Margaret Harper Kluttz Appointed
President
Charlotte, N.C., July 30, 2006 - Global anilox
supplier Harper Corporation of America is pleased to announce that Margaret
Harper Kluttz has accepted the position of president effective July 1, 2006. A
daughter of founders Ron and Katherine Harper, Kluttz has served the company in
various positions during the past 34 years, including production manager,
administration manager, customer service manager and vice president of
administration prior to her appointment to the position of executive vice
president in April 2003.
Kluttz said, "We have a tremendous management group and an energetic, well
trained workforce. Harper has spent an enormous amount of time, effort and
dollars on the training and education of our entire team, especially in the
past few years. We feel confident and well prepared to continue our vigorous
global growth agenda in the decades ahead."
With manufacturing facilities in Charlotte, N.C., and Green Bay, Wisc., as well
as licensee operations in Bangkok, Thailand, and Herford, Germany, Harper
boasts a total anilox laser capacity of 20 laser engraving machines. The
company initiated a $4 million laser upgrade program in 2005 to enhance
implementation of its proprietary new Platinum® XLT™ anilox roll technology,
and is contemplating acquiring additional laser equipment later this year.
The company's growth strategy includes broadening the HarperScientific™
division's line of pressroom supplies, which are now available to converters
worldwide. Also, according to Kluttz, Harper will continue to offer its popular
annual "Flexographic Solutions Tour" seminars to flexographic converters
throughout the North American market.
Former president Katherine Harper commented, "We are excited about the future of
Harper, with a strong, enthusiastic and well equipped staff, and passionate
second and third generations of family members as integral elements of the
operation. And of course, Harper is committed to staying intimately involved in
education, and training future flexographers at the high school and college
levels. Ron and I believe that the best is yet to come."
Imagination, innovation and initiative have been the engines of growth since the
Harpers founded the company in 1971. It was the first company to develop and
successfully market ceramic-coated anilox roll technology, beginning in early
1972.
Also among Harper Corporation's numerous firsts was the introduction of the
60-degree-angle hexagonal laser-engraved cell in 1990, which has since been
established as the global standard for anilox rolls. This technology enabled
anilox line count to leap from a conventional high of 600 cells per linear inch
to 2,000 and beyond in recent years, helping flexographers readily compete in
the offset and gravure printing markets.
Harper was the first to participate in the FTA`s Flexo In High Schools/Colleges
program, which was initiated in 1990 and saw the first flexographic press
installed in a high school in 1992. Today 21 high schools and 32 colleges in
the U.S., Canada and Argentina provide hands-on training for young people
interested in pursuing a career in flexography. Harper is a strong supporter of
the Phoenix Challenge Foundation, a group of dedicated volunteers who work with
high schools to promote friendly competition in flexo education.
Kluttz added, "Ron and Katherine Harper created a guiding philosophy for this
company: Focus only on making a profit and we will struggle. Focus on doing the
right things consistently every day for our customers and for our employees,
and success will follow."
For additional information, contact Art Ehrenberg, vice president global
manufacturing operations, at 704-588-3371 or arte@harperimage.com.