Margaret Harper Kluttz appointed president

Global anilox supplier Harper Corporation of America has announced 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, North Carolina, and Green Bay, Wisconsin, 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 US, 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.’