The Converting Curmudgeon

I’m definitely NOT a big drinker. I might have a beer while watching a football game. I might have a glass of wine during Christmas or New Year’s Eve dinner, but that’s about it. And the last time I had hard liquor, it was a Dewar’s while flying home from the UK in business c...

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Don’t know what to get your “environmentalist” friend or loved one for Christmas? Paper-based packaging converter Cascades has the answer: A decorative tree made from 100% recycled paperboard. In collaboration with Italian tree-designer/partner Reno De Medici, Cascades recently lau...

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With a restful weekend now gone, I’ve sufficiently recovered from last week’s PACK EXPO / CPP EXPO. Here are a few “Converting Curmudgeon” thoughts on the annual packaging and converting tradeshow adventure. * After a scaled-back Graph Expo earlier this fall and the demise...

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PACK EXPO International (the Chicago edition) is one of the few “absolutely-can’t-miss” trade shows for our industry. Nowhere else can you see the entire spectrum of raw and finished materials, components, equipment and machinery for designing, converting, manufacturing and ultimat...

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As the US slowly but surely pulls out of The Great Recession (despite continued high unemployment), big-name converters are reporting strong (and even record) Q3 2010 results. Here’s a look at three of the first reports to appear. MeadWestvaco The Richmond, VA-based converter is showing h...

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A highlight for converters at next week’s PACK EXPO International 2010 in Chicago will be dozens of companies exhibiting their latest developments in primary film substrates. These materials are ready and waiting for further value-added converting by printing and lamination into the packaging ...

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With 10 days to go before the opening of the biggest packaging and converting tradeshows in the world this year—PACK EXPO International and CPP EXPO, here’s a quick Converting Curmudgeon look at what you need to get ready for these events. WHAT: 1,600 exhibitors, 45,000 attendees WHERE...

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Converting Quarterly will exhibit at Printed Electronics USA 2010. Visit our booth and follow my on-site reports on Twitter. -CC By Dr. Peter Harrop, chairman, IDTechEx Every major consumer goods company now has a program to adopt printed electronics throughout its activities. When we at IDTechEx&...

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“Patent Law Fundamentals for Business and Technical Leaders,” a FREE, one-hour seminar will be offered by Converting Quarterly during PACK EXPO International / CPP EXPO 2010. Set for Tuesday, November 2, the program will run from 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon in McCormick Place East, Room E-451....

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With four digital pressmakers on hand and some lively audience interaction, the “Digital Printing for Packaging” session at Graph Expo 2010 earlier this week certainly emphasized one thing: Digital print is certainly not just for labels anymore. Moderated by industry consultant Kevin ...

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