January 29, 2014

8 Min Read
Packaging Briefs

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2009
John Thuestad and Jean-Pierre Gilardeau Elected Vice Presidents of AlcoaAlcoa announced today that its board of directors has elected John Thuestad, 49, and Jean-Pierre Gilardeau, 57, as vice presidents of Alcoa.Thuestad is Chief Operating Officer for Global Primary Products Worldwide, focusing primarily on reducing the cost of aluminum production within Alcoa’s worldwide aluminum smelters as well as reducing the cost of alumina production at its refineries worldwide.Gilardeau is President, Global Primary Products – North America and Iceland. In this role, Gilardeau strengthens coordination and best practices across Alcoa’s extensive Primary operations in the U.S., Canada and Iceland.For nearly a decade, Gilardeau had been president of Alcoa’s Primary Products facilities in Canada, which include smelters in Baie Comeau, Bécancour and Deschambault as well as a rod plant in Bécancour. He has also headed a development program that gave Alcoa the opportunity to renew power contracts to its three Canadian smelters (roughly 2000 MW of hydropower) until 2040 and launched the modernization and expansion of the Baie-Comeau smelter.
Nik Hiremath named Vice President, Supply Chain for MWVMeadWestvaco Corp. has named Nik Hiremath as vice president, Supply Chain, effective October 1, 2009. In this role, Mr. Hiremath will have responsibility for leading MWV's global supply chain functions, including sourcing, logistics, distribution and transportation.Mr. Hiremath joined MWV in 2001 where he has served as director, Operations Planning and Strategy, and vice president, Procurement & Supply Management for the Consumer & Office Products division. Most recently, he led our Global Sourcing function as vice president. Prior to MWV, Mr. Hiremath held leadership positions with Cleo, a provider of premium gift packaging products, and Pen-Tab Industries. 

NewPage 'On Paper' Series Introduces New PodcastsNewPage Corporation announced the recent upload of the next in its On Paper series podcast, featuring an interview with Lorie Wigle, Eco-Technology General Manager for Intel. Designed to bring about positive change in the area of sustainability, this bi-weekly broadcast, now in its second season, has already passed more than one million downloads from popular sites like iTunes.Intel, driven to create bold advancements in technology that enable positive change and a better, more interesting world, is the global leader in silicon innovation. In this On Paper interview, Wigle explains Intel's four areas of focus in the production of their environmentally-responsible products including manufacturing/operations, energy efficiency, design for the environment and work with policy makers.Provided by coated paper manufacturer NewPage Corporation, the On Paper podcast schedules are posted on www.OnPaperSeries.com. Listeners can subscribe and receive notifications for future podcast interviews. 

Blue dye test alternative installed at Bayer China for packaging quality assurance processQuality assurance leak testing equipment supplied by the packaging specialist, Sepha, has been installed at Bayer China, home to the fastest pharmaceutical packaging line in Asia Pacific. BlisterScan is a non-destructive method of quality control which tests for leaks in blisterpacks using state-of-the-art non contact technology.Sepha will be demonstrating BlisterScan’s benefits to other China-based pharma companies at China Pharm, in Shanghai from 27-30 October when they will be exhibiting in partnership with its agent Rieckermann Pharmatech Ltd. who are celebrating 10 years in business at the show. Visitors are invited to join them in the celebrations in Hall W5, Booth 5401.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009
Mohawk Fine Papers resigns from US Chamber of CommerceMohawk Fine Papers has resigned from the United States Chamber of Commerce over climate policy. "We believe that our continued membership in an organization that vigorously opposes sensible climate change policies is detrimental to our position as a business leader with a strong record in the areas of environmental innovation and climate protection," says George F. Milner, Mohawk's Senior VP, Energy, Environmental, and Government Affairs.The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has been critical of efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gases responsible for global warming and is working to stop the Waxman-Markey climate change bill from passing."We understand that the U.S. Chamber's job is to promote policies that represent the consensus opinion of its membership; but the Chamber also has a responsibility to shape that consensus with vision, guidance and leadership that looks beyond ideological divisions. That is particularly important in the area of climate change policies," wrote Milner in a letter to the Chamber last week.
MeadWestvaco sells its Paxonix Business to Persistent SystemsMeadWestvaco Corporation and Persistent Systems announced that MWV has sold its Paxonix business to software development services company, Persistent Systems. Paxonix provides web-based branding and packaging process solutions that accelerate speed to market. The business was formed within MWV in 2001 and has steadily increased its unique, competitive offering of services and products. As MWV has sharpened its focus on value-added consumer packaging solutions, Paxonix is best positioned for success and growth within a specialized software services enterprise.MWV will continue to be a user of Paxonix, and will serve as a reseller of Paxonix software and services. Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
TriMas' Rieke Packaging Systems plant inducted into Indiana's Environmental Stewardship ProgramTriMas Corporation has announced that its Rieke Packaging Systems unit has been awarded membership into the State of Indiana Department of Environmental Management's (IDEM) Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP). Rieke manufactures highly-engineered closure and dispensing systems for a wide range of end markets, including industrial and consumer packaging applications. The recognized locations are located in Auburn and Hamilton, Indiana.An award ceremony will be held at the Rieke Auburn, Indiana plant on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. (EST). Environmental awards are not new to Rieke Packaging Systems for in September 2008, Rieke was presented the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence for "Five Years of Continuous Improvement."
Joseph Scalzo promoted to Dean Foods Chief Operating Officer; Blaine McPeak to Lead WhiteWave Foods DivisionDean Foods a leading dairy company in the United States and a global leader in soy products, today announced the promotion of Joseph Scalzo to the new position of Dean Foods Chief Operating Officer, effective November 1. Scalzo is currently President and CEO of Dean Foods' WhiteWave-Morningstar group. In his new role, Scalzo, 51, will oversee all of Dean Foods operating businesses, including Fresh Dairy Direct, WhiteWave, Morningstar and Alpro, as well as key strategic functions including Worldwide Supply Chain, Research & Development and Innovation.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2009

