Packaging Briefs 229

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2009
Saint-Gobain Containers joins EPA’s Climate Leaders ProgramSaint-Gobain Containers Inc. has announced its participation in the U.S. EPA’s Climate Leaders program, an EPA industry-government partnership that works with companies to develop comprehensive climate change strategies. Partner companies commit to reducing their impact on the global environment by completing a corporate-wide inventory of their greenhouse gas emissions based on a quality management system, setting aggressive reduction goals, and annually reporting their progress to EPA.Saint-Gobain has established world-wide environmental objectives for its businesses, including the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, water consumption and waste, as well as the completion of a Life Cycle Analysis for each product line. In line with these objectives, Saint-Gobain Containers has made a substantial commitment to increase the use of recycled glass, called cullet, in its process. Using cullet in the manufacturing process saves raw materials and reduces the demand for energy. Saint-Gobain Containers, as a member of the Glass Packaging Institute, has agreed upon an aggressive goal of using 50 percent recycled content in its manufacturing process by 2013.
JP Packaging names new vp of salesMcIlroy brings 25 years of professional packaging experience to his new role at JP Packaging including 10 years in contract packaging for unit dose packettes on behalf of some of the largest companies in the industry. During his career, he has successfully developed business for major accounts including P&G, Colgate and L’Oreal.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2009
Diageo celebrates the grand opening of a $20.2 million bottling lineDiageo celebrates the grand opening of the company’s $20.2 million bottling line at its Plainfield, IL, brand technical center and bottling facility. The 44,000 sq-ft addition will house a new bottling line for Diageo's line of ready-to-serve cocktails, including Smirnoff Pomegranate Martini, Smirnoff Mojito, Smirnoff Grand Cosmopolitan and Smirnoff Tuscan Lemonade."For more than 40 years, we have had an excellent relationship with the Plainfield community," said David Cutter, president, Diageo Americas Supply. "During that time, Plainfield has grown and developed tremendously and we're pleased to expand our operations and continue to be a key part of this community. This expansion reinforces our commitment to manufacturing in North America and confidence in the continued growth of premium spirits."
Kodak uses RFID to enhance PRINT 09/PackPrint trade show experienceKodak will use RFID-enabled printing samples at PRINT/PackPrint to deliver in-depth information in four market segments: commercial printing, packaging, publishing and data-driven communications. Each sample will include an RFID tag that, when placed on a display table, will activate a presentation showing how the piece was produced using KODAK Technologies.
Rexam prepares to shutter its Pompano Beach, FL, plantRexam is laying off 59 workers effective Oct.1, and shuttering Pompano Beach, FL, plant in early 2010. Rexam spokesman Greg Brooke told Sun Sentinel reporter Arlene Satchell that the company is doing everything possible to ease the transition. This includes informing employees in June of the planned closure, offering severance packages at the end of their service, and providing help finding new jobs.
Iconoculture launches Global Packaging AdvisoryIconoculture launches the Global Packaging Advisory Service. Designed to deliver holistic "concept-to-consumer" perspective, Global Packaging Advisory Service provides packaging-specific knowledge in context with consumer insights, through access to a combination of packaging-centric consumer research and ongoing advisory support from a specialized team of experts.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2009
Smurfit-Stone appoints new vp and treasurerSmurfit-Stone Container Corp. has appointed Timothy T. Griffith as vp and treasurer. Prior to joining Smurfit-Stone, Griffith served as vice president and treasurer of Cooper-Standard Automotive in Novi, MI, and previously served in a variety of financial leadership roles for Lear Corporation, Citicorp Securities Inc., and Comerica Inc.The company also announced the promotion of Brian Gardner to assistant treasurer, a role he assumed August 1. Gardner is responsible for capital issuance and monitoring Smurfit-Stone's debt compliance, as well as weekly and monthly debt reporting obligations. He will also oversee Smurfit-Stone's cash investment and monitor all of the company's defined benefit and defined contribution plan investment managers.
