Artes Gráficas & Conversión Named Official Latin American Media Partners For Graph Expo® 2007
Reston, VA (April 23, 2007). Artes Gráficas and Conversión magazines have been named by GASC® (Graphic Arts Show Company) as Official Latin American Media Partners of GRAPH EXPO. This agreement guarantees GASC that all information related to GRAPH EXPO will be communicated throughout Latin America via the most trusted and only BPA audited trade publications for printing and package printing in the region, reaching 34,000+ graphic arts, converting and package printing professionals in Mexico, Central and South America.

This year's GRAPH EXPO will take place September 9-12 in McCormick Place South in Chicago, IL. Complete information is available at: www.graphexpo.com.

Today's printing, converting, label printing and package printing industries are growing throughout Latin America, and companies are poised for investment in capital equipment purchases in both the traditional and digital printing segments. Because GRAPH EXPO is the largest, most comprehensive show for all printing technologies, it is here that professional attendees from throughout Latin America will come to see the newest presses, printers, equipment, accessories, substrates and consumables.

Carlos Silgado, editor of Artes Gráficas, emphasizes the importance of the agreement reached with GASC. "Our role as chief providers of value-added information to Latin American professionals gets stronger every day. With this partnership, our highly qualified readership will have immediate access to the best information regarding the show, both in our magazine and on our web portal".

GASC is owned by the National Association for Printing Leadership (NAPL), the Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies® (NPES®), and the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF).

Artes Gráficas and Conversión Launch 3rd Anunual Spanish Seminar at GOA 2008
Miami (October 10, 2007). B2Bportales publications' Artes Gráficas and Conversión, and Graphics of the Americas, the global graphics communications exhibition, team up again to launch their third Spanish seminar track to cater to the specific needs of Latin American graphic arts and converting professionals.

The seminar entitled "The Future of Prepress and Digital Workflow: What Printers and Converters Must Know", focuses on the quick pace of technological changes affecting the printing industry. The expansion of digital workflows and output techniques makes technology evaluation ever more complex, while intensifying the need for high quality information. This seminar provides information on the current state of digital technologies in the printing industry and on related market opportunities, to help facilitate purchasing processes that printing suppliers carry out to remain competitive in the global marketplace.

The seminar will consist of one session on Friday, February 29 and two sessions on Saturday March 1, 2008, from 9:00AM till after 12:00, giving visitors plenty of time to visit the GOA 2008 exhibition hall in the afternoon.

According to Mr. George Ryan, President/CEO of GOA, "the 2006 and 2007 Spanish seminars have proven to be a key component of our product portfolio at the show. In 2008 we expect a more successful seminar based on the first-rate speakers we have invited and our improved onsite registration support for attendees who choose to register at the Miami Beach Convention Center." To review the academic program, dates and prices, and to pre-register online or offline, please visit www.artesgraficas.com/seminarios/goa08.

Graphic arts suppliers interested in sponsoring the event can contact our Associate Publisher, Carolina Sanchez at csanchez@artesgraficas.com or +1 (772) 225-3981. Converting suppliers can contact our Associate Publisher Ken Jenkins at kjenkins@conversion.com or +1 (954) 986-9237.

2^nd Spanish Seminar Series at Graphics of The Americas 2007
Miami (November 09, 2006 Artes Gráficas and Conversión, B2Bportales' publications for the Latin American print and package printing industries, and the Graphics of the Americas exhibition, team-up again to launch their second Spanish seminar track to cater to the specific needs of the Latin American graphic arts professionals who visit GOA in Miami Beach on a yearly basis.

The seminar titled "Personalized and Variable Data Printing: High-Impact and Innovative Digitally Printed Media" focuses on business opportunities in digital printing technology and services, designed to learn the "how to" of new printing media related to Direct Marketing, such as Direct Mail, One-to-One Marketing Pieces, Personalized Photo-Albums and Calendars, VDP applied to commercial printing and/or short-run labels production, VDP applications for Brand Protection, Labels with personalized and unique images and information. The seminar will consist of two sessions on Friday 2^nd and Saturday 3^rd of March 2007, from 8:30AM till noon, giving visitors plenty of time to attend the GOA 2007 show floor in the afternoon.

Presentations will be given by high-level invited speakers, Barbara Pellow and Hal Hinderliter, two of the most knowledgeable consultants in this field in the American Continent. To review the academic program, dates and prices, and to pre-register online or offline, please visit www.artesgraficas.com/seminarios/goa07.

The previous seminar presented by B2Bportales publications in partnership with Graphics of The Américas in February 2006 was a total success. Chris Price, VP and General Manager of GOA commented, "we have worked side-by-side with Artes Gráficas and its sister magazine Conversión to position our show as a truly international event catering to all of Latin America, from Mexico to Argentina, and the 2006 Spanish seminar contributed positively to this cause. In 2007 we expect a more successful seminar based on the first-class speakers invited and our improved onsite registration support for attendees who chose to register at the Miami Beach Convention Center."

The seminar is sponsored by the following industry leading suppliers: HP, Kodak, Nipson, Rotoflex, Xeikon and Xerox.

Technical seminar in Spanish at NPE: a big success
Chicago (July 01, 2006). B2Bportales' magazines Tecnología del Plástico and Conversión offered the first technical seminar conducted in Spanish to Latin American professionals during the National Plastics Exhibition (NPE). The academic program, held on June 20th and 21st, congregated 166 Spanish speaking attendants.

Sessions covered subjects related to raw materials, extrusion and injection moulding. Twenty speakers, experts in each area, gave in their presentations technical information along with ideas to innovate and to compete globally. Therefore, the attendants got a technological guide on the main tools and trends under a strictly Latin American approach.

Alfredo Domador, Operations VP of B2Bportales, welcomes the attendance to the plastics and converting seminar offered during the plastics show NPE in Chicago.

Alfredo Domador, Operations Vicepresident of B2Bportales, commented that the accomplishment of the seminary strengthened the relation of the two publications with their readers and with the clients supporting the event. Members of the audience expressed to be satisfied with the conferences and emphasized that the information they received was useful to make investment decisions at the show. Furthermore, the sponsors of the event and the speakers were pleased with the concurrence.

In the development of the seminar B2Bportales had the support of the Society of the PlasticS Industry (SPI) and the Division of Flexible Packaging of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), two North American leaders in education for the plastics industry.

The board of directors of the NPE expressed its interest to carry on with this project in 2009, when the next edition of the show will be featured.

With the successful achievement of this activity, B2Bportales goes a step beyond in its mission to connect Latin American members of the industry with the companies that supply technologies and materials, through information services and interaction.

Starting today, El Empaque, a specialized magazine that has circulated for the last nine years under the name Industria del Empaque, went into circulation in 19 Latin American countries with a new format and new content services. The magazine is part of a group of industrial publications recently acquired by Carvajal-B2Bportales from N.Y. firm Keller International Publishing, which also includes Reportero Industrial, World Industrial Reporter, Laboratorio y Análisis and Petróleo Internacional.

El Empaque and elempaque.com are aimed at Latin American professionals involved in the processes of design, creation, development and application of packaging and container solutions for diverse industrial sectors, such as food products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, electronics and other goods requiring packaging systems. This magazine, which previously had a tabloid format dedicated to news about products, is now a standard size publication and contains in-depth articles on trends, materials, designs, special applications, interviews with industry leaders, guest columnists, upcoming events and other informational services for the industry, in addition to extensive news about products.

