Secrets Uncovered at TLMI
- Published: October 01, 2009, By By Claudia Hine, Managing Editor
CHICAGO, IL | With a nod to Agents 86 and 99, Get Smart was the theme of the Tag & Label Mfrs. Inst. (TLMI) Technical Conference, held September 8-10 at the Hyatt Regency. More than 280 attendees got lessons in improving productivity, maximizing profits, selecting label materials, and more.
In a session on Process Technology co-chaired by Mac Rosenbaum, Aquaflex, Duncansville, PA, and Mike Hoft, Color Resolutions Intl., Fairfield, OH, presentations covered solid versus flexible dies and printing process comparisons. A case history on expanding into flexible packaging rounded out the session.
Steve Lee, VP of technology with RotoMetrics, Eureka, MO, gave a lesson in the differences between flexible and solid dies. He also covered the decision process for choosing rotary tooling.
Chuck Sims, labeling and graphics technologies manager with CL&D Graphics, Oconomowoc, WI, provided a comparison of offset, flexographic, and digital printing and their associated ink trains. Offset's variable repeat presses are making inroads into flexible packaging, and this technology will come to the forefront, he says.
Don Rees, a partner in Northern Label, Toronto, ON, Canada, discussed narrow web flexpack opportunities. His five-year-old company saw the need to diversify from prime labels and got into the aerowrap market (aerosol canisters wrapped in unsupported film). He said quick turnarounds, samples, and niche markets are the most immediate opportunities for narrow web, with smaller runs and more SKUs being the most advantageous.
A session devoted to Quality & Consistency was chaired by Vincent Genovese, Nireco America Corp., Port Jervis, NY. Anilox rolls and G7 implementation were the covered topics.
Alexander James filled in for Bill Poulson of Harper Corp. of America, Charlotte, NC, to cover how press optimization creates a stable environment; this requires standardizing anilox inventory.
Jay Sperry, research associate, Sonoco Inst. of Packaging Design & Graphics at Clemson Univ., Clemson, SC, explained G7 Calibration and Color Management for Flexo. G7, the CMYK printing standard, grew out of GRACoL.
A lively session called Learning from the Champions was chaired by Paul Brauss, Mark Andy, Chesterfield, MO, and Tom Spina, Luminer Converting Group, Lakewood, NJ. Moderator Frank Gerace, Multi-Color Corp., Sharonville, OH, and audience members had an opportunity to “pick the brains” of four executives in areas such as profitability, operational performance, motivational techniques, and succession planning.
Panel members included Craig Moreland, Coast Label Co., Fountain Valley, CA; Andrew Farquharson, Dow Industries, Wilmington, MA; Bob Zaccone, GSI Technologies, Burr Ridge, IL; and Joel Carmany, Consolidated Label, Longwood, FL. All four represent companies that have won TLMI's Eugene Singer Award for management excellence.
TLMI next convenes for its annual meeting October 18-21 in Scottsdale, AZ. Visit www.tlmi.com for more information.
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