Tag Archives: Packaging

Grant Blewett, Packaging Segment Manager, Kodak

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Grant BlewettGrant Blewett is the Packaging Segment Manager for Kodak, a world leader in technology solutions for the printing industry. Grant holds a print management degree and has over 21 years of professional experience in the graphic arts industry. With a strong background in print production, business development and prepress technology, he has led successful sales and marketing teams for Kodak, and formerly Scitex, across diverse geographic regions.

Since 2008 Grant has been based in Belgium with specific responsibility for the packaging market segment for Kodak in the EAMER region. He has a passion for flexo and been instrumental in introducing the market leading KODAK FLEXCEL NX Plate making solution to the European, Middle East and African markets. Grant is a frequent guest speaker at industry events across Europe and brings with him an in-depth understanding of the needs and pressures of Brand Owners.

1. Why did you decide to do a webinar with us?

Kodak clearly understands the importance of the ‘Brand Owner’ in the packaging value chain of which print has a major part to play. Kodak today has several solutions that provide significant cost, productivity and shelf impact benefits to the Brand Owner and we would like to make use of this forum to inform the Brand Owners of our value proposition. 

2. Who or what inspired you to get into the industry?

I have been in the larger print industry most of my professional career, so for me the question is why the flexo packaging industry? To which my answer would be that flexo print is the most dynamic, fast changing and challenging part of the entire industry which continually stimulates and challenges me. 

3. What’s your favourite thing about presenting to a live audience?

Honestly, presenting technically interesting topics to large and small audiences is something I truly enjoy doing. I love the interaction and energy that flows back from an audience when they appreciate the topic, this energy in turn inspires me. 

4. What has been your best holiday and where would you recommend visiting?

Ah well, it’s not for everybody but one of the best ever would be attending the world skydive ‘boogie’ (which is the term for a skydive holiday). This was in the most beautiful valley north of Cape Town South Africa, which by the way is also beautiful from the ground too. You should try and see this part of the world.

5. What one item would you take with you to a desert island and why?

Well this would simply have to be a package deal, which would consist of a parachute, aeroplane and runway. Can you imagine skydiving onto your very own island surrounded by the sea? 

Grant will be presenting Kodak’s webinar ‘Using flexo to meet your most demanding flexible packaging challenges‘ alongside David Luttenberger CPP, Global Packaging Director, Mintel Group Ltd on the 18th November at 10am New York/3pm London. To read more and register click here.

 

Colin Reed, Global Pharma Marketing Director, Amcor

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Colin Reed

Colin Reed is Global Pharma Marketing Director for Amcor, responsible for leading the pharmaceutical packaging market development and product management activities.  He has been in pharmaceutical packaging for 15 years, and has held leadership roles in Europe and Asia-Pacific prior to his current position.  He holds a BEng (Hons) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and an MBA.

1. Why did you decide to do a webinar with Business Review Webinars?

We identified the webinar as an interesting new channel to access a larger and more targeted audience.  BRW offers a well-structured approach and infrastructure, as well as an engaged and professional team to support the program.

2. What are you looking forward to explaining to the audience?

Amcor’s products and services are well known among our direct customer contacts.  We are looking forward to explaining the importance of packaging design as an integral and early part of the pharmaceutical product development, to ensure all stakeholders get the maximum value from the drug.

3. What is the ideal outcome you would like from doing the webinar?

To engage brand owners, marketeers and packaging developers, as well as healthcare professionals in an ongoing dialogue about how to improve industry and patient outcomes through pharmaceutical packaging.

4.  Where is your favorite place in the world and why?

I have been lucky to travel to many places, and I have several favourites for different reasons – London, Venice, Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York, Tanzania, Rio de Janeiro, Vancouver.  If I have to choose one, then it is “home”, as coming home after a long trip is always special.

5. What motivates you?

Always striving to improve – to be better than last time, and to achieve the best that I can.  And my family is always a motivation!

You can register now for Amcor’s webinar ‘Partnering to design and manufacture the optimal pharma packaging for your patients’ taking place on the 29th October at 10am New York/2pm London.

 

Jonathan Ludlow, Machine Vision Promoter, Microscan

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Jonathan Ludlow

Jonathan Ludlow is Machine Vision Promoter at Microscan’s Technology Center in Nashua, NH. He has been active in machine vision product development for many years, has authored papers on the application of machine vision in semiconductor packaging and electronic assembly, holds several patents relating to inspection systems and is a regular speaker at machine vision symposia.

 

1. Why did you decide to do a webinar with Business Review Webinars?

We are always looking for new ways to reach our target market in innovative ways. We believe that Microscan has an interesting story to tell regarding barcode verification with machine vision, and that Business Review Webinars can help us bring that story to the right audience.

2. What is your favourite thing about presenting to a live audience?

I started my career as a prototypically shy engineer. Somewhere along the way I found out that I really enjoy presenting to a live audience. I believe that the most important factor for me is the interest of  the audience in the topic that you are presenting. This automatically means that the audience are basically in the friends and colleagues category and that the pleasure comes from sharing whatever modest amount of knowledge and experience you have to offer.

3.  How did you get into the industry?

My involvement with machine vision started in the mid-80’s when I went to work for a now-defunct robot company. They were pioneers in vision guidance for industrial robots. The robot part did not thrive but the vision part of the business moved forward and eventually became part of Microscan.

4. What would someone be surprised to know about you?

In the years before I got involved in machine vision and packaging I worked for a contract research company which had a number of contract relating to coal mining methods and safety. I ended up spending time in coal mines all over (or rather under) the United States, England and Germany. An interesting way to  meet people and see the world. I almost became a mining engineer.

