ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - ILF Technologies, a world-leading supplier of web finishing solutions for the printing and converting industries, announced the promotion of Vice President Frank Piper to the position of president. As president, Piper is charged with leading all aspects of ILF's continued business growth. The Romeoville, Ill.-based company selected Piper to succeed the retiring Bob Allison based on his experience, vision and expertise at driving positive change internally.

Piper brings a strategic, long-term view and a can-do attitude to his new post. He has spent the better part of the past five years overseeing the introduction of new ILF products and redevelopment of well-known Baldwin, Versa Tech and Evtec brand product lines.

A 35-year veteran of both in-line and off-line finishing systems, Piper got his start in the graphic communications industry while still in high school as a jogger at Segerdahl Corp. He assumed increasing responsibilities at every stage in his career, moving up the ladder in the pressrooms at Tech Web, Suncraft and World Color Press. Later in his career, Piper became customer service manager at Western Printing Machinery Co., where he handled accounts, system startups and training. Piper served as vice president of the Modern Graphic Arts division of Sandy Alexander, Inc. immediately before joining ILF as vice president in 2006.

At ILF, Piper has successfully managed the company's finishing solutions business, including product development, sales and customer service.

The M3 rotary cutter, portable mini-die cutters, portable flex gluers and servo-driven imprinters are among several innovative systems launched under Piper's supervision to enthusiastic response from end users. In addition, Piper worked with ILF engineers to design a double-sided ultraviolet coater and a double-sided wet-trap aqueous coater.

Speaking about his new role, Piper said, "I believe that ILF is well positioned to accomplish great things as an organization. We continue to embrace opportunities to enhance the value-added contribution to the print production segments of the graphic arts industry, while supplying our customers with quality equipment and superior technical and engineering support. We will continue to add new solutions to our product portfolio that help our customers gain efficiencies and increase productivity."