PACKAGING BRIEFS Thursday, June 30

Ocean Spray adding third production line in Massachusetts plant
Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. is the leading shelf-stable juice brand in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia and the Craisin, sweetened dried cranberries is the fastest growing major brand of dried fruit. The company is investing approximately $45 million for a third sweetened dried cranberry production line in the existing Middleboro, MA, manufacturing plant. The project has an anticipated beginning in summer 2011 with production to begin in mid-2012. Ocean Spray will hire five new employees and retain 143 jobs. The EACC Board approved $100,000 in investment tax credits and the Town of Middleboro in support of the project.

Packaging plant in NY to make 108 jobs
A maker of "green" packaging material will build a new facility in western New York, creating 108 new jobs. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that Norampac, a division of the Cascades packaging and paper products company, will invest $430 million to build the facility in Niagara Falls, NY. State and local economic development organizations put together a $142 million incentive package to attract Norampac to expand. The incentive package includes 10 megawatts of hydropower from the New York Power Authority and $5 million in Empire Zone tax credits.

DDL adds combination product testing to its repertoire
DDL is tapping into the fast-growing sector of the life science industry commonly known as combination product testing. This type of testing includes combining the medical device and drug industries into one package. DDL is now able to perform the necessary ASTM, ISO and ISTA tests as well as follow the guidance principles provided by ICH and the PDA, to handle the complex package requirements for combination packages.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. appoints Parker Williams to redesign flagship brand
Brand and packaging design agency Parker Williams, a Sun Branding Solutions business brand, has won the brief to redesign the packaging for Scotts' Miracle-Gro brand. Sheila Hill, international marketing lead at The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co., says, "This is a very exciting time for us. We were impressed with the way Parker Williams approached the brief and are looking forward to the new design being taken across the range."

Kashi Co. and Recyclebank re-launch "Points for Planet" program, expand partnership
Based on the success of the "Points for Planet" program last year, Kashi has more than doubled the number of cereals featuring opportunities for consumers to earn Recyclebank Points. From now through Dec. 31, 2011, people will find the "Recycle for Rewards" promotional callout on the side panel of seven ready-to-eat cereals: Kashi Autumn Wheat, Cinnamon Harvest, Island Vanilla and Strawberry Fields cereals (organic), and Kashi Honey Sunshine, Berry Blossoms and Golden Goodness cereals. By entering a code online at www.recyclebank.com/kashipoints as a pledge to recycle their cereal box, people will earn 50 Recyclebank Points per box, redeemable for various rewards from local and national business partners, including coupons for Kashi foods.

Kashi has also teamed up with Recyclebank to develop a unique Learn & Earn video that follows the lifecycle of a cereal box-from the grocery store shelf, to the breakfast table, to the recycling bin, to the recycling center and beyond. The viewer will learn exactly what happens to all the recyclable materials when they leave the curb, and how paperboard makes its way back to the grocery store shelf. By learning about the positive impact recycling has on the environment, and answering a few short questions, people can earn 25 more Recyclebank Points. Visit www.recyclebank.com/kashipoints to watch The Lifecycle of a Cereal Box video.

Mars Inc. to build plant in Topeka
Chocolate maker Mars Inc. has chosen a site in Topeka for its newest manufacturing plant that will initially bring 200 jobs to northeast Kansas. The company plans to build a 350,000-sq-ft plant south of Forbes Field at a cost of $250 million in its first phase. Construction is expected to begin in August, 2011, with the plant beginning operations in late 2013 making M&M's and Snickers candies. Mike Wittman, Mars Chocolate North America's vp of supply, says the plant is the first new chocolate facility to be built by Mars in 35 years.

