Bret Biggers

Converters put a conservative spin on spending and profits in 2001—but how much caution is too much? by Susan Friedman, Editor On the surface, there's plenty of positive flexible packaging news. Consider the 2000 returns reported by some of the larger players in the industry: Alcoa turned in its best fourth quarter in the company's history, while Alcan sales were down for the quarter but up 34 percent for the year. Bemis netted a 13 percent increase in sales for the year, completing acquisitions of Viskase, and Arrow's flexible packaging business. Sealed Air's Cryovac division reported a 3 percent annual sales gain, and AEP's

As growth rates get more comfortable and application areas open up, flexible packaging converters remain keen on expansion. By Susan Friedman Could flexible packaging be on the cusp of a growth comfort zone? The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA)'s finalized economic statistics for 1997 reveal 5.2 percent growth that pushed shipment values to $17.1 billion—the second highest growth rate recorded in the last five years. Projections for the years following '97 indicate shipment values will ultimately near $19 billion in 2000. In 1999, packagePRINTING's Top Flexible Packaging Converters survey showed smallest converters ($10 million in annual sales or less) posting the most impressive growth rates,