Delaware, OH-based Optimum Plastics, Inc., purchases a 9-layer blown-film system from Kiefel, Inc., to expand its food-packaging films business. This is the second 9-layer line for Optimum Plastics, and the first from Kiefel.

Labelmaker Spear invests US$8 million in technology and personnel at its plant in Cwmbran, UK. A new Cerutti 960/2 press brings wide-web gravure-printing capabilities to the site. With a speed of 600 fpm and a 40-in. web width, the press increases Spear's European capacity to approximately 25 billion labels/yr, the converter says.

Flex-pack maker Nordenia International AG of Greven, Germany, installs more than US$1 million of AVT PrintVision/Argus process-control and QA systems (www.avt-inc.com) at its facilities in Germany, Poland and Spain.

Malaysia's Seriharta Grafik Sdn Bhd has successfully transferred its cigarette hard-pack printing from sheetfed offset to narrow-web flexography. The converter purchased a Gallus EM410 flexo press equipped with rotary diecutting and a Martin MBS automatic splicer. The company notes consistent quality and reduced materials waste.