N.V. Business Publishers Corporation (with offices in New Jersey and Illinois) is truly the only trade journal specialist that serves the worldwide corrugated and folding carton industries with separate publications. The company is fully integrated with publishing, design, reproduction and origination. N.V. produces a selection of magazines (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly and bi-monthly) exclusively covering every aspect of the Corrugated, Folding Carton, Flexographic Printing, and Recycling industries. An added extension for our worldwide publications is our affiliate in England, Brunton Publications, Ltd.
FTA Names Annual Award Winners The FTA hosted its annual awards banquet on Sunday, April 16, at FO- RUM & INFOFLEX 2023, the asso- ciation’s annual four-day technical conference and exhibition. FTA unveiled the winners of the 2023 Excellence in Flexography Awards. This year’s list of winners further exemplifies the diverse ca- pabilities that flexographic print- ing has to offer in today’s changing market. Six prints were selected for the Best of Show award in their respec- tive categories:
Digital Edition Exclusive:
Stratus Installs Two Flexo Presses by Greg Kishbaugh
S tratus Packaging, with seven manufacturing locations through- out France and one subsidiary and one manufacturing facility in Switzerland, recently acquired two Bobst M5 flexo presses. “We invest in innovation to support our clients who want to do
• The Vet IQ Skin & Coat/Calm- ing/5-in-One Soft Chew Bags, printed by PPC Flexible Packaging (Wide Web category). • The Framar CideKicks Disinfec- tant Pods Bag, printed by Accredo Packaging (Mid Web category). • The Wander Folk Spirits Garden Club Gin Label, printed by Multi-Col- or Corp (Narrow Web category). • The Social Burgerjoint Take- away Container, entered by Marva-
new things which require advanced technology,” said CEO Isidore Leiser. “We not only deliver labels but services and customized advice.” With 350 employees generating more than 65 million euros of turnover, Stratus Packaging integrates a multitude of labels — self-adhesive, booklet, dry peel coupons multilabel, sleeves and in-mold labels. Quality for Status means print quality, finishing details, color (Cont’d on Page 3)
(Cont’d on Page 4)
April 24, 2023
Experience the power of SWED/CUT ®
Columbus, OH - Booth #854
“Any defect, any mid-run press stop, can entirely eliminate margin from a job. As QA Manager, it is up to me to prevent waste before it happens. That’s why I rely on FLXON’s products and support
to gain our competitive advantage. ” QA Manager, Wide Web Pressroom
SWED/CUT ® PERFORMANCE DOCTOR BLADES
Meter More Precisely Print Cleaner Dots Longer Protect Anilox Investment Avoid Mid-run Press Stops Experience No Break-in Time Receive Fewer Customer Complaints Reduce Your Annual Doctor Blade Spend
FLXON INCORPORATED 8531 Crown Crescent Court, Charlotte, NC 28227 (800) 756-6474 I (704) 844-2434 I wecare@flxon.com ASK ABOUT OUR 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE!
www.flxon.com
Stratus Packaging (Cont’d from Page 1)
matching and the ability to deliver to its clients, no matter the obstacles. Stratus has back-up capabili- ties using multiple sites; if one site can’t process a job for any reason, another site will complete the work. The two new Bobst M5 flexo presses provide the company with high-volume printing capabilities on two distinct sites for back-up purposes with the same printing quality, independent of the press op- erators. “The Bobst M5 press and its oneECG system build on the extended color gamut principle,” Leiser said. “Because it is a fully automatized system, called Di- giFlexo, it makes print pressure pre-set and register adjustments fully automated. This leads to reduced waste during setup, particularly with multi-color jobs, and consistent printing quality during production.” Waste management and sustainability are import- ant segments of Stratus’ business. The Bobst press- es, according to the company, use less substrate waste for each new job setup. In addition, the ECG system reduces ink usage with no washing, no liq- uid waste, and no ink kitchen. Stratus relies on its Bobst M5 flexo presses for long to medium runs and is fully equipped with advanced digital presses for shorter runs. A key
challenge Leiser sees ahead is about optimizing the entire production floor. Ideally, each specific job would be sent to the most appropriate press based on all the elements required – ink usage, waste, turnaround time and profitability, all with the same quality and no compromise between digital and flexo.
