Supplier News 475

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2009
Mettler-Toledo Hi-Speed to host OEE webinar in SeptemberToday’s business environment demands performance measurements not only to long term financial investment goals but also against day-to-day, shift-to-shift, and hour-by-hour production targets. For nearly 20 years, many food production companies have used Overall Equipment Effectiveness (or OEE for short) as an internal measurement of production line efficiency.What is OEE? 
Fundamentally OEE measures the ability of a production line and its individual components to produce quality products over time. OEE combines three basic measurements groups:OEE = Availability x Performance x QualityAvailability: is the amount of time the device actually operated versus what was planned.Performance: identifies and quantifies anything that negatively impacts the ability of the machine to run to its designed specification.Quality: is a metric for the number of produced pieces that meet specification.What is “World Class” OEE? 
Mettler-Toledo Hi-Speed, the worldwide leader in product inspection, will host a Webinar detailing how OEMs can help their customers’ operations to become world class. Join us for the live question and answer session with your peers.DATE: September 1 
TIME: 3:30 pmTo register, please email [email protected] and request to be registered. You will receive an email reminder with log-in details for the Webinar. 

www.mt.com/hi-speed 


Zero-Max publishes new, expanded 
overload safety coupling catalogA new 12-page Zero-Max catalog of Torq Tender® overload safety couplings has been published. These overload safety couplings disengage motor drives for overload protection. They protect motor and drive systems from jam ups and excessive loading.System designers will find this new catalog helpful when examining overload protection options for a particular system design. Available in models that will disengage torques from 2 to 3,000 in. lbs., mechanically operated Torque Tenders often are the best design option because they are tamper proof and do not require costly and potentially risky calibration procedures. The torque value is controlled by the Torq Tender part number ordered and preset at the factory.Torq Tender operation in most mechanical power transmission systems is simple. When the load exceeds the Torq Tender rating preset with precision tempered torque springs, the unit’s drive key pivots out of a slot, disengaging the Torq-Tender coupling. Once the overload is removed and the speed reduced, the Torq Tender resets itself automatically. This automatic resetting action engages the system’s drive shaft and puts the entire drive system back into motion at its original position.“Torq Tenders are inexpensive insurance for complex drive systems,” reports Bob Mainz, Zero-Max sales manager. “They’re great for the most demanding packaging, paper converting and PCB fabricating systems.” Go to www.zero-max.com for a PDF of the brochure.www.zero-max.com
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2009
Shorewood Packaging adds Kelly Ryan to sales teamShorewood Packaging, a business of International Paper, has announced the addition of Kelly Ryan as Business Development Manager, on its Consumer Products Business sales team. Kelly will be responsible for leading the company’s drive in Promotional Packaging, specifically innovative sampling packaging.Ryan most recently held a Director of Sales position for The Sunflower Group, a Kansas-based promotional services agency that builds brand awareness through targeted product sampling and high-impact promotional vehicles. During her 11-year tenure, she was instrumental in developing and executing innovative in-store, in-home and event sampling campaigns, which increased sales for the company and its customers. She began her career at Donnelley Marketing where she spent 6 years in Sales and Account Management. It was at Donnelley where she developed her passion for sample packaging, working closely with her customers, marketing, manufacturing and outside packets/bottle fulfillment companies.Ryan is a graduate of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and holds a B.A. in Communications and a B.S. in Exercise Science and Sports Studies.internationalpaper.com
Saint-Gobain introduces next generation silicone tubingSaint-Gobain Performance Plastics continues its long tradition of innovation in ultra-pure tubing technology with new Sane-Tech Ultra. This platinum-cured silicone tubing meets the stringent requirements of demanding biopharmaceutical process applications while delivering improved performance in a number of areas.Fluid integrity is of crucial importance in many biopharmaceutical operations. Sane-Tech Ultra formulations are manufactured and packaged in a certified clean room from the finest grade of silicone materials to ensure that the highest sanitary standards are met. Ultra-low Tics virtually eliminate the potential for contamination by extractable during use, and sane-Tech Ultra imparts no taste or odors to materials that pass through the tubing.Sani-Tech Ultra products are fully characterized, validated and tested to a variety of specifications, including USP Class VI, ISO 10993 and EP 3.1.9. Detailed testing protocols are available upon request.Other features that distinguish Sani-Tech Ultra products include excellent flexibility, laser etching for lot traceability and non-yellowing properties. It is fully autoclavable and sterilizable, and accommodates a wide range of temperatures -- -80 degrees F to 500 degrees F (-62 degrees C to 260 degrees C).Sani-Tech Ultra is available in 50 and 65 durometers and 91 different ID/OD combinations. Available options include bulk spool packaging and pre-delivery gamma irradiation. Custom sizes, lengths, durometers and laylines are also offered.biopharm.saint-gobain.com
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2009
Graphic Packaging announces redemption and prepayment
of $20 Million in principal and interest of senior notesGraphic Packaging International, Inc. announced today that it will redeem and prepay approximately $20 million in aggregate principal and interest of its 8.5% Senior Notes due 2011 on September 4, 2009 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including the Redemption Date. The company's senior secured credit agreement contains, among other exceptions to the restrictions on prepayment of the Notes, a $20 million basket for such redemptions.Copies of the redemption notice will be mailed to all record holders of the Notes by U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, under the indenture governing the Notes."I am pleased to be able to prepay a portion of these Notes. The redemption of these Notes demonstrates our continuing commitment to reducing the company's debt as quickly as possible." said David W. Scheible, President and Chief Executive Officer.www.graphicpkg.com 

