Five in a row: Watertown, WI-based converter NorthStar Print Group earns a "Partners in Excellence" Quality Award from Miller Brewing Co., Milwaukee, for the fifth consecutive year. NorthStar produces the majority of Miller's labels and became the brewer's sole source of glue-applied labels in 2001. This year, only 39 awards were bestowed on a total of 24 companies from a field of 8,500 suppliers.

Foiling drug packs: Hueck Folien GmbH & Co. KG begins construction on a new pharmaceutical-foil manufacturing plant in Pirkmuehle, Germany. The first stage of the new facility, set to open this year, features a 13,000-sq-ft production area with two new machines dedicated solely to the global drug-foil market. Initial investment is reportedly $7.9 million, and the plant is expected to create about 100 new jobs.

Changing owners, not business plans: Hayward, CA-based Spectrum Label Corp. has been purchased by Jerry Kwok, former vice president and general manager of the company. He acquired Spectrum Label from founder and president Alan Leeson, who has retired after operating the company for the past 34 years. Spectrum Label converts labels and flexible packaging. The firm has received more than 150 printing awards from worldwide competitions.

Adding to global capacity: Stamford, CT-based MeadWestvaco Corp. buys Kartoncraft Ltd., an Irish converter of pharmaceutical packaging, for an undisclosed sum April 15. Located in Dublin, Kartoncraft employs about 80 workers and also produces packaging for consumer electronics, beverage and food customers.

Going gearless: Flex-pack converter Nina Plastics, Orlando, FL, purchases a Novo-flex® CI-flexo press and a Varex® blown-film extrusion line from Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp., Lincoln, RI. The film line will be shipped in September, and the press is expected to arrive in October. The 52-in. wide, 8-color gearless Novoflex is a direct-drive press designed for fast changeover using sleeve technology. The 83-in. wide, 3-layer Varex employs the Optifil® P2 system with a new Filmatic® T dual-turret winder.

Sticky business: Philadelphia-based adhesive, sealant and coating supplier Rohm & Haas Co. invests $20 million to build a new facility in Mumbai, India. The plant will produce materials for flex-pack applications and pressure-sensitive coating and serve the domestic Indian market as well as export to Asia-Pacific customers. Construction is expected to be complete by 2003.

Marketing, labor-saving and source-reduction qualities will drive growth of high-visibility packaging, says a new Freedonia Group study. Electronics, pharmaceuticals and medical devices will be top carded-blister markets, while cosmetics and toiletries will lead end uses for new upscale, windowed packaging.

AIMCAL adds a full track of courses to its Summer School curriculum and extends the 2002 session by one day. Scheduled for July 22-25 at the Executive Park Marriott in Charlotte, NC, the event now consists of four tracks: Introductory, Intermediate, Technical Management and Web Handling/Converting.

Courses include one four-day course— Web Handling; three two-day classes— Creative Problem Solving, Intro to Vacuum Coating, or Coating Solutions; and six day-long sessions—Experimental Design and Control, Improving Product and Process Development, Intro to Web Coating, Intro to Film Substrates, Gravure Coating, and Radiant Heat in the Web Dryer. To provide additional networking time, there is a mixer scheduled for Tuesday night and a Meet the Experts Q&A reception with instructors on Wednesday night.

Full course details and registration information is available from AIMCAL at 803/802-7820, www.aimcal.org