywhere! Or so it seems. packagePRINTING has covered the topic several times this year. In addition, a second RFID Guide was just published by packagePRINTING for TLMI. It covers a range of applicable topics from standards and market entry approaches to converter experiences. The reason why RFID is such a hot topic is that RFID is not really everywhere—yet. But it will be. Everyone knows about the famous “requests” by Wal-Mart and the Department of Defense for pallet- and case-level RFID tagging that kicked off this craze. Much of the discussion today focuses on the next level of implementation—item-level RFID tagging. IDTechEx, an
RFID’s Road Ahead
Attention RFID converters: clear your schedules now, because it looks like you’re going to be a bit busy for the next 10 years. Independent consultant IDTechEx predicts RFID technology will eventually become as ubiquitous as the barcode, and converters have the potential to play a more pivotal role in production. A report by the organization projects as early as 2016 that RFID “will mostly be printed directly onto packaging and products, possibly in the hundreds of billions, and [will use] special electronic inks.” Back here in the present, with the technology still in its early stages, there is no standard route to involvement for
Sonoco Donates $2.5-million to Clemson for Planned Institute
CLEMSON, S.C.—A $2.5-million gift will create a proposed new institute at Clemson University. Sonoco Products Company and Clemson officials announced that the donation launches the Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics at Clemson University. The gift from the Hartsville, S.C.-based global packaging leader forges a powerful learning and economic development resource for South Carolina. The planned institute will provide resources for students of Clemson to enhance their opportunities for successful careers in packaging, printing and allied fields. Research work within the institute will fall into four broad categories: research, testing and product development; training; student and faculty projects; and short courses and special programs. The
TLMI Labelexpo Booth to Highlight North American Label Study
Converters and suppliers who would like a preview of the TLMI North American Label Study should visit their booth (#99) at Labelexpo Americas 2006, which will be held September 11-14, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago. The TLMI North American Label Study gives a snapshot of the industry as it is today, and a virtual blueprint for markets will change tomorrow. This in-depth study, updated by the association every three years, aims to inform label converters and suppliers about the drivers shaping the pressure-sensitive label market. It also provides benchmark-level researched market data and trend information to assist companies in making
Top Folding Carton Converters — Clear Skies Ahead?
Things are looking good for folding carton converters in 2006. In a July press release, the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) announced that folding carton shipments brought in about $4.7 billion and 2.9 million tons in the first half of the year. Shipments increased in dollars by 4.2 percent, and tons increased by 4.7 percent versus the same period last year. If the remainder of the year keeps in step with the first half, those numbers will pass those of 2005, which had decreased from the previous year. “The primary reason for the lower growth in carton shipments [in 2005] was a much slower economy than expected,
Totally Web
The Face of Packaging Innovation™, that’s what Bell Incorporated calls itself. More importantly though, it’s not just a slogan, but a key element of a business philosophy that has been at the heart of its success since Mark Graham, president and CEO, bought the company in 1976. At that time, Bell Paper Box Company had one full-time employee, less than $40,000 in sales, and a customer list that could be counted on one hand. Graham, however, recognized the entrepreneurial opportunity presented by the fragmented state of the packaging industry in the mid-1970s. During the next two-and-a-half decades, he used an overriding focus on innovation,