Sonoco announces North America paperboard price increaseSonoco will increase prices in North America for all uncoated recycled paperboard grades by $40 per ton effective with shipments on August 31, 2009, according to James Harrell, division vice president and general manager, Paper—North America.“The cost of recovered paper, our primary raw material, has increased significantly over the past several months along with other input costs which makes it essential that we begin recovering these higher costs,” said Harrell. 

www.sonoco.com
Intertape Polymer Group unveils new corporate branding strategy

Intertape Polymer Group is introducing a new corporate branding strategy for all printed collateral, presentations, tradeshow graphics, packaging and cores. The corporate brand logo has been updated with a clean, classic design which reemphasizes the recognizable 'IPG' acronymn within the industry. Sub-brands and product nomenclature are scheduled to become streamlined throughout all channels during the third quarter in order to create a strong, rationalized product portfolio."Building and maintaining a strong brand and company image is critical for continued success," stated Greg Yull, President of the Tapes & Films Division. "We need to stand out as an indispensible supplier of choice. Intertape has developed a number of exciting new products recently, but that is only part of the game plan. We must communicate a consistent, recognizable market identity that serves as a unique long-term platform for our core vision and values."The new brand strategy also includes key interactive elements too. "The existing corporate website has also undergone a complete make-over," explained Cindy Mogford, Director of Marketing Communications. "Not only has it taken on a new, modern look, it has been redesigned to become more functional and user-friendly." The site now offers a detailed listing and photos of all stock products, product look-up by type or by market, downloadable Technical Data Sheets, MSDS sheets and product literature, helpful product guides, information on IPG's LILI(TM) environmental stewardship program, and 24/7 access to a B2B Customer Center for pricing, order status, shipment tracking and more.itape.com 

TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2009
DuPont Teijin Films to consolidate US PET-film productionDuPont Teijin Films has announced a plan to consolidate all US PET film production to its Hopewell, VA. location. The Florence, SC, plant will be phased down during that period with full closure of the facility planned at the end of 2010. A total of 210 manufacturing jobs, including 40 contract positions, will be impacted at the SC facility.Some of these positions will be relocated to the Hopewell facility to support the technology transfer from the Florence site."The consolidation of PET film operations into our Hopewell, VA, facility completes our strategic plan to address structural changes in our industry and positions us for solid growth in our key markets," said Jean-Philippe Azoulay, President of DTF Americas. "The capability and productivity of the Hopewell Site are well suited to developments in electronics, medical and industrial markets as well as emerging green technology applications ..."

