The recession notwithstanding, a core of dedicated converters attended the seventh NELMA Label Manufacturers Expo in Bridgewater, NJ, USA. The April 15 event, which drew 31 supplier companies to the exhibition hall, was sponsored by the North East Label Manufacturers Association.

Although attendance this year was not as high as anticipated, the event drew label converters from a wide region. The expo offered four hours of tabletop exhibitions, two keynote speakers, and a two-hour networking session in the late afternoon.

The first educational session was conducted by Laura Cummings, the sustainability and environmental manager for UPM Raflatac. Asserting that “the idea of a sustainable company is here to stay,” she presented an overview of the steps companies can take to make environmental improvements in their plants and products.

“Sustainability is not an additional business burden,” she stated. “Done right, it’s operating with enlightened self-interest.” A company might spend more to launch an environmental program, “but the benefit of a sustainable reputation makes it more affordable.” Top management, she said, must have a clear commitment to such a project, and the company must create a policy statement that is made public, and which acknowledges that the commitment is for the long term.

She spoke about the benefits of TLMI’s Project LIFE, an environmental certification program launched last year for its members, and also mentioned the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership and the ISO 14001 environmental management system.

Professor Mark Snyder, of the Department of Industry and Technology at Millersville University, located in Lancaster, PA, discussed the flexo programs being offered at the school, as well as the addition of a 10” 4-color Mark Andy 2200. The press acquisition was made possible through grants received by the FTA and NELMA, and Snyder expressed his gratitude to those organizations. He also presented a slide show chronicling the press’s installation, and discussed some of the activities of the Marauder Graphics Club, the university’s student-run group that promotes the graphic communications and print industries. In addition to the FTA and NELMA, Snyder also thanked Harper Corporation, Anderson & Vreeland, RotoMetrics, and Gerhardt for their donations of equipment and supplies.

The only press manufacturers exhibiting at the NELMA expo were Omet, through its North American agent Matik, and J&H Printing Solutions. Other exhibitors were 3 Sigma, 3M, AAA Press International, Actega Radcurre, Acucote, Anderson & Vreeland, Anilox Roll Cleaning Systems, Arpeco, Atlas Rotary Tooling, Avery Dennison Fasson Roll, FLEXcon, Fujifilm Hunt Chemicals, Kocher + Beck, Lederle, Ox Paper & Tube, Precision Air Convey, Primera Technology, RotoMetrics, Sekisui TA Industries, Stork Cellramic, Sun Chemical Solaris, Tailored Solutions, Tek Graphic Solutions, UPM Raflatac, Water Ink Technologies, Wilson Manufacturing, and Yazoo Mills.