PACKAGING BRIEFS Thursday, May 31

Cavanna Packaging expands North American headquarters
Cavanna Packaging USA Inc., a subsidiary of Cavanna Packaging Group S.p.A., has celebrated the grand opening of its North American headquarters operations in Gwinnett, GA. The opening of Cavanna Packaging USA Inc. and its 21,000 square foot building represents the company's efforts to expand its customer base and market share in North America. It also represents Gwinnett's growing reputation as a global business destination and a new, important addition to the County's thriving packaging and material handling industry, according to the Gwinnett Chamber.

Systech buys cloud service provider

Systech Intl., a manufacturer of holistic packaging execution system (PES) technology, has acquired Apostrophe Systems, a specialized SaaS and Cloud Services provider. The acquisition enables Systech to significantly strengthen its position in the Cloud Services serialization market. For more than six years, customers have run Systech and Apostrophe systems together, making the two companies a natural fit.

H.B. Fuller expands European business transformation plans
H.B. Fuller Co. says it intends to make several organizational changes to support its growth and profitability strategy in the Europe, India, Middle East and Africa (EIMEA) operating segment. These specific plans support the segment's commitment to improve EBITDA margin to 15 percent by the year 2015 while completing the integration of the Forbo business (acquired earlier this year) in the region. Now its integration assessments in EIMEA have been completed, the company plans include the intended closure of five manufacturing facilities and a net reduction of approximately 100 positions in sales, finance, customer service, and research and development. H.B. Fuller also affirmed the company's intention to make capital investments in the EIMEA segment of approximately $90 million over the next three years. The investments will enable consolidation, facilitate increased production capacity, support new technologies in the company's European operations, and centralize finance shared services and customer service functions in Mindelo, Portugal. These actions will enable the operating segment to modernize and enhance plant processes and use resources and technology more efficiently.

New Clippard catalog specifies fluid power product line
Clippard Instrument Laboratory Inc., manufacturer of miniature fluid power products, has released a new 356-page catalog. This full-line catalog includes features, specifications, technical drawings, color photographs and application highlights throughout. Products can be found in six main categories, including Cylinders, Electronic Valves, Control Valves, Modular Valves, Fittings and Hose, and Air Preparation equipment.

Simplimatic Automation appoints new sales rep
Simplimatic Automation, a leading provider of conveyors and automation, has appointed a new manufacturing sales representative group for the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain regions of the United States. Powell Industries, headquartered in Tukwila, WA, will provide sales representation for Simplimatic's PWB Conveyors in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado and Utah.

Del Sol Food celebrates 10-years with no lost-time accidents
Del Sol Food Co. Inc., manufacturer of Briannas Fine Salad Dressings, has celebrated 10 years without a lost time accident, Friday, May 18, at its plant in Brenham, TX. Employees were treated to a catered meal, a Briannas Goodie bag, a bonus and the afternoon off. To further commemorate this momentous occasion Del Sol Food is flying a 10 Year Safety flag at the company's front entrance. Jerry Brown, president, says, "For our company this equates to more than 1,000,000 man hours worked without a serious accident. What a blessing it is for all of us, and how proud I am of the entire Del Sol Team."

Rexam converts beverage can manufacturing mix to meet customer demand
Rexam is converting one of its 12-oz beverage can lines in its Chicago plant to 12-oz SLEEK beverage cans, one of the fastest growing specialty sizes in the industry, supporting growth in key beverage categories such as energy drinks, functional beverages and beer, according to the company. The conversion will include the capability to produce 16-oz cans, a size experiencing growth in a number of beverage categories. This new capacity will be available in the fourth quarter of this year and further complements the company's specialty portfolio which includes four SLEEK can sizes, three different re-sealable options within the Rexam Cap Can family, 16 oz and industry leadership in the popular 24-oz size.

Pharm-Aloe continues 40-year relationship with closure seal supplier
Sonia Seiler, vp of Pharm-Aloe, reports that the company has been using closure seals from Walter H. Jelly Ltd. since 1971 on an array of different products. The clean, white, cellulose seals need no special equipment or heat to apply, are tamper-evident and complement Pharm-Aloe packaging and are biodegradable.

Catalent to sell its U.S. commercial packaging operations

Catalent Pharma Solutions has agreed to sell its U.S. commercial packaging operations based in Philadelphia, PA, and Woodstock, IL, to a company affiliated with Frazier Healthcare. The transaction does not involve Catalent's Clinical Supply Services operations in Philadelphia, or the Blow-Fill-Seal business in Woodstock. It also does not involve any commercial packaging activity that Catalent conducts outside North America. Catalent's decision to sell its U.S. commercial packaging operations is based on the company's business strategy to focus on growing its world leading businesses in development solutions and advanced delivery technologies, clinical trial supplies, advanced blow/fill/seal aseptic delivery technology for respiratory, ophthalmic and other products, as well as offering integrated solutions for the development and supply of injectable biologics and complex pharmaceutical products.

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