5. And finally…

Porsche or BMW? Well I am sorry to disappoint any German readers but I am a British sports car guy. My requirements are modest – just give me a nicely restored MGB –  in British racing green of course. This is the car that I had for my first few years in the United States and I sort of miss it.

Laptop or Tablet? I finally broke down and converted my paper based newspaper subscription to the electronic version and got an iPad to read it on. Turned out just fine but for serious work and mischief I still rely on my laptop that is loaded with 10+ years of files, images, mail, and whatnot. I hear there is something called the cloud but I am not there yet.

Red or white wine? Either will do nicely but good red wine is what I really appreciate.

Football or tennis? My participatory sport is whitewater canoeing in an open boat (not a kayak). This is a great pastime since it combines a reasonable amount of exercise with good reasons to travel to really beautiful out of the way places and to spend time with nice people. For spectating Rugby is my favorite but my wife is a big American Football fan so I watch quite a bit of that too.

You can register now for Microscan’s webinar ‘Ensure barcode and print text quality with machine vision‘ taking place on the 15th October at 10am New York/3pm London.

 

Mr. Nigel Tracey, Highcon International Sales Director

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Nigel Tracy

Nigel Tracey has 25 years’ experience in printing and packaging and particularly in the folding carton and corrugated board industries. Nigel has held various senior sales and marketing positions, most recently as Head of Sales for the sheet-fed business unit at Bobst Group, where he was responsible for the global sales network and sales operations. Nigel is based in Switzerland.

1. Why did you decide to do a webinar with us?

An important step in converting an industrial process is to enable the upstream buying process and enlighten it to what digital is now bringing.

2. How did you get into the industry?

Some how I got hooked when my father used to take me to printing and packaging shops as a young teenager, the creativity mixed with industrial process was something that appealed.

3. In your 20/25 years’ experience, what was the best moment in your career?

Seeing a piece of packaging in the high street that had majorly changed the way we consumers interface with and product and knowing that I had been involved with it’s design, conception and realisation.

4. How do you relax in your leisure time?

I’m an avid aquaculturist and I enjoy growing and propagating diverse marine life, salt water and electricity are a great distraction to most things.

5. What’s your favourite flavour of ice-cream?

Mövenpick double cream and meringue, the calorie free version…

You can register now for Highcon’s webinar ‘Convert to Value in the Digital World‘ taking place on the 21st October 10am New York/3pm London.

Annemieke Hartman – Jemmett, Group Commercial Strategy Director, Petainer

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Annemieke HartmanAnnemieke presents robust understanding of the evolution of the keg and this webinar offers detailed insight allowing the participants to make informed decisions; economic choices are offered to brand owners and experts allowing access new markets and introduce premium products to new audiences. Being able to provide a balanced view of PET kegs in the market will offer the participant an opportunity to better understand the options available to drive for growth in the beer, wine and cider sector. 

Annemieke will present Petainer’s webinar ‘The Evolution of the Keg‘ on the 10th September at 10am New York/3pm London.  You can register now to reserve your place.

1. Why did you decide to do a webinar with us?

With the webinar we are proactively seeking to inform a large group of brand owners who would like to find out more about packaging solutions for beverages.  The keg is a well-known product, these days now also available in PET and we would like to talk through how the choice of packaging material can influence brand owners in positioning their products within their marketing mix

2. What are you looking forward to explaining to the audience?

Petainer is a gamechanging, innovative PET and plastics packaging company, working to offer brand owners significant advantages in their supply chain.  For instance we are keen to share with you the independent test results of beverages packaged in PET (performed by the VLB in Berlin).  The choices that brand owners are making in ensuring that economic decisions are made both covering the commercial and sustainable requirements of contemporary business.  Most importantly what packaging material to select for which requirement.

3. How did you get into the industry?

I was excited by the opportunity to make a difference.  Petainer as a company is focussed on ‘thinking outside the box’.  This means in real terms; how can we support the brand owner’s objectives most effectively? Some options across our business are: light weighting, new designs reducing materials, new barrier technology, moving from single stage production to 2 stage production.  Many of these initiatives directly result in a sustainable solution, reducing freight (carbon emissions) reducing the use of energy and water as well as reducing the use of materials that will be scarce in years to come.  So combining commercial objectives with sustainable goals allows me to make a difference, effectively communicating these is my passion in both text and image.

4. Where in the world would you recommend visiting?

Most recently I have spent a lot of time in India.  The places frequently visited are New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. When in India, it is very exciting to see how focussed the business community is about corporate social responsibility and sustainability.  The drivers in business are all about economics.  This means that the locals are very inventive and nothing goes to waste.  It is a real good example of evolution across the whole community.  In addition, change in this territory is extremely fast, decision making processes are complex yet focussed from a sales perspective, the numbers are much greater than in Europe.  Building relationships in any country is key, in India this seems to come very naturally, they have an amazing sense of humour (which you need from time to time) and fabulous food.

5. What’s the best thing someone has ever taught you?

The best thing I was taught was to deliver on your promise.  This has been at the core of my life.  The way to make sure that I am able to do so is to start by really understanding the other person’s requirement and needs.  Only when I am comfortable that I have in-depth understanding and the ability to deliver will I commit.  So this helps me in only promising that which I can deliver.

Remember to register for Annemieke’s upcoming webinar where you can ask her and co-presenter, Axel Hartwig, Independent Beer Consultant all of your questions on a live Q&A.