Chicago Cutting Die

Feeding the Beast On the surface, the 10th annual survey of North America's diemakers shows an industry growing its revenues. Beneath that facade, however, are individual companies struggling to remain technologically and financially in the black. by David Luttenberger, Consulting Editor Trends identified and either feared or embraced during the past several years continue to shape the cutting edge of the diemaking industry. Technologies that turn the craft of diemaking into science; more efficient, less manually intense and cost-effective machining and rule processing capabilities; and, industry consolidation continue to be harbingers of further change in a segment already deeply enveloped in transition. "A

Rankings in pP's 9th Annual Top 25 Diemakers survey are based solely on annual sales of die manufacturing exclusively for the package printing or converting industries. Sales figures are provided in confidence by ranked companies. Participation in the survey is voluntary. pP does not estimate sales or include diemakers of any size who do not provide full financial and operating data. Every effort is made to contact and include all diemakers in North America and to verify data. 1. Container Graphics, Cary, NC 2. Atlas Die, Elkhart, IN 3. Bernal International, Rochester Hills, MI 4. DieGraphics Group, Holland, OH 5. Diebec, Montreal, PQ Canada

Top diemakers push the $200 million sales envelope in the face of declining profit margins and projections for growth. By David Luttenberger Although the headlines herald a 7.2 percent increase to a record $193 million in sales during 1998, the top 25 diemakers' ledgers cry a different story. On the surface, say die industry insiders, it was a good year. However, expectations of continued consolidation and potential or already-realized forced sell-offs of non-core business units are cause for concern among diemakers who, on average, posted net sales of nearly a half-million dollars more in 1998 than in '97. New Era Die, who was