Packaging Briefs 4317

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2010

Wonderware names Longwatch as Certified Software Partner
Longwatch, a supplier of video monitoring hardware and software products, was named by Wonderware as a Certified Software Partner. Wonderware Software Partner's products are endorsed or certified by Wonderware to be applications with proven compatibility with Wonderware software. Certified software partners have access to Wonderware Beta programs, toolkits and senior technical support people so they can integrate and extend Wonderware software on an ongoing basis.

Macro Plastics expands production capabilities with plant in Shelbyville, KY
Macro Plastics announced today it plans to expand its manufacturing capabilities with the acquisition of a 162,000 square foot facility located in Shelbyville, KY. The investment will improve the company's competitiveness in delivering its plastic bulk reusable containers and services to the agricultural, food, retail and industrial markets in the Central and East Coast regions of the United States.

Curtis teams with Unitel and Manufactured Packaging Products Group for sustainable packaging
Curtis, a manufacturer of beverage brewing and dispensing products, has partnered with distributor Unitel Packaging to revitalize its packaging toward a more sustainable offering. To help Curtis achieve this goal, Unitel Packaging turned to the Manufactured Packaging Products Group (MPP) for a solution. MPP has several locations nationwide, and is one of the largest manufacturers of custom and stock corrugated boxes in Southern California. MPP recommended using Envirokraft®, corrugated board made from 100% post-consumer recycled material.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2010

Smurfit-Stone helps converters and ink companies improve color consistency
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation's Board Sales group is launching a new program to help converters and ink companies improve color consistency. The company will provide complimentary rolls of all Smurfit-Stone roll stock to converters and ink companies to use when proofing color matches. Roll options include the base kraft and white top stock used in the current GPI Flexo Color Guide (formerly the GCMI Color Guide), as well as the balance of Smurfit-Stone's white liner offerings, including premium white top, solid bleached and coated white top. Smurfit-Stone will provide 4-inch wide by 15-inch outer diameter rolls free of charge. To order proofing rolls or for more information on this offer, send an email to [email protected] with the words "Color Proofing Stock Program" in the subject line. Orders are due by February 12, 2010.

Hexion announces plans to sell Italian solvent-borne coating resins business to Tenax
Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc., has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Italian solvent-borne alkyd and polyester coating resins business to an affiliate of Tenax group, an Italian-based company that produces similar products. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The sale is expected to close in late January. The sale will include all aspects of the business, including a production facility in Cola di Lazise, Italy. Tenax group plans to continue to operate the Cola di Lazise plant and to offer employment to the 44 people associated with the business. The sale represents Hexion's exit from the European solvent-borne coatings market. Hexion continues to fully participate in the waterborne, powder coatings and coating resins markets, both in Europe and globally.

B&R Industrial Automation launches new Packaging Expert Group for North America
In 2010 B&R Industrial Automation has formed a new team of packaging experts to work closely with the packaging industry community. John Kowal, Tom Jensen, Joe Krogman and Marcel Voigt joined B&R in January as part of the strategic market development group. This team of automation experts will expand B&R's activities in the North American marketplace and strengthen the company's position within the packaging industry.

DSM and Novomer to develop first CO2-based resin for coatings
Royal DSM N.V., the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company headquartered in the Netherlands, and Novomer Inc., based in Waltham (Massachusetts, United States), have signed an agreement to jointly develop a new coating resin using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a raw material. This development agreement follows a cooperation agreement and an investment by DSM Venturing in Novomer in 2007. The joint development project will benefit from the broad variety of DSM's technologies and market access, in combination with the unique, efficient CO2 polymerization technology of Novomer.

DSM inaugurates new resins plant in Germany
Royal DSM N.V., announced that a new plant for the production of wet polyesters and other specialty resins in Meppen (Germany) has been opened. Total investment costs amounted to EUR 15 million. The new plant was built at the existing site of DSM NeoResins+ in Meppen. The plant allows for further expansions in the future. With the new plant DSM NeoResins+ reinforces its strong position in the fast growing and important markets such as metal packaging (can), pre-painted metal (coil), specialty decorative markets, specialty adhesives, graphic arts and industrial wood.