Designed with input from HP Indigo experts, our Parts Washer (model number A-44213-A) was created specifically to clean parts from HP Indigo digital presses. It speeds productivity through an extra long flush hose for direct hands-free flushing of press parts. The Graymills abrasive resistant pump, twin filtration system, and rugged power-coated steel construction are up to the challenge of cleaning with imaging oil. DOES AN HP INDIGO NEED ITS OWN PARTS WASHER? They Thought So.
Flexo Market News April 24, 2023 3
FTA Awards (Cont’d from Page 1)
co Ltd on behalf of Adara Pakkaus Oy (Combined Corrugated category). • The Angry Orchard Hard Cider Explorer Variety Pack Box, printed by International Paper Co (Pre- printed Linerboard category). • The M&S Start Your Spring Collection Today En- velope, printed by Encore Envelopes Ltd (Envelope category). Fall of Fame Recognizing a career steeped in education and instruction, Joe Tuccitto has been inducted as the newest member of the FTA Hall of Fame. Tuccitto’s contributions to the flexographic indus- try, its practitioners and its Association have made an enormous impact. His career has included stops at multiple printers—Phoenix Packaging, Anagram International, AWT, Grief Bros Corp—building a flexography program at Dunwoody College of Technology and being recognized as Harper Cor- poration of America’s Teacher of the Year, working as manager of training and technologies at Ander- son & Vreeland, and joining FTA’s employee roster to build the Technical Education Services Team and the FIRST (Flexographic Image Reproduction Spec- ifications & Tolerances) Certification program.
Joe Tuccitto
“It is fitting that during FTA’s 65th anniversary, one of our own is being inducted into the FTA Hall of Fame,” added FTA President Robb Frimming. “Joe has been and continues to be an amplified force for the flexographic industry and a touchstone for our members. I have worked with him for nearly 20 years and I appreciate all he brings to the table.” President’s Award FTA has recognized Bob Coomes and Bobby Con- gdon, two supporters of the Association, with the
(Cont’d on Page 6)
GOLD RISK FREE TRIAL BLADE LAST 5-10X LONGER THAN CARBON STEEL 856-461-9111 | sales@allisonblades.com
4 April 24, 2023 Flexo Market News
Antalis Launches Green Initiatives For Packaging Antalis Packaging has announced two new initia- tives that aim to give customers information on en- vironmental products, encouraging them to select the best eco-friendly solutions. The Green Star System is a classification rating system that Antalis says is ‘grounded in a strict set of criteria’. It lists recycled material, sourced mate- rial and technical recyclability as examples of these criteria. The aim is for the complete range of Antalis Packaging’s own-brand Master’in products to have a Green Star environmental rating by 2025, while it hopes that 50 percent of suppliers’ packaging prod- ucts will also do so in the same timeframe. Green Card Alongside Green Star comes Green Card, which Antalis says is an ‘information concept’, designed to give in-depth environmental data on criteria such as recycled material, bio-sourced material, technical recyclability, reusability, GHG emissions, product certifications and origin. The company said that the initiatives follow on from a recent survey it conducted in partnership with IFOP, with customers in six countries (Den- mark, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Poland and the UK). This showed the extent of CSR com- mitments, particularly around packaging, where en- vironmental friendliness was the third most import- ant consideration in purchasing decisions. Circular economy, carbon footprint and product origin were other factors. UPM Raflatac’s RafCycle Wins Sustainability Award UPM Raflatac’s RafCycle recycling service has won a silver Sustainable Packaging Design of the Year 2023 award at the Australasian Packaging Innova- tion & Design (PIDA) Awards. The announcement came on Tuesday, March 28, at the PIDA Awards Gala Dinner. Recognizing Companies Coordinated by the Australian Institute of Packag- ing (AIP), the PIDA awards are designed to recog- nize companies and individuals who are making a significant difference in their field across Australia and New Zealand. By collecting and recycling the release liner waste through RafCycle, companies can reportedly close the recycling loop and support circular economy.
