Converting Industry News
- Published: April 01, 2002
Covering the Full Spectrum of Industry News, Events & Activities
Show News
RadTech, CMM Present UV/EB Session
BETHESDA, MD, USA—RadTech International will partner with CMM to present a comprehensive look at UV and EB printing at RadTech 2002, April 30, in Indianapolis, IN. A full-day session will cover the use of inks and coatings in three sections: Food Packaging; Troubleshooting with UV and EB; and Conversion of Presses to UV and EB.
Wikoff Color's Don Duncan, co-chair of the RadTech Graphic Arts Focus Group, says, “Food packaging is certainly at the top of the list when we look at areas where better information needs to reach the graphic arts industry, as misconceptions about the use of UV and EB seem to persist.”
For more information on RadTech call 513/624-9988; radtech.org. For more information on CMM call 212/268-4160; cmmshow.com.
Mergers
Marquip and Ward Come Together
ST. LOUIS, MO, USA—Berry-Wehmiller Cos. Inc. announces an agreement in principle to merge Wisconsin-based Marquip with Ward Machinery, Baltimore, MD, to create MarquipWard.
Ward Machinery is a supplier of finishing equipment for the corrugated industry with a customer base that spans six continents. Marquip is a global supplier of corrugated and sheeting machinery.
The new company will operate as a single business unit with manufacturing locations in Baltimore and Phillips, WI. Ward Machinery owner William F. Ward Jr. will serve on Barry-Wehmiller's board of directors, joining Carl R. Marschke and Richard Thomas, Marquip's founders, as a shareholder of Barry-Wehmiller Group. Michael Harris, president of Ward, will assume the position of president of MarquipWard.
Says Ward, “I have long felt the combination of Marquip and Ward Machinery would result in a dynamic, more efficient global supplier to the corrugated industry. I'm very encouraged that Barry-Wehmiller has entered the corrugated market.”
Graphic Imaginations and Lakeview to Merge
CLEVELAND, OH, USA—Lakeview Products, a full-service die-cutting, foil stamping, and finishing company, intends to merge with Graphic Imaginations, a div. of The Chilcote Co., also located in Cleveland. Graphic Imaginations provides graphic finishing services, including foil stamping, die-cutting, embossing, folding, gluing, and book binding. It also manufactures custom-turned-edge binders, media packaging, and presentation folders.
Supplier News
Plate, Die Supplier Combines West Coast Facilities
CARY, NC, USA—Container Graphics Corp. is combining its two California operations into one full-service “Super Plant.” The company's southern California facility in Brea will be consolidated with its facility in Modesto.
The combined facilities will produce flexographic printing plates and laser-produced cutting dies for the corrugated packaging industry throughout the western US. Container Graphics says its facility in Modesto will become the largest single full-service printing plate and cutting die manufacturing facility on the West Coast.
Venture Forms Bosch Rexroth Corp.
HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL, USA—Rexroth Indramat is now part of the Electric Drives and Controls division of the new Bosch Rexroth Corp., a wholly owned sub. of the $27 billion Robert Bosch organization.
Bosch is a supplier of controls and automation technology. The Electric Drives and Controls Div. offers products for demanding, high-precision applications.
MonoSol, Environmental Polymers in Agreement
PORTAGE, IN, USA—MonoSol LLC (formerly Chris-Craft Industrial Products Inc.) announces the signing of a letter of intent with Environmental Polymers Group plc, the Warrington, U.K.-based inventor and manufacturer of extrusion-processable water-soluble polymers, trade named depart. MonoSol manufactures film products based on water-soluble polymers.
Environmental Polymers Group will manufacture and supply depart extruded blown film and hospital laundry bags and other strategic products with MonoSol to market throughout the US, Canada, and other specific regions.
Says P. Scott Bening, president and CEO of MonoSol, “This partnership signifies the unity between the two organizations committed to pushing the boundaries of technology in water-soluble products. Furthermore, it complements the MonoSol strategy, announced in September 2000, to develop cast- and extrusion-based manufacturing processes and new products in order to meet the growth we are seeing in all of our business segments.”
Harper No Longer to Rep Swed/Cut Doctor Blades
CHARLOTTE, NC, USA—Harper Corp. of America has discontinued representing the Flxon Swed/Cut doctor blade line of products, following a decision by management to focus on its core business of Echocel anilox rolls and HarperScientific's Anilox Roll Protection Program products.
Reports chairman Ron Harper, “We still have faith in the Swed/Cut doctor blade. Removing this item from our line of products in no way reflects on the quality of this fine product, but we feel it is important at this time to refocus our full time and energy on our core businesses. Unfortunately, the Swed/Cut line does not fit into our plans for the future.”
