AGI-Shorewood announces its Toronto site is the world's first packaging printing facility to earn Pantone Certified Printer status that ensures products meet Pantone's color consistency, quality standards

Kathryn Mackenzie

STAMFORD, Connecticut , May 7, 2012 (press release) – AGI-Shorewood, a leading global specialty-packaging manufacturer, today announced its Toronto site is the first packaging solutions printing facility worldwide to earn PANTONE Certified Printer status.

Pantone LLC is the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries. It introduced the PANTONE Certified Printer Program last year to ensure participating offset printers meet the company's stringent color consistency and quality standards. The patent-pending program annually audits, inspects, analyzes, and qualifies the operations from intake and ink mixing to print production and customer handling, helping ensure designers, brand managers, and print buyers enjoy accurate print color reproduction, consistent and reliable results, greater confidence in choosing the right print provider, and timely and professional service.

"Major brands invest millions on consumer research to ensure their packaging design has maximum impact, and they suffer at retail when there are visual differences at the point of purchase," says Greg Chup, Manager of Innovation and New Product Development at AGI-Shorewood. "We've been working closely with Pantone over the last two years to create a solution that helps ensure packaging looks identical product to product whether they're sitting next to each other on the shelf or they're across the globe from one another."

While several other commercial printers have been certified since Pantone introduced the program last May, Chup says none are packaging manufacturers or board converters. "We couldn't be prouder of the fact that AGI-Shorewood is the first in the world of packaging and converting to earn PANTONE Certified Printer status," he says. "We have the unique ability among our peers to directly influence the sale at the point of purchase in a retail environment."

Pantone is equally excited to have the global specialty-packaging giant on board. "We are really delighted to have AGI-Shorewood participate in PANTONE Certification," says Matthew McDowell, Pantone's National Sales Manager. "Their strong global presence, high-end customer brands and broad product portfolio make AGI-Shorewood an ideal first partner in this category, proving the value of certification in each of their individual segments as well as enterprise wide."

According to Chup, AGI-Shorewood plans to implement the program in all of its lithographic facilities worldwide. Its Mexico operations in Aguascalientes, for which AGI-Shorewood recently acquired sole interest, is on the table next, followed by its plants in Indianapolis, Ind., and Hendersonville, N.C.

AGI-Shorewood, which is comprised of AGI-Shorewood U.S. and AGI-Shorewood International, is a specialized global packaging platform that makes innovative products for the world's premier consumer products companies. Key consumer-packaging segments it serves include entertainment and media, tobacco, beauty and personal care, cosmetics and fragrance, health care and pharmaceuticals, consumer electronics, golf, confectionary and specialty foods, beverages, and specialty gravure. AGI-Shorewood U.S. and AGI-Shorewood International collectively employ nearly 4,000 people worldwide, operating 22 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America and 10 creative services offices in the U.S., U.K., France, China and Australia.

Pantone, a wholly owned subsidiary of X-Rite, has been the world's color authority for almost 50 years, providing design professionals with products and services for the colorful exploration and expression of creativity. Always a source for color inspiration, Pantone also offers designer-inspired products and services for consumers.

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