Jean-Marie Hershey

Still on a roll that began a decade ago, Orbytel Print and Packaging of Garfield Heights, OH, has been evolving from a print brokerage to a bona fide packaging manufacturer. "Orbytel has always been intent on growth," says company president Mark Uvlin indulging in something of an understatement, given that the company is a study in strategic differentiation.

You'd think a company that's been around since 1912, reports annual sales of more than $100 million, and regularly garners high praise for its core business practices and people-oriented culture, might be inclined to rest on its abundant laurels. You might think so, but in the case of Hammer Packaging you'd be dead wrong.

Over the years, Annan & Bird's outsized ambitions have made it something of a bellwether in the industry. Founded in 1987 with a single 44˝ x 60˝ 5-color Harris press and 12 employees, the family-run business by 2007 had acquired a fleet of large-format presses and a lengthy client list.

NCL Graphic Specialties habit of capital investment, coupled with its diverse capabilities, strong product offerings, and tradition of innovation, have positioned it uniquely well to grow and thrive as the recovery takes hold.

For Central Florida Press (CFP), a division of The MATLET Group, in Orlando, FL, much of its success in Web-to-print (W2P) has been driven by its expertise in versioning—customization or personalization based on differences in geographical, linguistic, and/or regulatory content. "We help our customers by giving them the tools that will enable them to automate and manage their brands by reducing and simplifying their versions, and by controlling inventory and logistics," said CFP's Senior VP of Sales John Glick.

While dedication to customer service can be a superficial cliché in the corporate mouths of companies merely content to pursue business as usual, Consolidated Label's commitment to the customer is the bedrock and driving principle of its corporate universe and operating philosophy.

Digital “in-the-round” (ITR) imaging is steadily opening up attractive opportunities for printers, converters, and end users. Advances in flexo sleeve technology are yielding opportunities in markets traditionally dominated by other processes.

Carded Graphics and Everett Graphics demonstrate that good color proofing, when combined with defined, measurable color management will enable a packaging printer to produce predictable, trustworthy, and repeatable results, while carving time, labor, and unnecessary cost from the production cycle.

With sales revenue in the $10 to 20 million range, Sherburne, N.Y.-based Mid-York Press considers itself a market leader among short-run package printers. Mid-York's goal is to increase its business by 50 percent, while retaining 50 percent available capacity.

There is a wide variety of ETL constructions, some incorporating a high-degree of creativity and complexity. Valley Forge Tape & Label (VFT&L) has an extensive background in ETL production.