Lilián Robayo, editor of El Empaque, writes in her editorial for the relaunch issue: "We are as happy as we are committed to our mission of becoming a tool for generating technological solutions, initiatives and ideas in order to help professionals make decisions when developing or choosing a container or packaging solution for their particular product, to providing them with more and better arguments for their customers, or to simply be in the vanguard in terms of technologies and trends in this field."

The September/October issue El Empaque will be exhibited at the 2004 Pack Expo International Fair, which will be held in Chicago from November 7th to 11th.

B2Bportales today opened its portal www.reporteroindustrial.com, an Internet publication that complements its Latin American bimonthly magazine Reportero Industrial.

This new site, aimed at professionals involved in industrial processes in diverse manufacturing sectors, mainly provides news on equipment, materials, accessories, tools and solutions as well as information about their manufacturers in a format designed for easy reference. www.reporteroindustrial.com makes it possible to carry out generalized searches or specific ones according to product classification or company, as well as to establish various types of relationships between the results provided, in order to make the information obtained more valuable to the users. Once they have found news about the product they are interested in, visitors can send the manufacturer a request for further information, look at other similar products, get to know other products made by the same manufacturer, look at data on the supplier company or visit its mini-site in the Showroom section of our portal.

Reportero Industrial and reporteroindustrial.com are part of the B2Bportales group of specialized publications that also include the English version of this same product, World Industrial Reporter, along with Petróleo Internacional, Artes Gráficas, Metalmecánica, Conversión, Tecnología del Plástico, El Empaque, Laboratorio y Análisis, TvyVideo and El Hospital magazines.

www.labanalisis.com, the Internet portal for Laboratorio y Análisis magazine, a B2Bportales specialized publication, went into service today with a wide range of information for professionals in this sector.

This new site, the ninth such portal in the B2Bportales Internet products portfolio, is aimed at executives and technical and scientific personnel at private laboratories, institutions and industry in Latin America. Its offering of content includes news about equipment and materials as well as methods for analysis, research and quality control in fields such as food products, medical clinics, pharmaceuticals, the environment, chemical derivatives production etc.

Labanalisis.com makes it possible to carry out consultations according to product type or manufacturer, providing news and information on how to contact supplier companies. The visitor can send the manufacturer a request for further information, look at similar products, find out about other products made by the same manufacturer, obtain data on the supplier company or visit its mini-site in Spanish in the showroom section of our portal.

Laboratorio y Análisis and labanalisis. com are part of the B2Bportales group of specialized publications that also includes the magazines Reportero Industrial, World Industrial Reporter, Petróleo Internacional, Artes Gráficas, Metalmecánica, Conversión, Tecnología del Plástico, El Empaque, Tv y Video and El Hospital, along with their corresponding Internet sites.

EL HOSPITAL provides information directly related to the medical and pharmaceutical industry as it pertains to healthcare facility management, including product and technology evaluations, news and articles, peer-reviewed clinical articles, medical business news and event calendar. Once a year, its Annual Buyers' Directory provides a definitive directory of medical technology suppliers to its BPA-international audited database of 14,296 subscribers across all of Latin America, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.

Launched in 1944, EL HOSPITAL was being published by Cincinnati based Salud Publications International, Inc. "With the industry in Latin America continuing to grow and demand more information delivered across print as well as the internet, we think that a company with Carvajal-B2Bportales' resources can best take EL HOSPITAL to the next level and consolidate it as the favorite information source for doctors and healthcare facility administrators in Latin America", said Greg Loomis, President of Salud Publications.

Under the terms of the purchase agreement with Carvajal-B2Bportales, Ms. Norrie Loomis, currently Vice President of Salud Publications, shall remain in charge of advertising sales for the publication, leading an industry-savvy team of sales representatives in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Said Norrie Loomis, "I am thrilled that I will now have more time to devote to our customers and help them increase their presence and sales in Latin America".

David Ashe, President of B2Bportales, stated, "We are proud to continue EL HOSPITAL's tradition of providing top-quality information to Latin American healthcare providers, and look forward to expand the publication further by launching its very own information portal on the web by this summer. With our local presence across the region, we are confident that EL HOSPITAL will grow even deeper roots among the medical community in Latin America."

B2Bportales publishes six pan-regional Latin American B2B magazines and web portals. Besides EL HOSPITAL, the portfolio includes Artes Gráficas and Conversión for the commercial and package printing industries respectively, Tecnología del Plástico for the plastics industry, Metalmecánica for the metalworking industry and TVyVideo for TV and Video production. Founded in 1904, parent company CARVAJAL is a Latin American publishing and printing conglomerate employing over 10,000 people in offices and plants spread out across 16 countries in the region. Its holdings include Grupo Editorial Norma, Latin America's largest local book publisher, and Publicar, the largest independent telephone book and yellow pages operation in the region.

B2Bportales & CONLATINGRAF Sign Agreement to Join Forces in Attracting New Members to the Confederation.
Miami (January 24, 2003). This year's Graphics of the Americas show in Miami Beach served as a backdrop for the signing of a new cooperation agreement between CONLATINGRAF (Confederation of the Latin American Graphics Industry) and publishing company B2Bportales designed to strengthen the ties between Latin American printers and converters and their suppliers worldwide. The agreement also reaffirmed the already strong ties between the foremost graphics industry organization in Latin America and its official media Artes Gráficas and Conversión.

David Ashe, of B2Bportales, with Max Schrappe, President, and Juan Carlos Sacco, Vicepresident, of CONLATINGRAF.

Under the terms of the new agreement, Artes Gráficas and Conversión, Latin American print and web media covering the regionÕs printing and converting industries, will contribute significant advertising benefits to those industry suppliers joining CONLATINGRAF as associate members. Such membership gives those suppliers active in Mexico, Central and South America unique inside access to the regionÕs graphics industry, as it comes with the ability to visibly participate in CONLATINGRAF events, access to its market analysis as well as to its participating members, Latin AmericaÕs printing and converting elite. Through this new agreement, suppliers will now enjoy access to advertising in Artes Gráficas and Conversión, receiving value in excess of the level of their contribution.

Max Schrappe, president of CONLATINGRAF, underlined the impact of the agreement: "Our industry is poised for tremendous activity in the upcoming Free Trade of the Americas (FTAA) deliberations, so this is a very exciting time to take an active role in our Confederation. We are also investing more in making this an even more professional organization that generates a greater amount of research and materials on the Latin American industry. Our agreement with Artes Gráficas and Conversión, our official print and web media, allows us to give our associate members more value than ever before."

David Ashe, president of B2Bportales, stated, "we are proud to continue our tradition of working for the betterment of the industry in Latin America through our alliance with CONLATINGRAF and our publications. The printing and converting industries import $9.4 billion annually in equipment and raw materials, making the region a very interesting market for all international suppliers. By helping to make CONLATINGRAF membership more attractive, we are certain that more suppliers will jump at the chance to participate more actively in the industry, and that in turn is good for us all."

