Golden, CO folding-carton converter Graphic Packaging Intl. Corp. has won the first RadTech Graphic Arts Focus Group Technology Award, which was presented at the RadTech North America fall 2002 meeting in Chicago. Graphic Packaging was recognized for its "industry vision and innovation in the development of UV/EB technology for food packaging."

"By implementing UV and EB technology, Graphic Packaging has been able to better serve its customers by offering a greater selection of cost effective packaging solutions," says David Biro of Sun Chemical and RadTech Graphic Arts co-chair. "While the various uses of UV and EB by Graphic Packaging are impressive," says Don Duncan of Wikoff Color, and RadTech Graphic Arts co-chair, "it also points to the truly widespread and common use of our technology in food packaging."

Accepting the award for Graphic Packaging was Arthur Rideout, a just-retired 43-year veteran of Graphic Packaging who has been involved with UV/EB for over 14 years.

UV and EB are high value, rapid throughput processes offering the virtual elimination of emissions and lower energy consumption compared with traditional methods—providing manufacturers with a safe, fast and efficient pollution prevention technology, says RadTech. As a result, the industry continues to grow at over twice the rate of traditional processes.