Coordinating the Expansion of CupPrint to the American Market.

Student: Paul Mahony, 2015-2016

Sponsor: CupPrint, Dublin, Ireland and South Bend, IN

This capstone thesis project encompasses the expansion of CupPrint to the US Market. CupPrint are the European market leaders in custom printed paper cup manufacturing, they have experienced a 40% growth each year since they where founded 6 years ago. This thesis will have a major focus on setting up a company from a business point of view - this includes the purchase of a factory, hiring and managing employees, making sales, maintaining customer service etc. However this thesis also has core technical elements - specifically the cutting edge printing technology that is being used (the only company using this kind of food safe lithographic printing). It also tackles issues surrounding the handling of ink in Europe vs. America, as there are different acceptable standards - the use of fount solution vs. alcohol in the ink preparation for example. CupPrint will be investing in South Bend by locating here for the near future with machinery arriving in January 2016.