Business Management - Operations

SEWICKLEY, Pa. & RESTON, Va.—As part of its Digital Print 2007 initiative, the Digital Printing Council, a core service of PIA/GATF (Printing Industries of America, Inc. and the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation), today announces that it has formed an alliance with PRIMIR. PRIMIR, the Print Industries Market Information and Research organization formed when GAMIS and NPES Market Research merged in 2005, will provide unique, in-demand content for PIA/GATF DPC members. PRIMIR content based on its unique research will appear as a regular feature in Digital Printing Report. The first PRIMIR content appears in the January issue of Digital Printing Report. The Digital Printing Report

Ciba Specialty Chemicals has launched Color Trend Vision, a design and technology package developed to provide designers, converters, and paint, ink, and masterbatch producers with global and regional color trend forecasts and information, design tools, technology, consulting services, and products for coatings, inks, and plastics applications. “Color Trend Vision is where science meets art,” says Siegfried Winkelbeiner, global head of Ciba Specialty Chemicals’ business line coatings. “This new concept covers all aspects of color from initial concept to finished object. It links the different stages of the value chain and assists all involved in the color process in achieving their objectives.” The tool kit

WILLISTON, Vt.—KBA North America, a leading press manufacturer, announced an exclusive distributorship in the U.S. and Canada with Vegra, an international company specializing in the development of high-quality and environmentally-friendly products for the graphic arts industry. The new consumables line, which can be ordered online through http://consumables.kba-usa.com, includes fountain solutions, coatings, washes, and varnishes, and is designed to work with all printing press manufacturers and available to all printers, regardless of their press models. “We are pleased to announce this exclusive distributorship with Vegra,” says Ralf Sammeck, president and CEO of KBA North America. “This furthers our goal of addressing the needs

HIGH POINT, NC—Vecoplan, LLC has appointed Kim James to the position of Marketing Communications Director. He will oversee marketing in North, Central and South America for the company’s complete product line. Vecoplan is the worldwide leader in size reduction technologies, including shredders, material handling machinery, separation equipment, and complete waste reduction systems. Prior to joining Vecoplan, James owned and operated The James Group, a business to business advertising agency specializing in industrial marketing. “We’ve worked with Kim for the last ten years,” states Len Beusse, COO of Vecoplan “during that time we’ve experienced phenomenal growth in sales, personnel and capabilities. It

FUNDAMENTALS OF QUALITY PRINT ON CORRUGATED SYMPOSIUM Presented by FFTA & Clemson University February 21-23, 2007 Clemson University, Clemson SC This 2 1/2 day program provides participants with an in-depth overview of the elements of the printing system, examining board liners, anilox, doctor blades, inks and plate systems to demonstrate how they are integrated to produce enhanced graphics from clean solids and line work to halftones and even process color. Participants will develop a thorough understanding of controlling the combinations of press and pre-press possibilities to best suit their needs. The discussion will include tools and methods that any plant can implement to analyze

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—With designs on expanding its penetration of the healthcare packaging market, Oracle Packaging is installing a new Heidelberg Speedmaster XL105 offset press at the company’s Winston-Salem plant. The Heidelberg press will position Oracle to provide extraordinary quality in primary and secondary packaging industries. These industries include a growing number of pharmaceutical, biologic, and nutraceutical packaging opportunities the company has received and anticipates in the future. “This press is key for our growing healthcare packaging business,” said Oracle Packaging CEO Scott Dickman. “Our customers demand excellent quality, speed to market of new initiatives, cutting-edge product bundling innovations, and a competitive total-delivered cost—meeting these demands

Water Ink Technologies recently signed FotoTec to be its distributor in Mexico. Fototec is a supplier to the graphic arts and printing industries throughout Mexico. FotoTec will supply and provide technical support for Water Ink Technologies complete line of water-based and UV flexo inks and coatings. FotoTec has facilities in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara. FotoTec’s technical contact in Mexico is Benjamin Torres. For more information, visit www.waterinktech.com

RONKONKOMA, N.Y.—“Under one roof.” “One-stop shopping.” “All encompassing.”… Those are the catch phrases that can be heard resonating throughout the package printing and converting industry these days. What’s creating all the buzz? Next year’s GRAPH EXPO®PackPrintSM. The combined events, managed by Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC) and sponsored by Flexographic Technical Association (FTA), slated for Sept. 9-12, 2007, will be held in Chicago’s McCormick Place, in the North and South Exhibit Halls. An estimated 40,000+ attendees will be present to view live demonstrations of five major printing processes: flexo; gravure; offset; digital; and wide-format graphics. They’ll also seize an opportunity to learn about hybrid

Boucherville, Quebec—One of the major label printers in Canada has invested in in-line silicone and adhesive coating equipment from ETI. The savings in PS material for the production of prime labels convinced A1 Label to purchase an ETI coating line (Cohesio). With the equipment, A1 Label has experienced 30 percent to 50 percent savings in various PS laminate. The ETI technology gives opportunities to the printers to be more independent and to print on reverse before coating the adhesive. This technology, is more and more popular in high-value-added labels for beverage, wine, beer, food, and personal care. More than 50 companies in the world are

Chicago, IL—Alcan announces the appointment of Ilene Gordon, 53, to president and chief executive officer of Alcan Packaging and senior vice president of Alcan Inc. Ms. Gordon, who is presently president of Alcan Packaging Food Americas sector, succeeds Christel Bories, who was recently appointed president and CEO of Alcan Engineered Products. Both appointments take effect December 1, 2006. Ms. Gordon also becomes a member of Alcan’s executive committee. She will relocate her primary office from Chicago, U.S.A., to Paris, France, where the group is headquartered. Ms. Gordon will be succeeded in her present role by Mike Schmitt, currently president of Alcan Packaging Food Americas’ Food and