DuPont successfully reduces environmental footprint
DuPont Packaging Graphics has released a report indicating a significant non-renewable energy and greenhouse gas emission reduction from use of its Cyrel flexographic print and thermal platemaking processes. The report contains results from two life-cycle assessment (LCA) studies comparing the environmental footprints of flexo printing to gravure printing and the footprint of thermal platemaking to that of solvent platemaking for flexo.

The report found that, in simple terms, for every 1 million square meters of printed plastic substrate switched from gravure to flexo, the resulting savings in non-renewable energy would equate to 25,000 gallons of gasoline, or the equivalent of taking 40 U.S. passenger cars off the road for one year.

Similarly, the transition from solvent platemaking to thermal imaging led to a 60% reduction of non-renewable energy. To put that in perspective, for every 10,000 square meters of flexo plates imaged, the energy savings would be equivalent to approximately 8,800 gallons of gasoline or taking 16 U.S. passenger cars off the road for a year.
DuPont Packaging Graphics
800-441-7515; www2.dupont.com/Packaging_and_Graphic_Arts/en_US/

Chema Technology awarded PLGA award
Chema Technology was awarded the Packaging and Label Gravure Assocation’s (PLGA) 2008 Global Technical Achievement Award on Oct. 9, 2008. President and founder of Chema Technology, Hubert Metzger, accepted the award given for his company’s Copper Striking System. Chema’s process eliminates uneven coatings and the risk of blistering after acid copper plating in a controllable process with a solid bonding to the polymer substrate. The system also offers the gravure industry savings by existing cylinders and building up the circumference with polymer, helping sustainability and material costs.
Chema Technology
262-524-8006; www.chematechnology.com

Mark Andy Inc. sold to MAI Holdings
Mark Andy Inc., designer of narrow and mid-web printing equipment an ultraviolet (UV) curing systems, was purchased Oct. 8 by newly formed MAI Holdings, held by American Industrial Partners Capital Fund IV L.P. While management and operational structure of Mark Andy will not change, the transaction puts the company in a better position to meet industry demands and foster continued growth, especially in markets such as India, China and eastern Europe.

Kiefel consolidates North American offices
Kiefel announced effective Nov. 1, 2008, its two North American business units are now located at the Kiefel Technologies Inc. headquarters in Hampton, N.H. The Kiefel Inc. offices and employees formerly in Wrentham, Mass., relocated to Hampton, some 40 miles away.

Macchi executive killed in Italy
Alessandro Macchi, managing director at Macchi S.p.A., died Nov. 2 after being shot four times at his home near Genoa, Italy. Italian investigators are treating Macchi’s death as a homicide-attempted suicide plot and have arrested Macchi’s companion on first-degree charges. Macchi was 46.

EskoArtwork ArtPro 9.0 deemed successful
EskoArtwork announced in October 2008 that ArtPro 9.0 has met with tremendous customer approval after 75% of ArtPro 8.0 users upgraded to the new release within one week of the product’s launch. The newest version of ArtPro, considered the standard in packaging prepress, offers improved workflow solutions with other EskoArtwork products, namely Nexus, Odystar and BackStage.

Sun Chemical forms joint venture in China
Sun Chemical and parent company DIC Corp. (formerly Dainippon Ink & Chemicals) have partnered with China-based pigment manufacturer Lianyungang Haidi Chemicals Co. Ltd. to manufacture high-performance pigments, which will be sold through DIC Corp. and Sun Chemical’s global network. The joint venture will be named Lianyungang DIC Color Co. Ltd.

Davis-Standard opens northeast office
Davis-Standard announced in October the opening of an office in Gloucester, Mass. The new workplace increases the company’s presence in the northeast, and increases the capabilities of its Extrusion Systems and Converting Systems groups. As part of the expansion in the northeast, Davis-Standard announced Ken Sweet joined the company in the new facility as Engineering Manager–Northeast.

Toyo Ink opens new plant in Texas
Toyo Ink Manufacturing America opened a $20 million, 55,000-square-foot specialty polymer manufacturing plant in Bryan, Texas, on Oct. 15, 2008. After breaking ground on the 22-acre site a year previous, the company celebrated the opening of the new facility with a traditional Shinto ceremony. The plant, a significant step toward bolstering Toyo’s presence in the U.S. and also in flexible packaging, includes two production plants, a warehouse and an administrative office and employs 15 people with plans to add more.

Jemmco expands website, adds online buying
Mequon, Wis.-based Jemmco now offers customers the opportunity to purchase select products online through its website, www.jemmco.com. After registering contact and billing information, customers may purchase anti-static and cleaning products, corona treater roll coverings, dyne pens and solutions, silicone treater sleeves, web cleaning sleeves, traction sleeves, and traction and release tapes using a credit card.

HP opens Indigo distribution center
Hewlett-Packard began operations at its new West Coast HP Indigo distribution center in Hayward, Calif., on Nov. 1, 2008. The state-of-the-art, strategically placed location will reduce delivery times from East Coast distribution centers and enables West Coast customers to place orders for same-day processing until 5 p.m. Pacific time. The Hayward location is HP’s third Indigo distribution center in North America and complements its Chicago and Toronto counterparts.

AlliedFlex adds national account manager
AlliedFlex Technologies Inc. of Sarasota, Fla., has added David Hull to its Sales and Marketing team as National Accounts Manager. Hull brings years of flexible packaging sales and marketing experience from previous positions with T.H.E.M., Hosokawa Yoko and Olmarc Packaging.

Gerhardt appoints new North American managers
Dallastown, Pa.-based cutting tool maker Gerhardt has named Ian Bates as the company’s group executive vice president and promoted Jim Doedderlein to vice president of sales, North America. Bates will lead the way in introducing North America converters to the benefits of flexible die technology, a method that’s largely been seen only in Europe. Doedderlein will manage all North American sales functions and will continue to expand Gerhardt’s continental market share.

PIA/GATF announces 2009 officers and board
The Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) introduced its 2009 officers and board of directors at its fall administrative meeting Nov. 16, 2008. Ken Kaufman, president of Omniprint Inc. of Lanham, Md., will serve as board chairman; Bill Gibson has taken the role of first vice chairman; Michael Keene, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of The John Roberts Co. in Minneapolis, Minn., was named second vice chairman; Laura Lawton-Forsyth of Lawton Printing Inc. in Spokane, Wash., will serve as the board’s secretary; Hal Slager from Trico Graphics Inc. in Chicago will remain treasurer; and Janet Green, CEO of Greens Inc. in Irvine, Calif., the first female chairman of the PIA/GATF board, has become immediate past chairman.