Procter & Gamble Releases 11th Annual Sustainability ReportThe Procter & Gamble Company released its 2009 Sustainability Report titled "Designed to Matter." The report outlines P&G's progress in improving the environmental profile of products and operations and delivery of several new, sustainable product innovations. The report is available for viewing at http://www.pg.com/sustainability. 


Creative Packaging Solutions wins multiple packaging awardsCreative Packaging Solutions has just received notification from the NJPEC Package of the Year committee. The blue ribbon panel of judges, including Artesona, Elizabeth Arden; Boemio, Pfizer; Garg, Coty; Montabano, Estee Lauder; and Reed, Hartz Mountain has selected the company for the highest award in multiple categories:• The Gold Award for Personal Care• The Packaging Innovation Award in the Special Awards Category• And. The Package of the Year Award, the Ultimate Annual Award.
LLC adds 87” wide polytype thermal coater, doubles production, opens 2nd plantMPI Release, a Division of MPI Technologies LLC, a silicone release liner producer, is pleased to announce the purchase of a World-Class, high speed, 87” wide, Polytype thermal coater in Greenfield, Indiana. Capable of applying silicone to two sides of a web in one pass, the coater also prints or treats in-line as well as applies controlled remoisterization to a paper substrate. The acquisition enables MPI to share leadership in the Industry by producing the widest and most diverse range of release-coated Films [.00025”/ 6.4µ thick and up] and Paper, both with and without extrusion coatings, in widths up to 87”/2210 mm.
COIM USA to acquire Air Products’ Polyurethane Pre-Polymers BusinessCOIM USA Inc., a fully owned subsidiary of global polyurethane chemicals producer COIM SpA, today signed an agreement to buy Air Products’ polyurethane pre-polymers business, marketed under the Airthane® and Versathane® tradenames. Also included in the deal is Air Products’ manufacturing facility in Paulsboro, N.J. Terms of the deal are not being disclosed.
MWV Expands Chain-of-Custody Certifications at European Packaging FacilitiesGlobal packaging leader MWV announced it has received chain-of-custody certifications to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification scheme (PEFC) for two of its packaging manufacturing facilities in Europe. The Graz operation received FSC certification in June of this year, and the Svitavy facility was granted chain-of-custody certification to PEFC in March. These certifications provide third-party validation of MWV's sustainable fiber sourcing practices, and help assure our customers and consumers of the company's responsible environmental stewardship. 


Shiner International to supply packaging to China's largest meat product manufacturerShiner International, Inc., announced that it has entered into a new contract with Shineway Group, the largest meat product manufacturer in China. Shiner believes that this contact has the potential of contributing up to RMB4,000,000, (approximately $586,000) monthly to its coated food safe packaging sales. 

RockTenn’s Montreal folding plant earns triple chain-of-custody certificationDemonstrating its continued commitment to environmental responsibility, RockTenn announces that it has received triple chain-of-custody (CoC) certification for its Montreal, Quebec, Canada folding carton plant, formerly known as Wilco, Inc. This plant is now certified by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), representing the leading global forestry certification bodies. These organizations provide third-party validation of the plant’s documented processes and chain of custody monitoring.Last year, all of RockTenn’s folding carton plants achieved Fiber Sourcing Certification to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and in June, RockTenn’s Marion, NC, folding plant achieved Triple CoC certification..

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