PACKAGING BRIEFS Tuesday, March 15

Intertek attains SWEDAC accreditation for FSSC 22000
Intertek, an international provider of auditing and certification services, is now accredited by the Swedish Board for Accreditation and Conformity Assessment (SWEDAC) to provide third-party auditing and certification to the FSSC 22000 standard for food manufacturing organizations. The Certification Body can now offer accredited third-party audit and certification services to the GFSI approved food safety management standard.

Caraustar announces freight surcharges on paperboard converted products
Caraustar Industries Inc. will implement freight surcharges on shipments of paperboard converted products effective with shipments on and after April 1, 2011.

Colson Caster Corp. hosts third annual Distributor Council
Colson Caster Corp. recently hosted its third Distributor Council at its own Jonesboro, AR, headquarters with all of the groups inaugural members. The team met to share critical strategies for partnering in today's competitive and demanding manufacturing environment. Colson's top distributors were hosted at its Arkansas headquarters and provided tours of its Jonesboro caster and wheel plant in addition to its partner wheel plant in Monette. Topics for the two-day meeting included an overview of new products, testing advancements, manufacturing capabilities, and product procurement. Attending were Kelly Bechtel, Kelly Casters; Jason Popma, Great Lakes Caster; David Burke, AIE Co.; Sally Hughes, Caster Connection; John Stephens, Allied Caster & Equipment Co.; Steve Patterson, Linco; and Scott Larsen, R.H. Brown Co.
 

Rockwell Automation introduces Lifecycle Service Agreement
To help customers manage obsolescence challenges and avoid downtime, Rockwell Automation has developed a support offering to minimize the risk associated with using older or discontinued Rockwell Automation products. The Lifecycle Service Agreement is an element of the comprehensive Lifecycle Management Services suite of offerings, designed to identify, mitigate and reduce automation obsolescence risk. The agreement helps manufacturers minimize the serious financial consequences that can occur due to extended unplanned downtime when spare parts or speedy repair are unavailable for outdated Rockwell Automation components.
 

Henkel MiraFoil Coating recognized for extraordinary material achievement

Henkel Corp.'s MiraFoil® coating has been named among the top 10 products worldwide by Material ConneXion in its annual Medium Award for Material of the Year. With the award of an honorable mention, global materials consultancy Material ConneXion recognizes MiraFoil coatings as an exemplary material innovation that will change product packaging and design. A fully recyclable, UV-curable alternative to foil board laminating and hot foil stamping that is equally brilliant to foil, MiraFoil coatings can be applied to precise areas, reducing waste and saving time and energy through process efficiencies.

Avery Dennison opens design and innovation center in Germany

Avery Dennison's Retail Branding and Information Solutions (RBIS) group opened its first Europe-based Customer Design and Innovation Center and introduced enhanced capabilities for the apparel industry in design, high definition graphic embellishments, sustainable packaging and RFID-enabled inventory and loss prevention solutions.

IoPP scholarship application deadline nears
March 18, 2011 (this Friday) is the deadline for submitting applications to the Institute of Packaging Professional's Academic Scholarship Fund. The scholarships have been created to support packaging education and to raise awareness of packaging as a career choice. Candidates must be students in their Junior or Senior year as of Fall 2011, pursuing an undergraduate degree at an accredited college, university or vocational/technical school in a course of study relevant to a career in the packaging industry.

Gerresheimer invests in Medical Plastic Systems business unit
Gerresheimer AG, an international supplier to the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, is consolidating its growth business unit Medical Plastic Systems by investing EUR 3.5 million in the Wackersdorf (Germany) facility where the Technical Competence Center (TCC) for medical plastic systems development is located. Now the TCC will have an Engineering and Sales Center annexed to it.
 

Heat-shrink gun maker relocates, upgrades North American facilities
Ripack/Sefmat, a manufacturer of heat shrink guns and accessories, has moved its North American partner Ripack Inc. to improved facilities in Chicago, IL. The new location, just minutes from O'Hare airport, has upgraded offices and warehouse facilities to better service its distribution network, which will cut the time it takes to ship out products and service customers. The warehouse has the capacity of 10,000 sq. ft. and is controlled by a constantly updated MIN/MAX program.

Sealed Air's Cryovac wins FPA Silver Award for Technical Innovation
Sealed Air's Cryovac brand was named recipient of a silver Award in Technical Innovation for its Oven Ease bag from the Flexible Packaging Assn at the 2011 Annual FPA Achievement Awards.The award-winning Oven Ease cooking bag expands the fresh meat category by delivering a single package that offers vacuum-fresh packaging with cooking convenience. The meat cooks in its own juices or seasonings, completely unattended, with no need to touch the meat beforehand.

