Lincoln, RI-based converting-machinery maker Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp. reports total new orders from North American customers for W&H presses, extrusion lines and multiwall equipment have exceeded $75 million over the last three months. This is the highest order entry period since W&H's US subsidiary was formed in 1977. While the majority of sales were in the printing press area, blown and cast film lines, as well as multiwall machines were a part of the mix.

Fairfield, NJ-based Anderson & Vreeland acquires Akron Graphic Supply (Santa Fe Springs, CA), a leading distributor of flexographic-printing materials serving the western US. The acquisition is part of Anderson & Vreeland's ongoing objective to provide better service and support for its North American customers, the company says. Founded in 1985, Akron Graphic has a 12,750-sq-ft warehouse in Santa Fe Springs, CA.

Converting-machinery makers Paterson, NJ-based Glenro, Inc., and TRCM (Maysville, KY), have consolidated operations. The name of the consolidated business is Glenro, Inc., and the manufacturing operations in Maysville will be the TRCM Div. of Glenro. Since 1988, TRCM, a contract manufacturing company, has built hot-air dryers and thermal oxidizers that Glenro has sold, designed and engineered. More recently, TRCM has also been manufacturing Glenro flatbed laminating machines.

Westmont, IL-based pressmaker MAN Roland is partnering with Maxson Automatic Machinery Co., Westerly, RI, to integrate its ROLAND 900 series presses with advanced Maxson in-line sheeters. MAN Roland will become the exclusive global distributor of Maxson in-line sheeters for wide-format sheetfed presses. Maxson sheeters will be available from MAN Roland in roll widths from 44 to 73 in., and roll diameters up to 72 in. Substrates from 50-lb paper to 28-pt board will be accommodated.

Oak Creek, WI-based Northwest Coatings LLC acquires the stock of Actinic, Inc. The Greensboro, NC, company is a leading developer and manufacturer of UV- and EB-curable coatings and adhesives for the graphic arts and industrial markets. As part of the transaction, Actinic's current principal shareholders, Tim Leeper and Jim Bagwell, will become shareholders of Northwest Coatings.

Hamilton, OH-based SMART Papers LLC completes its acquisition Feb. 21 of Fraser Papers' Midwest US operations including a pulp and papermaking center in northern Wisconsin and a 470,000-sq-ft manufacturing and distribution center in Chicago. The acquisition more than doubles the size of SMART Papers and greatly broadens the company's product offerings, which now include super-premium cast-coated papers to economical uncoated papers. More than 80 percent of North American customers can be served with next-day delivery.