Perhaps it proved the old saw that if you invent a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door—or at least to your booth.

While the attendee crowds were not what they were at past CMM Intl. shows, those exhibitors with truly new or innovative converting machinery, equipment or materials at this year's event were rewarded with abundant sales leads from legitimate buyers. We've included a sampling of some of the more interesting introductions here.

When Converting editors were able to poke their heads out of the official CMM Show Daily pressroom (located right in our booth #1058), we were pleased to see plenty of deals being made on the show floor, and to be able to photograph them for the daily publication. We've also included many of those photos here.

The Polaris from Fife Co. (Oklahoma City) is a new web guide-controller designed around requests from converters who operate and maintain equipment. The Fife Polaris is a reliable, multifunctional web-guide controller for consistent feedback and control of web position. Operators no longer need to learn special codes to set up web guides. A digital display capable of full line text and simplified key commands make the setup and operation process easier than ever.

Also new from Fife is the DAC-004 digital camera sensor which enables converters to guide a wide range of difficult-to-sense materials from nonwovens to steel, and includes innovative software. The Fife DAC-004 sensor uses 7,450 pixels and can sense up to four edges of material web width, with a high resistance to contamination.

The Cygnus from MAGPOWR (Fenton, MO) is a dramatically different tension control as operators use on-screen prompts, displayed in full text, to easily navigate through control functions and codes to simplify setup. Web tension is maintained or adjusted using Smartkeys, and a large backlit display for easy viewing on the MAGPOWR Cygnus.

The GX Series of lightweight core shafts from Tidland Corp. (Camas, WA) are the latest ergonomic product line to help reduce back injuries from lifting heavy steel shafts. These new aluminum-extrusion shafts are said to be one-third the weight of traditional steel shafts, and even half the weight of lighter composite shafts. With performance equal to heavier products, the Tidland GX Series is also available at a much lower cost than either composite or steel.

Menononee Falls, WI-based Enercon Industries adds both ribbon and drilled-port flame methods to its full line of chemical-plasma and corona-discharge surface-treatment systems. Flame ionization of hydrocarbon gases polarizes the surface for high-treatment levels, low decay rates, no pin-holing, and no ozone, solvent or UV emissions.

The SHM 1450 dual-rotary sheeter from Körber PaperLink North America (Windsor, CT) made its US debut at CMM. Three models (dual rotary, high speed and compact) are flexible, multi-purpose folio sheeters designed to provide high-quality, efficient sheeting of materials from paper and board to films, foils and plastics. With a maximum web width of 57 in., the sheeter is capable of a wide range of cut-off lengths from cut-size dimensions to folio sizes. All models are manufactured by Körber PaperLink operating company Pemco Inc. (Sheboygan, WI).

The new family of Genius® color-vision inspection systems from Applied Vision Co. (Akron, OH) uses advanced imaging technology, software algorithms and a user interface to provide package printers with convenient, accurate color measurement. Traditional colorimeters cannot simultaneously measure multiple color points in a complex pattern. The Genius IC uses a high-resolution digital camera, intelligent pattern locator and precise calibration for "Smart" color measurement. Values include Delta E, Delta Lab, RGB and CMY. The Genius IQ imaging qualification system is a process-QC solution for web, gravure, flexo and offset presses. It checks for color variation, hazing, misregistration, streaks, spots and spatial defects.

Rapid-changeover gravure printing is no longer an oxymoron with Valmet Converting's (Charlotte, NC) new gearless Rotomec 4000-4ES press. A combination of automated trolleys, computerized setup, electronic lineshafting, motorized doctor blades and significantly less ink used per unit results in an 8-color press changeover of reportedly less than 30 min. Designed primarily for flex-pack printing of various substrates, the 4000-4ES has a 20 percent shorter web path per station, handles 800 and 1,400 mm web widths, runs at 350 mpm, and allows for inline cold-seal printing. The press will be demonstrated at Valmet's Italian plant open house during this month's GEC 2003 in Milan.

If there had been a prize for "most reliably crowded booth each day of the show," VIPColor (Newark, CA) could have laid claim to it, with visitors elbowing each other for a look at the newly introduced VP8020 digital color printer. Using an innovative "cool-fusion" imaging engine, converters can cost-effectively produce short- and medium-runs of high-quality color labels, tags and forms on demand, at a lower capital cost than with any equipment in its class. CEO Sean Marske told Converting in an interview at the show April 16 that his company had already taken orders for 10 units in the first three days of CMM.

Advanced Vision Technology (Greenwich, CT) debuted the PrintVision/Helios with new and enhanced features specifically designed for label printers, including the ability to detect process and random faults, inspect 100 percent of the web 100 percent of the time, and alert operators to every defect. The system employs an LCCD camera that can be used either during a press run, or on a rewinder or other finishing equipment to create a Quality Assurance Station.

Riverwood International (Marietta, GA) exhibited a new high compression-strength cartonboard called Sustain. It is the latest addition to the company's line of coated unbleached kraft products, which are collectively branded SUS® and which are known for high strength and printability. Sustain is made of two sheets of equal caliper SUS board, which is laminated brown-to-brown so there is clay coating on both sides.

The product is offered in three calipers: 32-, 36- and 40-pt, and features four key benefits: it withstands compression and humidity; provides maximum carton integrity, converting efficiency, and packaging line performance; expands graphic capability and end-user marketing opportunities; and enhances profitability.

New from Flint Ink (Ann Arbor, MI) is the Proflex™ TNT™ water-based ink system for paper towels. It delivers a high level of color strength that resists chemical effects from wines, beverages, spirits, liquid cleansers and grease.

Printers can produce paper towels with superior graphic quality that adds impact on the retail shelf and offers improved end-use performance.

As covered in our May 2003 News section, CMM Intl. 2003 drew 22,000 attendees amid optimism about an upswing in the US economy in general and in the converting industry in particular.

Editor's note: For more photos and statistics from the 2003 show, visit Paperloop's CMM Web site at www.cmmshow.com. Mark your long-range calendars, as CMM Intl. stages its comeback April 18-21, 2005, at Chicago's McCormick Place.