Founded in 1967, CONLATINGRAF is the Latin American organization that groups the printing associations, federations and chambers of 15 countries throughout Latin America, with over 40,000 companies employing more than 350,000 people. Its main goals are to represent and defend the rights and interests of the graphics and converting industries in Latin America.

CARVAJAL Ð B2Bportales publishes five pan-regional Latin American B2B magazines and web portals. Besides Artes Gráficas and Conversión, the portfolio includes Tecnología del Plástico for the plastic industry, Metalmecánica for the metalworking industry and TVyVideo for TV and Video production. Founded in 1904, parent company CARVAJAL is a Latin American publishing and printing conglomerate employing over 10,000 people in offices and plants spread out across 16 countries in the region.

B2Bportales & Conlatingraf unite forces for the Latin American Graphic Arts and Converting Industries.
Miami (October 1, 2001). This year’s Print 01 show in Chicago marked the signing of a landmark communications agreement between Conlatingraf and B2Bportales, in which the latter received the exclusive license to act as the official communications medium for the Latin American Graphic Arts Industry Confederation, through its magazines and web portals Artes Gráficas for the printing industry and Conversión for converting and package printing. The agreement breaks new ground in that it entails, besides print-based communications, the construction of the Conlatingraf official website, which will be accessible through the Latin American Portals www.artesgraficas.com and www.conversion.com

Patricio Hurtado, president of Conlatingraf, emphasized the importance of the agreement: "This agreement with B2Bportales offers unlimited exposure of Conlatingraf to the entire world. Besides our members, other Latin American professionals of the graphic arts and converting industry, as well as worldwide professionals will be able to learn more about us through the Latin American vertical communities of www.artesgraficas.com and www.conversion.com" as well as directly through www.conlatingraf.org."

"This new site will mark the future for us. Even though we’ve always talked about the Internet for Conlatingraf for some time, we knew it was a long-term issue, and today, it has become a reality".

As for David Ashe, CEO of B2Bportales, "Conlatingraf symbolizes the unity of the Graphic Arts industry in Latin America, and we feel proud that our two vehicles, Artes Gráficas and Conversión, were selected as the best options to carry Conlatingraf communications to their constituents. In this way, we continue to strengthen our commitment to be the premier source of value-added information for the industry in Latin America."

Founded in 1967, Conlatingraf is the Latin American organization that groups the printing associations, federations and chambers of 14 countries throughout Latin America, with over 40,000 graphic art companies employing more than 350,000 people. Located in Montevideo, Uruguay, Conlatingraf’s main goals are to represent and defend the rights and interests of the graphic arts industry in Latin America involving technical assistance to members and qualified training to their employees.

B2Bportales, formerly known as Carvajal International, has been serving for 35 years the information needs of Latin America in five key industries, these being Graphic Arts, Converting, Metalworking, Plastics and TV & Video production. The company is part of the Carvajal conglomerate of publishing, printing, packaging and commercial businesses founded in 1904 and today employing more than 10,000 people across the entire Latin American region.

Flexo Español (an FFTA publication) to appear in Conversion magazine and conversion.com
Miami (October 4, 2001). B2Bportales and FFTA/FTA (The Flexographic Technical Association) have signed an historic agreement, which will allow readers throughout Latin America to enjoy the highly technical articles of Flexo Español, the leading flexographic publication, in the pages and website of Conversion.

Robert Moran, publisher of Flexo/Flexo Español, emphasizes in the importance of the agreement signed with B2Bportales. "This very exciting and unique new business partnership brings us several new opportunities. Flexo Español will increase it frequency to seven times. It will also expand its reach to printers, converters, suppliers, educators and other key players in the flexographic printing community in Latin America. Distribution will be quicker and the efficiencies brought to the process via publication in Latin America will expedite communications with our reader base. Together B2BPortales/Conversion and Flexo Español will deliver the technological reports, instructions and insights that have served as the trademark of the Flexographic Technical Association for more than 40 years. The staffs of both organizations look forward to putting out a top quality publication that addresses the subjects that will help flexographers to build better businesses."

Lilian Robayo, Content Director for Conversion states, "Our role as the chief providers of value-added information to Latin American converters is stronger than ever. Today we are very proud to announce the strategic alliance between Flexo Español magazine and Conversion. This alliance brings together positive synergies that will deliver to our highly qualified readership, the best technical content on flexography, both in our magazine and in our website Conversion.com. Along with the already popular flexible, label and corrugated sections, starting in January 2002, FTA/FFTA`s Spanish publication Flexo Español, will be one of the most read sections in Conversion."

Flexo Español is the Spanish version of Flexo, a publication of the Flexographic Technical Association (FTA), Inc. founded in 1958. FTA is the leading technical society devoted exclusively to the flexographic printing industry and has grown to include every employee at over 1800 company locations. Its members come from all aspects of the flexo industry, and include printers, suppliers, graphic trade shops, consumer product companies, designers, end-users, consultants and educational institutions. Together they provide a wealth of products, services and shared knowledge to the flexographic printing industry.

Conversion is one of the five vertical communities of B2Bportales, formerly known as Carvajal International, that has been serving for 35 years the information needs of Latin America in five key industries, these being Graphic Arts, Converting, Metalworking, Plastics and TV & Video production. The company is part of the Carvajal conglomerate of publishing, printing, packaging and commercial businesses founded in 1904 and today employing more than 10,000 people across the entire Latin American region.

In the internet conversión.com today has a new image
(Bogota, September 2001) Last September 6, the vertical portal conversión.com went on the air with a facelift. This site offers Latin American converting companies a dynamic source of technical information and business, commercial services, and opportunities to grow and consolidate their businesses within the Latin American converting industry.

At www.conversión.com, converting professionals can express their ideas and opinions by participating in discussion forums and surveys.

This portal offers converting companies the industry economic and legislation news. It gives information on converting industrial fairs, forums, and congresses and summarizes the various associations’ activities.

In the Showrooms, users may obtain information on the products and services offered by sector vendors. They will also be able to communicate with the companies that they are interested in, request catalogs, price lists, print the page or send it to a colleague.

Plastico.com and Plastec USA Sign an Alliance
Miami (August, 2000). Plastico.com and Plastec USA signed an alliance through which the Plastec USA product portfolio will be part of the on-line sales catalog at plastico.com, the leading portal for the plastics industry in the region. Plastec USA is one of the most important chemical machinery and products distributors in the sector and is the exclusive representative for Cincinnati Milacron, Ferromatik Milacron, Motan, Thermal Care, Maguire, Colormatrix, among others.

This new alliance will soon allow Latin American industrialists to access a greater array of products at better prices and with more purchase facilities. It rebounds in benefits for plastico.com users who will see their business opportunities through the web site increase.

"Among the factors that restrict vertical industry competitiveness in Latin America, we highlight the lack of technological information, limited product supply in the region, and inefficient distribution chains. Via plastico.com, industry members in Latin America may access a greater variety of products and obtain complete, appropriate information about them", explained David Ashe, B2Bportales President.

Plastico.com thus adds to its specialized content services the product portfolio of Plastec USA, a company founded in 1985 as a professional specialized sales organization in the chemical machinery and products market for the Latin American plastics industry.

Plastico.com is the B2Bportales vertical community for plastic resin transformers in Latin America.

