• Graphic Solutions forges Israeli alliance: The Burr Ridge, IL-based p-s label converter signs a deal April 30 with Power Paper Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel, to license the first US manufacturing line for roll-to-roll battery production. The equipment is capable of producing hundreds of millions of thin, flexible, eco-friendly energy cells per year, GSI says. Batteries converted at GSI will be integrated into Power Paper's two PowerCosmetics™ product lines of microelectronic patches, among other products.
• UK's The Label Makers orders third Nilpeter press: Growing demand for p-s labels among wine and spirits customers prompts TLM to purchase another M-3300 combination press. Due for installation in June, the press will be installed at TLM's newly expanded plant in Bradford, England. The UV-equipped press will have seven offset units, a rotary screen unit, hot-foil and embossing stations and a flexo-varnishing unit. It complements two existing M-3300s installed about 18 months ago.
• TLMI, FFTA set joint fall tech conference: The two associations' event, to be held Sept. 10-12 at the Hyatt Re-gency Hotel in Chicago, is titled "Science or Science Fiction: Bringing Technology Into Focus." The conference is designed to help plant and production managers uncover the "truths and myths" about printing technology. More info: www.tlmi.com
• Netherlands plant deal zipped up: Manteno, IL-based reseal-technology provider Zip-Pak will build a new manufacturing plant in Winschot-en, The Netherlands. Production is expected to begin in late 2003. The plant will allow European converters to meet growing demand for resealability in the marketplace. "European consumers want packaging that can conveniently be resealed to protect product freshness," says Robert Hogan, Zip-Pak sales and marketing director.
• Changing hands: Grand Junction, CO-based Western Slope Industries agrees April 28 to acquire the assets of converting-machinery maker International Paper Box Machine Co. of Nashua, NH. WSI will assume ownership of all assets and intellectual property of IPBM's general folding-carton equipment, and Multifold machinery, parts and equipment.

Lawsuit blocks UPM-Kymmene acquisition of MACtac: The US Dept. of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit April 15, seeking to block Finland-based UPM-Kymmene's Raflatac subsidiary from acquiring the MACtac pressure-sensitive labeling materials business of Bemis Co., Minneapolis. Court proceedings are expected to begin in early June 2003.

For its part, UPM-Kymmene believes strongly that the acquisition is pro-competition and therefore pro-customer and intends to vigorously defend the acquisition, the company says. Raflatac is a relatively small player in the US labelstock market, and the MACtac acquisition would allow Raflatac to introduce a full line of products in the US and compete more efficiently, it says. Even after the MACtac acquisition, Raflatac would have a market share in the US of only about 15 percent, UPM-Kymmene says.

Separately, UPM-Kymmene announced its willingness to cooperate with the Antitrust Div. of the Justice Dept. in its "criminal investigation into possible price fixing and other forms of collusion in the labelstock industry." As of presstime, the company has not received any details of the investigation or any requests for information.

On August 21 last year, Bemis signed an agreement to sell its MACtac division to UPM-Kymmene. Simultaneously, Bemis announced it would purchase UPM-Kymmene's Walki Films Division. Walki Films is a major European manufacturer of packaging films sold primarily to the meat, cheese, and other fresh-food markets. The Walki purchase was completed in October 2002.