European Update
by Charlie Conover

I had the privilege of attending and representing the PLGA Global at the ERA Packaging Conference in Basle, Switzerland on 15-16 October. This event sponsored by the ERA and G&K TechMedia GmbH focused on Markets, Technology, Environment Developments in Packaging Gravure. The co-chairmen of the program were James Siever, Secretary General of the ERA and Wolfgang Klos-Geiger, Publisher G&K TechMedia.

Approximately 110 printers and suppliers attended the conference and the sessions were interesting and thought provoking. Specific topics covered in the morning session were:

Opening remarks and lessons for packaging gravure from Drupa by Mr. Rudi Weis-Schiff of Janoschka, France; Trends in flexible packaging – developments in industry, markets and technology by EURoPEaN UPdaTEMr. Thomas Reiner of Berndt & Partner, Germany; State of rotogravure packaging industry in North America by the writer; PaC Space: common color standard for packaging gravure by Mr. Lothar Roth, Janoschka, Germany and Mr. David Radke, GMC, Germany and a presentation by Mr. Rasmus Pries of Therma 1, Germany on Climate change affects on the industry.

The afternoon session featured presentations by Ms. Isabelle Billerey Rayel of Dalim, Germany on Manage Locally, Produce Globally; Mr. Renaud Fabre, Square, France on PDF in Packaging – User Experience; Mr. Hans-Georg Schepers of Shepers, Germany on Potential of Digilas Technology; Mr. Rudolf Reese of Aabach, Germany on the Ultimate Technology for High Contour-defined Diamond Engraving; Mr. Jan Breiholdt, Hell Gravure Systems, Germany on the Latest Developments in Printing Forme Preparation and a dual presentation by Mr. Markus Bauschulte and Mr. Ulrich Harte, Windmöller & Hölsher, Germany on Innovations in Packaging Printing.

The evening featured a dinner hosted by the Wetzel Processing Group held at the Safran Zunft. The Saffron Guild was first documented in the 14th century. Its members were spice traders and grocers followed later by other crafts including printers.

The second day featured a visit to the facilities of the Wetzel Processing Group who offer an in-house solution to customer needs and manufacture gravure cylinders, flexographic sleeves, embossing rollers and embossing machines.

Proceedings of the conference may be found on the ERA web site at: www.era.eu.org.