Packaging Briefs – Monday, October 25, 2010

Eastman to sell performance polymers PET business
Eastman Chemical Company announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with DAK Americas, LLC, to sell the PET business and related assets and technology of its Performance Polymers segment. The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2010. The total cash proceeds of the transaction are expected to be $600 million, with the final purchase price subject to working capital adjustments at closing. The company expects to recognize a modest gain from the sale.

Graphic Packaging delivers for baby food maker Beech-Nut
Graphic Packaging International (GPI) has delivered customized sleeve wrapping machinery and paperboard sleeves – in one dependable wrapping system as a single source supplier to Beech-Nut Nutrition Corporation. Graphic Packaging created custom-designed sleever equipment that wraps twin packs of plastic food tubs at high speeds. Paperboard sleeves for the products are produced at GPI’s carton manufacturing plant in Valley Forge, Pa.

BWAY acquires Plastican, Inc.
BWAY Holding Company, a leading North American supplier of general line rigid containers, announced
that the Company has acquired Plastican, Inc., a major U.S. producer of injection molded plastic
containers, in a stock purchase transaction. Headquartered in Leominster, MA, Plastican produces a wide range of innovative plastic pails used for packaging industrial and consumer products. The Company operates four manufacturing plants located in Leominster, MA, Macon, GA, Dallas, TX, and Phoenix AZ and generated net sales of $90 million in 2009.

CHEP presents industry awards at second annual supply chain symposium
CHEP held the 2010 Supply Chain Symposium this week at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando to recognize the superior achievements of its transportation partners. The highlight of the two-day event was the awards ceremony held October 21, which was attended by Tom O’Riordan, Chief Operating Officer of CHEP USA, Bill Pregliasco, Senior Vice President of Growth Strategy at CHEP Americas, and Dan Dershem, President & CEO of LeanLogistics, a sister company of CHEP. This year, drawing on the theme “All things begin with the Customer” CHEP is honoring service center operators as well as carriers with awards. The gala banquet featured the naming of The Supply Chain Symposium Award winners in 10 categories.

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