MOVERS & SHAKERS

Sidel, Inc. makes David Schroeder its zone vp for North America. Gregory Luka assumes Schroeder's previous responsibilities as vp of sales and business development for North America.

Ampac Flexibles, a div. of Ampac Packaging, LLC, adds Dave Bartish as director of sales for the co.'s Performance Films group. Most recently, he led the sales and business development team for a major account at Curwood, a Bemis co. Tricia Reighard joins as director of technical marketing of the co.'s Converted Products group.

The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) adds Tim Cook, Nick Wilson and Paul Irvine to its board of directors. Cook is the vp of sales and marketing for Richmond, VA-based AMF Automation Technologies and serves on the Institute's show committee. Wilson is the president and founder of Morrison Container Handling Solutions, Glenwood, IL, and Irvine is CEO of Plexpack Corp., based in Toronto. He has served on the Institute's global marketing committee and recently was part of its competitiveness task force.

Nordson Corp. appoints William Donges and Edward Lash to the positions of container marketing manager and product manager, respectively, for its liquid and container businesses.

HP names Gal Barak the director and gm of HP America's Inkjet Industrial Division, formerly known as Scitex Vision America.

Intl. Paper's Robert M. Amen retires after 26 years with the co. Amen has served in a number of capacities, most recently as president. Wayne Brafford is named senior vp, printing and communications papers; Paul Herbert is senior vp, strategic initiatives; and Carol Roberts is senior vp, IP-packaging solutions.

Sato America, Inc. appoints Terry Bresin as its Western regional sales manager. Prior to joining the co, Bresin spent eight years with Intermec Technologies Corp. in various, senior-level positions.

The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. promotes Walt Bishop to the position of vp in charge of trade shows. He steps in for the recently retired Jordan L. Morgenstern.

SCA Packaging North America appoints Andrew MacLeod as divisional vp of sales & marketing. He was most recently vp of sales & marketing for the Titan Plastics Group, a position he held since '01.

The Robotics Industries Association (RIA) selects Trevor Jones as its new president. Jones is the director of OEM business development for Thermo Electron Corp.'s Laboratory Automation and Integration Business. He succeeds Åke Lindqvist, group vp, Robotic Products and Automation N.A. of ABB, Inc., who remains on the RIA board as past president.

Capps President and CEO Rick Capps retires, appointing Brent Moncrief to succeed him as CEO.

ON THE MOVE

Klöckner Pentaplast Group opens new sales offices in India and Australia, and a one-representative office is scheduled to open in China. Additionally, the group's Thailand-based plant expands its capacity with and approximately $8 million investment in its Rayong facility.

New England Machinery, Inc. adds several new sales representative firms throughout the Western Hemisphere. Inrumec, Inc. will represent the co. throughout Puerto Rico. Eurotecsa represents it throughout Mexico and Central America, and Western States Machinery Corp. is its representative for the states of California, Nevada and Arizona.

Barry-Wehmiller Cos., Inc. establishes a new office in Nottingham, England.

Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. invests approximately $30 million in the revitalization of its Norwood, OH manufacturing facility. Construction is expected to begin this month.

Alcan, Inc. closes its Centralia, IL-based plastic packaging operation. Scheduled to close by March 1, the production from the facility will be transferred to various plants throughout North America.

MeadWestvaco Corp. opens its new Packaging Innovation Center. Located at the co.'s Richmond, VA office, the facility features demonstrations of innovative packaging technologies and capabilities while providing an environment that supports collaborative explorations of customer ideas.

Syfan U.S.A, Corp. relocates its U.S. corporate hq from Florida to its recently opened manufacturing facility in Everetts, NC.

MonoSol, LLC moves its world hq to a new facility in Merrillville, IN. The move allows the co. to expand its laboratory and R&D facility in Portage, IN, where the hq was previously housed.

BUYING & SELLING (acquisitions, sales, divestitures)

White Systems, Inc. and Management Capital, LLC recently completed the buyout of White's Kenilworth manufacturing div. from FKI Logistex Manufacturing Systems.

ACCORDS (agreements, partnerships, alliances, mergers)

Heat and Control becomes the exclusive representative for CEIA industrial metal detectors in the U.S., Mexico and Latin America, excluding Chile. Sales and service of CEIA metal detectors and Ishida checkweighers is handled through the co.'s new Hayward, CA-based Inspection Systems div.

HAPPENINGS (misc)

PMMI adds the new membership category of supplier members. The first expansion of this kind since the Institute's creation in 1933, it requires potential members in the category to be identified as original manufacturers of commercially available packaging machinery components, who are not engaged in manufacturing packaging machinery and packaging-related converting machinery as defined by the Institute's bylaws.