Dr Pepper Snapple files lawsuit against Dr Pepper Bottling
Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. has filed a lawsuit against Dr Pepper Bottling Co. of Dublin, TX, charging that the Dublin bottling company is selling Dr Pepper beyond the six-county territory designated in its license agreement. The suit also seeks to end the bottler's unauthorized use of the Dublin Dr Pepper logo on product packaging and other merchandise. The company has tried in good faith to resolve these issues directly with the Dublin bottler, providing new packaging graphics that are consistent with Dr Pepper brand standards and guidelines. But the bottler's continued refusal to sell only within its territory and its unwillingness to end the unauthorized use of the term Dublin Dr Pepper unless it is compensated have left DPS no other option but to pursue legal remedies. DPS is not currently seeking financial damages with the lawsuit. It is simply asking the court to require Dr Pepper Bottling Co. of Dublin to honor the terms of its license agreement or forfeit its license.

Campbell's invests in packaging operations and supply chain improvements
As reported by Procurement Leaders, Campbell Soup Co. plans to invest approximately $40 million over an 18-month period in automating packaging operations at its biscuit plant in Virginia, Australia, which will result in the loss of about 190 positions. The company also plans to shift production of ready-made soups from Paris, TX, to Napoleon, OH, and Maxton, NC.

Amcor invests €6.7 million in the extension of its Singen converting plant in Germany
Amcor Flexibles Europe & Americas is investing €6.7 million in its Singen converting plant in Germany to extends the capacity for the production of pharmaceutical packaging and upgrades the classic converting facility meeting the needs of the pharmaceutical industry. The aluminum foil rolling and converting plant, employing 1,100 people, has integrated mills and supplies high-quality multilayer aluminum-based packaging materials to customers all over the world in the pharmaceutical and food industries. This investment will enlarge the Pharma Clean Center with a further production hall housing three additional reel slitting machines.

Spanish researchers explore performance of biogradable films for antimicrobial food packaging
Published in the Journal of Food Science, new research by investigators in Girona, Spain, concludes "Development of new antimicrobial biodegradable packaging materials may contribute to improving food safety while reducing environmental impact derived from packaging waste." The report, "Physical performance of biodegradable films intended for antimicrobial food packaging," tested the physical performance of antimicrobial films prepared by including enterocins to alginate, polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and zein films. The physical performance of the films was assessed by measuring color, microstructure, water vapor permeability and tensile properties.

Tipper Tie chooses Pilz Automation Safety products
Packaging, clipping and clip machinery manufacturer Tipper Tie is committed to automation and safety for the benefits of its customers and employees. The company has chosen Pilz Automation Safety's PNOZ Multi safety controller as the optimal safety solution for monitoring devices such as safety gate interlocks and emergency stops buttons. The flexibility and expandability of a programmable safety relay controller, such as the Pilz PNOZ Multi, translates into a common and scalable safety solution that is capable of meeting a variety of safety challenges on any machine design. It also affords a platform on which Tipper Tie could design changes to accommodate changing market requirements. For example, the PNOZ Multi's ability to communicate over an Ethernet based network is a feature that helps Tipper Tie to distribute diagnostic information from the PNOZ Multi to a variety of HMIs and PLCs. This capability gives machinery operators the ability to easily determine machine safety status. It also optimizes troubleshooting processes to minimize engineering and technician resources.

xpedx selects winning entry in Sustainability Challenge
xpedx, one of the largest and premier distribution companies in North America, has selected a winning entry from a nationwide competition among student members of Net Impact to develop a sustainability survey and scorecard for its supply chain. The top entry comes from a team of MBA students at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business. The scorecard will enable xpedx to verify its suppliers' sustainability goals and policies. xpedx will launch a pilot version of the scorecard with targeted suppliers in July and will expand to the rest of its supply chain through early 2012. xpedx's supply chain includes the leading manufacturers in the print, packaging and facility solutions industries. The winning team from the University of Michigan received a cash prize. Later this year, the team will also have the opportunity to present its work to xpedx senior leaders at its business headquarters in Cincinnati, as well as at the 2011 Net Impact Conference.

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