CMM International

As always, companies exhibiting at CMM International 2005 put on a display of impressive new products and technologies for converters and package printers. A SUCCESSFUL TRADE show is always measured on an individual basis—foot traffic, promising leads, or signed contracts. While attendees weren't exactly carried down the aisles in a swell of people, CMM International 2005 still offered a wide array of new products and technologies from the exhibiting companies. The following is a small sampling of what CMM International had to offer. Company news Enercon and Ciba Specialty Chemicals announced a joint development agreement which will combine Enercon's surface modification Plasma3™ technology

BOSTON—Paperloop today announced a new senior management team. The new team will be headed by Rod Young, formerly Senior Vice President of the company's Information Products group, who replaces Ian Johnston as President and CEO. Johnston will continue with Paperloop in a consulting role with the 2005 Tissue World and CMM International trade shows. This management change reflects the company's increased emphasis on analytical and subscription-based products following the recently announced sale of the Tissue World franchise to CMP Asia. Young will be joined by Robert Berg, CFO; Liza Turner, Senior VP - Marketing and Sales; and Keith Balter, Senior VP - Analytical and

NEW YORK—CMM International (Converting, Machinery and Materials Exhibition) and ICE (International Converting Exhibition) are pleased to announce a major new alliance. As part of this new arrangement, CMM and ICE will market each other's events to their respective audiences around the world. The first step in this new alliance will consist of ICE promoting CMM 2005, the world's largest converting-exclusive event, to ICE's constituency of converters and suppliers throughout the European Union (EU). ICE will also host a booth and have a major presence at CMM International scheduled for April 18-21 at Chicago's McCormick Place South. Likewise, CMM will actively promote the ICE show

Gravure industry insiders tackle key issues for optimum ink transfer and reveal equipment developments aiding the cause. by Jessica Millward, Associate Editor Blade basics Though gravure printing's consistency and dependability as a printing process are well-publicized, press operators should keep a close eye on doctor blade configuration. Max Daetwyler Product Sales Manager Marty Cansler affirms, "What is often crucial for consistent print quality is the ability of the doctor blade to provide clean and even ink application during the entire print run." As he elaborates, maintaining the blade contact area is integral to controlling such print defects as hazing and color variation. Contact area

The quest to develop better, long-lasting dies and die manufacturing processes keeps Bernal International on the short-list of top diemakers. By David Luttenberger Don't ask Paul Madill "what's new?" unless you really want to know. For the past 50 years Bernal International, under a number of corporate flags, has created a steady stream of truly innovative and revolutionary die products and processes to meet the changing needs of package printers, converters and the consumer products industries. Started in the late 1940s as Bernal, Inc., the company manufactured punches. It wasn't until 1966 that the company, who is today known as a rotary die

Shopping for and finding digital output devices to enhance workflow productivity is a matter of education in relation to your needs. By Marie Ranoia Alonso SHOPPING THE output odyssey is not a simple task for package printers looking to expand in a digital direction. So many solutions in the platesetting segment, so much to consider. Thermal or non-thermal platesetter? Small or large format? Semi- or fully-automated? What is the ROI? Pay close attention to new OEM agreements, such as the recently struck Agfa agreement to market Krause America's LaserStar 140 and LaserStar 170 platesetters, bringing a great deal of PDF power to the Krause