• Get set for FFTA Info*Flex 2005: The Foundation of the Flexographic Technical Assn.'s (FFTA) Info*Flex 2005 will feature more than 180 exhibitors, occupying well over 200 exhibit spaces. The show floor is officially sold out, says FFTA, for the event March 20–23 at the Disney Swan & Dolphin Hotel in Orlando, FL. Upwards of 1,800 attendees are expected.
• Label Technology installs AVT inspection units: The Merced, CA-based converter adds two Advanced Vision Technology (AVT) PrintVision/Jupiter automatic inspection systems for narrow-web, p-s label printing from the Atlanta supplier. The new AVTs are in place on a 20-in. Mark Andy press and a new 26-in. PCMC Evolution press.
• NDC Infrared Engineering opens demo center: The Irwindale, CA-based inspection supplier opens the new demonstration facility at its corporate headquarters. It will be used exclusively to provide customers with "hands-on" displays and demonstrations of NDC's entire Systems and Sensors product line.
• Webview acquires Spectrum Vision System: The Santa Rosa, CA-based machine-vision equipment maker purchases all of the assets and intellectual property of Spectrum Vision by Advanced Technologies, Inc., Palm Harbor, FL. Over the past 17 years, Spectrum Vision Systems have been installed around the world, inspecting packaging, labeling and products for some of the world's largest companies.
• Top managers acquire equipment maker Spartanics: Three Spartanics executives, who have been responsible for managing major segments of the Rolling Meadows, IL, company in recent years, assumed ownership of Spartanics on Feb. 1. Tom Kleeman, most recently Spartanics chief technical officer, becomes CEO. Bill Gillen, formerly vp-manufacturing, will now be COO. Spartanics comptroller/vp-finance Tom O'Hara will become company president. Spartanics manufactures various converting systems for inspection, diecutting, counting/batching and special material-handling for global printers and packaging converters.
• AIMCAL to sponsor CPP Expo pavilion: The Ft. Mill, SC, trade group joins the growing list of association partners for the new CPP Expo 2005 trade show. Set for Sept. 26–28 at the Sands Expo & Convention Ctr. in Las Vegas, the event is organized by H.A. Bruno LLC, Paramus, NJ. AIMCAL will sponsor a pavilion for its supplier members, offering them a cost-effective presence on the exhibit floor, says CPP.
• About 370 million lbs of de-gradable plastics valued at $460 million are forecasted to be sold in 2008, according to a new study by Cleveland-based market researcher The Freedonia Group, Inc. Demand for bio-degradable and compostable plastics, such as starch-based and polylactic-acid (PLA) types is expected to rise 16 percent a year through 2008. Film will remain the dominant end-use market due to widespread applications for bags and overwraps.

Converting hosts RFID, brand security session at CMM conference: "Brand Security and RFID for Today's Converting Market," one of dozens of conference sessions during next month's CMM Intl. 2005 in Chicago, will feature six industry speakers in an information-packed three-hour program. Hosted by Converting magazine, the session will be held Monday, April 18, from 8:30 a.m.-noon at McCormick Place South.

Speakers and topics include:

David Phillips, Axess Technologies, with an overview of security issues and authentication and tracking technologies; Brad Long, Kurz Transfer Products, on optical variable devices and holograms; Cynthia Arnold, Sun Chemical, on security inks; Stan Usry, Tectura, on KiMs snack foods: a real-life example of RFID; Suzanne Zaccone, Graphics Solutions Intl., on converting of RFID tags and labels; and Cyndi Reitmeyer, Checkpoint Systems, on enhancing retail EAS tags with authentication features.

To register for the CMM conference, go to www.cmmshow.com.