For the latest, up-to-the minute news in the Flexo Industry — acquisitions, installations, market trends, personnel changes — visit FlexoMarketNews.com EVERY day. On your laptop or mobile device.
www.FlexoMarketNews.com
Flexo Market News April 24, 2023 5
FTA Awards (Cont’d from Page 4)
2023 FTA President’s Award. Honoring devotion to FTA’s myriad efforts, the recipients of this year’s award are: • Bob Coomes, graphic, prepress and print spe- cialist at PPC Flexible Packaging, is chair-elect of the FFTA Board of Directors, a champion of the FIRST methodology, and a FORUM and Fall Techni- cal Conference presenter many times over. • Bobby Congdon, assistant director at the Sono- co Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics at Clemson University, has generously lent his time and talent to initiatives that have supported FTA’s growth in members, quality recognition and educa- tional development.
AUTOMATION IS YOUR FUTURE • LESS LABOR • LESS DOWNTIME • 100% CLEAN Get Maximum Production For Less With Flexo Wash Today DON’T WAIT! flexowashus.com 888-493-5396 STILL CLEANING YOUR PLATES BY HAND? It’s time to improve your process with Flexo Wash and realize your return on investment today.
Bob Coomes, Bobby Congdon
Sustainability Award Two winners and two honorable mentions were selected in the 2023 FTA Sustainability Excellence Award competition, recognizing companies com-
mitment to and pursuit of sustainable package printing. Winning their respective categories are: • RKW Finland Oy and Marvaco Oy, in the Sus- tainability Programs category, for its expanded gamut printing solution that, among other benefits,
(Cont’d on Page 8)
6 April 24, 2023 Flexo Market News
Entries Open For Label Industry Global Awards The 18th Label Industry Global Awards are now open for entries. The longest running award, now named the R. Stanton Avery Achievement Award, is sponsored by Avery Dennison. The award is bestowed in memo- ry of Stan Avery’s pioneering spirit and values, and recognizes an individual whose work has helped progress and transform the label industry across the world. New for 2023 is the R. Stanton Avery Team Achievement Award sponsored by Avery Dennison. This award recognizes that teamwork is more im- portant than ever in achieving a company’s goals, and is open to industry suppliers, converters and end users. The R. Stanton Avery Rising Star Award sponsored by Avery Dennison recognizes the emerging talent of an individual starting their label and package printing career, with the potential of becoming one of tomorrow’s leaders. The Innovation Award is split based on size; one for companies with more than 300 employees and
Engineered Better Anilox Sleeves and Rollers Crafted Specifically For Your Budget, Your Press, Your Job.
If it’s your job to nd better ways to offer great printing at competitive prices, you should have The ARChitects of Flexo
on your team. For more than 35 years our success has been built on engineering a competitive edge for exo printers. ARC International focuses on giving you better: Better control. Better options. Better margins. Whether you prefer berglass or carbon ber anilox sleeves from our High Graphics TM division, you can be sure it will be crafted to exacting OEM specs. Durable and lightweight as well as corrosion and damage resistant, your sleeve will be precision ground and t perfectly with your mandrel, whether steel or carbon ber. ARC’s plasma coating provides an excellent engraving surface for a full array of laser engraved line counts and volumes.
another for those with less than 300 employees. Entries must be for the development of a specific innovation by a supplier or converter company in 2022. The Sustainability Award acknowledges a new sustainable product or process introduced by a con- verter, supplier or end user in the label industry during 2022. Finally, the Converter of the Year Award recog- nizes a company that has successfully met criteria which include a record of innovation, developing an inclusive and diversified workforce, a solid re- cord of staff training and development, and a strong involvement with its local community.
Learn how you can benet from better engineering. Contact The ARChitects of Flexo today and arrange for a free press evaluation.