He adds, “We are also hiring additional technical service personnel to assist flexographic printers in their pursuit of quality improvement and cost-reduction programs, and we are increasing our sales effort to combat an increasingly competitive market.”
Flint Ink Toronto UV/EB Operation Expands
ANN ARBOR, MI, USA—Flint Ink's 86,000-sq-ft Toronto, ON, Canada, facility will now operate 24/7 in response to significant growth in the demand for new UV/EB systems from North American label and folding carton converters.
The top-selling UV/EB products at the facility are Arrowbeam, Matrix, and Gemini ink systems. The company identifies growth markets as food, beverage, coffee, cosmetics, multimedia, sporting goods, and tobacco.
“Packaging converters have made it clear they want premium performance from energy-curable inks,” says Steve D'Angelo, director of marketing at Flint Ink's Packaging Div. “Strong sales growth confirms our new product introductions have been right on target. The marketplace demand for these packaging ink systems has been outstanding.”
PCMC Forms Custom Machine Group
GREEN BAY, WI, USA—Paper Converting Machine Co. (PCMC) announces the formation of a custom machine building group within the Special Products Div. The group will be responsible for the sales, engineering, manufacturing, and service of all contract PCMC custom-built machinery.
“PCMC has a long history of building custom machinery for a wide range of industries,” says Mike Boylan, director of sales and marketing, Special Products. “We have built many different types of machines for food processing and the packaging of many different products. We have the capability to build machines of all different types and sizes in our large manufacturing facilities worldwide.”
The solutions now available to customers include machinery audits, rebuilds, upgrades, CAM manufacturing, and contract manufacturing of new equipment.
Acquisitions
DuPont Acquires RPC EB Technology to Aid Shrink Film Production
CLINTON, IA, USA—DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers (P&IP) reports it has acquired all of RPC Technology's Broadbeam technology covering EB processors. RPC, located in Hayward, CA, is a wholly owned sub. of Quemex Technology Ltd. This acquisition reportedly will ensure DuPont's future ability to produce its line of Clysar shrink film products.
The DuPont Clysar shrink film business, a strategic business unit of P&IP, produces a wide variety of shrink films between its Clinton plant and one in LeTrait, France. While the RPC technology will be used primarily to support the global manufacturing requirements, DuPont has licensed the technology to RPC so it can continue to meet the future needs of other companies.
“As the worldwide consumer demand increases the need for more packaging shrink film, we want to be positioned to deliver our products when our customers need shrink film, wherever they are in the world,” says Greg Derhaag, VP — DuPont Clysar shrink film business. “This acquisition reaffirms our long-term investment commitment in the packaging industry as announced in 1998 when we started up our LeTrait facility in France.”
EDI Adds Subsidiary in U.K.
CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI, USA—Extrusion Dies Inc. (EDI), supplier of flat-die systems for film, sheet, and coating, has established Extrusion Dies UK as a new, wholly owned sub.
“The United Kingdom is a major market for our new dies and feedblocks,” says EDI president and CEO Timothy C. Callahan. “Establishing a subsidiary there is the latest venture in our long-term strategic direction of providing fast regional access to service for our international customers.”
Divestitures
Akzo Nobel Divests Printing Inks
ARNHEM, NETHERLANDS—Akzo Nobel Coatings reports its intention to divest its Printing Inks business to the management of Printing Inks, in conjunction with the private equity company NeSBIC Buy Out Fund.
According to Rudy van der Meer, member of Akzo Nobel's board of management responsible for coatings, “Although Printing Inks improved their performance this year remarkably…Akzo Nobel's view is that it no longer fits within the Coatings product portfolio from a strategic perspective. We therefore feel that divestment is the best option, especially since the management of inks will take an equity stake in the company. Furthermore, all employees will be offered the same opportunity. This is a good deal for everybody.”
Awards
Tyco Honors National Starch as Supplier Partner
BRIDGEWATER, NJ, USA—Tyco Adhesives, Norwood, MA, presented its Annual Supplier of the Year Award to National Starch and Chemical Co.
Tyco reportedly selected National Starch for ongoing excellence in quality, cost, and service and for the company's commitment to excellence and continuous improvement. Tyco reportedly had explained its business objectives to key suppliers and asked them to become more of a partner; this honor was in recognition of National Starch doing just that.
Tyco manufactures adhesive and corrosion protection products and has been providing products and solutions to its customers for more than 50 years. National Starch manufactures adhesives, specialty polymers, electronic and engineering materials, natural polymers, and advanced ingredients, with sales of $2.8 billion.