The first Internet panregional company of vertical portals is born
Miami (April, 2000). The Carvajal Group, a respected Latin American publishing and printing company, today announced B2Bportales, the first Latin American Internet vortal, or vertical portal company, to cover key industries in the region. This vortal company will initially leverage Carvajal's expertise in seven key industries in the region - printing, converting, plastics processing, metalworking, TV and video production, travel trade and IT value-added reselling. As part of its growth strategy, B2Bportales will quickly expand its offering to include vortals in several other key Latin American industries.

The vertical communities operated by B2Bportales offers specialized editorial content, a complete range of e-commerce features, and community-building functionality, giving Latin businesses access to significantly expanded information, interaction and transaction opportunities.

B2Bportales benefits from the branding and positioning of The Carvajal Group's seven pan-Latin trade publications, which are well recognized in each of their respective industries. These publications are Graphic Arts, Conversion, Plastics, Metalworking, TV & Video, Travel Management and ITD LatinoamÈrica.
B2Bportales will leverage the editorial and commercial expertise from each of these publications, all of which have subscriber databases that are certified by BPA International, the leading US-based circulation auditing company for business-to-business media.

B2Bportales is geared to create interactive industry hubs in both Spanish and Portuguese to serve the entire Latin American region. In addition to providing specialized information such as reference materials, news, technical articles, and information on products and trade shows, each site will feature full e-commerce functions. Suppliers within each of the specialized industries will be able to offer information about products, as well as sell and auction their products to specific customer audiences.

"Two key factors undermine the competitiveness of Latin American vertical industry participants - the lack of quality specialized information, and the current inefficiencies in the supply channels," said David Ashe, vice president, Carvajal International, Inc. "B2Bportales harnesses the Internet's power to close this information gap by quenching the tremendous thirst for vertical knowledge in the region and by providing a host of new opportunities for suppliers to service their customers across the region."

Currently, B2Bportales Web sites are operational in their initial stages, with content and advertising features. Full functionality and final design will be rolled out during the coming months, with completion by August 2000. Links to the seven existing communities can be found by visiting www.B2Bportales.com.

"With B2Bportales, Carvajal makes its first foray into a pure-play Internet company.

One of several to come," says Gustavo Adolfo Carvajal, president of IBC, a Carvajal subsidiary set up to identify and unlock potential for Internet businesses within the Group. "Like B2Bportales, we have several innovative Internet businesses in the works.

" B2Bportales has its management team headquartered in Miami, Florida with its content development group based in Bogot·, Colombia. Satellite offices will be located in Sao Paulo, Mexico and Buenos Aires.

Rogelio Maldonado González, 2002 Man of the Year of Tecnología del Plástico
(Mexico City, September 02, 2002). Rogelio Maldonado González, CEO of Consorcio Maldonado González S.A. de C.V., holding companies such as Industrias Culiacán, S.A. de C.V. and Recubrimientos y Laminados S.A. de C.V, has been appointed 2002 Man of the Year of Tecnología del Plástico magazine and its portal plastico.com. Our publication offered this distinction to Mr. Maldonado during Plastimagen 2002 in México City. This designation has been made with the support of Anipac, National Association of Plastics Industry in Mexico.

Mr. Maldonado is the head of a company that is example of leadership and strength in technology, products and services among the Mexican plastics sector.

Since 1998, Tecnología del Plástico has recognized these people for their contribution to the development of plastics processing companies and their efforts for the industrial sector in each country and in Latin America.

Our first Man of the Year was Héctor Méndez, recognized for his leadership in Argentina and for his work in Latin American Plastics Association. In 1999, Gualberto Rocco was named, for his valued work in the Association of Plastics Industry In Uruguay. Sergio Beutelspacher, a Mexican machinery supplier was distinguished in 2000 for his contribution to the plastics processing technology . Last year our homage was for Merheg Cachum, President of Abiplast, Brazil.

David Ashe Addresses ANTEC Conference, Predicts Strong Growth in Plastics Packaging in Latin America
(San Francisco, CA, June 2002). David Ashe, B2Bportales president, was invited to present the state of the Latin American Plastics Industry at the recent Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) ANTEC event, held in San Francisco, California. In his presentation, Mr. Ashe painted a healthy profile of the industry, with 13,000 processing plants generating $25 Billion Dollars in annual sales, and showing annual growth of 6% through the latter part of the 1990s.

Ashe attributed this growth in large part to the growing use of flexible plastic packaging in Latin America. The Latin American plastics industry, said Ashe, imports US$1 Billion every year in plastics processing machinery and equipment, and processes 9 million tons of plastics resins, which in the year 2000 constituted an $8 Billion import market across the region.

B2Bportales publishes Tecnología del Plástico, www.plastico.com, Latin AmericaÕs leading plastics processing publication.

Latin American Converting Industry is a $7.6 Billion Dollar Market for Global Exporters
(Mexico City, June 2002). Speaking at the recent LatinPack 2002 Conference held at Mexico CityÕs Maria Isabel Sheraton Hotel, the president of B2Bportales gave a conference on Latin AmericaÕs Converting industry. David Ashe spoke of the purchasing power of package and paper goods converting plants across the region, which accounted for $300 million dollars in machinery purchases in 2000 and $7.3 billion dollars in plastic film and resins as well as paper and cardboard. Speaking of the potential in the packaging sector, Ashe mentioned how Latin American consumption of packaging had grown through the 90s, and was continuing to grow strongly even in the current tough economic times. Ashe pointed out that the single largest machinery and raw materials import market in the region is Mexico, accounting for $4.5 billion dollars in imports in the year 2000. Conversión, www.conversion.com, is the B2Bportales publication reaching Latin American converters of paper, film and foil.

The Latin American Printing Industry highlighted at the Printing Industry of AmericaÕs GAMIS Meeting
(Alexandria, VA, July 2002). Invited to the PIAÕs (Printing Industry of America) 36^th annual meeting of its GAMIS (Graphic Arts Marketing Information Services) special industry group, B2Bportales president David Ashe painted a moderately optimistic picture of the Latin American printing industry, sharing with the attendees market data on equipment and paper sales in the region. With 39,000 printing establishments, Ashe said, representing 17% of the worldÕs total yet producing only 5% of the worldÕs total printing sales, consolidation is the order of the day in Latin America. This has meant a slowdown in equipment sales to about $750 million dollars a year, yet paper and ink consumption have continued to rise even through times of recession to hit $1.1 billion dollars annually.

Ashe pointed out that as Mexico has become the largest economy in Latin America in GDP terms, it has also overtaken Brazil as an import market for printing equipment, paper and ink, accounting for about $700 million dollars in these categories. As Latin American printing companies continue to modernize in order to globalize, Ashe predicted strong interest in new technologies. This was echoed by Artes Gráficas magazine research among its readers showing that the majority of surveyed large printers intend to invest in new equipment and ISO certification in 2002. B2Bportales is the publisher of Artes Gráficas, www.artesgraficas.com, Latin AmericaÕs leading printing industry publication.

Artes Graficas & Conversion Named Official Latin American Media Partner for Graph Expo & Converting Expo 2002
(Miami, February 6, 2002) GASC (Graphic Arts Show Company) has named once more Artes Graficas & Conversion magazines and Web portals their exclusive Official Media in Latin America. This agreement guarantees GASC all information related to Graph Expo and Converting Expo 2002 will be made available throughout Latin America via the most trusted and only BPA audited trade publications in the region, reaching 40K graphic arts and converting professionals in Mexico, Central and South America.

