BINDERY matters

BIA Conference 
is Coming in May
PITTSBURGH—The Binding Industries Association's Mid-Management Conference, being held May 17-19 in Baltimore, will feature local plant tours for the first time in several years.

The annual meeting brings together mid-managers representing trade binderies, graphic finishing, information packaging, custom loose-leaf manufacturing, as well as industry suppliers.

This year, attendees will have the opportunity to take an inside look at three companies, including Bindagraphics Inc., K&W Finishing and Advantage Book Binding.

Speakers will include Ken Lerman, who will educate businesses on taking the next steps toward improving performance levels, sustaining growth and increasing profits; and Linda Bishop, who will discuss ways in which attendees can sell more of their product and succeed in any situation.

"The conference is always very informative," says Mike Seidl of Seidl's Bindery. "It is interesting to hear how everyone runs their businesses differently, but are focused on the same goals.

"Everyone is eager to learn new strategies for improving the way in which their company operates as well as new ideas about manufacturing, which is accomplished through the open forum-style dialogue and educational speakers," he adds.

More information about the conference is available by contacting Justin Goldstein at (412) 259-1806 or via e‑mail at jgoldstein@printing.org.

Cutter Helps Grow Its Label Business

LOUISVILLE, KY—The FetterGroup's FetterLabel Div. recently purchased a Heidelberg Polar DC-M label cutting system with automatic in-line bander to cut and stack the diecut, embossed and uniquely sized labels it produces for clients in the distilled spirits business. Fetter has been working to expand its product offerings, especially on the label side. Moving to labels for distilled spirits and wine is an extension of its expertise in square cut-and-stack labels for the paint and coating industries.

"The Polar diecutter was a necessary addition to our equipment lineup to service this market," notes Dayna Neumann, vice president of marketing strategy for FetterGroup. "We now exercise more end-to-end control over projects, and we gain the benefits of speed, accuracy and ease of use."

FetterLabel has trained several operators to use the Polar label cutting system, but typically one operator can run the machine. It joins an existing Heidelberg saddlestitcher, a Polar guillotine cutter and a new 16-page Stahl USA B 26 continuous-feed folder.