Desen Matbaacilik, an Ankara, Turkey-based package printer, was both introduced to and sold on a new Mark Andy (St. Louis) LP3000 label press during this fall's Labelexpo Europe 2003 in Brussels, Belgium. The system will be the converter's first flexographic press.

New York City-based high-end packaging converter AGI Klearfold installs a new KBA Rapida (Williston, VT) 142 sheetfed-offset press at its plant in Melrose Park, IL. The system, which handles materials up to 40 x 56 in., is a formidable 123 ft long and boasts seven print units, a perfector after the first printing unit, a coater, an inter-unit dryer, additional coater and dryer, an eighth print unit and delivery extension.

Anhui Guofeng Group, a plastics processor located in Hefei, China, reportedly commissions the first 10-meter-wide primary slitter/rewinder for plastic film in China. Supplied by the Atlas division of Valmet Converting (Charlotte, NC), the slitter will be used to convert BOPP film. Anhui Guofeng is an existing Atlas customer, having installed a 6.8-meter-wide machine in 1996. The new 10-meter Atlas slitter will eventually process 35,000 metric tons/yr of the company's plastic-film production. The Anhui Guofeng system is only the fourth 10-meter-wide primary film slitter in the world, Atlas says.

Fitchburg, MA-based folding-carton printer Boutwell, Owens & Co. installs a new 40-in. Diamond Tandem sheetfed-offset press from Mitsubishi Lithographic Presses USA (Lincolnshire, IL). Boutwell Owens manufactures printed-paperboard packaging including blister cards, skin-packaging sheets, stretch-pack cards, folding cartons and POP displays. Boutwell's new press is a 10-unit system with back printing.