PACKAGING BRIEFS—Thursday, Dec. 9

Cargill invests in packaging line renovation and expansion
Cargill has invested $8 million at its Fresno beef production facility for recently completed projects to expand its already extensive food safety efforts, and to renovate and expand some packaging lines. Approximately $3.8 million involves the complete renovation and expansion of some ground beef packaging lines at the Fresno facility. Finished products include packages of fresh ground beef that are transported by refrigerated trucks from the Cargill facility to distribution centers, then directly to grocery store meat cases. New equipment has been installed in the production area, which enables the packaging lines to operate more effectively and efficiently to meet customer needs.

Merck tops eco list, aims to reduce packaging waste
As reported by GreenBiz.com, Merck has clinched the No. 1 spot on the list of Global 1,000 Sustainable Performance Leaders from CRD Analytics, a provider of sustainability investment analytics whose methodology forms the basis of the NASDAQ OMX CRD Global Sustainability 50 Index. As part of its environmental efforts, Merck is working to reduce the amount of packaging material waste. Among its packaging projects is a new recycling program for insulated containers used to ship vaccines. The company is also replacing PVC with recyclable plastics in the redesigned packaging for its Dr. Scholl's products, to cut about 400,000 pounds of waste material annually.

Casey Container receives second order for biodegradable preforms
Casey Container Corp. has received an order from a U.S.-based bottled water company to supply about 225,000 biodegradable preforms on a weekly basis over a year period, for use in the manufacture of biodegradable plastic bottles. This is the second order received by Casey Container from a bottled water company for its biodegradable plastic bottle solution, EcoPure. EcoPure is a second-generation proprietary and organic additive, which-once added to a resin used to produce plastic bottle performs-renders the plastic biodegradable. The company's biodegradable preforms are made of PET, HDPE and other conventional polymers, thus offering the same performance and cost effective advantages of conventional plastics, according to the company.

Sonoco names new president/COO

Sonoco names new president/COO
Sonoco—one of the largest diversified global packaging companies—has named M. Jack Sanders president and chief operating officer, effective immediately. Sanders has been with the company for 23 years and "has demonstrated exceptional operations leadership while running all of our Global Consumer and Industrial businesses," says Harris DeLoach, Jr., chairman and CEO, whom Sanders reports to.

LMI Packaging Solutions commits to renewable energy
LMI Packaging Solutions-a leading maker of flexible lidding products-has committed to buying renewable electricity from We Energies, Energy for Tomorrow and has joined the U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership. Energy savings are a high priority as part of the company's overall business strategy, so the company has set goals to achieve sustainable reductions and run operations on 100 percent renewable energy.

Toray donates $1 million to engineering college
Toray Plastics (America) Inc.—a manufacturer of precision-performance polypropylene, polyester and bio-based films for packaging and industrial applications—has donated $1 million to support graduate engineering fellowships at the University of Rhode Island in Kingstown.

Folding carton maker invests in automation
Bert-Co—a manufacturer of folding cartons, point-of-purchase materials and specialty packaging—has bought a "smart packaging" machine for in-line gluing applications that relieve the need for hand labor. The Pack-Smart, as Bert-Co refers to it, is currently located in its Los Angeles facility. The first job on the Pack-Smart was for a lenticular application for The Terminator DVD sleeve.

Cereplast appoints R&D SVP
Cereplast Inc.—a manufacturer of proprietary bio-based, compostable and sustainable plastics—has appointed Dr. Kelvin Okamoto senior vice president of research and development. He'll concentrate on new technological platforms and will lead the company's patent strategy.

Healthpoint doubles manufacturing capacity for therapeutic agent
Healthpoint has received approval from the FDA on a second production facility for the company's Collagenase Santyl Ointment, a biologic enzymatic debriding agent. The operation at DPT Laboratories, one of Healthpoint's contract manufacturers, will double product output.

HBA Global Expo announces call for speakers
HBA Global Expo is seeking speaker proposals for its renowned educational program taking place June 28-30, 2011 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York. Those interested can submit an on-line speaker application at www.hbaexpo.com/presentations.

Reusable Packaging Association adds new members
Anwood Logistics Systems Co. Ltd (ALSCO) and Coroplast Inc. have joined the Reusable Packaging Association (RPA). ALSCO, based in China, is the association's fourth international member. Coroplast is a manufacturer of profile extruded polypropylene sheet and a leader in corrugated plastic. The company is targeting growth in the reusable packaging sector, and is joining the RPA to support this effort.

