ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - ILF Technologies has entered into a strategic marketing agreement with Paper Benders Supply, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of top-quality molded cutoff knives and rotary dies. The alliance will afford ILF, a world-leading supplier of web finishing solutions for the printing and converting industries, a unique opportunity for its rotary die cutter line.

Plainfield, Ill.-based Paper Benders Supply manufactures die shapes ranging from simple windows to complex, custom-designed irregular patterns. In the past, ILF and Paper Benders Supply have worked side by side on rotary die cutting projects for the graphic arts industry. The combination of the two companies' strengths and talents will give their clients access to reliable, highly productive ILF rotary die cutting machines and a huge array of quality die shapes at competitive prices.

"We have a great deal of respect for Paper Benders Supply," said Frank Piper, president. "Paper Benders Supply is a proven innovator. Its custom steel rule molded rotary dies are the premier cutting solution for many converting applications, including plastics, film, folding cartons, flexible packaging, paper, corrugated and non-wovens. The company has tremendous expertise developed over a long period of time. In addition, Paper Benders Supply has a large and growing client base in the die market. There are significant synergies to be gained from offering our customers a preferred rotary die cutting solution."

"We look forward to expanding our reach into the highly specialized converting industry with our cooperative agreement with ILF," said Walt Powley, Paper Benders Supply's vice president of sales. "This partnership is about leveraging what both companies do best to devise the optimal 'systems' solution for our converting customers' custom die cutting needs. Our combined focus will provide the very best in cutting, scoring and perforating equipment and precise, accurate and dependable custom-molded rotary dies. Additional benefits will include a global sales, service, support and engineering network, as well as startup and training assistance."