ARCInternational.com 800-526-4569 The ARChitects of exo
Flexo Market News April 24, 2023 7
ARC_.5pFMN_Eng.indd 1
3/31/21 5:52 PM
FTA Awards (Cont’d from Page 6)
Get your company in front of the flexo industry’s key decisionmakers. Flexo Market News’ readership is comprised of Presidents, Owners, VPs and General Managers of flexo operations — the key people who make decisions on equipment purchases. An ad in Flexo Market News is a direct sales meeting with thousands of the industry’s best thinkers and most influental leaders. Reach Owners, President, VPs and General Managers The Top Minds In The Flexo Industry Are Waiting To Hear From You
eliminates spot colors, reduces ink and VOC vol- umes, and shortens setup time. • Sun Chemical Corp, in the Innovations in Sus- tainability category—and following its 2022 honor- able mention—for its proposed monoweb structure alternative to lamination that saves adhesives, film, processing time and label weight. Receiving an honorable mention are AWT Labels & Packaging (in the Sustainability Programs cate- gory) and Siegwerk (in the Innovations in Sustain- ability category). Technical Innovation Award FTA has recognized three industry-advancing prod- ucts and the companies behind them with the 2023 FTA Technical Innovation Award. The trio of compa- nies and their award-winning technologies are:
AV Flexologic, Miraclon
• AV Flexologic, for its RoboCELL Sleeve and Mounting Workflow, which automates manual pro- cesses, eliminates operator dependency and reduces prepress-related downtime (Heavy Metal category). • MicroDynamics, for its 3DQC Veritas Anilox In- spection System, which can make measurements and provide characteristic parameter values for a picture of an anilox’s state (Prepress Pressroom category). • Miraclon, for its PureFlexo Printing Plate Sur- face Patterning, which reduces common issues like dirty print, dot bridging and color inconsistency (Prepress Graphics category).
To boost your market presence contact:
Greg Kishbaugh / 317-306-1060 / flexo@nvpublications.com
Robyn Smith / 910-553-4055 / rsmith@nvpublications.com
8 April 24, 2023 Flexo Market News
Asahi Invests In Carbon Neutrality Startups Asahi Kasei has established a ‘Care for Earth’ in- vestment framework as a new initiative for carbon neutrality by investing $100 million worldwide in early-stage startups that aim to solve issues in envi- ronmental fields such as hydrogen, energy storage, carbon management, and bio-based chemicals over the 5-year period up to fiscal year 2027. CVC Since 2008, Asahi Kasei has advanced corporate venture capital (CVC) activities in order to create new businesses by investing in startups and per- forming joint developments with them. Based in Silicon Valley since 2011, this activity has facilitated investments in more than 50 start- ups in the United States, Europe, China, and Japan, resulting in numerous collaborations and the two acquisitions of Crysal IS, a U.S.-based provider of UVC LEDs for air, water and surface disinfection, and Swedish Senseair, a manufacturer of CO2 and alcohol sensing solutions. Until now, Asahi Kasei has focused its CVC in- vestments in the area of ‘Care for People’ such as healthcare, IoT, and homes, which have relatively short timeframes to commercialization. The area of ‘Care for Earth’, in contrast, tends to have lon- ger-term commercial prospects, while fields such as hydrogen and energy storage lack established value chains, making it difficult to invest under the conventional framework. Carbon Neutrality To achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, Asahi Ka- sei aims to reduce its own GHG emissions and to contribute to reducing GHG emissions throughout society, while creating new businesses through the newly established ‘Care for Earth’ investment framework whose investment horizons and invest- ment decision criteria are different than before. The new investment framework is also expected to help Asahi Kasei advance the transformation of its material sector portfolio through participation in business ecosystems for carbon neutrality. Sustainable Society The Asahi Kasei Group aims to further contribute to sustainable society while achieving sustainable growth of corporate value by leveraging its accu- mulated technologies and expertise while acceler- ating investment for Green Transformation (GX).
Experience the power of SWED/CUT ® “Any defect, any mid-run press stop, can entirely eliminiate margin from a job. As QA Manager, it is up to me to prevent waste before it happens. That’s why I rely on FLXON’s products and support to gain our competitive advantage. QA Manager, Wide Web Pressroom
Columbus, OH - Booth #854
SWED/CUT ® PERFORMANCE DOCTOR BLADES
Meter More Precisely Print Cleaner Dots Longer Protect Anilox Investment Avoid Mid-run Press Stops Experience No Break-in Time Receive Fewer Customer Complaints Reduce Your Annual Doctor Blade Spend
FLXON INCORPORATED 8531 Crown Crescent Court, Charlotte, NC 28227 (800) 756-6474 I (704) 844-2434 I wecare@flxon.com ASK ABOUT OUR 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE!
astquarterHOUSEAD.qxp_Layout 1 3/25/20 6:41 PM Page 1
www.flxon.com
Web Blast
Reach thousands of potential customers by sending a targeted web blast to the entire online readership of Flexo Market News .
