Printing and Packaging
FROM BOOKS TO BAGS, TO BOXES, IT'S THE TOTAL PACKAGE
Printing and packaging is a strong cluster in the Roanoke Region with more than 2,500 employees at 214 printing firms and 1,170 people working for 40 packaging firms.
- A manufacturing-friendly region: in 2007, 10.7% of the Roanoke Region's workforce was employed in manufacturing, topping both Virginia (7.4%) and the U.S. (10.2%)
- Area employers draw from a labor force of more than 300,000.
- Products include high-end consumer packaging, coffee-table books and plastic bags.
- Recent $4.5 million 62,000 sq.ft. expansion at Arkay Packaging doubled the size of the plant.
- Abundant utilities: fiber, water, gas, and electricity, with electric rates below the national average.
- Affordable, high-quality assistance available through Virginia's Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership network of field offices.
HIGHER EDUCATION CONNECTION
Companies have access to research and resources available through higher education centers.
Virginia Tech Center for High Performance Manufacturing
- Developed to help manufacturers cut costs, improve operations, and keep up with customer demand.
- Areas of specialization include: flexible automation, manufacturing logistics, production and information systems, rapid prototyping and tooling, and low-cost composite manufacturing.
Advanced Manufacturing and Packaging Technology Program at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College
- Education partner of the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI)
- Focus is on mechatronics -- integration of mechanical, electronic, and software engineering -- to control advanced automation and hybrid systems.
- Amatrol Inc. equipment and instructional modules.
WHO'S HERE
- Arkay Packaging -- Design and printing of packaging for high-end consumer products.
- Capco -- Headquarters. Printing equipment manufacturer.
- Conwed Plastics -- Extruded plastic netting for a range of industries including food and consumer goods.
- Corrugated Container -- Cardboard and corrugated packaging products.
- R.R. Donnelley & Sons -- Book publishing.
- Double Envelope -- Manufactures and distributes custom envelopes.
- InfoSeal -- Manifold business forms, self-mailer documents in various formats.
- MeadWestvaco -- Provides packaging solutions and products to the food and beverage, media and entertainment, personal care, cosmetic, and health industries.
- Packaging Corporation of America -- Single-source supplier of corrugated shipping containers for industrial and commercial use.
- Progress Press -- Commercial printing company.
- Source 4 -- Printing, communications, graphics services.
- Trinity Packaging -- Retail lawn and food service bags.