The Charlotte Museum of History has been highlighting stories of the Charlotte, NC, region since 1976. For the past three years, Charlotte-based ACI Design has been helping the museum preserve precious artifacts in both permanent and rotating displays incorporating Sintra®, Dibond®, and Gatorplast® graphic display boards by Alcan Composites USA.
    The museum includes three galleries and a changing exhibit space. Also on the grounds is the Hezekiah Alexander House—the county's oldest surviving house, built circa 1774. Historical facts and interpretations are posted on signage describing each exhibit piece with Sintra graphic display board often selected for mounting or direct printing of this information.
    Sintra was also used as the mounting substrate for “Charlotte Stories: Our Collections, Your Treasures,” a temporary display that opened in 2008 featuring area family heirlooms both owned by and loaned to the museum. Panels for this exhibit feature a wide variety of artifacts from early medical instruments and pottery to antique furniture and long rifles. “Charlotte Neighborhoods,” a rotating featured exhibit that showcases changing neighborhoods, opened in 2006, and also uses Sintra.
    The “Mecklenberg: Crossroads of Commerce” permanent exhibit, which opened in March 2008, depicts the area's economy and features artifacts from World Wars I and II. The existing casework for the exhibit was updated with Dibond graphic display board.
    Gatorplast was also used for its archival qualities to create back graphic panels in the cases. Images were directly printed on white Gatorplast graphic display
board.
    For more information about Alcan Composites, go to www.alcancompositesusa.com; for the museum, go to www.charlottemuseum.org; and for ACI Design, visit www.acidesign.com.

Frameware Announces New Profiles Division
Dean DeLuccia, president of Frameware Inc., has announced a partnership with Mark Pfund and Winston Leung of Winmax International of Hong Kong to create a new division, Profiles By Frameware, featuring extruded aluminum picture frame moulding. A full line of gallery-quality, custom, and OEM aluminum profiles will be available through a network of U.S., Canadian, and European distributors. The initial focus will be on servicing distributors, OEMs, and manufacturers that use metal moulding.
    The standard line will include Metal Basics. OEMs and manufacturers will also be able to order custom extruded mouldings, including specialty colors and finishes that meet the quality standards of the North American market.
    DeLuccia and Pfund, both with 20 years' experience in the framing industry, say that the new Frameware division will combine the advantages of offshore manufacturing with the ease of dealing with a North American-based company. This will speed communication, purchasing, and international banking arrangements. Purchasing will be streamlined by combining hardware, order processing, and billing and by consolidating shipping from a single source. Product engineering will also ensure that all components properly assemble into a quality product.
    “The most common complaint we receive from customers attempting to trade with Asia are the inconsistencies within the supply chain and quality control,” says DeLuccia. “Mark and I have focused on creating an opportunity for both our large and small accounts to work from both inventory and direct mill purchasing to offer the best options for competing in a difficult market.”
    For additional information, dealer opportunities, and samples, contact Mark Pfund or Dean DeLuccia at 973-808-2022 or e-mail markpfund@profilesbyframeware.com or dean@profilesbyframeware.com.

Neschen Americas Launches Super A Inventory Classification
Neschen Americas has introduced a focused inventory classification system called “Super A,” to complement its recent additions of the 100% Customer Satisfaction Guarantee and extended service hours. The Super A group consists of many of the most popular SEAL and Neschen brand laminates and mounting adhesives.
    This new program guarantees these items will be in stock all the time, or they are free. This allows a shop to quote jobs with confidence, knowing that they will be able to deliver a quality job on time. Senior VP Sales and Marketing Ken Ferrigno says, “This inventory classification system is designed to streamline the ordering process by clarifying consumer expectation and instilling confidence that a product will be on the shelf when it is needed. Our goal is to give our customers a competitive edge over the competition.”
    For more information, call 410-540-8900 or visit www.neschenamericas.com.

Southern Moulding Adds More Decor Moulding
Southern Moulding has recently added 35 more styles of Decor Moulding to its line. The company is now stocking all or portions of the Chelsea, Catalina, Madrid, Marquis, Canyons, Bullara, Montego, Polo, Stackers, Atlantis, and Wellington lines, as well as other popular styles. These are available in length, chops, or joined frames. For a complete list, contact Southern Moulding at 800-282-5012 or 770-422-3949, or visit the website, www.southernmoulding.com.

Easy Leaf Becomes Official Manetti Gold Distributor
Easy Leaf Products has become the official West Coast distributor for genuine gold leaf and composition metal leaf products produced by Italian goldbeaters Giusto Manetti Battiloro.
    Larry Neuberg, president of Easy Leaf Products, said, “We are extremely pleased to distribute Giusto Manetti's products here in the United States. Manetti is an extremely respected name in the gold industry, and we are elated to be working with them. It's a partnership that's long overdue.”
    The products distributed will include genuine gold leaf and silver leaf packs; genuine gold leaf and silver leaf rolls; composition metal leaf packs in gold, aluminum and copper; and schlag metal leaf in gold and aluminum. Visit www.easyleafproducts.com for more information.

LifeSaver software has a completely redesigned website, www.lifesaversoft.com.
This new, improved site is easy to navigate and has information about company products and services. An important new feature is a customer discussion forum, which provides customers the ability to chat with each other, post messages, and use the resource center to find answers to commonly asked questions.

Framerica Congratulates Pickford
John Pickford, a valued member of Framerica's production team, recently celebrated his 15-year anniversary with the company. He can be reached at 800-372-6422.

Ouradnik Joins Max Moulding
Max Moulding has announced that Jill Ouradnik has joined its sales team. She will be responsible for the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. She is an industry veteran with extensive knowledge and years of field sales experience. She can be reached directly at 651-895-2168, by email at jillouradnik@yahoo.com or through the company at 800-282-9966.

Nickell Welcomes Wilson
Nickell Moulding has announced the addition of Marty Wilson to its sales team. He will be representing the northern California territory. He has 18 years' industry experience. Wilson can be reached at 574-264-3129.

Neschen Americas Adds to Staff
Neschen Americas has named Jim Cain, Jr. and Michael MacPherson business development managers for Seal and Neschen brand products. In these newly created positions the two will be managing current national account and reseller programs as well as assist in acquisition of new customers. They will provide support to the field sales team, drive national account corporate development, and manage print partner relationships.
   They can both be reached at 410-540-8900.