Albemarle announces Elanco as new global marketing partner for its antimicrobial product line
Albemarle Corporation will partner with Elanco, a division of Eli Lilly, to market Albemarle's portfolio of food-safety products worldwide. This new partnership with Elanco takes Albemarle's leadership in food-safety solutions to a new level, expanding on Albemarle's partnership with Ivy Natural Solutions -- now a part of Elanco -- announced earlier this year.

BioLife Solutions and OriGen Biomedical to offer sterile, pre-filled biologic cell and tissue packaging products to the cell therapy and regenerative medicine markets
BioLife Solutions, Inc., a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of biopreservation tools for cells, tissues, and organs, and OriGen Biomedical, a leading provider of biologic packaging products for research and clinical blood and cell-based therapies, today announced that the companies will introduce sterile standard and custom biologic packaging products pre-filled with BioLife's serum-free, protein-free HypoThermosol® cell and tissue storage/transport media and CryoStor(TM) cryopreservation media.

1-800-Recycling.com Teams with UsedCardboardBoxes.com
1-800-Recycling.com, an interactive nationwide website dedicated to enhancing and democratizing the consumer recycling experience, announced that it has added UsedCardboardBoxes.com to its nationwide network of recycling resources. UsedCardboardBoxes.com rescues truckloads of quality used boxes from large manufacturers that might otherwise throw them away.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010

PMMI promotes two new vice presidents
PMMI is promoting two staff members to vice president positions. Katie Bergmann was promoted to vice president of administration; Maria Ferrante has moved up from senior director of training & development to the vice president of education & workforce development.

Graphic Packaging increases prices on uncoated recycled board
Graphic Packaging International, Inc., recently announced a price increase of $50 per ton on all grades of PaceSetter uncoated recycled board (URB), effective with shipments on or after February 18, 2010.

Cereplast appoints David J. Homyak as West Coast Regional Director, Sales and Marketing
Cereplast, Inc. announced that it has appointed David J. Homyak as West Coast Regional Director, Sales and Marketing. Mr. Homyak has been an executive level sales professional for over 30 years.

PMC Biogenix announces establishment of Center for Renewable Chemistry
PMC Biogenix has established a new technical center devoted to the development of new products from renewable resources. The Center for Renewable Chemistry is located on PMC's 42 acre, integrated oleochemicals and derivatives manufacturing site in Memphis, Tennessee. The technical campus spans 3.5 acres and includes approximately 16,000 square feet of research and applications laboratories and office space, as well as a 7,000 square foot pilot plant. The pilot plant is equipped with multiple reactors from 10 to 500 gallon capacity and the necessary ancillary processing equipment to produce renewable products with a broad range of properties.

DePaul Industries named 2009 Food Processor of the Year
DePaul Industries has been named the 2009 Food Processor of the Year by the Northwest Food Processors Education Research Institute. The award will be presented Jan. 19 during the 96th Annual NW Food Manufacturing & Packaging Expo and Conference at the Oregon Convention Center. Portland-based DePaul Industries is the Northwest's outsourcing specialist of temporary and workforce staffing, food and consumer goods contract packaging, and security services.

PAC Green Den deadline for submissions approaches
The PAC Green Den is a Canadian networking event that will enable marketers to Fast Track their sustainable innovation and retail ready concepts. Deadline for Submissions is January 29, 2010.

Poland Spring plant earns LEED Gold Standard for environmental sustainability
Poland Spring's newest bottling facility in Kingfield, built in 2008, officially received the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, making it the first manufacturing facility in Maine to receive LEED Gold status. LEED is an internationally recognized certification system that measures how well a building performs across various sustainability metrics, including energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, and stewardship of resources.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2010

NewPage President and CEO Rick Willett resigns
NewPage Corporation announced that Richard D. Willett, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, has resigned from NewPage effective January 18, 2010, and will remain with the company as a consultant through March 31, 2010. Mark A. Suwyn, former Chief Executive Officer and currently Executive Chairman, has been elected to serve as Chief Executive Officer until a new Chief Executive Officer is named.
   
