Lane Press Installs New Osako Tener Saddle Stitch System to Increase Finishing Capacity

Flint Group Narrow Web introduces two UV-flexo coating products to improve the recyclability for shrink sleeves and pressure sensitive labels. These coatings are currently available in North America and will soon be available in Europe and other regions. Using different chemistries, the Evolution Deinking Primer, for shrink sleeves, and the Evolution Caustic Resistant Over Print Varnish (OPV), for self-adhesive labels, are designed to increase the yield of material in the recycling process. Both coatings have been recognized by the Association of Plastic Recyclers to comply with the critical guidance for PET packaging. The Evolution Deinking Primer is a coating used on shrink sleeve materials that makes the ink release in the caustic bath of the recycling process. When used with crystallizable polyester shrink sleeve material (CPET), the primer keeps the ink anchored to the substrate through the usable life of the sleeve, but releases it in the caustic bath. The ink is removed from the sleeve material without contaminating the valuable bottle flake. The materials are then rinsed and pelletized into recycled polyester (rPET) for reuse.

Two long-standing industry peer groups, PrintAmerica and The Peer Group, announced that they have merged. PrintAmerica focuses on strategic renewal and growth of its members by providing opportunities for learning, sharing and collaborating. Members of PrintAmerica include Aradius Group (Omaha, Neb.), Best Press (Addison, Texas), Cohber (Rochester, N.Y.), Corporate Communications Group (Upper Marlboro, Md.), DCG One (Seattle, Wash.), The DOT Corporation (Irvine, Calif.), Garlich (Fenton, Mo.), GLS/Next Precision Marketing (Brooklyn Park, Minn.), Graphic Visual Solutions (Greensboro, N.C.), Heeter (Canonsburg, Pa.), Standard Press (Atlanta, Ga.), The Standard Group (Reading, Pa.), Suttle-Straus (Waunakee, Wis.), and Trabon Group (Kansas City, Mo.). Click Read More below for additional information.

Net sales in the quarter were $1.71 billion, up $48.9 million or 2.9% from the first quarter of 2017. On an organic basis, consolidated net sales increased 1.3% driven by higher volumes in both segments as well as higher fuel surcharges in Business Services, partially offset by price pressure in Business Services. From a products and services perspective, Packaging, Logistics, Direct Mail and Business Process Outsourcing accounted for most of the increase while Commercial Print was down due to ongoing secular pressure and lower specialty card sales. Gross profit in the first quarter of 2018 was $294.7 million or 17.3% of net sales versus $326.8 million or 19.7% of net sales in the prior year quarter. The favorable impact of volume growth and cost reduction initiatives was more than offset by inflationary increases, primarily in paper and costs of transportation, unfavorable changes in foreign exchange rates, operational inefficiencies due to volume reductions from two clients and modest price pressure. Click Read More below for additional information.