Be Green Packaging products certified by BPI
On Nov. 9, 2010, Be Green Packaging LLC received independent certification from Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), verifying that their molded pulp fiber packaging is compostable. This certification, confirms that their products meet the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D6868 standards for compostability.

Combi's new website features packaging equipment videos
Combi Packaging Systems has launched its new, user-centered website, featuring intuitive navigation, optimized search capabilities and an array of videos and photo slideshows of Combi's end-of-line packaging equipment in action.

Former PepsiCo exec to lead private-brand company

Former PepsiCo exec to lead private-brand company
Daymon Worldwide, the world's largest private brands and consumer events company, has named consumer packaged goods veteran Carla Cooper as the company's CEO and president effective Jan. 1, 2011. Cooper, a Daymon Worldwide board member since 2009, replaces company co-founder Milton Sender, who will retain his role as chairman of the board. As the second CEO in Daymon Worldwide's 40-year history, Cooper brings to the role almost 20 years in senior management positions at some of America's best-known companies, including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Procter and Gamble and The Kellogg Co. Most recently, she served as svp of the Quaker, Tropicana and Gatorade Sales organization. Prior to that, she was president and GM of The Natural and Frozen Foods Div. at Kellogg's.

FANUC sells 100,000th robot in the Americas
FANUC Robotics America has sold its 100,000th robot in North and South America to Schneider Packaging, securing its position as the leading supplier of robotic automation in the Americas.

Riviana Foods to build ready-to-serve rice plant in Memphis
Riviana Foods Inc. is building a new facility in Memphis, TN, that will produce ready-to-serve, microwavable rice products under the Minute rice brand. Commercial production is expected to begin in mid-2011. Riviana is also in the process of consolidating operations from its Houston and former Memphis plants to this new facility.

Target commits to eco milestones
Target has announced comprehensive sustainability commitments, which include hitting milestones of waste elimination and carbon footprint reduction by 2016. One goal is to reduce the percentage of operating waste sent to landfills by 15 percent. Target already offers eco-friendly products and packaging choices and a five-cent discount for each reusable bag used during a purchase transaction.

Craft brewer updates packaging look

Craft brewer updates packaging look

Maine craft brewer Gritty McDuff's Brewing Co. has announced a one-year project that will dramatically repackage its complete line of seasonal and year-round ales. The process will begin this month with the relaunch of Gritty's Scottish Ale and Original Pub Style bottles, labels, cartons and boxes. "Gritty's has a fantastic history, and we believe our new labels and packaging offer a fresh representation of our brand in 2011 and beyond," Gritty's Marketing Director Thomas Wilson says. "The new illustrations on the packaging are very modern and distinctive, and we expect a positive response from fans of Gritty's."

Ball Corp. buys leading aluminum aerosol packaging supplier in Europe
To grow its metal packaging business, Ball Corp. has signed a definitive agreement with Barclays Private Equity to acquire Aerocan S.A.S., a leading supplier of aluminum aerosol cans and bottles in Europe for customers in the personal care, pharmaceutical, beverage and food industries. Purchase price is approximately €221 million inclusive of debt and other liabilities. Expected to close during the first quarter of 2011, the deal is subject to customary closing conditions.

Nestlé global packaging exec to be conference keynote
Dr. Anne Roulin, Nestlé's global head of packaging and design, will be giving a keynote presentation on "Opportunities and Challenges in Food and Beverage Packaging" at the 2011 Packaging Conference. Scheduled for Feb. 7-9, 2011 in Las Vegas at ARIA Resort at CityCenter, the conference will cover the major themes of merger and acquisition activity, supplier consolidations, technology breakthroughs and projections from major brand owners.

Mechatronics certificate program grows
PMMI has launched the Introduction to Mechanical Components Certificate test, the second in a series designed to test workers' skills in the area of mechatronics for packaging machinery. The test was developed in cooperation with the Mid-Atlantic Advisory Council, partner schools and industry professionals and is based on an industry recognized skill standard for packaging-related industrial maintenance and mechatronics. With it, the industry and its educational outlets can measure student and personnel knowledge against a nationally recognized standard. Schools can use the skills standards to develop curriculum that meets the needs of industry.