Packaging Briefs

People, services, awards, and announcements.

-- Packaging Digest, 12/16/2009 11:44:00 AM

 

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2009

 

Amcor receives EU approval to proceed with Alcan acquisition
Amcor announced that it has received European Commission approval to proceed with the acquisition of the European businesses of Alcan Packaging that Amcor is purchasing from Rio Tinto Plc. A condition of this approval is Amcor agreeing to divest its Tobepal operation comprising two plants that have combined sales of approximately EUR110 million and produce a range of pharmaceutical, personal care and food packaging products. The plants are located in Spain and are part of the Amcor Flexibles operations. The divestment undertaking was required to meet the European Commissions' concern relating to pharmaceutical sachet and aluminum cold-form foil products.

Datamax-O'Neil acquires Extech Data Systems Division
Datamax-O'Neil has acquired Extech Instruments' Data Systems Division, one of the world's leading developers of portable printers for enterprise-wide applications. Extech Instruments, based in Waltham, Massachusetts is a subsidiary of FLIR Systems. The acquisition expands Datamax-O'Neil's portable printer portfolio, and strategically positions the company to gain market share and significantly grow its global customer base.

Sonoco Recycling to expand Columbia, SC facility
Plans are in place for Sonoco to expand and renovate its Columbia Sonoco Recycling Center, located at 1132 Idlewilde Blvd. Once completed, the expansion and renovation will allow the center to process larger volumes of recycled materials. The company is investing approximately $2.5 million to expand its facility by 14,700 square-feet to include new state-of-the-art sorting and conveyor equipment, as well as a new high-speed baler to increase single-stream waste volumes. Work on the expansion is underway with an anticipated completion date of late March or April 2010.

International Paper and Fibria Agree to Paper Machine Option Extension
International Paper and Fibria (formerly Votorantim Celulose e Papel) have agreed to extend IP's option to build a second uncoated freesheet paper machine at the Tres Lagoas mill site. This option, which would have expired on Jan. 31, 2010, has been extended until Jan. 31, 2013.

Spin Master Ltd collaborates with Clean Agency to develop eco-friendly toy packaging
Clean Agency, a firm specializing in sustainable business strategies for companies with strong commitments to corporate social responsibility and the environment, recently created a sustainability platform for Spin Master Ltd., the fifth largest toy manufacturer in the world. Spin Master Ltd. joined forces with Clean Agency to create a sustainability policy that guides product packaging towards material choices that improve a package's environmental performance. Clean outlined several environmental concerns related to the manufacture, conversion and disposal of polyvinyl chloride (PVC, prevalent within the toy industry) and its various stabilizers in packaging and put forward alternatives that avoid such concerns.

 

 

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2009

 

Hytrol's VP of sales retires
Bill Hawthorne has announced that he will retire as Vice President of Sales with Hytrol Conveyor Company at the end of 2009. Although he plans to retire from his daily responsibilities, he has agreed to be available in a consulting capacity through the end of 2010. Bill is a dedicated, loyal employee that has served Hytrol as an employee for over 16 years and as a distributor for 24 years before that. He has been very instrumental in helping to develop the distributor network, expand Hytrol's presence in the market place, and grow the company's market share in the material handling industry.

Exal Wins International Can of the Year Award - Sweeps Aluminum Bottle Category
Exal Corporation took the top honor and swept the Beverage Bottle category at the Cans of the Year Awards held on October 28th in Dubai, UAE. The annual international event was hosted by CanMaker Magazine (Sayers Publishing Group), a leading trade publication for the metal container industry. The awards recognize and celebrate innovative, groundbreaking work within the metal packaging industry.

Top Experts to discuss latest trends and analysis of the counterfeiting industry
IQPC announces the 4th annual Anti-Counterfeiting and Brand Protection Summit to be held at the Millennium Broadway Hotel, January 25-27, 2010 in New York City. Responding to the demand for new and improved ways to battle counterfeiters, the Summit will be a gathering of top experts in the anti-counterfeiting realm who will reveal its latest trends, legislation and cases, along with how to create, budget and manage a successful anti-counterfeiting program. Top participating organizations include Tiffany & Co.; Johnson & Johnson; Gucci America; Eli Lilly & Co.; Cisco Systems; Intl Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition; Arnold Porter LLP; eBay, and more.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2009

Smurfit-Stone to close Missoula, MT, and Ontonagon, MI, mills
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation announced plans to permanently close its Ontonagon, MI, and Missoula, MT, mills, effective December 31. The Ontonagon mill ceased operations in September when it began taking market-related downtime. The Missoula mill will continue operating until December 31. The Ontonagon mill has 182 employees and the Missoula mill has 417 employees. The Ontonagon mill, which produces 280,000 tons of medium annually, and the Missoula mill, which produces 620,000 tons of liner annually, are high-cost facilities that do not provide adequate returns over the long term for the Company.

Novomer expands green materials commercialization with Kodak, RIT and NYSERDA
Novomer Inc., a materials company pioneering a family of high-performance plastics, polymers and other chemicals from renewable feedstocks such as carbon dioxide, today announced a major green materials commercialization effort co-funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The $800,000 project is the second phase of a partnership with NYSERDA.

Golden Green Enterprises Limited announces name change to China Gerui Advanced Materials Group Limited
Golden Green Enterprises Limited, a leading China-based specialty precision cold-rolled steel producer, announced that, effective as of December 14, 2009, it has changed its name to "China Gerui Advanced Materials Group Limited." Other than the name change, there are no changes to Gerui's corporate structure, management team or business operations. The Company's NASDAQ ticker symbol "CHOP" also remains the same.

Braskem and Novozymes to make green plastic
Braskem and Novozymes announced a research partnership to develop large-scale production of polypropylene from sugarcane. The partnership will develop a green alternative based on Novozymes’ core fermentation technology and Braskem’s expertise in chemical technology and thermoplastics. Initial development will run for at least five years.

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