MOVERS & SHAKERS

Barry-Wehmiller Design Group appoints David Stahlman to the newly created partner position of CFO & professional development. He has been with the Design Group since 1993.

Maxcess Intl. promotes Marcel Hage to the newly created position of president, North America and Exports. He joined the company in 2000.

AEP Industries, Inc. adds Chris Squier as division manager for its PROformance Films Group.

Dorner Mfg. Corp. appoints John Kuhnz food marketing manager.

HUECK FOILS names Michael Finnegan director of manufacturing at its Blythewood, SC, facility, Frederick J. Lutz director of sales and service, and Neville Hargrave-Thomas account executive.

Joe Piccione has been appointed president, of Innovia Films, Inc., Americas. He was previously president of Filtrona Extrusion.

Bob Pordon, who joined Bobst Group USA, Inc. in 1980, is the new CEO of the company. He most recently served as executive vp. Hayssen Packaging Technologies promotes Bob McClellan to product support manager.

Novapak Corp. names Richard Davis regional sales manager.

Sun Chemical appoints Greg Lawson as president of U.S. Ink, which is one of Sun's business units. He joined Sun in 2002 as executive vp of U.S. Ink.

Multivac, Inc. appoints Brandon White as regional sales manager based out of Salt Lake City.

Mark E. Celmer is named CEO by Multisorb Technologies in addition to retaining the position of president.

World Wide Packaging appoints Colin Clasen to vp/Sales Midwest.

Uniloy Milacron names Dave Skala vp and gm of Uniloy Milacron North America; Mark Jenkins to director, Uniloy Services; Rich Smith to director, marketing and sales, Reciprocating Screw Technologies; and Dan Meehling to new business development manager for nonreciprocating products.

ON THE MOVE

PakTech expands its applicator department to provide customers with handle-application equipment.

Surefill, LLC starts production at its contract-manufacturing plant in Kentwood, MI.

Last Exit LLC forms a new company in Cortland Manor, NY, to supply unique package accents.

With seven months to go before PACK EXPO International 2006 opens, the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute expands exhibit space in the Containers & Materials pavilion to meet increased demand.

HK Systems, Inc. breaks ground for a new 87,000-sq-ft manufacturing and distribution facility in Salt Lake City.

The Packaging & Label Gravure Assn. Global establishes the PLGA Global Educational Foundation and elects Bill Klein executive director.

TGW-ERMANCO, Inc. opens a new Assembly and Technology Center.

Crown Holdings, Inc. increases its capabilities to manufacture specialty beverage can sizes at its plants in Batesville, MS, and Montreal.

Jetrion, LLC builds a 35,000-sq-ft headquarters and dedicated ink-jet facility in Ypsilanti, MI.

BUYING & SELLING

Alcan, Inc. sells selected assets of its North American Packaging Plastic Bottle business to Ball Corp. for $180 million. AEP Industries, Inc. acquires Mercury Plastic's Bowling Green, KY, coextruded film plant.

MonoSol LLC aquires Greensol S.A., based in Sens, France.

ABB and Tetra Pak sign a global purchasing agreement for worldwide implementation of ABB's automation products. The contract is for ABB's System 800xA Extended Automation.

Technik Packaging Machinery signs as North American dealer for ASA Systems of Mainhausen, Germany, which supplies modular-conveyor technology.

CELEBRATING

The Packaging & Label Gravure Association Global presents its third-annual Lifetime Achievement Award to Bill Klein, president, Business Factors, Inc., and executive director of the PLGA Global Educational Foundation, Inc.

The National Assn. of Container Distributors awards its 2006 NACD Achievement Award to Harris A. Smith and its 2006 NACD Supplier of the Year Award to Seaquist Closures.

The Foil Stamping and Embossing Association announces that Thomas J. Cullen, Apex Die Corp., is the recipient of its 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award. Cullen is a 40-yr veteran in the industry, including a 25-yr tenure with Master Printers of America..

ACCORDS

Thermo Electron Corp. partners with the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota in a two-year research project to investigate factors that control food safety and quality.

SYSTECH Intl. engages Domino Printing Sciences plc to deliver full track-and-trace capabilities for pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. appoints Packaging Technologies & Inspection, LLC, as its U.S. distributor for all TYJ filling and sealing machines.

HAPPENINGS

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) announces its launch of a vendor-neutral RFID-certification program, developed along with 20 global RFID organizations.

KUKA Robotics Corp. donates $1.5 million and a KUKA KR 15SL stainless-steel robot to the College of Computing at Georgia Tech. The gift endows the KUKA Chair of Robotics.