To take advantage of this opportunity contact:
Greg Kishbaugh / 317-306-1060 / flexo@nvpublications.com
Robyn Smith / 910-553-4055 / rsmith@nvpublications.com
Flexo Market News April 24, 2023 9
Uteco Plans Toronto Open House
Flexo Market News I nternet D irectory
Uteco, along with selected partners from the in- dustry, will be hosting a free one-day seminar in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on May 18, 2023. As a leader in developing a greener tomorrow, part of Uteco’s initiatives is about bringing the lat- est of market trends and technologies closer to its customers. The Flex-on-Road allows attendees to not only discover new technologies, but also net- work with professionals from all around the pack- aging world. Further details and information will be made available soon. Rev-A-Shelf, located in Louisville, Kentucky, pro- duces functional residential cabinet storage and or- ganizational products for kitchens, closets, and bath- rooms. The company employs approximately 435 people in a 315,000-square-foot facility, and their presence extends worldwide from the United States to Europe, Asia, and Mexico with factories, ware- houses and satellite offices to serve a customer base of kitchen dealers, architects, furniture manufactures, cabinet industry distributors and retail home centers. One of the ways Rev-A-Shelf adds value of quality, service, and innovation is within their custom pack- aging printed by Independent 2, a privately-owned and operated corrugated manufacturer who they’ve partnered with for more than 25 years. Independent 2’s capabilities include designing, manufacturing, warehousing, and delivering corru- gated and packaging that protect their customers’ products in-transit and sells them on store shelves. The company uses a Domino X630i digital aque- ous inkjet corrugated press to meet the needs of Rev-A-Shelf. Rev-A-Shelf Partners With Independent 2 “Digital printing has not only changed the way we look at our business, but it has actually opened up some other opportunities that would not have been available before,” said Steve Jones, Vice President of Consumer Sales at Rev-A-Shelf. Domino is a manufacturer and distributor of dig- ital printing and product identification solutions. Celebrating its 45th year in business, Domino is a global organization with world headquarters in the UK, and North America headquarters in Gurnee, Il- linois. Domino has 25 subsidiaries, representation in more than 120 countries, and more than 3,000 employees worldwide.
Adheso-Graphics, Inc. www.adheso-graphics.com
AGI manufactures, distributes and converts current technology flexo mounting tapes and backing sys - tems for corrugated plate mounting. Flexstik hard vinyl, FlexSoft, bi.esse brand, Gold Series. Thin tapes for sleeve and Narrow web plate mounting. Specialty tapes that cover the vast thick - ness range requirements and specific adhesion systems for all flexo mounting requirements. We provide technical service and problem solving ser - vices for unique customers & applications. A&V manufactures a complete line of photopolymer plate processing systems and is a leading distribu - tor of flexographic platemaking materials. A&V also sells digital imaging systems and software specifical - ly designed for flexography. Apex International www.apexinternational.com Anderson & Vreeland, Inc. www.andersonvreeland.com Apex International is an award-winning global lead - er of anilox rolls, sleeves, glue sets, metering prod - ucts, and print maintenance solutions. With five production facilities on four continents, a grow - ing portfolio of clients in over 80 countries, and a high-performance continuous-improvement culture, Apex’s mission is the customer’s production suc - cess. Through technical innovation, service, and manufacturing precision, Apex delivers reliable, durable, and predictable metering solutions to its client’s presses every day. ARC International www.ARCInternational.com ARC International is a world leader in the manufac - turing of roller products for flexography. The latest nanotechnology laser engraving in our Charlotte and Las Vegas manufacturing facilities ensures superior quality and consistency in anilox rollers. Eaglewood Technologies, LLC www.eaglewoodtech.com Eaglewood Technologies provides the award-winning Sitexco Laser Systems, Sanilox ™ Systems and Sani- Blast ™ Mobile Service. Sitexco Laser Systems are the latest technology in anilox roll cleaning and are perfect for packaging and label printers. Sanilox ™ Systems are the global standard of reliable, environmentally safe anilox roll cleaning. Sani-Blast ™ cleaning service has been cleaning rolls for over 20 years and offer several cleaning options to minimize downtime.