allflex Flexible Packaging installs its first digital pressallflex Flexible Packaging installs its first digital press allflex Flexible Packaging has installed a seven-color HP Indigo ws4500. The new machine is the company's first digital press and will enable allflex Flexible Packaging to offer customers very short runs, proofs and dummies of flexible packaging and self-adhesive labels on final substrates. The Indigo ws4500 also be used for shrink-sleeve applications.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2009
AcuTemp introduces reuse program for AcuTemp® passive shippersAcuTemp Thermal Systems, a manufacturer of temperature sensitive packaging for the cold chain, has responded to the needs of its pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers by introducing AcuTemp REPAQ™ (Reusable Enviro-friendly Program Assuring Quality), a reuse program for the company’s line of AcuTemp insulated shipping boxes. The AcuTemp REPAQ program fosters environmental responsibility by reducing landfill waste and assures the thermal integrity of a customer’s passive shippers for multiple uses.In the AcuTemp REPAQ program, AcuTemp Qualified Shippers are returned to the company’s manufacturing and processing facility by end users via a prepaid shipping label. All shippers go through a visual inspection, and any obviously damaged components are replaced. Next, they are cleaned in compliance with 21 CFR 211 Subpart 94. Finally, the thermal components of the box, tracked by customer and serial number, are then retested to original specifications in order to confirm the thermal performance before the box is returned to service.
Applied Vision to provide inspection systems 
for 11 new can manufacturing plantsApplied Vision Corporation, a provider of machine vision inspection systems for the container manufacturing industry, has signed on to provide inspection systems for 11 new can manufacturing plants in 10 countries.Each new plant will install multiple Applied Vision systems to inspect everything from the quality of ends to decoration accuracy. Major can manufacturers, including CanPack, Crown, Impress and Rexam, are among the backers of the new projects located across the globe in Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East.
MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2009
Anthem Worldwide opens an office in DüsseldorfAnthem Worldwide, a Schawk Strategic Design Company, announced that it has opened an office in Düsseldorf, Germany as part of its European expansion plans.David A. Schawk, president and chief executive officer of Schawk, said, "Germany has been selected to underpin the strategically important expansion of Anthem's design business in Europe. As the largest and strongest economy in Europe, Germany has great potential for Anthem's strategic and creative services.”Anja Grunefeld, the newly appointed managing director of Anthem's new Düsseldorf office, commented: "My earlier experiences as a client with the Anthem offices in Holland and the U.K. triggered my interest to join since I see massive opportunities in the German market for the high caliber design capabilities that Anthem offers. To my opinion, the German design market can benefit from specialized and professional development of brand and packaging design, and with Anthem, I believe we can raise the bar in Germany... for both smaller and larger players."
Dart Container Corporation provides on-site collection of polystyrene packaging foam for recycling for students moving into dormsLike many campuses across the U.S., Michigan State University’s (MSU) Office of Campus Sustainability is helping the school set a new standard in reducing its environmental footprint by partnering with a local company to recycle leave-behind foam on move-in day.On Sunday, Aug. 30, Mason-based Dart Container Corporation will be on campus to recycle polystyrene foam (commonly used in electronics packaging) as incoming students move into the dorms to begin the school year.For a second year, Dart Container Corporation, employing nearly 1,100 people in the area, has provided on-site trailers to collect polystyrene packaging. The packaging then is transferred to Dart’s plant in Mason, where they recycle polystyrene foam products at no cost to the public. In the recycling process, foam is ground up, melted, converted to plastic resin pellets, and sold for reuse as an ingredient in non-food service products, including picture frames or decorative moulding.
Cascades completes the acquisition of Atlantic Packaging's Tissue DivisionCascades Inc., a leader in recovery and in green packaging and tissue paper products, announces that it has completed the acquisition of the tissue division of Atlantic Packaging Products Ltd.The estimated value of the transaction is approximately $60 M. This acquisition will enable Cascades to increase its annual production capacity by 55,000 short tons of recycled paper and its converting capacity by approximately 70,000 short tons adding close to $100 million in sales per year. 

August 24 – 28 Packaging Briefs

August 17 – 21 Packaging Briefs 

August 10 --14 Packaging Briefs 

August 3 – 7 Packaging Briefs 

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