PFFC Moves 'Uptown'

Published: December 01, 2003, By Yolanda Simonsis, Associate Publisher/Editor

On December 8, PFFC will occupy new offices! Along with several of its sister publications (including American Printer), PFFC has consolidated offices with several other Primedia Business magazines. As I write this editorial, I’m in the throes of packing. Surely you can sympathize with this pain.

With our former 10th floor offices just across the street from the massive and conveniently located Chicago Civic Opera House, our new 23rd floor offices have taken a turn for the more modern being newly located across from the famous reinforced concrete, twin towers of Marina City that are adjacent to the House of Blues. Our own IBM Building is no slouch, having been designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the originator of the “less is more” philosophy of architectural design.

There must be some universal law about moving for pack rats like me that dictates the urgent necessity to use up everything I’ve collected in terms of news before facing the possibility of losing information in transit. So here’s info you wouldn’t want to miss:

• Kick yourself if you missed the September first-time jointly sponsored Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute/Foundation of Flexographic Technical Association technical conference in Chicago. Combined with a reception for networking, the two-day event was attended by 305 printers/converters and suppliers in a packed room of the Hyatt Regency, focusing on developing trends, statistics and market demographics, and emerging technologies. See pffc-online.com for more details.

• In late October, the Association of Industrial Metallizers, Coaters & Laminators (AIMCAL) held its annual fall technical conference on vacuum web coating at the Hyatt Regency in Santa Ana Pueblo, NM. Attended by 208 with 40 guests, the program was divided into concurrent sessions for web coating/laminating and vacuum web coating. An opening event included an opportunity to learn about the Converting Equipment Manufacturers Association (CEMA), a division of AIMCAL, followed the next two evenings by the annual tabletop and reception, hosted by Paperloop’s CMM International.

• Speaking of CMM, the following news represents significant change. As of November 19, a new management team took charge of the show (along with Tissue World), consisting of Ian Johnston, CEO of Paperloop; Ronni Potosky, marketing director; Ria Vandenbogaert, European sales director; Liz Zoller, new operations director; and Roger Halligan, industry consultant and CEO of H+A Intl. The team will be supported by members of the existing CMM Intl. and Tissue World sales and operational staffs. The previous CMM management team of VP Leo Nadolske, show director Jane McDermott, and sales director Jay Gorga left the company in November. McDermott and Gorga left to launch a new trade show in the consumer cosmetics industry while Nadolske left to pursue other opportunities. PFFC wishes everyone the best as we work toward the next CMM.

• Lastly, the China debate continues. Two readers offered their opinions on the subject.

Ron Esak, president of Nexus Plastics—

I found Mr. Silverstein’s comments on China to be most amusing in light of the fact that his company manufactures primarily in Israel and appears to be subsidized by that country–probably through US dollars. I say this because we are a manufacturer in the US competing with the unrealistic price levels his company provides to US customers. China’s labor rate advantage is hurting him? His company hurts US processors.

Tom Jacques, global business development mgr. for PCMC—

Until we give up our insatiable addiction to low-cost consumer goods, which, in my opinion, will be NEVER, you can complain about China or you can do something. Don’t buy their products (good luck, by the way, finding a product NOT made in China these days). If they can produce products cheaper, you’re not going to be able to stop them. Read Adam Smith’s

The Wealth of Nations again. If you do buy products from China, you saved some money. Use your savings to build a new business. Like importing your own products from China and selling them. And then, buy the factory in China. And then, sell the production that you can’t export to the US or others to the Chinese themselves. Now, you’re a Chinese producer. Pogo, look into the mirror. The enemy is US—U.S. (of America). Why should consumers pay more—just so U.S. companies can make even more profit?

As always, your opinions are still welcome at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..