The forest sector, Canada’s forgotten resource

According to David Lindsay, CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada—the voice of Canada’s wood, pulp and paper producers—the forest products industry is one of Canada’s most overlooked.

In the wake of the country’s economic challenges, jobs are thriving in his sector. Canada is the second largest forest products sector in the world, Forest products are our number one export to China, and  in total, exports to over 180 countries across the globe.  Read more on Lindsay’s optimistic view on the industry here.  >> continued

Drytac Canada appoints new technical services manager

Drytac Canada has appointed Brian Gibson as its technical services manager. Gibson has over 25 years of experience in the print industry and holds a degree in marketing and sales from Humber College. He worked for Seal as a technical service and application specialist, prior to this appointment.

In his new position Gibson will be responsible for technical support and training for Drytac’s line of finishing equipment.  >> continued

Yellow Pages changes the way it distributes its directory

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Menasha Corporation acquires Brampton-based PearceWellwood Inc.

Menasha Corporation has acquired the Brampton, Ontario-based PearceWellwood Inc.—a designer and full-service manufacturer of corrugated displays for the retail industry and provider of fulfillment and distribution services. PearceWellwood will now operate as part of Menasha Packaging Company, LLC, a subsidiary of the Menasha Corporation.  Menasha has also acquired—from PearceWellwood’s parent company, Pearce Group—an ownership interest in Tencorr Packaging, a corrugated sheet manufacturer with plants in Mississauga and Brampton.


Left to right: Jim Kotek, president/CEO of Menasha Corp., Mike Waite, president of Menasha Packaging Company >> continued

The Label Factory is home to Canada’s first JFlex870

RDP digital and Northern Graphic Solutions have sold the first JFlex870 in Canada. The 870 is an IPT digital print conversion system that was recently introduced to the Canadian label printing market.

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The CPEIA gathers 32 founding members in two months

The Canadian Printable Electronics Industry Association (CPEIA) has achieved some major milestones, which include, obtaining 32 founding members, brokering strategic relationships with key partner organizations, and securing major sponsors for the 2015 Canadian Printable Electronics Symposium.

The CPEIA made its debut in November at IDTechEx’s Printed Electronics USA conference, and aims to be the united voice of the Canadian printable electronics sector. The founding members represent a cross section of the industry, from materials, devices and prototyping, to manufacturing, and printing. >> continued

Catalyst Paper acquires Wisconsin and Maine-based paper mills

Canadian paper manufacturer Catalyst Paper Corporation has completed the acquisition of the Biron paper mill in Wisconsin and the Rumford pulp and paper mill in Maine.  The deal was initially announced last October. The cash payment made on closing was US$62.4 million after giving effect to an adjustment under the purchase agreement based on estimated working capital at closing, and the final purchase price is subject to certain additional post-closing adjustments.
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The WLU Press fights advice to phase out

A recently published Integrated Planning and Resources Management report by Wilfrid Laurier University has advised the Wilfrid Laurier University Press (WLU) to phase out or minimize its services due to budgetary pressures. In response the WLU press has started a petition to fight the recommendation it calls “highly problematic.” >> continued

NGS named Canadian distributor for MPS Systems North America

MPS Systems North America Inc. has named Toronto-based Northern Graphic Solutions Inc. the distributor of its flexo and offset presses in central and eastern Canada.


Left to right: Kees Nijenhuis, MPS vice-president of North American operations, Jerry Wynia, president of NGS >> continued

The printed word is still popular according to TMT predictions

According to Deloitte’s annual TMT predictions, sales of print books will account for 80% of books sold in the developed world—despite the fact that e-readers, smartphones and tablets are everywhere.

Currently in its 14th year, TMT predictions provides an outlook on the 10 most important trends for Canada in the technology, media and telecommunications industry for the next 12 to 18 months.

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