Kidder joins Comexi group: Girona, Spain-based converting supplier Comexi Group expands in the U.S. and Canada by investing Nov. 8 in pressmaker Kidder Inc., Agawam, Mass. Comexi, a provider of flexo presses, solventless laminators, slitters and ancillary equipment, provides a broader range of products to Kidder, which is now headquarters for all Comexi and Kidder sales, service and parts.

A dream come true: Becker, Minn.-based Liberty Diversified Industries' Paper and Packaging group forms a new division Oct. 29. Dreamworks Coating Solutions™ will enable LDI to add coated paper to its product list, making it one of the only coating solution providers in the Midwest to offer rollstock coated offline, says the co. The new division houses a 98-in. Jagenberg coater for custom stock in numerous coating and paper combinations.

That's a lotta labels: More than 32 billion sq meters of converted-label materials will be shipped worldwide in 2005, according to a new study by The Freedonia Group, Cleveland. The researcher forecasts global label shipments to rise nearly 7 percent annually over the next four years, reaching a total value of $61.5 billion in 2005. The U.S. market is projected to reach sales of 8.03 billion sq meters in 2005, climbing an average of 5.1 percent a year. Freedonia estimates U.S. shipments were 6.26 billion sq meters last year.

Digital prepress marches on: Two recent technology applications stand out. Norcross, Ga.-based Rock-Tenn installs multiple CreoScitex CTP devices and digital workflows across its folding-carton operations in North America. Rock-Tenn will make its entire sheetfed carton operations 100-percent digital by the fourth quarter of 2002. And OEC Graphics, Oshkosh, Wis., installs DuPont's Cyrel® FAST System, increasing its capacity for digital-flexo platemaking. A solventless system, the product processes, post-exposes and finishes digital plates after laser ablation. OEC says it chose the system for its thermal characteristics, eliminating the drying stage of plate processing as well as the need to handle, recycle or dispose of chemicals.

The value of consumer nondurable products shipped faded dramatically during the summer and early fall of 2001, says economic analyst Daryl Delano. But most market sectors should record stronger growth during 2002—led by anxiety-laced demand for more alcoholic beverages and antibiotics.

The ninth annual Excellence in Holography Awards were bestowed on several outstanding holographic projects during the HoloPack-HoloPrint 2001 conference Nov. 15 in Miami. Honored by the Intl. Hologram Mfrs. Assn. and Reconnaissance Intl., winners broke new ground by including architectural works, color-reflection holography and new embossed products from around the world. Among the converted-product winners were:

The Spalding Infusion Basketball carton from IHP/ITW Holographic and Specialty Products, Wavefront, Hazen Paper Co. and Inland Container. The companies' combined efforts yielded an overprinted, holographic, laminated box used to launch a novel high-end basketball with an integrated "air pump" feature.

The Moet+Chandon champagne carton resulted when API Foils Ltd., and Henry & Leigh Slater Ltd. produced one of the largest packaging runs ever for a premium product using 3D-holography printed in register to create an alluring graphic effect.

The MICO Diesel Filter box by India-based Paper Products Ltd., Everest Holovisions Ltd., and Songsan Co. Ltd. combined capabilities to convert a holographic folding carton that both protects the product from counterfeits and positions it as a premium brand.

The Nestle Ltd. India shrink label employed The Paper Products Ltd., Everest Holovisions Ltd., and Songsan Co. Ltd. to jointly develop an innovative holographic, tamper-proof, label that is now used on shrink-wrapped products.

More info: www.ihma.org