Metro Label

MLC Holding Corporation, Garland, Texas, which includes Vallis, Metro Label and other printing-related subsidiaries, announced today that it is discontinuing all operations related to the Vallis Company, effective immediately. This decision does not affect the other subsidiaries, including Metro Label, which will continue to provide services to existing and new customers. Operations affected by the Vallis decision include plants in Baltimore, Chicago and Cherryvale, Kansas. MLC Holding Corporation expects to continue its plans to expand into growth markets and focus its economic resources on developing new opportunities within the printing industry.

Metro Label, Form Service, Champion and Vallis--four companies that provide a full range of products and services to independent print distributors--recently announced that they will market their services as The Vallis Companies, based in Garland, Texas. According to CEO Scott Metko, the combined entity is also offering new and improved personal service as part of its effort to expand its national independent distributor base. In addition, Vallis has added five new distributor relationship managers in Chicago, Dallas and Kansas City, including Jack Bowen, John Gearhart, Richard MacCarthy, Stan Stimac and Roy Strom. Additional positions are expected to be filled in Atlanta, Baltimore, Memphis, Tenn., and

Form/label combinations offer relief to those needing to 'keep it together'. Just one pass through the printer and it's done. No need to match packing invoices with labels, and no reason to purchase and keep track of two separate forms for a single application. Form/label combinations serve as the ideal all-in-one product for many customers' all-in-one needs. Manufacturers, distributors and mail order companies as well as medical and insurance-related clients are happy to use this product, which solves previously time-consuming and costly problems. "Any operation that involves a warehouse is the ideal home for this product," said Rick Barbieri, product line manager

A tried and true product thrives amidst myriad new applications By Maggie DeWitt In Response to our online, streamlined society, the forms and labels industry has produced myriad new and improved products. But when customers need to transpose or match up information as efficiently as possible, the choice is clear—go piggyback. The piggyback construction refers to the method of putting a label to be imprinted onto a form, so it can be removed and re-applied elsewhere. The construction feeds into the prevailing preference for converting multi-part forms to single-part, integrated forms. Designed to increase efficiency and minimize errors, selling opportunities exist in every

Customization is key to selling security labels By Eric Fiedler When distributors are fishing for security label sales, manufacturers suggest using customization as the bait. "If a customer has a concept, but isn't exactly sure how it can be achieved, we work with distributors to develop a product to meet their exact needs," said Debbie Chadwick, customer service manager at Bertek Systems, Swanton, Vt. Bertek Systems produces custom products such as tamper-evident labels, security slits, void features and more. John Abbott, sales manager for Metro Label, Garland, Texas, also said the majority of his orders for security labels "depend on what the end-user wants to accomplish." Vic Flanigan, vice

Piggybacks pave the way for new solutions By Stacey Wenzel Technology is demanding change in every area of the industry, and the piggyback label is no exception. Computers and printers are rapidly advancing, requiring the development of new label constructions to meet changing end-user needs--and manufacturers are answering this challenge with innovative solutions. Garland, Texas-based Metro Label recently started manufacturing a thermal-transfer piggyback label. According to John Abbott, vice president of sales and marketing, the construction uses a clear, self-laminated film as the middle ply, which is useful in abrasive situations. For instance, if a scanner in a shipping and receiving department is frequently coming in direct

Weather- and water-resistant labels withstand harsh elements By Stacey Wenzel You wouldn't dare go to the beach without sunscreen, would you? Or brave winter's snow and cold temperatures without wearing a hat and gloves? We all know that we need to protect ourselves from such extreme elements. The same holds true for labels. If a label can't survive harsh conditions, then it can't perform its job properly. However, with the right protection, labels can withstand some of the most demanding environments. According to Carl Gerlach, director of marketing for Shawnee Mission, Kan.-based Gill Studios, the outdoor durability of a label or decal typically