10 April 24, 2023 Flexo Market News
www.nvpublications.com
Avery Dennison Implements Carbon Footprinting Tool Avery Dennison Corporation is transitioning to a bespoke carbon footprinting tool created in collab- oration with the Carbon Trust to continue its drive toward transparency and continuous improvement in environmental impact measurement and report- ing on its label products. As customers and legislators demand more cred- ible information about product impacts and Avery Dennison seeks more accurate ways to measure im- provements within its processing and sourcing de- cisions, the Carbon Trust footprinting tool includes the use of verified primary data from Avery Den- nison’s operations to more accurately measure the impact of current and future label products. “As a company, we’ve monitored and assessed the sustainability of our products for the past ten years, and this is another important step forward in our goal of providing the most accurate infor- mation to our customers,” said Claudia Mariconda, Global Director Sustainability, Materials Group. “By implementing the Carbon Trust footprinting tool, we facilitate further transparency and offer customers a more trustworthy assessment of our label products’ impacts.”
The Carbon Trust footprinting tool is intended to provide information on the greenhouse gas and wa- ter footprint of an expanding array of Avery Denni- son’s label and packaging materials products glob- ally including selected faces, liners, and adhesives. The footprint reports are in line with the report- ing and verification methodology of GHG Protocol Product Standard, PAS2050 and ISO-14067. The Carbon Trust is a global climate consultancy driven by the mission to accelerate the move to a decarbonized future. It has been pioneering decar- bonization for more than 20 years for businesses, governments, and organisations around the world. Drawing on a network of more than 300 experts in- ternationally, the Carbon Trust guides organizations through their journey to Net Zero. Registration Opens For Labelexpo Europe Tarsus Group, organizer of the Labelexpo Global Series, has announced the opening of registration for Labelexpo Europe 2023. The show takes place between September 11-14 at Brussels Expo in Brus- sels, Belgium. This will be the first Labelexpo show in Europe since 2019.
For the latest, up-to-the minute news in the Flexo Industry — acquisitions, installations, market trends, personnel changes — visit FlexoMarketNews.com EVERY day. On your laptop or mobile device.
www.FlexoMarketNews.com
Flexo Market News April 24, 2023 11
People & Places
Flexo Market News I nternet D irectory
Wausau Coated Steve Luedke has been appointed new Vice Pres-
ident of Technology and Engineer- ing for Wausau Coated Products Inc., Wausau, Wisconsin. He joins the company with more than 25 years of label and packag- ing experience. Prior to his new role at Wausau Coated Products, Luedke held a va- riety of positions in industry leading companies including WS Packaging Group, MCC Label, and Innovairre.
DuPont Packaging Graphics www.cyrel.com/na
DuPont Packaging Graphics is the world’s leading supplier of flexographic printing systems in digital and conventional formats; including Cyrel® brand photopolymer plates, Cyrel® FAST processing equipment, Cyrel® round sleeves, mounting and fin - ishing products. For more than 35 years, beginning with Cyrel®, the first photopolymer printing plate, through to to - day’s digital workflow revolution, DuPont has been driving innovation in the Flexo and package printing industries. The Digital Cyrel® FAST imaging system has been broadly recognized for its efficiency, productivity, print performance, and environmental benefits. Flint Group www.flintgrp.com Flint Group Flexographic Products develops, man - ufacturers and markets an extensive portfolio of printing consumables, including: nyloflex ® photopoly - mer printing plates and processing equipment, and dayCorr ® die-cutting blankets and anvil covers. With a strong customer focus, unmatched service and support, and superior products, Flint Group strives to provide exceptional value, consistent quality and continuous innovation to customers around the world. Harper Corporation of America www.harperimage.com We’ve made ceramic anilox rolls longer than any - one in the world and pride ourselves on being the best in the world. Whether wide web, narrow web, newspaper, or corrugated markets, Harper continu - ously strives to bring new flexographic products and services to the printing industry that will improve the quality of your graphics. Flexotecnica’s patented Safe Sleeve Change ® system and Speedy Clean ® auto washup system are designed to give converters a competitive edge through Flexotecnica’s commitment to research and development. Sales, service and support for Flexo - tecnica presses is provided by KBA North America, Inc. in Dallas, Texas with U.S. resident technicians, an extensive spare parts inventory and an experi - enced, dedicated service staff. KBA-Flexotecnica – Get the Edge www.kba-flexotecnica.com/en/
Steve Luedke
During his tenure at WS Packaging/MCC he served in several key roles including business & market development manager, and director of engineering, North America. He also held the role of Chief Engineering Officer, Domestic Platform at Innovairre. In his new role, Luedke will be responsible for R&D/technical compliance; equipment capability; and quality control. ACTEGA ACTEGA, a manufacturer of specialty coatings,
inks, adhesives, sealants and com- pounds for the print and packag- ing industry, has announced two high-profile management appoint- ments.