www.dupontteijinfilms.com


Kraton Polymers announces price increasesKraton Polymers announced a general price increase in North and South America of US Dollars 220/MT, or 10 cents per lb., across all markets and end uses, for Kraton SBS, SEBS, OE SBS, and OE SEBS polymers and compounds. Subject to the terms of any applicable contracts, the price increase will take effect no later than September 1, 2009, and may occur earlier as business conditions dictate.At the same time, the company also announced a general price increase in Asia Pacific of US Dollars 220/MT, across all markets and end uses, for all Kraton SEBS polymers and compounds. The price increase will take effect on September 1st, 2009.“These price adjustments will enable Kraton Polymers to continue developing cost-efficient and sustainable value-added products for our loyal customers,” commented David Bradley, Chief Operations Officer. “We remain dedicated to maintaining close working relationships with our customers to help ensure their long-term success.”www.kraton.com 


ANSI approves HIBCC standard that addresses 
RFID/medical device safety concernsRadio Frequency Identification (RFID) HIBC for Product Identification has been given final approval by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Also known as ANSI/HIBC 4.0, the new standard was developed by the Health Industry Business Communications Council (HIBCC), an accredited global standards development organization that was founded in 1983 to promote patient safety by creating industry-supported non-proprietary standards for healthcare product identification.The RFID standard was already in early development phases when in June, 2008; the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published the results of a study of electromagnetic interference (EMI) with medical equipment and devices in critical care environments from RFID technologies. The study concluded that ultra high frequency (UHF) from RFID and UHF interfered with medical devices in 63% of the tests conducted.“Since we first published our initial position paper on RFID in 2007, HIBCC has consistently warned that the UHF implementations proposed by non-healthcare standards organizations and some RFID product vendors could create problems in hospitals,” said Robert Hankin, PhD., President of HIBCC. “Our position is that the use of generic retail identification standards in medical care settings poses unnecessary risks and the JAMA-reported RFID study confirmed our position by indicating that there can be serious consequences from RFID in critical care environments. Our newly approved standard can now serve as a roadmap for safer implementation,” said Hankin.In ANSI/HIBC 4.0, HIBCC recommends that 13.56 Mhz High Frequency (HF) be adopted for healthcare item level tagging specifically because its smaller read range is less likely to result in EMI with medical devices.www.hibcc.org
MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2009
Sonoco Recycling expanding Charlotte, N.C., operationsSonoco has begun an expansion and renovation of its Charlotte Sonoco Recycling Center, located at 3901 Barringer Drive, to be able to process larger volumes of recycled materials.According to Jim Bowen, senior vice president, Sonoco Recycling, the Company is investing approximately $2 million to expand the existing facility by approximately 23,500 square feet while adding state-of-the-art sorting and baling equipment. In addition, the center’s yard space will be redesigned to improve traffic flow and unloading at the facility.“Recycled materials processed through our Charlotte center continue to grow and this expansion will help us meet the increased needs of the community and improve our customers’ ease of use of the facility,” said Bowen. “Once the expansion is complete, our processing capabilities at the facility will increase significantly.”Sonoco Recycling’s Charlotte facility accepts and processes corrugated boxes and other grades of paper as well as metals and plastics. The facility accepts curbside material delivered by the public and offers flatbed pick up of baled material, van service for loose, palletized or baled material and roll-off service for 30- and 40-yard open and closed top containers. Sonoco, which processes and uses many of these recycled materials to produce recycled paperboard at its paper mills in the Southeast, then uses that paperboard to produce new consumer and industrial packaging, making Sonoco one of the few cradle-to-cradle suppliers of packaging in the industry.www.sonoco.com 

Windmoeller & Hoelscher co-extrusion line added by Cedex PlasticsCedex Plastics S.A.L., the new Lebanese-based joint venture between EXOPACK and the INDEVCO Group of Lebanon, has made its first investment in equipment: a 3-layer VAREX® co-extrusion line from Windmoeller & Hoelscher. Cedex will use the VAREX® to manufacture co-extruded polyethylene film for export to North America, enabling EXOPACK to provide its customers with cost-effective films of the highest quality.EXOPACK's President, Jack Knott, says, “Cedex will offer valuable materials solutions to our customers. We chose W&H as our equipment supplier to ensure the quality and consistency of our products on a global basis. ”“Being a part of Cedex is an incredible opportunity for W&H to form a relationship with INDEVCO, demonstrate the quality and dependability of our machinery, as well as gain a stronger foothold in the region,” adds Andrew Wheeler, Vice President of W&H.

www.whcorp.com  |  www.exopack.com 


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