First Class
- Published: April 01, 2007, By By Deborah Donberg, Associate Managing Editor
What's new at CMM 2007? Just about everything. For starters, the biennial Converting Machinery/Materials Conference and Exposition will be making its first appearance at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, near Chicago's O'Hare airport. In addition, the month is new (June 4-7), there are new Technical Centers; CEMA (Converting Equipment Mfrs. Assn.) will colocate its Coating & Laminating and Slitting & Rewinding seminars with the show; and by the way, there's all that new equipment that will be on display.
More than 15,000 professionals from 60+ countries are expected at the event, “where the worlds of converting and package printing converge,” reports PennWell, owner and producer of CMM. Featured will be 340+ exhibits covering prepress, tags and labels, corrugated, folding cartons, finishing, flexible packaging, and materials.
International pavilions for Brazil, Germany, Italy, and the UK will offer attendees the opportunity to evaluate equipment and services.
School Days
A strong focus on education is highlighted by two Technology Centers — Flexible Packaging and Narrow & Mid-Web Converting — featuring running equipment.
Sponsoring the Flexible Packaging Tech Center will be Bobst/Schiavi, Profama, Hudson-Sharp, Comexi, AirTrim, and BST Pro Mark.
The Narrow & Mid-Web Converting Technology Tech Center, produced in conjunction with DiTrolio Flexographic Inst., is sponsored by Propheteer, bielomatik, J&H Printing Solutions, BST Pro Mark, Martin Automatic, DMS, and Alden & Ott Printing Ink. A “live function test” will be performed with RFID readers to identify and mark defective labels prior to winding.
Flexographer's Skill Certification-Level I will be offered in the Narrow & Mid-Web Tech Center Tuesday, June 5, 10:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M., and Wednesday, June 6, 10:00 A.M.-5:15 P.M. (schedule subject to change).
“By leveraging the CMM Technology Centers, attendees at select conference sessions will have the opportunity to combine classroom learning and practical demonstrations,” reports PennWell, adding, “In addition to the demonstrations that will be ongoing in the Technology Center, select conference and training sessions also will take advantage of the Technology Center by bringing attendees from the classroom to the show floor for close-up demonstrations of concepts covered in the conferences. Attendees are excited about the opportunity to combine converting and printing concepts with practical experience.”
An enhanced multi-track Conference Program will run all four days of the show (see p13 for details). Topics include Flexible Materials; RFID and Bar Coding Technology and Applications; Digital Workflow; Inks; Coating/Laminating; Tags & Labels; Foil Stamping/Embossing; UV/EB; Slitting/Rewinding; Web Handling; Folding Cartons, Boxboard, and Corrugated; Printing Technologies and Innovations; Inspection/Imaging; Process Automation; and Nonwovens and Wovens.
CEMA Fundamentals for Converters Seminars will be held Sunday, June 3, 8:00 A.M.-5:30 P.M., and Monday, June 4, 8:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M. The seminars are said to focus on the real-life application of technology — the “tricks” of the trades to assure greater productivity and higher quality output. CEMA reports the seminars are suited for everyone from operators, foremen, and quality control personnel to production engineers and process control staff. The courses are designed for those with hands-on knowledge of the equipment and processes and are conducted in an informal environment to allow for maximum interaction between attendees and instructors.
To register and obtain complete seminar information, visit: www.cema-converting.org.
The Assn. of Industrial Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators will join with CEMA to sponsor the Coating & Laminating Pavilion and Solutions Theater. The first Pavilion was launched at CMM 2003 and almost doubled in size at CMM Intl. 2005, with 27 participating members.
TAPPI PLACE also will sponsor a Pavilion featuring the latest products and technologies on display from leading suppliers as well as a large hospitality area.
CMM kicks off Monday, June 4, at 9 A.M. with an address from Andrew J. McKenna, chairman of McDonald's Corp. and of Schwarz Paper Co. He will share professional experiences from both the retail and converter perspective.
On the following pages, you will find an at-a-glance look at the conference program, complete exhibitor listings, as well as a sampling of new products from the show.
June often means graduation, and with CMM 2007's strong emphasis on education and its exciting new venue, attendees and exhibitors alike can pride themselves on being the “first class” to graduate from CMM Rosemont.
For more information visit www.cmmshow.com.
Dining In — and More
The trip from Rosemont to downtown Chicago is an easy one via the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94), but before you hit the road, take a look at some of the fine restaurants Rosemont calls its own:
Café Zalute
9501 W. Devon Ave.
847/685-0206
Carlucci
6111 N. River Rd.
847/518-0990
Gibsons Steakhouse
5464 N. River Rd.
847/928-9900
Harry Caray's
10233 W. Higgins Rd.
847/699-1200
Morton's of Chicago/Rosemont, The Steakhouse
9525 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
847/678-5155
Nick's Fishmarket
10275 W. Higgins Rd.
847/298-8200
Rosewood
9421 W. Higgins
847/696-9494
You might also want to check out the following:
Des Plaines Golf Center, 353 N. River Rd., Des Plaines, www.desplainesparks.org/golfcenter
Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Rd., 847/635-6601; www.allstatearena.com (musical and sporting events)
Arlington Park Racetrack, www.arlingtonpark.com
Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Rd., 847/671-5100, www.rosemont.com
For more, visit www.rosemont.com.