Andrei Sotkeviciene, who was previously managing director of ACTEGA do Brasil, will assume the role of President for ACTEGA North America. His successor, Car- los Mateluna already took over the position as Managing Director of ACTEGA do Brasil at the beginning of March. Since joining ALTANA Group in 2014, Sotkev- iciene has held key roles in ACTEGA do Brasil, such as CFO, and became Managing Director in 2019. Additionally, Sotkeviciene played a major role to combine the acquired businesses of Overlake and Premiata into ACTEGA do Brasil. Mateluna, previously Managing Director of ACTE- GA Terra Chile, has been part of the ACTEGA world since the beginning of his professional career in 2008 and has played a key role in developing its strategic direction, as well as driving operational excellence in ACTEGA in major parts of South and Central America. Andrei Sotkeviciene
12 April 24, 2023 Flexo Market News
Constantia Flexibles Acquires Lászlópack
Industry Events
Constantia Flexibles, a manufacturer in the flex- ible packaging industry, has acquired Lászlópack Kft., a Hungarian flexible packaging producer spe- cializing in flexo printing. The move allows Con- stantia to further extend its European flexo printing platform. “We are growing with Lászlópack,” said Pim Ver- vaat, CEO of Constantia Flexibles. “We share a common vision to serve our customers with more eco-friendly, innovative packaging solutions. This acquisition further seizes new growth opportuni- ties for Lászlópack to grow outside of Hungary as well as for us to support their customers with our more sustainable product offerings.” Established in 1998, Lászlópack is a local cham- pion in its domestic flexible packaging market and has reportedly shown a strong track record of growth. Over the recent years, Constantia Flexi- bles was able to expand its European flexo printing platform through the international acquisitions of Propak in Turkey, FFP Packaging Solutions in Great Britain, Drukpol in Poland, and now Lászlópack in Hungary. “Our partnership with Constantia Flexibles marks a significant milestone in our growth journey,” said Szabolcs László, CEO of Lászlópack. “It’s a strategic collaboration rooted in our mutual dedication to offering the finest flexible packaging solutions. We can now serve more customers around the world and make a significant impact in developing more eco-friendly packaging options. Customers will benefit from an expanded portfolio of products and services fueled by the cooperation with Constantia Flexibles.” Export Countries Lászlópack Kft. operates a plant in Komarom, about 100km northwest of Budapest. Around 87 employees mainly serve food applications to the lo- cal market and selected export countries. The financial terms of the deal have not been dis- closed. Constantia Flexibles is reportedly the world’s third-largest producer of flexible packaging. Based on the guiding principle of ‘People, Passion, Pack- aging’, some 8,700 employees manufacture packag- ing solutions at 37 sites in 17 countries. Sustainability is a priority in product development at Constantia Flexibles: the company was rated Level A- by Climate Change Leadership (CDP) and Gold by EcoVadis in 2022.
