Tel Aviv, Israel-based Ronin Investments Managing Co., Ltd. acquires close to 25 percent of AVT (www.avt-inc.com) shares. Ronin, managed by Ms. Nurit Nahum, acquired the shares at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange where AVT (Advanced Vision Technology) is listed with a market value of approximately US$80 million. Ronin was impressed by AVT's achievements and by the potential inherent in the company. AVT, located in Hod Hasharon, Israel, has been managed for 10 years by Shlomo Amir.

Narrow-web printing equipment maker Mark Andy launches MAX (www.yourfriendinflexo.com), a new customer service and support initiative supporting Mark Andy, Comco and UVT product lines.

A $10,000 donation by the NorthEast Label Manufacturers Association helped Millersville University of Lancaster, PA, purchase a Mark Andy (www.markandy.com) press and launch a hands-on flexo curriculum. The NELMA donation capped off two years of fundraising that allowed Millersville University to secure matching funds from the Foundation of the Flexographic Technical Association (www.flexography.org). Mark Andy donated a significant portion of the purchase price of the press, but the grant project's budget was still short until NELMA filled the gap, says Millersville Prof. Mark Snyder. “They really saved the day,” says Snyder.

Ann Arbor, MI-based ink maker Flint Group (www.flintgrp.com) forms a new global business unit: Flint Group Flexographic Products. It combines the Flint Group Printing Plates activities with the rotec sleeve business, which was included in the Flint Group acquisition of Day International last year.