Pack Appeal expands with four new sales hires

Pack Appeal, a division of Bindagraphics, announces four new sales hires - Ron Schilling, Sean FitzPatrick, Mike Stevenson and Laura Lee. The new hires come to Pack Appeal from B.C. Lucas, where they acquired more than 100 years of combined experience in providing multimedia packaging and fulfillment solutions.

INX Intl Ink Co. announces  price increase
INX International Ink Co. announces a price increase effective April 1, 2011. Company officials cite the unprecedented upward price pressure on raw materials, transportation and the continued instability in the raw material supply chain as the major contributing factors for this new price increase.

Glass Packaging Institute issues call for glass packaging innovations
The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) has issued a "Call for Entries" for the 2011 Clear Choice Awards, which recognize the contribution glass packaging makes to the image, marketability, sustainability and success of food, beverage and cosmetic products. To submit a package, fill out a call-for-entries form at www.GPI.org. Winners will be announced the week of Sept. 11, 2011.

Cascades to sell Dopaco to Reynolds Group for US$400 million

Cascades Inc. announces that it has entered into an agreement for the sale of Dopaco Inc., its converting business for the quick-service restaurant industry, to Reynolds Group Holdings Limited for a cash consideration of US$400 million.

Aerofil Technology Inc. launches private labeling service
Aerofil Technology Inc., a resource for custom packaging, and liquid and aerosol filling, announces the launch of their private label service. With this service, ATI now offers solutions regarding packaging and overall branding of products. Along with lab testing and product formulation, ATI's Private Labeling now includes packaging solutions and the overall branding of the private label product. In addition, they offer point-of-purchase/point-of-sale displays through means of stand-alone displays and silk screening.

Husky to acquire leading closure mold maker KTW

Husky Injection Molding Systems today announced its intention to acquire KTW of Waidhofen, Austria, an international closure mold maker. The sale is expected to close in May 2011.

GA Pack builds aseptic packaging material production facility in Germany

Greatview Aseptic Packaging (GA Pack), the second largest supplier of roll-fed aseptic packaging material in the world, invests 50 million Euro to build a European production facility in Halle (Saale), Germany.

Casey Container Corp. to invest up to $65 million in biodegradable preform/bottling plants
Casey Container Corp. announces that its Letter Of Intent with CEG Fund of February 4, 2011 to provide up to $65 million for several international biodegradable preform and/or bottling factories to be developed under a multi-year contract. CEG Fund will provide this funding in order to finance the operations of the joint venture. Casey Container Corp. licenses EcoPure, a second-generation proprietary and organic additive, which once added to a resin used to produce plastic bottle preforms, renders the plastic biodegradable. The Company's biodegradable preforms are made of PET, HDPE and other conventional polymers.

Model Group enters into partnership with Heidelberg

The Model Group is investing into production technology by Heidelberg. Model PrimePac AG in Au is set to commission computer-to-plate, sheet offset and folding box technology in the summer of 2011. Both partners are describing their collaboration as a long-term, mutual commitment.

NPA celebrates 600th Natural Certification
The Natural Products Assn's Natural Seal program has granted the 600th certification to products and ingredients. As the first and only natural certification in the United States, the NPA Natural Seal aims to help millions of Americans easily identify personal care and home care products that are truly natural. All products with the NPA Natural Seal must meet rigorous ingredient and processing requirements. Get a complete list at www.TheNaturalSeal.org

Ball to expand in growing southeast Asia beverage can market

Ball Corp. has entered into an agreement with its joint venture partner Thai Beverage Can Ltd (TBC), a 50 percent associated company owned by Berli Jucker Public Company Limited, to build a beverage can manufacturing plant in Vietnam.

Pregis announces price increase
Pregis Protective Packaging North America has announced an 8 percent price increase, effective April 1, 2011. Additionally, the previously-implemented fuel surcharge will continue on all products sold in North America. In making this announcement, Kevin Baudhuin, global president of Pregis Protective Packaging, stated that the latest price increase is necessary to compensate for the continued volatility in raw material and fuel costs due to the political unrest in the Middle East and Northern Africa.

Siemens to supply automation technology to LSR sugar refinery
Siemens has been awarded a contract to equip a large sugar refinery operating in North America with electrical and control technology. The plant, which is currently under construction in Gramercy, LA, will be owned and operated by Louisiana Sugar Refining (LSR), a joint venture set up with Sugar Growers and Refiners, Cargill and Imperial Sugar Company. The refinery is due to start production in September 2011, producing a million tons of sugar every year.

Menasha Packaging invests $10M in its Yukon, PA, facility
Menasha Packaging to spend $10 million in capital improvements at its 300,000 square foot packaging and display plant in Yukon, PA, over the next 12 months. In addition, the company expects the expansion to increase plant capacity by 35 percent.

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