Labelexpo Europe September 11-14, 2023 Brussels Convention Center Brussels, Belgium
FTA Fall Conference October 9-11, 2023 Louisville, Kentucky
TLMI Annual Meeeting October 15-17, 2023 The Broadmoor Colorado Springs, CO
Labelexpo Asia December 5-8, 2023 SNIEC Shanghai, China
Labelexpo Americas September 10-12, 2024 Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois
FTA Annual Meeting May 4-7, 2025 David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Flexo Market News April 24, 2023 13
Koenig & Bauer Koenig & Bauer has made a step in strengthening its corrugated sales team by naming Kevin Erbe as its new National Sales Manager of Koenig & Bauer. Erbe will report to Koenig & Bau- er Senior Vice President of Sales Ran Landau and starts his new po- sition immediately. Erbe has a long career in the man- ufacturing sector with extensive People & Places
Get your company in front of the flexo industry’s key decisionmakers. Flexo Market News ’ readership is comprised of Presidents, Owners, VPs and General Managers of flexo operations — the key people who make decisions on equipment purchases. An ad in Flexo Market News is a direct sales meeting with thousands of the industry’s best thinkers and most influental leaders. Reach the Decisionmakers
Kevin Erbe
knowledge of the packaging and corrugated mar- kets. His most previous position was as Vice Pres- ident of Sales for an international manufacturer of corrugated machinery products that includes flexo folder gluers, full corrugators, corrugating compo- nents and corrugating rolls. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering. Erbe will be attending various trade shows includ- ing AICC and TAPPI events and visiting current cus- tomers and potential prospects on behalf of Koenig & Bauer. KDV After 28 years, Shane Vaughn, President and CEO of KDV Label, LLC, will be retiring from his role
Flexo Market News® is published bi-weekly by NV Busi- ness Publishers Corporation, in association with Board Converting News®, International Paper Board Industry®, Folding Carton Industry®, and Board Converting News In- ternational. Marketing and Circulation offices: PO Box 802, Manasquan, NJ 08736-0802, Phone: (732) 245-3702. Subscription Rates in U.S. and Canada $60 per year or $105 for two years. Overseas rate per year $80 USD. Current issue single copies (pre-paid only) $5.00 in U.S. (elsewhere $7.50); add $5.00 per order for shipping & handling. No part of this publica- tion may be transmitted or reproduced without permission from the publisher.
as CEO and stepping away from KDV at the end of April 2023. The organization’s Board of Directors has unanimously approved the ap- pointment of Keith Walz as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately. Walz currently serves as the organization’s Chief Finan- cial Officer (CFO).
Keith Walz
Robyn Smith - President/Publisher Len Prazych - Vice President
Under Vaughn’s leadership, the organization grew more than four- fold to become a nationally recognized label solu- tions provider. Walz has served the organization as its CFO since 2021. Prior to joining KDV, he was President of Os- born, LLC, a manufacturer of industrial metal finish- ing products and before that was the Vice President of Corporate M&A for Brady Corporation. NAStar John Short has been promoted to Vice President of NAStar Inc. A graduate of the University of Wis- consin, Short began his career with NAStar in field sales and evolved into marketing management.
Greg Kishbaugh - Editor/Co-Publisher Phone: (317) 306-1060 email: flexo@nvpublications.com
Michelle McIntyre - Circulation Christine Eckert - Accounting Manager Jackie Schultz - Contributing Editor T.J. Vilardi - Webmaster/Social Media Coordinator
Tom Vilardi (1961-2018) Chairman Ted Vilardi (1933-2013) - Founder ©2023 NV. Publications All Rights Reserved www.nvpublications.com
14 April 24, 2023 Flexo Market News
EXPAND THE REACH OF YOUR MARKETING MESSAGE! Expand Your Marketing Message
Leverage your message to your customers and potential customers with the power and credibility of Flexo Market News behind it. Sponsor a weekly Monday issue or we’ll send out an e-blast any day of the week to our full on-line circulation. You provide the copy, images and/or link to a video or website and we’ll do the rest for only $1000. An N.V. Publication Market News FLEX ® Serving The Flexographic Printing Industry In Print and Online at www.nvpublications.com Give your digital marketing campaign a boost! Call or write today: .
xo_Header_Layout 1 1/29/15 11:54 AM Page 1
Greg Kishbaugh (317) 306-1060 flexo@nvpublications.com
Flexo Plates that are optimized for UV LED exposure deliver benefits to you!
Cyrel ® Lightning Technology – Winner of the 2022 FTA Award!
Up to 42% higher productivity*
Improved plate and print quality
*comparing LSH67 vs DPR67
© 2022 DuPont. DuPont™, the DuPont Oval Logo, and all trademarks and service marks denoted with™, SM or ® are owned by affiliates of DuPont de Nemours, Inc. unless otherwise noted.
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software