SUPPLIER news
Heidelberg Targets Packaging Market
KENNESAW, GA—While its installed base of diecutting and folder/gluer equipment geared toward the package printing industry may be small, Heidelberg intends to become a major player in this market segment. That was the message stressed by Heidelberg USA executives at a packaging media event held here recently.
To showcase its integrated approach to packaging production, a sample folding carton job was produced in its showroom—Prinect prepress preparation, printing on a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105, as well as finishing on a Dymatrix diecutter and a Diana folder/gluer.
The team leading Heidelberg USA’s packaging initiative includes Mark Rasmussen, product manager, packaging; Roland Krapp, vice president, sheetfed product management; Ralph Pasquariello, vice president, postpress product management; and Soren Larsen, vice president, national accounts and packaging accounts.
Noting that the U.S. folding carton market represents an approximately $9.6 billion business, Larsen reported that there are presently about 300 folding carton manufacturers operating 475 plants. Similar to consolidation that’s occurring among commercial printers, he noted that the top five folding carton producers in America represent 54 percent of all folding carton sales.
Other U.S. packaging industry trends Larsen indicated:
• Integrated firms are focusing either on consumer packaging or the paper/board business.
• Commercial printers are looking at folding carton opportunities to fill capacity.
• 40˝ is the primary press size for smaller independents; VLF (56˝ and 64˝) format for the large national accounts.
• Industry scrap rates have been reduced from 15 percent in 1995 to 9 percent today.
• Efficiency/productivity improvements are being achieved through technologies such as one-pass productivity; in-line color control; in-line register and sheet inspection; single, double and triple coaters; UV; and cold foil applications.
• RFID tracking and product security will gain traction.
• Holograms, hidden images and decoders are increasingly being used for product and anti-counterfeit protection.
• Printing on flutes is on the rise.
Aside from its prepress, workflow and press options for package printers, Heidelberg offers diecutters ranging from the Dymatrix to KAMA, folder/gluer models ranging from the Diana to ECO, as well as cutters and folders.
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ECRM announced the formation and launch of the company’s new corporate branding campaign and a corresponding redesign of its Website (www.ecrm.com). The rebranding campaign reflects ECRM’s aim to offer its marketing partners and end users a more “business-friendly” online source for industry information.
Marty Fiorillo has been promoted to the role of vice president of distribution, sales and marketing at Yupo Corp. America. Andrew Madden assumes the role of vice president of sales, thermal, pressure-sensitive labels and general label applications. Ed Burtner has been promoted from director to vice president of manufacturing. And Mike Licata, former manager of technical services, has been appointed director of technical services for the company.
Taag Erickson, NELA’s inside sales manager, has accepted the position of regional sales manager, commercial, for the Eastern part of the United States. David Burkhart, product manager for commercial, will cover the Western part of the U.S., as well as direct NELA’s commercial efforts. The remainder of the field sales force will solely focus on newspaper sales.
Eastman Kodak has named Karl Post to the position of senior manager, customer development, for its Graphic Communications Group (GCG). Post brings 13 years of sales, marketing, and strategic customer and partner development experience in the graphic communications industry to Kodak.
Stora Enso has appointed Trisha Vollandt to the position of senior account manager for its North American operations. Vollandt is responsible for serving major customer accounts in the Western region of the United States and operates out of the company’s Los Angeles-area sales office in Diamond Bar, CA.
Gans Ink & Supply has named Keith Duchene the commercial ink division manager. Duchene has been a field technical representative for Gans Ink for the past nine years. Replacing Duchene in the field is Aaron Sures, who has been with Gans for one year as the pressroom supplies division manager.
A revision to a safety standard affecting vertical post ink mixers was announced by NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies (NPES) and the National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers (NAPIM). B65/NAPIM 177.2-2006, Safety Standard—Printing Ink Vertical Post Mixers, was approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). This standard revises and replaces B177.2-1997, and is currently available from NPES. The 2006 standard incorporates significant changes to the 1997 standard, including the addition of requirements relating to emergency stop.
Ron Swint has announced his retirement from Kansa Technology. He was one of the three original founders of the company, and served as vice president of marketing and later president of the company. Marketing, sales and service responsibilities of Kansa are now headed by Jesse Miser, marketing manager.
Construction is underway on a new 51,000-square-foot office and manufacturing complex in Gallatin, TN, for G.F. Puhl Co., manufacturers of trim collection systems. The move is expected to be completed by January.
