Welcome to the new Converting. I trust it didn't take you long to notice our new graphic redesign. In the works for months, we've changed just about everything—from the logo and typestyles to the color palette—all to give the magazine a fresh, revitalized look. It's the handiwork of the award-winning team of creative director Glen Luensman and art director Lora Lee Gelles. Their collaboration last year won them a national American Society of Business Publication Editors Silver Award for the redesign of our sister magazine, Packaging Digest.

We haven't just changed our outward appearance. Based on research of your information needs, we've refocused the presentation and editorial content to provide more of the information that you told us you find most valuable: coverage of new technology in machinery and materials, new product and process information, real-world applications, and business trends and analysis. And because you're busier than ever these days, you'll find more, shorter but still detail-packed stories that will help you meet the three key needs of business today: cutting costs, identifying efficiencies and creating competitive advantages.

On that last note, the new Converting is uniquely positioned to take competitive advantage of our spot between our sister books of Graphic Arts Monthly and PD. As collaboration and market convergence grow among commercial printers, converters and packaged-goods makers, Converting will be right in the thick of things, reporting on developments from both sides—but especially the breakthrough technologies exclusive to companies in package printing, coating, laminating, slitting, sheeting and diecutting. This month's four-article series on package printing is only one example, along with our Converter's Guide to the PRINT® 05 and CONVERTING 05 show. And next month, look for our dual reports on "Bringing the converter into package design" along with a preview of the new CPP Expo 2005, being held concurrently with Pack Expo Las Vegas.

As advantages go, we're also equipped with the ready resources of our parent, Reed Business Information, North America's largest business-to-business publisher serving 23 market sectors with more than 100 publications. Whether it's exclusive industry research, interactive web sites, technical and educational web casts, targeted E-newsletters or direct-marketing lists, we're here to supply your cutting-edge information and customer-outreach needs.

We hope you like the re-designed, refocused Converting. Let us know what you think and how we can be even more valuable to you. After all, our job is helping you do your job better.