Shibuya Hoppmann promotes Chad Ellis to Systems Program Manager
Chad Ellis has been promoted to Systems Program Manager with Shibuya Hoppmann.  Ellis has been with the company since 1994 and held various positions within the company. He is now involved with the company’s advanced aseptic and e-beam systems.

ID Technology announces opening of Minneapolis/St. Paul office
Robert Zuilhof, President of ID Technology, has announced the opening of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Regional Office. ID Technology – Minneapolis/St. Paul will service all of Minnesota and Northeastern Iowa. The new office, located in the St. Paul area, will be home to sales and service personnel, led by David Hitchcock as Regional Manager. 

Eastman acquires specialty polymers manufacturing facility in China
Eastman Chemical Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of Tongxiang Xinglong Fine Chemical Co., Ltd., a cellulose-based specialty polymers manufacturing facility located near Shanghai, China. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition will support Eastman's Coatings, Adhesives, Specialty Polymers and Inks segment, specifically its Ensure product line, by providing additional capacity to meet the growing demand in China.

A. Schulman granted early termination of Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period in connection with proposed merger with ICO, Inc.
ICO, Inc. announced that the Federal Trade Commission has granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 for its previously announced merger agreement with A. Schulman, Inc. Completion of the proposed transaction remains subject to ICO stockholder approval and other customary closing conditions. The parties continue to expect the transaction to close in the spring of 2010.

Kraton Polymers Announces European SBS Price Increases
Kraton Polymers LLC continues to experience significant raw material and energy cost increases. Accordingly, Kraton announces a general price increase in Europe, Africa and the Middle East of Euro 100 /MT across all markets and end uses, for Kraton SBS and OE SBS polymers.

Protectus Medical Devices signs agreement with Moll Industries, Inc.
Protectus Medical Devices, Inc. announced the signing of a three-year manufacturing agreement with Moll Industries, Inc. to provide injection molded plastic manufacturing services for the Protectus Safety Syringe.

SolVin forms new partnership with ChemPoint.com for Ixan SGA-1 PVDC resin
SolVin, a division of Solvay Advanced Polymers, L.L.C., announced that it has selected ChemPoint.com, the leading e-distributor of specialty and fine chemicals, to represent its Ixan SGA-1 PVDC resin. Effective immediately, ChemPoint will provide marketing, sales, and order fulfillment for Ixan SGA-1 in the United States. ChemPoint will manage the complete order and fulfillment process for SolVin’s Ixan SGA-1 PVDC resin, from order placement to delivery to technical support.

MOCON creates international webinar series
MOCON, Inc. is making its free popular educational webinars on package testing accessible to an even larger global audience by offering online classes in Spanish, Chinese and English. In addition to its regular monthly webinar hosted in English, MOCON is unveiling its International Series which has been designed to provide information of value to packaging professionals in other countries. Presenters typically speak for 30-40 minutes, supported by online graphics, charts, key information, photographs, etc. After the formal part of the presentation, participants are able to ask questions.

LyondellBasell achieves production milestone of two million tons of multimodal HDPE in Europe
LyondellBasell Industries has achieved another significant milestone in the commercial  introduction of its Hostalen Advanced Cascade Process (ACP) technology, with the production of two million tons of multimodal high density polyethylene (HDPE) produced and marketed in Europe to date.

Vital Products, Inc. Developing Bio-Foam in a Can for Residential Market
Vital Products, Inc. announced that it has completed preliminary discussions with a multi national sealant company.Vital has been working with this multi national sealant company for the past 6 months and is developing an environmental bio-based "foam in a can." The new product will be used for applications in the residential construction and Do It Yourself markets.

Celanese announces ethylene vinyl acetate price increases
Celanese Corporation  announced that its subsidiary, Celanese EVA Performance Polymers Inc., will increase the price of all grades of Ateva® EVA by $0.07/pound and all grades of LDPE by $0.05/pound effective February 15, 2010, or as contracts allow. Customers should contact their Celanese sales representative for more details.

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