Reporter Clips

Published: January 31, 2005, By By Edward Boyle, Contributing Editor

Narrow Web Converting Industry News

XericWeb Acquires ECS
NEENAH, WI—XericWeb Drying Systems has acquired Energy Converting Systems (ECS), Brea, CA, a manufacturer of UV curing systems. "Adding [these] UV systems completes our line of dryers for web presses," says XericWeb president Rodger Whipple. "We will be able to supply dryers for whatever a printer [needs], UV, water-based, or solvent-based inks or coatings."

World P-S Tape Markets Shift
CLEVELAND, OH—The world market for PSA tapes is forecast to expand at an annual pace of 5.3% through 2008, surpassing 27 billion sq m, valued at $22 billion. Projected growth in tape production will generate demand for 2.5 billion kg of raw materials, including adhesives and various backing substrates.

The US is expected to remain the largest single-country tape market, although its share of the world market will continue to decline, as will the shares of other developed countries. There is, however, substantial room for additional market penetration in developing regions such as China and Eastern Europe. These and other trends are presented in "World Pressure Sensitive Tapes," a new study from The Freedonia Group. For more information contact Freedonia at 440/684-9600 or visit fredoniagroup.com.

New TLMI Officers, Board Members
NAPERVILLE, IL—Members of the Tag & Label Mfrs. Inst. (TLMI) elected new officers and board members at the group’s recent annual meeting: Scott Pillsbury, president of Rose City Label, becomes president; J. Andrew Beck, president of API Graphics, is president-elect; John Hickey, CEO of Smyth Co., will serve as VP.

Four new members were elected to the board of directors: converter representatives Art Yerecic, Yerecic Label; Jeff Dunphy, Design Label Mfg.; and Elisha Tropper, Prestige Label Co.; and supplier representative Pat Hague, Water Ink Technologies.

Sato America Certifies Partner
CHARLOTTE, NC—Sato America has certified Mid-South Marking Systems as a Sato HealthCARE Gold Partner. This certification signifies Mid-South Marking Systems has demonstrated its ability to perform on-site needs analysis, application development, sales, network integration, IT communications support, installation, and other professional services, which may include on-site service contracts.

MPI an RFID "Qualified Partner"
SEBRING, OH—MPI Label Systems, a pioneer in the development of RFID, has been named an Alien Technology Corp. qualified partner. The means MPI is qualified to convert, test, and direct-ship Alien Technology transponders.

To assure product quality, Alien requires converters to send its labels back to Alien for testing until qualified. However, as a qualified converter, MPI now is able to send its labels directly to the end-user.

Holiday Stamps by the Billion
STOW, OH—Last year’s holiday stamps from the US Postal Service featured a collection of four painted Santa Claus ornaments designed to create nostalgic visions of tinsel, garland, and twinkling lights. MACtac supplied the self-adhesive construction for more than 2.2 billion stamps printed and formatted as panes and double-sided convertible books of 20.

Printex Licensed for Envelopes
GREAT NECK, NY—Conformer Expansion Products reports Printex Packaging Corp., Islandia, NY, has become a licensed manufacturer of conformer expansion envelopes. Printex will manufacture the envelopes in all sizes using a variety of clear plastic materials.

Printex president David Heller says this is the first time his company has licensed a method of package construction from an outside source.

Appleton Opens RFID Lab
APPLETON, WI—Appleton has opened a demo lab for the latest RFID technology to help customers make the right choice when investing in RFID. The company is using a distribution center for pilot process demonstrations in a real-world environment.