Global Packaging Alliance for package printers holds annual meeting

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—The Global Packaging Alliance (GPA) held its annual meeting in Europe during the week of May 24, 2010. With members convening from all over the world, the yearly event provided an ideal forum to discuss global market and technology trends.

GPA members spent the first half of the week in Germany and had the opportunity to tour rlc | packaging group’s general and pharmaceutical packaging facilities in Berlin. Members also exchanged views on new technologies and production processes and explored manufacturing and materials options that address requests of global brands to reduce the carbon footprint of their products.

“Know-how transfer and experience exchange within the GPA network provide us and our customers a decisive competitive advantage—even when it comes to the development of sustainable production methods,” said Hans-Christian Bestehorn, manager of rlc | packaging group and president of the GPA. “Marketers want to support ecological causes, but do not want to sacrifice packaging refinement, for in the end it is essential for brands to communicate a high-quality image and command attention at the point-of-sale.”

To that end, GPA members rlc | packaging group and Diamond Packaging demonstrated their Green Chic™ packaging model through the use of more sustainable converting methods, including the inline application of environmentally-friendly metallic coating and holographic effects. Both techniques deliver impact in the retail environment while yielding potential cost savings and resulting in less material and energy usage compared to offline decorating processes.

GPA members unanimously approved a motion to induct Masterpack as a full GPA member, after having completed two years of service as a satellite member.

The second half of the week was spent visiting Polygrafoformlenie’s flexible packaging and labeling facilities in St. Petersburg, Russia. The company recently installed a state-of-the-art, completely automated 10-color Fischer & Krecke Flexpress 16S-10 flexographic printing press.

About GPA

The Global Packaging Alliance is an international organization of independent packaging experts proficient at managing all aspects of the supply chain. With state-of-the-art production facilities and logistics centers around the world, the GPA provides responsive, localized service, award-winning creative designs, identical product specifications and consistent brand recognition, resulting in unparalleled global packaging support. Members include:

Diamond Packaging, Rochester, NY
rlc | packaging group, Hannover, Germany
Colorpak Limited, Melbourne, Australia
Gonçalves SA Indústria Gráfica, Sao Paolo, Brazil
Polygrafoformlenie - Flexo, St. Petersburg, Russia
Yau Bon Offset Printing, Shenzhen, China
Cartmont Packaging, Tlalnepantla, Mexico
Kumar Printers, Gurgaon, India
Masterpack, Johannesburg, South Africa

For more information about the Global Packaging Alliance, contact Dennis Bacchetta at 585-334-8030 x229.