Hans Deamer

The North American FTA put ‘Color in Focus’ before an audience of nearly 300 flexographers during its recent annual Fall Conference. The assembly consisted largely of printers; but suppliers, pre-press technicians, consumer product companies, teachers and students were also represented as well. Co-chaired by Mark Mazur of DuPont Packaging Graphics and Dan Collins of Berry Plastics, the event took place in St Louis, Missouri, where 14 speakers and 34 conference exhibitors were present. The speakers were Mark Mazur, DuPont Packaging Graphics; Richard Black, All Printing Resources; Mark Samworth, EskoArtwork; Steve Upton, Chromix; Roy Bohnen, Epson America; Robb Frimming, Schawk

LINCOLN, R.I.—Windmoeller & Hoelscher (W&H) Group has contracted Wallace Nard, president of Novaflex, Inc. in Carol Stream, Ill., as the exclusive U.S. agent and sales representative for the small bag machine range from W&H subsidiary, Garant Maschinenhandel.

Thanks to servo and sleeves, today's wide-web presses are a far cry from similar technology produced only a few years ago. THE LAST FIVE years have seen significant innovation in technologies in nearly every arena. The first commercially-available hybrid car was introduced in North America. DVD players were given the capability to record. A camera was added to cell phones—anything and everything that could in some way give consumers extra benefits and capabilities has become the goal of R&D departments, and not just in the car and electronics industries. Wide-web presses have also undergone advances. The shift in technology incorporated in wide-web presses

Package printers are reaping the benefits from productivity enhancements that are built into today's wide-web flexo presses. BIGGER IS BETTER! That's a motto that suppliers of wide-web flexo presses wish all package printers would adopt. But bigger also conveys images of heavier, more cumbersome, and slower—all qualities that today's nimble, agile manufacturers can't afford to be. And they don't have to be—because today's wide-web flexo presses are getting better and better in many ways that make them "lighter on their feet." Steven F. Lekan, director of business development for Comexi America, gives credit to flexo printers for helping drive the positive

With no gears to wear down or adjust, gearless presses help reduce maintenance in the printing process. PRESS MAINTENANCE IS a four-letter word. It's essential for high-quality printing results, but the more time a printer spends on maintaining the condition of its equipment, the less time it spends printing—meaning lost profits. There may be an answer to the evils of maintenance, however, for those companies willing and able to front a hefty capital investment. Gearless presses, driven by servo-motor technology, hit the market about 10 years ago, boasting such advantages over conventional presses as infinite repeat sizes, easier registration, and improved quality control

Wide-web press manufacturers are adding features to make these big guys more nimble and easier to operate. By Tom Polischuk, Editor WIDE-WEB PRESSES offer many scale advantages for package printers that can provide great returns for their businesses. The downside, however, is that this scale also translates to higher costs for downtime, waste, and job changeovers. Press manufacturers know well the issues faced by their customers. In addition to print quality and material usage, Jim Coddington, vice president for BHS Printing Machinery, sites productivity for short and long runs, and flexibility of the process as important issues for operators of wide-web presses. Features incorporated