Carlos Silgado, editor of Artes Graficas emphasizes in the importance of the agreement reached with GASC. "Our role as chief providers of value-added information to the Latin American professionals gets stronger every day. With this partnership, our highly qualified readership, will have immediate access to the best information regarding the show, both in our magazine and in our website ARTESGRAFICAS.COM.

"In ARTESGRAFICAS.COM & CONVERSION.COM exhibitors will also be able to display their products in Spanish to all potential Latin American buyers to attend the show, through our new on-line SHOWROOMS. This unique all-in-Spanish mini-site offers real-time interactive functionalities through features that include: company background, contact information of worldwide headquarter office and local distributor network with live links to web sites and e-mail addresses, catalog of up-to 30 products with photos, brief description and downloadable spec sheets in PDF format, plus a calendar of all trade shows and events the supplier company plans to attend during the year. The SHOWROOM is indeed a key selling tool worth adding to any print media and trade show marketing mix", adds Alfredo Domador, Group Publisher.

As publication partner, the 2002 Graph Expo & Converting Expo mini-site in

ARTESGRAFICAS.COM & CONVERSION.COM will include, among others:

For more advertising information please contact:

Alfredo Domador, publisher, adomador@b2bportales.com

Tel: 305-448-6875/800-622-6657 Fax: 305-448-9942

Carolina Sanchez-Shay, Associate Publisher Artes Graficas, csanchez@artesgraficas.com

Patricia Rivera, Account Manager Artes Graficas, privera@artesgraficas.com

Ken Jenkins, Associate Publisher Conversion, kjenkins@conversion.com

Jeannette Barnes, International Sales Manager, jbarnes@b2bportales.com

ARTES GRAFICAS & CONVERSION are publications of B2Bportales.

TV y VIDEO has been named publication partner for NAB 2002
(Miami, January 28, 2002) B2Bportales and NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) have reached an historic agreement, which, for the 1st time will allow professionals of the industry throughout Latin America to have access of all the features of NAB in the pages and website of the premier source of value-added information: TV y VIDEO.

Santiago Algorta, editor of TV y VIDEO emphasizes in the importance of the agreement reached with NAB. "Our role as the chief providers of value-added information to the Latin American region is stronger than ever. With this partnership, only positive synergies will deliver to our highly qualified readership, the best information regarding the show, both in our magazine and in our website <http://www.tvyvyideo.com/> TVYVIDEO.COM.

"This agreement with NAB is a response to our Latin American broadcasters feedback, and has permitted us to break down any existing language barrier. With our recent re-launching of <http://www.tvyvyideo.com/> TVYVIDEO.COM, Latin America will be able to have full access to the most important features of NAB 2002. Comments marketing manager J.Zuluaga

As publication partner, the 2002 NAB mini-site in <http://www.tvyvyideo.com/> TVYVIDEO.COM will include, among others:

1. Main Page: Brief description of the event, history and main themes for this year's event.

2. Welcoming. Including a translated version of NAB officials highlighting the importance of the event for the Latin American visitors, along with a brief Las Vegas overview

3. New Product Listings. Sorted by manufacturer. This page will allow a global overview of each exhibitor of the show. Each product (10 per exhibitor) will have a description (150 words with photo). TO BE REVIEWED

4. Exhibitors listing in conjunction to NAB listing with stand # , and all vital information

5. All academic program describing the seminars

6. Show planner (link to NAB website)

7. Event listing surrounding the show and which are of special interest to the Latin American attendee

Finally, Carmen Alonso-Lake, publisher for TV y VIDEO states: "This is an excellent opportunity to reach all Latin American potential customers, no only prior to NAB, but also afterwards in order to assure adequate penetration of the market. With our showrooms, manufacturers and suppliers will have at their reach, the top executives and decision makers of the industry in Latin America". TV y VIDEO is a publication of B2Bportales.

CARVAJAL - B2Bportales publishes five pan-regional Latin American B2B magazines and web portals. Besides TVyVIDEO, the portfolio includes ARTES GRÁFICAS for the graphic arts industry, METALMECÁNICA for metalworking, TECNOLOGÍA DEL PLÁSTICO for plastics and CONVERSION for the converting industry. Founded in 1904, parent company CARVAJAL is a Latin American publishing and printing conglomerate employing over 10,000 people in offices and plants spread out across 16 countries in the region.

B2BPortales 1-800-622-6657

Artes Graficas launches its New-Generation Website
(Miami, November 2001) Artes Graficas, the leading graphic arts magazine in Latin America, has just launched a brand-new version of its website, http://www.artesgraficas.com, which will allow readers throughout Latin America to enjoy the highly technical articles of Artes Graficas, as well as interact more deeply with equipment, raw materials and machinery sellers.

This launch was done on November 16, 2001, at the XVIII Latin American Graphics Industry Congress in Valdivia, Chile organized by Conlatingraf, the Latin American Graphic Industry Confederation. Artes Graficas is a vertical community of B2Bportales.

B2Bportales CEO, David Ashe, comments on what this represents to the Latin American printing community, "With our commitment to being the favorite source of information to Latin American printers, and to serve in the best way possible the needs of suppliers and manufacturers around the world, http:// www.artesgraficas.com was a much needed vehicle to close any existing gap between potential commercial partners in the region.

We are certain that http://www.artesgraficas.com will immensely increase not only future commercial deals, but also help to elevate greatly the standards of the Latin American Printing Industry."

Marcia Cardenas, Content Director for Artes Graficas states, "Our vertical portal has entered a new era. From artesgraficas.com, Latin-American professionals will have the most dynamic and complete source of technical and business information, commercial services, and the possibility to interact and grow their enterprises in the Graphic Arts community. Our web capabilities and content management platform make us unique among Latin American media and consolidate us as the main source for information in the industry."

Conlatingraf president, Patricio Hurtado Alvarado, emphasizes on the importance this tool will be for the Latin American graphic art community. "Members of all our 15 national associations we gather, will now have instant value-added information regarding the industry in a matter of seconds by simply using this website. It is very friendly to use and surely it will become an everyday tool for the community".

Artes Graficas Publisher, Alfredo Domador agrees, "This powerful tool will be the key to the development of the Graphic Arts industry in Latin America and therefore, the most appropriate tool for manufacturers and suppliers to communicate their products and/ or services to this emerging market"

Mr. Domador also states "With our exclusive Showrooms, all manufacturers will only be a click away from the decision makers of the industry in Latin America. Showrooms will be the key driving force behind artesgraficas.com, where companies will be able to "exhibit" up to 30 products in a special Spanish designed mini-site, which resembles a catalog with pictures included. Distributor and contact listings will enable site visitors to have immediate interactive access to companies creating high potential leads in the form of specific requests for information and quotes."

Artes Graficas at graphics of the americas 2002
(Miami, November 2001) For the 10^th consecutive year, Artes Graficas, a vertical community of B2Bportales will be present at one of America’s largest trade shows for presses, equipment, products and consumables in the printing, converting and imaging industries: Graphics of the Americas 2002

Marcia Cardenas, Content Director for Artes Graficas states, "Our 10^th consecutive participation at Graphics of the Americas, confirms our commitment to provide the best value-added information to Latin America. Throughout the time we have witnessed how the readers of Artes Graficas have increased their presence at the show. Many of them look forward to this show due to its importance and the accessibility for them to attend due to its location."

