Rock-Tenn reaches settlement in Smurfit-Stone shareholder lawsuit

Rock-Tenn Co. announced that it has reached an agreement to settle a pending Smurfit-Stone shareholder class action lawsuit. The settlement pertains to the corrugated and consumer packaging firm's $35 billion acquisition of Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. Under the terms of the settlement, all claims of class-action lawsuit will be dropped.

Groups call for BPA ban; FDA study shows no developmental effects
The National Work Group for Safe Markets-a coalition of various environmental health advocacy groups-is calling for a ban on bisphenol A (BPA) in bottles, sippy and other containers. The group claims that the chemical can be harmful to human health, especially children. Meanwhile, a study funded and conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has determined that low doses of bisphenol A (BPA) do not cause developmental changes in test animals. Researchers examined rats for a number of developmental indicators, including behavior and hormone levels; findings conformed that BPA exposure does not have an effect.

Rexam expands custom-molding plant
Rexam is expanding its Excelsior Springs, Mo. Production facility by more than 50 percent to support growing demand for its products. As part of the expansion, the plant, which specializes in making custom-molded components for personal-care product brands, will add molding and assembly equipment to help further grow the firm's revenue.

OxySense launches packaging education initiative
OxySense Inc. plans to expand its relationship with college- and university-level packaging schools. The project will provide the company's oxygen measurement and monitoring systems to packaging schools and educational programs across the U.S. and internationally. In addition, educators will receive technical and scientific program from OxySense and its staff.

ALTANA acquires pigment business from Avery Dennison
ALTANA AG's ECKART Effect Pigments division has signed an agreement to acquire the production of Metalure pigments from Avery Dennison. Prior to the acquisition, ECKART had distributed the aluminum pigments for more than two decades. The company will take over management of Metalure production at the Schererville, Ind.

MGS Machine Corp. doubles its digs
MGS Machine Corp. has added a new building, doubling its manufacturing capacity with more line integration and full system FATs. Constructed with recycled materials and designed with energy-saving operations technology, the plant will facilitate the company's design and manufacture of packaging and product handling machinery solutions for a range of industries.

Manuli signs stretch-film agreement with Paragon
Manuli Stretch USA Inc. has signed a non-exclusive license agreement with Paragon Films Inc. on a patent involving a stretch film with seven or more layers. According to Paragon officials, the arrangement will improve the firm's technology holdings and improve its position as a thin-gauge stretch film provider. The financial structure of the agreement consists of a one-time payment from by Paragon Films; specific terms were not disclosed.

ICE USA appoints sales manager
David Fay, a converting and printing industry veteran, has named North American sales manager for International Converting Exhibition (ICE) USA events. Fay had served as a sales manager for PAPER FILM & FOIL CONVERTER and AMERICAN PRINTER magazines for approximately 15 years. The next ICE USA is scheduled April 9-11, 2013 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Fla.

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