In The News

PRINT 05 & CONVERTING 05 Promises to be Blockbuster Event

Companies that supply innovative equipment and services to the commercial, package printing, publishing and converting industry are gearing up for the industry's largest and most important event of the year, PRINT® 05 & CONVERTINGSM 05. The show will run September 9-15 at the McCormick Place Complex in Chicago. About 70,000 people are expected to attend, viewing nearly 800 company exhibits, which will fill about 750,000 square feet of exhibit space. (www.print05.com)

"This will be the show not to miss as converters strive to stay competitive with new technology," said Nelson Stevens, President of Independent Machinery, Inc., which will occupy 1,500 square feet in Booth 10037. Show visitors can expect to see innovative products which are unlike anything they have ever seen before, including the latest innovations in in-line finishing, die-cutting, printing, and more. Another large exhibitor is Print Craft Supply and Carton Craft Supply, which will display in the 800 square-foot Booth 234.

From the largest exhibitors to the smallest, they're anticipating an unequalled opportunity this September. Jay Skinner, director of sales at Stratis Corporation, describes Print 05 & Converting 05 as "THE trade show to discover the latest technology and trends in the industry."

Prepress Training Solution (www.prepresstraining.com), a division of StaffingTools, Inc.,is preparing a host of special appearances and new course demonstrations for PRINT 05, including "Tips & Tricks" sessions led by industry experts including Taz Tally and Jim Rich and the introduction of new online training courses. Also at PRINT 05, the Ghent PDF Workgroup (GWG) plans to debut 2005 PDF/X print and packaging specifications and best practices for international document exchange, among other events (see www.ghentpdfworkgroup.org).

CPP Expo and Pack Expo Promote 'Industry Week' in Las Vegas

A unique cooperative marketing agreement promotes cross-over participation among the "Industry Week" participants, all of whom are holding events in Las Vegas the week of September 26, 2005. The producers of CPP Expo and PMMI formed a cooperative marketing arrangement that allows for cross-over attendance between their expositions. CPP Expo is taking place at the Sands Expo & Convention Center and Pack Expo Las Vegas (see page 68) is taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, concurrently September 26-28, 2005.

The CPP/Pack Expo cooperative agreement includes: honoring badges for respective events; promoting attendance at both venues; supplying information counters for respective events at each venue; complimentary shuttle service between venues; and providing tools for ease of navigation between events and all converting-related association events in Las Vegas the week of September 26th. "With travel budgets and resources for education and research becoming tighter for converting operations, being able to provide basically 'one-stop-shopping' for thousands of converters and packaging professionals will be the key to the success of this event," says Leo Nadolske, president of CPP Expo.

Converters can attend CPP Expo to see the latest technology and equipment available to them for their operation, and then attend Pack Expo Las Vegas to see what their customers' needs might be in the not too distant future, thus allowing them to adapt their technologies and strategies to ensure their customers' success.

In addition, both show management teams have extended complimentary exhibit passes to TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp & Paper Industry) conference delegates. Registration for CPP Expo allows you to request details on all meetings that comprise what has come to be known as "Industry Week" — organization meetings and events that include AIMCAL, CEMA, Adhesive & Sealant Council, RADTECH, AICC (Regions I & II), Film and Bag Federation, Composite Can, and Tube Institute. "We are bringing the industry and supply chain together for the first time in decades," says Nadolske. Visit www.cppexpo.com.

'Digital Dynamic' Event at Prestige Label's Plant Expansion

Prestige Label welcomed dozens of label designers, buyers, and packaging engineers to its new facility on May 18th for a full day of hands-on education about the latest innovations that digital technology has fostered within the realm of label design, printing, and converting. The event, entitled "Digital Dynamic," brought together leading industry experts from HP-Indigo, DuPont, Pitman, and Artwork Systems to present their revolutionary technologies in a live, real-time, state-of-the-art production environment.

The event's introductory presentation by Elisha Tropper, president of Prestige Label, focused the attendees on the impact of digital technologies on label design and printing. Tropper defined technological advances as relevant to businesses only if they served to boost profits by increasing revenues or reducing costs. HP's Matt Gindele followed by presenting "HP Digital: Accelerating the Transformation," in which he reviewed the emergence of computer-to-press digital printing, focusing on the marketing potential of variable image and information printing.

The "Digital Prepress and Workflows" session was presented by Paul Begntson, v.p. national accounts for Artwork Systems, and focused on time-saving and accuracy-enhancing benefits of working within a fully digital workflow environment. Computer-to-plate digital platemaking was the focus of DuPont's Wayde Clark, who provided an in-depth explanation of the migration from analog to digital plates. Attendees also toured Prestige's Digital Printing Operation, a pristine, climate-controlled, laboratory-like production environment featuring the latest in high-definition digital press technology. (info@prestigelabel.com)

APLIX Launches Fastener Technology That's Produced With Injection-Molding

APLIX's new inter-mold® technology is the improved method of integrally molding a field of hooks within an injection-molded part. The French and U.S. company is the direct descendant of Velco France, having changed their name after the patent expired in 1976. The company is still a leader in hook-and-loop self-gripping fasteners, and this technology, which they license to manufacturers, is an extension of their product offerings.

As pictured, the hooks can now be formed simultaneously during injection molding of plastic items. The field of hooks can be designed in any shape and size and located virtually anywhere on the part. The molds are designed to be implemented in-line in as little as six weeks, and APLIX has found this technology to be compatible with polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, acetyl, and thermo-plastic urethanes. (www.aplix.com)

Trademark Ruling Upheld on Quaker State's Clear Oil Bottles

Apparently, it was a clear-cut issue for the U.S. Court of Appeals, as the Pennzoil-Quaker State Company failed to overturn last May's decision by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, which determined that the transparency of Pennzoil's motor oil bottles cannot be trademarked.

Texaco successfully opposed Pennzoil-Quaker State's registration of the clear containers for motor oil before the Board. Texaco Inc., a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation, was represented by William G. Pecau, a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP.

The Board said that Pennzoil was trying through its clear bottle application to be the only motor oil marketer who could actually show its motor oil, and this would require all its competitors to hide their products in opaque containers. The Board determined, in line with the Supreme Court's Traffix decision, that this was a non-reputational advantage that would not be countenanced under trademark law.

Mr. Pecau added that for purposes of completeness, the Board also evaluated Pennzoil's evidence of "acquired distinctiveness" for the transparency of its motor oil bottles, which could be argued was trademarkable. The Board also found the company's proof on this topic fell far short. On June 10th, the Court "clearly" ruled that no one could have exclusive right to a clear bottle.

Esko-Graphics Celebrates 1000th Kongsberg Table

Esko-Graphics announced that it has produced and installed the 1000th Kongsberg XL sample-making table worldwide. Italian partner B+B International has installed the system at the Ferrara plant of SCA Packaging Italia. The Kongsberg XL tables are part of the Kongsberg product family, manufactured in Kongsberg, Norway, which also include the DCM and i-XL series.

The highly successful XL Kongsberg tables have been installed in more than 75 countries across the globe and firmly cemented Esko-Graphics' market leading position as a supplier of CAM tables to the packaging world. The Kongsberg products are highly recognized for their reliability and longevity, and have been subject to continued feature updates and improvements. The just-launched i-XL series integrates the Mikkelsen Graphic Engineering (MGE) i-cut® vision system and i-script™ workflow for perfect print to cut registration. This solution complements the printing of packages, signs, displays and POP materials with a unique finishing solution that provides automation with high productivity and high precision for the widest range of soft and rigid materials.