Chris Price, vice-president and general manager of the event, emphasizes the importance of having Artes Graficas involved in the 2002 show. "A great part of the success in the increase of the Latin American attendees has been because of the commitment and credibility that Artes Graficas has among its BPA qualified readers in Latin America. With their help, in 27 years, we have gone from a simple table-top show to the largest trade show in Miami." Graphics of the Americas was recently named the official US show for Conlatingraf (Latin American Graphic Industry Confederation), which unites more than 15 graphic arts associations throughout Latin America.

Artes Graficas Publisher, Alfredo Domador comments, "Graphics of the Americas always marks a new start for Latin America each year. Exhibitors and advertisers who combine show presence with print and web advertising in Artes Graficas have shown excellent sales results before, during and after the show takes place."

Mr. Domador also states "For Graphics of the Americas, our Showrooms in artesgraficas.com, will enable exhibitors to present their products, prior to the event, to the decision makers of Latin America. Companies will be able to "exhibit" up to 30 products in a special Spanish designed mini-site, resembling a catalog with pictures included. Distributor and contact listings will enable site visitors to have immediate interactive access to companies, creating high potential leads in the form of specific requests for information and quotes."

Graphics of the Americas 2002 is the networking and meeting place for more than 25,000 industry professionals from Designers to Printers to Post Press and Mailing-Fulfillment Decision Makers. Being the second largest Graphic Arts and Converting Show in America, Graphics of the Americas gives you two vital markets: Southeast United States and Latin America: Mexico, South America, Central America and the Caribbean. With a 27-year track record reflects the success with both exhibitors and show visitors, it offers more technical seminars than any other show and it is the major Graphic Arts and Converting Show of the year.

Graphic Arts sponsor in a tradeshow Evolutio 2001

(Bogota, October 2001) November 14 - 16 the Evolutio 2001 Graphics Industry Congress will take place in Valdivia (Chile). It will serve as a framework for holding the VII Ibero-American Graphics Industry Congress, the XVIII Latin American Graphics Industry Congress and the VII Theobaldo de Nigris graphics products Contest.

According to Patricio Hurtado Alvarado, President of the Latin American Graphics Industry Confederation (Conlatingraf is the Spanish acronym), the importance of the XVIII Latin-American Congress lies not only in its being the first one in the twenty-first century, but also in its content. "The topics developed will give the attendees a panorama of the evolution of the graphics industry worldwide. It will offer a new vision of the business universe and insist on the growing need for strategic alliances and business mergers", said Hurtado.

The Congress program will be carried out in six blocks, two a day, and the conferences have been classified into six broad topics: Internet, its Real Impact on Our Business Activities; The Map of the New World; Political and Economic Panorama; Reinventing the Graphics Industry; The Materials Revolution; and Science and Technology: Re-Architecture.

In the seventh Theobaldo de Nigris Graphics Products Contest will rate the best graphic works produced from September 2000 to August 2001. Prizes will be awarded on November 17, the day that the event closes.

In addition to the information regarding the event, on the web page www.artesgraficas.com/valdivia users will find the profile of the organizers, an article on the graphics industry in Chile, the present situation of Chile and useful data, along with the cultural and tourist attractions of Región de los Lagos (the Lake Region), where Valdivia is located.

Metalmecánica Will Publish the Official Directory for the exposition Expometalmecánica 2001

(Bogota, September 2001) The magazine Metalmecánica will be the Official Publisher of the Directory of Exhibitors for the fair Expometalmecánica 2001 to be held in Guadalajara (Mexico) on October 16-18.

The directory will also be published from the portal in internet www.metalmecanica.com, an on-line extension of the Latin American magazine that has been strengthening itself on the Latin American market as a source of technical and business information for industrialists in the region.

The agreement to publish the official directory for the exposition was entered into last June by and between Alfredo Domador, Commercial Manager of Metalmecánica Internacional, and Antonio Navarro, Commercial Events Director of EJ Krause de México, the organizer of Expometalmecánica 2001. "We are proud of our agreement with EJ Krause, because it is an alliance that will enable Expometalmecánica greater promotion in Mexico and in Latin America", stated Alfredo Domador.

Expometalmecánica has consolidated itself as one of the most important events of the machine tooling sector in Mexico since its creation sic years ago. The organization by EJ Krause and the sponsorship of the Guadalajara Chamber of the Transformation Industry (Cimeg is the Mexican acronym), has enabled the participation of over 200 companies who can make good contacts and increase their sales.

The Plastics Industry will be at K 2001

(Bogota, October 2001) Characterized as the most outstanding plastics industry event worldwide, the K will once again grace the Dusseldorf (Germany) fairgrounds, from October 25 to November 1.

This year the International Plastics and Rubber Fair is celebrating its twenty-fifth year and it is chuck full of innovations for the industrial plastics community.

As usual, the editorial team of our publication will attend this event, recording for Latin America the most outstanding developments in processes, machinery, equipment, materials, and services.

The exposition area has grown; it is now 230,000 square meters, in response tot he strong demand of the machinery manufacturers. This year the fair will have 17 pavilions. K 2001 will open its doors at 10:00 a.m. and will close at 6:30 p.m.. You may find complete information regarding this event at our web page www.plastico.com

TVyVideo will participate in ATVC and Caper

(Bogota, October 2001) The ATVC academic sessions will be held from October 22 to 25 at Centro Costa Salguero in Buenos Aires (Argentina), organized by the Argentinean Association of Cable TV Companies.

At the same time as the academic sessions, the Argentinean Chamber of Radio Broadcasting Equipment Vendors will present a sample of equipment and services for radio, television, cable, satellite and multi-media, known as Caper.

These two annual events have consolidated themselves as mandatory sources of information, a center for business and for exhibiting new products and services. Therefore, our editorial team will be present at this event to report on its news, products, and innovations.

For this year, the sample will have the same structure and size as on previous occasions. Up to now, companies such as Barconet, CommScope, LAPTV, Motorola, Scientific Atlanta, TVMAS, and Viaccess have confirmed their participation.

This year the Ninth ATVC Awards will be given on October 22 in Teatro Avenida de Buenos Aires. The objective is to award the best local productions of cable TV programs by genre and category, as well as the integration of Latin American countries.

Latin American Markets and Distribution Channels to be analized at Graphics of the Americas
Artes Graficas, Conversion and Graphics of the Americas 2001 team up to present the Seminar "Latin American Printing & Converting 2001 Market Outlook: A Distribution Channel Analysis"

Miami (January, 2001). Artes Graficas & Conversion, the leading print and Internet media servicing the graphics communications and converting industries in Latin America, and Graphics of the Americas, the leading trade show catering this region, join forces to present this important seminar to worldwide suppliers and Latin American distributors during the 2001 Miami trade show, which runs February 2-4 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

With the intention to continue promoting the trade of goods and services between worldwide suppliers and Latin America, the seminar will concentrate on one key element of the trade process: The Distribution Channel.

