Lausanne, Switzerland-based Bobst Group (www.bobstgroup.com) completes its acquisition of the Fischer & Krecke Group (Germany). The purchase is in line with Bobst's strategy to expand operations in the flexible-materials market worldwide and to strengthen its presence in the flexographic printing area. Fischer & Krecke Group is a leader (under the Fischer & Krecke brand) for flexo printing of flexible materials, paper and board and (under the Kochsiek name) in decorative gravure printing and inline rotary diecutting for paperboard packaging.

Sakata Inx signs an agreement with the ownership group of Czech Republic-based Megaink Digital to take a majority interest in company. Megaink Digital will provide a range of digital-ink products and services as a member of INX Digital, part of INX International Ink Co. (www.inxink.com). Says INX president/CEO Rick Clendenning, “Megaink Digital will strengthen our ability to service digital-printing operations worldwide—particularly in rapidly growing areas such as Eastern Europe.”

Web-control systems maker The Montalvo Corp. expands its overseas operations by opening a branch in Shanghai, China. Known as Montalvo (Shanghai) Trading Co., Ltd., the office is a wholly owned subsidiary of Montalvo Holdings. General manager of the new branch is David Weng. He can be reached at 207/735-7398 (cell) or at wdw@montalvo.com

Finland's UPM Raflatac opened its new North American pressure-sensitive labelstock manufacturing facility in Dixon, IL, last month. The $100-million facility converts Raflatac's full product range of paper and film label products. With its end-to-end automation, the Dixon factory is the most innovative labelstock production and distribution facility in the industry, the supplier says.