Western Europe

Cary Sherburne analyses the current trends and oportunities in large format printing and looks at what we can expect to see at drupa next year. As we approach drupa 2012 we can look forward to a big presence in the large format market as digital offerings in that sector continue to mature, improve in price/performance, and displace conventional analogue sign and display graphics technologies, such as screen printing, for many applications. The Market Digital large format printers

Procter and Gamble (P&G) has set a new environmental goal to use 100% renewable or recycled materials for all of its packaging by 2020. The new target was set by the FMCG giant in its recently published 2011 sustainability report, called Commitment to everyday life. P&G chief executive Robert A. McDonald said: “We’re confident that with P&G’s size and scale, and with our capabilities and partnerships, we can make the difference in the world to which we’re committed.” He also said that the firm was advancing in research in renewable materials to develop alternatives to petroleum, “which is the

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) has acquired Belgian software specialist CERM. The company specializes in the development, sale, and implementation of management information systems (MIS) for commercial and label printing.

Heidelberg has acquired Belgian software specialist CERM. The company, headquartered in Oostkamp, specializes in the development, sale, and implementation of management information systems (MIS) for commercial and label printing.

Coca-Cola said earlier this month that biodegradable packaging is “simply not a viable option” but a new report suggests that other smaller drinks companies are beginning to take an interest. In its 2009/2010 sustainability report, Coca-Cola gave a hostile assessment of biodegradable drinks packaging. It said: “A one-use bottle is simply not a viable option for our business.” The soft drinks giant explained: “While biodegradable packaging can be a sound choice for products that are not commercially recyclable, the process of capturing the embodied energy and raw materials in beverage bottles for reuse through recycling is, in our view,

Packaging materials market has traditionally been a large-scale industry where product marketing was not considered to be of importance. However, increased globalization in trade coupled with heightened environmental awareness levels have necessitated packaging materials providers to offer information regarding product characteristics.