Featured Stories
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Enhance Surface Performance with Corona Treatment in Printing and Laminating Applications
Converters working with plastic films like polyethylene or polypropylene often face poor surface receptivity. -
The Rise of Flexible Packaging: Why Stand-Up and Flat-Bottom Pouches Are Replacing Rigid Containers
The packaging industry is undergoing a fundamental shift as brands increasingly move away from rigid containers in favor of stand-up and... -
News | New Products
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Flint Group NC-Free innovations honored at FIA UK Awards
Flint Group, a leading supplier of inks and coatings for the global print and packaging sectors, is proud to announce that its nitrocellulose-(NC) free ink innovations
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FPA Testifies at U.S. House Subcommittee Hearing on Recycling and Economic Development
Felton Urges Federal Support for Investment in Recycling Infrastructure, Innovation, and National Labeling Standards to Help Achieve Full Circularity for Flexible Packaging and Films
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Hybrid Software’s ColorLogic Releases ZePrA 13
Smarter, Faster, More Automated Color Management
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Nobelus Launches Films for Digital Embellishments
Label and Flex Pack Film Supplier Releases Coated Finished for Value-Add Embellishments
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PACKZ 11 Launches with Industry-First RIP Integration
Plus extended CF2 format and automated support for 2-D Barcodes as Required by the Sunrise 2027 Initiative
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Double E Group Acquires CAC, Further Enhancing its Strength in the Global Converting Industry
Double E Group, a global leader in converting components and web handling technology, has announced its acquisition of Converter Accessory Corporation (CAC)
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Nobelus Launches Entry-Level Komfi® Thermal Laminator
FINISHING SOLUTIONS SUPPLIER OFFERS NEW JUNIOR 52 LAMINATING SYSTEM
Expert Advice
Trending Upward Proactively
- Published: June 01, 2009, By Yolanda Simonsis Associate Publisher/Editor
Last month I asked in my editorial, “Are We There Yet?” I proceeded to report my experience at a recent association meeting where attendance was somewhat down although the quality of the meeting remained, as usual, of high caliber. One of PFFC's readers shot off a message to me with his own personal experience.
“While I wasn't at the AIMCAL [Assn. of Industrial Metallizers, Coaters & Laminators] meeting, I did attend the EMA [Envelope Mfrs. Assn.] and the FTA [Flexographic Technical Assn.] meetings within the last month; but I can report the two meetings I attended sounded very much like your report of the AIMCAL meeting. Lower attendance, some doom and gloom, some wishful hoping for better times in third and fourth quarters, and in each case a presentation by an economist predicting a very slow recovery from this unprecedented recession. Kind of hard to report a very positive outlook from any of these meetings. All I can say is ‘Not yet, but hopefully in time to save all of us.’”-Larry Clayton, VP, F.L. Smithe Machine Co.
While it may be true that economists most recently have been holding to a fourth quarter turnaround — which for some seems like an eternity away — FTA's guest keynoter on May 3 at Lake Buena Vista, Florida's Coronado Springs Resort gave me reason to feel hopeful. Yes, Professor Jeff Rosensweig of Emory Univ.'s Goizueta Business School conformed to prevailing thought by predicting the economy would “bottom out in October/November.” And yes, he predicted we'll reach only a 1% growth level for 2010. But that's plus 1%! This actually represents 4% or 5% growth from the-4% GDP for the Q1 2009 period! To me, this represents very good news. Still more good news, he said our biggest materials price hikes are behind us, and some job markets, including education and health services, are actually trending healthily upward. Most important of all, Rosensweig resolutely projected the US will remain the “safe-harbor economy” for continued and future investment.
On top of this, on May 27, Gail Marks Jarvis of the Chicago Tribune reported that consumers are feeling more hopeful about the future even if, in fact, they're not doing better. Despair, she says, is turning to hope and helping to stabilize the economy and fuel the stock market.
So if the recessionary doldrums still are being manifested at your workplace, know that improvement is ahead. This month's exclusive research on Critical Trends will identify where our industry has experienced its most challenging struggles, but in agreement with Rosensweig, the report also indicates converters are experiencing less cost pressure for materials. And three-fourths of respondents plan to add or expand products or services. Yet another 19% have increased investment in R&D to secure their future. The moral? Be proactive!
My friends call me…
What proactive efforts are you taking to secure your company's future?