The event will kick off by briefing suppliers and distributors about the business outlook for the Latin American printing and converting industries in 2001. Then, the panelist will share their on-hands experiences concerning the pros and cons of the various distribution channels available to reach the region. And finally, Artes Graficas and Conversion will introduce attendees to "Your Latin American Distributor", a new program aimed at promoting and facilitating new Supplier-Distributor partnerships throughout the region.

The distinguished panel of speakers, integrated by Patricia Alvarez, President Intermarket & Printmat Corporation; John Mitchel, Director of Latin American Operations Mark Andy Corporation; Tom Caplinger, General Manager Latin America MacDermid Graphic Arts and David Ashe, President/CEO B2Bportales, Inc., will most definitely enlighten the professional knowledge of both suppliers and distributors present at the event.

"Through my five years experience assisting worldwide suppliers entering the Latin American market, I have found out The Distribution Channel is possibly the single most noticeable obstacle keeping suppliers from catering the region. Thus, we are excited to kick off "Your Latin American Distributor" program within the spirit of Graphics of the Americas and the distinguished panel of speakers who have volunteered to share their knowledge with us. We are confident this program will have a tremendous positive impact in the region.", said B2Bportales' Director of Marketing Alfredo Domador.

"As the growth in the domestic economy slows down, it's important for Graphic Arts and Converting suppliers to reach new expanded markets. The Latin American markets represent a "major growth market". This seminar explains the size, growth and potential of Latin America's portfolio of markets. More importantly, the information covered here will help suppliers understand options in selling and marketing their products internationally, while remaining competitive." said Christopher Price, Vice-president and General Manager, Graphics of the Americas, Global Graphic Arts and Converting Exposition.

Artes Graficas, Conversion and Graphics of the Americas extend a warm invitation to ALL suppliers and distributors currently servicing Latin America, and specially to companies interested in marketing to the huge growing Latin American market, to join us at the Miami Beach Convention Center, Room #228 Hall C Second Level, on Saturday February 3rd at 8:00 AM.

The event will include a continental breakfast, registration forms to join "Your Latin American Distributor" program and the opportunity to WIN a Nikon Coolpix 990 digital camera worth $1,000.oo, which will be raffled among qualified seminar attendees.

Good 2001 forecasting for the graphic arts, converting, metalmechanics and plastics industries
Bogota (January, 2001). The reports made by each of the B2Bportales publications that cover the graphic arts, converting, plastics, and metalworking industry communities have indicated average growths of 4% - 5% in the Latin America for the graphic arts, converting and plastics industries and the possible elimination of tariff barriers in the region for the metalworking industry. Based on these reports, the year 2001 will witness a growth in Latin American trade and a common trend towards investing in machinery and equipment enhancement.

Such optimistic forecasts go hand in hand with the good regional general economy behavior observed this year that will continue during the next year. According to the IMF report, a 4.5% average growth is expected for the year 2001, mainly driven by the economies of Chile, Peru, Mexico and Brazil which present the highest growth rates.

Graphic Arts
In the forecast published by Artes Gráficas (Graphic Arts), regional industry growth may be above the estimated Latin American economic forecast for the year 2001, thus placing it near 5%. A symptom of this healthy environment that the industry will enjoy next year is the important investment rhythm in machinery and equipment maintained in countries such as Mexico, Brazil and Colombia.

In Mexico, for instance, printing machinery imports increased 12.6% during the first eight months of the year 2000 as compared to the same period in 1999, going from US $148.7 million to US $167.5 million.

Likewise, imports in Brazil for the same customs item represented US $198.4; whereas, for the January - August 2000 period, imports showed US $99.9 million. In the case of Colombia, from January and July, US $141.1 million were imported in printing machinery, whereas total imports for the same item represented US $29.9 million in 1999, figures that enable projecting an average sector growth of 3.5% for the year 2000.

Converting
Based on the report published in Conversión (Converting), the frist decade of the 21st century started out well in terms of excellent prospects for most Latin American countries. In the recent Latin American Packing Union (ULADE is the Spanish acronym) Congress held in Chile last August, projections were made for some countries devoted to packing. In Chile, for example, container and packing producers project a 5.2% yearly growth rate from 2000 to 2002.

An average 5% flexible packing market growth is foreseen in Brazil from 1999 to 2005. The expectation for corrugated cardboard growth is 4.8%, for cardboard it is 2.6% and for PET containers it is 9%.

A good argument to justify such enthusiastic forecasts is also the data obtained in the surveys made by Conversión during the year 2000. According to the answers provided by the entrepreneurs, investment in capital goods will be intensified at a short term as well as in staff training and quality assurance process improvement actions.

In fact, these behaviors are already being seen. During the first eight months of 2000, in Brazil alone, converting equipment imports were US $16.8 million, which compare favorably to the total 1999 imports of US $27.8 million. And, in Mexico, machinery and equipment imports totaled US $295 million up to August 2000, which represents a growth rate of 20.4% as compared to the same period the year before.

Metalworking
The year 2001 will bring to the metalworking industry, and specifically, to the automotive and autoparts sectors, a more and more interdependent market, thanks to the agreements signed during the year 2000 among some national associations to relieve trading of tariffs. At the same time, a great movement is seen in the region what with more investment, new plants opening, exports, and introducing new models on the production lines.

New rapport and agreements signed between economic blocks and national trading unions are being aimed at establishing a common policy for the automotive industry. ALCA (Spanish acronym for Latin America and the Caribbean), one of the greatest free trade projects in the world, would represent a market of 780 million persons, with almost one third of the total product and more than 20% of the world trade.

In spite of the international crises, a yearly average growth of 6% was recorded in 1999 for the Mercosur countries and for the Andean Community of Nations. Within this framework, organizations such as Cepal expect that the growth seen in the past decade be maintained in the region.

For the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay), Peugeot foresees investments worth US $850 million; Fiat and Toyota will increase their production; and Daimler Chrysler and Ford will begin the production of new parts and models.

In Colombia, in the year 2000 the three most important assembling companies, Compañía Colombiana Automotriz - CCA (Mazda, Mitsubishi), Sofasa (Renault, Toyota), and General Motors Colmotores (Chevrolet) reactivated, with a 19.09% increase. That increase means revenues of more than US $198 million for the assembling companies. Furthermore, Ford de Venezuela and CCA will continue their strategic alliance for the joint production of Mazda models in Venezuela and of Ford models in Colombia.

Also, in Mexico, the financial group Bancomer revealed that the Mexican automotive industry have received investments of nearly US $7 billion since 1994 that have enabled increasing the annual production by 1,5 million units and nearly match Brazil's average production. Presently, Mexico holds the twelfth position in world automotive production with a 2.8% share of the global market.

Plastics
For the plastics industry, the unfavorable oil price variation will have a notable impact on the costs of goods imported from industrialized countries as well as on production costs and this will affect the demand for semi-finished goods and plastics manufacturing, as the price of finished products will most surely increase.

Nevertheless, experts in the sector estimate that the growth of the industry for the year 2001 may be approximately 4%. The National Association of Plastics Industries (ANIPAC is the Mexican acronym) projects a 7%-10% growth for this sector in Mexico; the Brazilian Plastics Industries Association (ABIPLAST is the Brazilian acronym) estimates nearly 9.6% growth for the year 2001 in the internal consumption of plastic resins in Brazil.

