Viking Masek Global Packaging opens Wisconsin facility
Packaging equipment solutions company Viking Masek Global Packaging has opened a 35,000-sq.-ft. facility in Oostburg, WI. The new facility includes additional office space, a showroom, large production floor, parts storage, and confidential clean room/demo area. President Rick Leonard says, "With our new space we can continue to grow seamlessly and bring new technology to market faster and more economically." The company was founded in the mid-1990s by Leonhard and is also led and co-owned by vp Robb Leonhard, CFO RC Huhn and operations manager Scott Miller.

Bosch closes Ampack Ammann acquisition
Bosch Packaging Technology has completed its acquisition of Ampack Ammann, a filling and packaging machine specialist. The contract governing the purchase by Bosch of the company based in Königsbrunn near Augsburg, Germany, had been signed in July of this year. Ampack Ammann develops, manufactures, and sells filling and packaging machines for paste-like and liquid food. Employing some 250 associates, the company has generated average sales of some 35 million euros over the past few years.

Henry Molded Products to expand packaging facility
Henry Molded Products Inc., a manufacturer of sustainable molded fiber protective packaging products, has announced that it will expand its South Carolina operations in Anderson County. The investment, estimated at more than $5 million, is expected to generate 18 new jobs over the next five years. "Demand for our products has increased, and this expansion will help us meet our customers' needs," says Douglass Henry, president of Henry Molded Products.

Nelson Labs to hold medical device packaging webinar
Nelson Laboratories is conducting a webinar Oct. 10 at 11:00 am MST for medical device manufacturers entitled, Regulatory Considerations for Managing Changes in Packaging Materials and Test Methods for Validation of Sterile Barrier Materials. The webinar will provide information to medical device manufacturers on (1) how to assess the impact a change in materials or processes may have on old or new packaging and (2) help them to know if they need to revalidate packaging following any changes to the materials or processes deemed at risk. Register for the webinar here.

Ball Corp. to acquire aluminum packaging business in Mexico
Ball Corp. has announced plans to acquire Envases del Plata S.A. de C.V., an extruded aluminum aerosol packaging producer with a manufacturing facility in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and to form a new joint venture in Argentina that will combine Ball's and Envases del Plata Group's aerosol packaging operations in Argentina and in Brazil. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of October 2012, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. According to John A. Hayes, Ball's president and chief executive officer, "The acquisition in Mexico will provide a platform to grow our North American extruded aluminum packaging business, and in Argentina the new joint venture will leverage the combined strengths of Ball's steel aerosol can business in Argentina with Envases' extruded aluminum aerosol business in Argentina and Brazil."

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