As we wrap up another year of reporting on the ins and outs of the converting and package-printing industry, I was struck by the sheer volume of editorial coverage generated by our staff and contributing technical editors in the past year. Nearly 540 total pages of magazine, e-newsletter and directory materials. More than 170 pages of features including 49 case histories (double that of our closest competitor). Thirty-one technical and economic columns and features. And the most staff-written editorial of any B2B publication in the field. And that's just in print.

On the electronic side, we posted almost 300 news items on our Website (www.convertingmagazine.com). Our weekly Frontline E-Newsletter carried another 225 news stories, reaching an average of 21,000 subscribers every Tuesday morning. And more than 33,000 times, these readers clicked on various article links to get more information.

But beyond all these numbers, it's the combination of current innovations, market trends and real-world examples from today, teamed with forward-looking technical pieces about tomorrow's technology that truly sets Converting apart. This issue is no exception.

Through a special arrangement with the Association of Industrial Metallizers, Coaters & Laminators, we're proud to be the exclusive publisher of the 2006 Mattuecci Award-winning papers from AIMCAL's Fall Technical Conference. “New approach to surface treatment” by Enercon Industries' Rory Wolf (page 34) describes an atmospheric plasma and photografting technique for permanent surface tension and coating adhesion. “New way to deposit reactive oxide coatings” by General Plasma's John Maddocks (page 38) explains how this new high-rate process compares to traditional sputtering. For the complete papers with all charts and diagrams, go to our Website.

Another feature this month (page 24) also looks to the future—as well as down the street—at a current converting operation. Associate editor Jorina Fontelera updates readers on where the hot RFID market is heading, as more of your end-user customers clamor for this tracking technology, while managing editor Melissa Larson reports on the experience of The R & V Group (Chattanooga, TN) in pioneering RFID manufacturing since 2004. One more real-world example shines in the story of converter San Francisco LightHouse for the Blind and its installation of new nonwovens equipment (page 28).

For all your converting information needs for today and tomorrow, look no further than right here.