Important growth goals are expected in both countries for internal consumption: Mexico expects to increase its per capita consumption from 36.3 kilos in 1999 to 41.7 kilos in 2001 and Brazil expects general consumption of plastic resins to increase from 3,469,200 tons in 1999 to 4,135,400 tons in 2001. Such goals imply an important effort in the petrochemical industry, in the transformation capacity by the plastics industry (better human resources, productivity, and quality), and an investment effort in machinery and equipment.

Efforts have already been initiated and now show important figures in equipment imports for the plastics industry: in Brazil US $139.130 billion from January to June, 2000; in Mexico US $118.4 million at March, 2000; in Argentina US$100.7 million at June, 2000; and in Colombia US$18.068 million at June, 2000.

Along these lines, we may expect a year 2001 full of positive indexes in all of these industries, and, for the metalworking industry accompanied by economic integration forecasts among some economic blocks.

The reports published in the Artes Gráficas (Graphic Arts), Conversión (Converting), Metalmecánica (Metalworking) and Plástico (Plastics) websites go into more depth and detail regarding the above information.

Metalmecanica Survey Reveals Who is Who in the Latin American Autoparts Sector
Bogota (October, 2000). 338 companies devoted to manufacturing automotive autoparts and components were consulted to perform the first report on the largest autoparts companies in Latin America, made by Metalmecánica, and published on its Internet site, www.metalmecanica.com, and in the current October-November printed edition.

According to the survey, the fifty (50) top autoparts companies had sales equal to US$ 2.000 million during 1999 and invested US$ 46 million a month in raw materials. This and other data obtained in the survey enabled evaluating the magnitude and importance of the industrial autoparts sector and knowing their offers, opportunities, developments and needs.

The survey provides detailed information on the number of plants, processes used, number of operating equipment, exports, sales growth, export growth, autoparts manufactured and other results that evidence an industry in permanent consumables and technology demand.

Metalmecánica is the community for processors of steel, aluminum, iron and other manufacturing metals in Latin America.

Graphic Arts Signs Content Alliance with Newspaper Association of America
Miami (October, 2000). Graphic Arts and Newspaper Association of America -NAA- signed a strategic content alliance to exchange and disseminate information related to the newspaper sector. Pursuant to this agreement, Graphic Arts, a B2Bportales, Inc., publication in print and on Internet will have articles from the TechNews magazine, one of the two NAA publications. Likewise, NAA will reproduce articles created by Graphic Arts.

The alliance will allow artesgraficas.com users and Graphic Arts magazine readers to gain access to information on newspaper operations in new media areas, business, prepress, press, material, packing, distribution, occupational safety, residual management, etc.. They may also find first-hand information on Nexpo, the newspaper industry show organized by NAA.

Marcia Cárdenas, Graphic Arts Content Director, indicated that "because of its special material and machinery consumption characteristics, the newspaper printing industry requires specific, specialized information on the subject. What we seek through this alliance is to further strengthen the topic related to newspapers in Graphic Arts".

According to the survey developed by Graphic Arts last June, the newspaper industry will grow this year thanks to a major boom in the regional economy. During 1999 the top 50 daily printers in Latin America invoiced US $2.066 billion and printed 4.214 billion copies. This printing surpassed the 1998 record by 8.1%.

artesgraficas.com is the portal for Latin American prepress, printing and postpress entrepreneurs and professionals.

Plastico.com Gives Homage to the Plastics Industry Man of the Year
Mexico (September, 2000). Plastico.com chose Engineer Sergio Beutelspacher Sandoval for Latin America 2000 Plastics Industry Man of the Year and gave homage to him during the International Industry Congress held in Mexico. This choice, so difficult to make, is the third of its kind that Plastico.com has made to acknowledge the labor of a Latin American entrepreneur in this sector.

As a symbol of such acknowledgment, Miguel Garzón, B2Bportales Contents Vice-president gave Sergio Beutelspacher a trophy during the International Industry Congress held on September 4 in the Constelaciones Meeting Room at Hotel Nikko in Mexico City. The Congress was held as an eye opener to Plastimagen 2000, one of the most important plastics industry events in the region.

At present, Sergio Beutelspacher Sandoval chairs Beutelspacher S.A. de C.V., a family business highly acknowledged in the Mexican Plastics sector. It produces extrusion machines and equipment for the industry. Beutelspacher’s projects and efforts aimed at improving how plastic processors work in the region has been mainly expressed through the technological development and design of machines and he has devoted most of his professional life to such tasks.

Héctor Méndez, an Argentinean entrepreneur, and Gualberto Rocco from Uruguay were Man of the Year in 1998 and 1999, respectively. Plastico.com is the B2Bportales site for plastics industrialists in Latin America.

metalmecanica.com Establishes First Ranking of Latin American Auto Parts Manufacturers
Bogotá (August, 2000). For the purpose of generating the first ranking of auto parts manufacturers in Latin America, including sales figures, company size, processes used, and other important data, metalmecanica.com is presently carrying out a survey with entrepreneurs region-wide. metalmecanica.net is the B2Bportales vertical community that comprises metal goods and metal parts producers in Latin America, among which auto parts sector industrialists occupy an important position.

The survey will find out and locate who the major auto parts manufacturers presently are after five years of economic opening that caused some factories to disappear and others to strengthen. To date, there is no study that has gathered this information as a whole, there is only partial data supplied by each country's trade associations and corporations.

The auto parts sector is one of the largest sectors in sales figures and materials volume within the metalworking industry and is also one of the main machine - tools buyers in Latin America. According to Eduardo Tovar, metalmecanica.com Content Director, "The technological development of the metalworking industry in a country is measured by the size of its automotive industry".

The survey results will show indicators such as main auto parts produced, operating production plants, plant size, metal cutting and transformation processes used in production, total number and breakdown of employees, monthly volume of factory input purchases, and sales and exports values. Survey analysis and conclusions will be published next October in metalmecanica.com

laconversion.com Moderates LatinPack 2000 Conference
México D.F. (August, 2000). Lilián Robayo, laconversion.com Content Director, was the moderator for one of the meetings at the 4th Bilingual Congress on plastics conversion and packaging in Latin America, carried out on July 19 - 20 in Mexico, during LatinPack 2000. More than 100 flexible packaging conversion manufacturers, especially Mexicans, in Latin America attended the "New Developments in Hermetic Packaging" session moderated by Lili·n Robayo.

There were presentations by MarÌa del Pilar Noriega from the Plastic and Rubber Training and Research Institute in Colombia, also laconversion.com collaborator; Jason Kim from Evalca in United States; Ernesto Silva, from DuPont Packaging in Mexico; Paolo Raugei from Gaileo Vacuum Syst in Italy; Jim Schneider from AET Films in the United Stated; and Jonathan Casey from Valmet General in England.

Other topics broached during the congress were film and plate extrusion and co-extrusion, film printing and conversion innovations, and emerging rigid and flexible plastics technologies. All conferences presented during LatinPack2000 may be found in the laconversion.com site in PDF format.

laconversion.com is one of B2Bportales vertical communities. It is made up of Latin American packaging manufacturers as well as manufacturers of other products made of paper, cardboard, aluminum foil and plastic film manufacturers.