2000s

Published: September 25, 2002, By PFFC Staff

1920s and 1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970 - 1973
1974 - 1976
1977 - 1979
1980s
1990 - April 1993
May 1993 - 1994
1995 - 1999

2000 and Beyond...
Y2K, 9/11, Enron -- the 21st Century begins. The US takes months to select a president. Suicide bombings in the Middle East are on the nightly news, and the US declares war on terrorism. Any good news? Cancer survivor Lance Armstrong wins his fourth consecutive Tour de France.

Associate publisher/editor Simonsis addresses the dwindling membership of industry associations due to rampant merger and acquisition activity.

February 2000
In her editorial column, Simonsis looks back at the Y2K scare and calls it, "A Non-News Day."

April 2000
AIMCAL celebrates its 30th anniversary with a supplement in PFFC.

June 2000
Peerless Machine & Tool’s P-Line paper plate and tray forming machine, introduced in 1926, is named the "Foodservice Package/Machine of the Century" by the Foodservice & Packaging Institute. The equipment is recognized for its contribution to everyday life during the 20th Century.

July 2000
Caraustar wins the Paperboard Packaging Council’s Technical Innovation/Achievement Award for its EconoPour Integral Paperboard Pour Spout. The company developed a specially tooled makeready plate for converting the one-piece pour spout, which dramatically reduces set-up time for each run.

May 2000
Schiavi wins the Technical Innovation Award from the Gravure Assn. of America for its Idea Press. This new rotogravure press design is said to compete successfully on even ultra-short runs.

March 2000
PCMC introduces the eXell printing system, featuring 11-color capacity, motorized changeovers, digital control, and the eXtreme dryer.

Pechiney Plastic Packaging wins an FPA award for its Ernie Pouch for Keebler Co. The three-dimensional, die-cut, stand-up pouch can be reused as a hand puppet once the product has been consumed.

Cargill Dow Polymers unveils a new packaging polymer made from annually renewable resources. "NatureWorks" technology processes natural plant sugars, such as corn, to create a polylactide polymer.

August 2000
Contributing editor Richard Podhajny discusses electronic ink in his Material Science column. E-ink involves micro-encapsulation of particles -- suspended in liquid -- that respond to an applied electrical field. The particles in these microcapsules move to form the image. E-ink has potential in packaging as a "smart decorative coating" for laminated structures. Since the electronic skin can be updated any time, the package can provide real-time information to the customer.

September 2000
Michael Koch joins the staff as art director.

The PLACE makes its debut in PFFC. This resource on polymers, laminations, adhesives, coatings, and extrusion technology is a cooperative arrangement between PFFC and TAPPI.

2001
The Snack Food Assn. reports overall sales of savory snacks grew 5.1% between 2000 and 2001 to reach $21.8 billion.

January 2001
In reporting on OSHA’s recently issued ergonomics rule designed to reduce the frequency and severity of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), Legal Briefs columnist Sheila A. Millar says legal challenges to the final rule already have been filed. If these legal strategies fail, converters, their customers, and their suppliers will have to initiate MSD compliance strategies in a very short period of time.

Our logo is tweaked slightly as the ampersand, missing since January 1996, is back.

March 2001
Nsenga Byrd Thompson joins as staff editor.

April 2001
PFFC publishes a supplement devoted to the subject of e-commerce. Written by Joe Dysart, the supplement provides converters with such tips as creating an international web site, strategies to promote the site, how to market using e-mail, and leveraging the web for on-line procurement.

ITW’s acquisition of Sherman Treaters means Pillar Technologies now offers Sherman’s line of corona treating equipment.

May 2001
Scott Bieda, publisher of American Printer, is named publisher of Paper, Film & Foil Converter.

July 2001
Decorative Sleeves and De La Rue Holographics earn the World Packaging Organization's (WPO) World Star Award for Packaging Excellence and the Inst. of Packaging’s Technical Innovation Award for a Smirnoff vodka bottleneck shrink sleeve. It features a secure OVD, providing consumers 100% proof of identity.

PFFC launches E-Clips, its biweekly e-mail newsletter for converters.

September 2001
Intertec Publishing changes its name to Primedia Business Magazines & Media.

During the Print 01 Show on September 11, terrorists' attack the US with hijacked planes, destroying the World Trade Center in New York and part of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

November 2001
Gerber Innovations introduces the Profile die tool production system said to feature the industry’s first rotary machining process for manufacturing flat steel rule die-boards and other die-cutting tools.

PFFC-online, PFFC’s web edition, publishes "Battling the Biothreats," an online exclusive that reveals how industry technology can help wage war against terrorism. Colorcon’s No-Tox AM inks and coatings, which incorporate the company’s AgION antimicrobial technology, could be useful in destroying anthrax. Dr. Richard Podhajny, a Colorcon scientist and a PFFC contributing editor says, "Though it hasn’t been tested against anthrax, Colorcon is optimistic about its possibilities. This is one of the most effective antimicrobials that we know. In everything we’ve tested it against, it’s destroyed the bacteria."

December 2001
Contributing editor William E. Hawkins retires from writing his monthly Web Solutions column for PFFC with a column on wide web handling. Bill says, "For the past four years I have attempted to present some web handling science that explains web behavior in converter operations. Many of you have let me know that my efforts were not futile."

In the aftermath of 9/11 with world economies damaged, PFFC publishes "A Good News Letter," in which leading companies in the converting industry share success stories from 2001, to provide inspiration for readers. According to editor Simonsis, "Despite the events that will forever mark this past year as one of tragic loss, many of the leading companies in the converting industry upon which converters can count have shared with our readers their good news...we hope this good news will help lead the way into a better new year."

January 2002
Our new PFFC logo and magazine redesign is unveiled.

February 2002
Timothy J. Walker, TJ Walker & Assoc., replaces retiring Bill Hawkins as the monthly contributor of the Web Lines column.

RDP Marathon introduces its LF-200 Series litho/flexo combination press engineered to optimize combination technology.

September 2002
PFFC celebrates its 75th anniversary.

Early in 2001, the editorial and art staffs began the long journey back in time to research the history of PFFC and the industry on which it has reported since 1927. Just starting out, we realized the daunting task before us when we rolled out a 25-ft scroll that covered only two decades of the magazine’s history. A full 76 volumes and thousands of pages later, (pictured, from left to right) senior editor Teresa Koltzenburg, art director Michael Koch, senior editor Claudia Hine, staff editor Nsenga Byrd Thompson, and associate publisher/editor Yolanda Simonsis, as well as associate managing editor Deborah Donberg and editorial intern Carrie Cleaveland (both not pictured) arrived at an acceptable format to portray an evolving converting industry and magazine. Ultimately, it was a labor of love, but not one I care to repeat too soon. All of us feel that the results of our efforts will be among the highlights of our careers. We think it’s a real page-turner, and we hope our readers agree.
-- Yolanda Simonsis