When I sat down to write last month's Viewpoint, the thought suddenly struck me that my next column would actually be an anniversary. And here it is. Can it really be 10 years since I became editor in chief of Converting?

To say that much has happened with the publication, and certainly the package printing and converting industry, in the past decade is more than an understatement. So grant me a couple of paragraphs to reminisce about our accomplishments—and yours.

Back in 1995, we published the first of two groundbreaking research studies into the true cost of environmental compliance for flexible-packaging converters in a joint project with the FPA. In 1997, our first CMM Intl. back-to-back issues topped the charts at 420 pages. Also, that year we began publishing our series of "mini-magazines" on Coater/Laminator Technology, which was followed in 1998 by the Slitter/Rewinder Technology editions.

Our December 1999 issue pulled a switcheroo with readers' heads by running the regular edition upside-down and backwards with our Converting: A Look Back at the 20th Century review of major technical and business developments of the previous 100 years. Then to celebrate the New Millenium, that was followed immediately by the ASBPE award-winning graphic redesign of the magazine in January 2000.

Next, our electronic publishing efforts kicked into high gear with the launch of Converting's E-News, now the twice-a-month Frontline News E-newsletter that reaches more than 24,000 subscribers. And of course, our interactive Website, www.convertingmagazine.com, that today is accessed by nearly 17,000 unique users a month.

Industry-wise, what was hot in new converting equipment back in 1995? Based on our Top 10 New Products feature that July, a rotary diecutting system, holographic static-cling film, thermochromic ink, water-based coatings and security film were among items pulling the greatest number of inquiries. In other words, machinery and materials of equal interest to converters today.

Still, many developments had yet to either break commercial ground or become a regular part of package printing and converting operations. Things such as digital-offset printing; nano-tech coatings; gearless servo-driven presses (flexo and gravure); plasma pretreatment of metallizable webs; metallocene resins; Web-based networking for prepress workflow; digital imaging of flexo plates; nine-layer blown-film coextrusions; 1,000-line-screen anilox rolls; DNA-tagged security substrates; in-line converting of RFID-antennae inlays; and the list goes on.

I can't be specific about what the next 10 years holds for the converting industry, but I can be general. Hold onto your hats (as it were). Undreamed of materials and the machine processes to print, coat, laminate and slit them are likely to make today's breakthroughs pale in comparison.

For Converting, I can be very specific—in the short-term. Look for our new graphic redesign with the August 2005 issue. I can't believe it's been nearly six years since our last "change of clothes," but as they say, time flies when you're having fun.