Madison, WI-based converting-machinery maker Machine Works, Inc., is acquired by Ideal Mfg. & Sales Corp., also of Madison. Machine Works will become a division of Ideal and be headed by newly appointed vp Richard Pesch. Machine Works specializes in converting equipment with a particular emphasis on web-handling and sheeting applications in the paper, film, foil, and plastics industries. New address for Machine Works: 4607 Dovetail Dr., Madison, WI 53704, 800/383-1128, 608/241-1118, fax: 608/241-4448.

Prepress vendor Creo, Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada, acquires Feb. 17 a printing-plate manufacturing facility in Middleway, WV, from Spectratech Intl., Inc. Under the terms of the deal, Creo acquires both the assets and working capital of Spectratech for approximately $19.3 million.

Web-inspection system supplier TruColor Vision Systems, Inc., LaGrange, GA, opens a European subsidiary via a joint venture with LR Products, Barcelona, Spain. The new sales, assembly and support center will direct the European activities of TruColor's line of web-inspection equipment including automatic register control, and automatic defect analysis of color and bar-code quality.

Converting-equipment manufacturer Catbridge Machinery LLC relocates its headquarters and plant to new expanded facilities in Parsippany, NJ. The move was made to accommodate significant business growth in the past year. New address: 222 New Rd., Parsippany, NJ 07054, 973/808-0029, fax: 973/808-0076, www.catbridge machinery.com.

Lenox, MA-based GL & V USA, Inc., purchases the assets of slitter/rewinder manufacturer Elite Cameron, Inc. Under the terms of the deal, GL&V now owns the proprietary rights and technical designs of Cameron Machine.