Packaging Briefs – TUESDAY, JUNE 15

Ball Completes Acquisition of Beverage Can Plant in China
Ball Corporation completed its acquisition of Guangdong Jianlibao Group Co. Ltd.'s 65 percent interest in a joint venture metal beverage can and end plant in Sanshui, China, after obtaining necessary approvals and clearances from the Chinese government. Ball owned 35 percent of the joint venture plant since 1992. Ball acquired the plant and related assets for approximately $90 million in cash. The company also entered into a long-term supply agreement with Jianlibao and its affiliate, Foshan Sanshui Jianlibao Trading Co., Ltd.

BÖWE BELL + HOWELL Announces Expansion Plans for Customer Excellence Center
Durham Facility
BÖWE BELL + HOWELL (BBH) announced expansion plans for a new customer excellence and demonstration center at its facility in Durham, N.C. This center will feature the widest range of inserting, sorting, software, vision and service offerings available today, and provide an opportunity for customers to meet with BBH industry experts. The facility also includes BBH’s advanced Technical Assistance Center, Customer Care Center and BBH University. The grand opening will be in late summer.

Pro Mach Receives 2010 Green Award for Sustainable Packaging Machinery Solutions
Pro Mach was awarded the first ever 2010 Manny Green Award from Cincy Magazine this month for manufacturing initiatives and product innovations that helped customers improve package sustainability. Three examples were highlighted during the award process.

NewPage Announces Executive Leadership Changes
NewPage Corporation announced today that E. Thomas Curley has resigned as president and chief executive officer and as a director of NewPage and its affiliates. In addition, NewPage announced that the Boards of Directors of NewPage and its affiliates have accepted the resignations of Mark A. Suwyn as chairman and a director of the companies, and the resignation of Michael Edicola as vice president, human resources.

Alcoa Joins Department of Energy Leader Initiative
Alcoa has committed to reducing the energy intensity of its downstream manufacturing operations in the United States by 25 percent by 2020 as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Save Energy Now Leader initiative. Save Energy Now is a national initiative aimed at reducing industrial energy intensity by providing U.S. companies with access to technical support and expertise to help them take steps toward becoming more energy efficient.

Greif to Establish a Flexible Products Joint Venture With National Scientific Company
Greif, Inc. through a subsidiary has agreed to form a flexible products joint venture (JV) with National Scientific Company Limited (NSC), a subsidiary of Dabbagh Group Holding Co.  Dabbagh is a leading privately held Middle East business group headquartered in Saudi Arabia.  Greif will manage the JV, 50 percent of which will be owned by National Scientific, and 50 percent by Greif's subsidiary.  The venture includes the flexible products business of Storsack, which was recently acquired by Greif.  Storsack is the world's largest producer of flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs), with 3,000 employees and 16 production facilities worldwide.  

Accel Wins Gold Quality Award From IPEC
Accel Color came out a winner when International Plastics & Equipment Corp. (IPEC) screened the quality performance of all its suppliers during 2009. Quality is imperative to IPEC because it makes the colorful, tamper-revealing caps and closures on bottled beverage that millions of Americans enjoy every day: water, milk, juices, and sports drinks, in particular.

China Green Material Technologies, Inc. Appoints New Independent Board Member
China Green Material Technologies, Inc. a Chinese leader in developing and manufacturing starch-based biodegradable containers, tableware and packaging materials, today announced that Ms. Yi (Jenny) Liu, CPA, has joined the Company's Board of Directors effective June 11, 2010, replacing Ms. Jing Zhu, who resigned on June 11, 2010. Ms. Yi (Jenny) Liu will serve as the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and as a member of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee.

Ryder Issued U.S. Patent for Systems and Methods for Supply Chain Management
Ryder System, Inc. has been awarded a patent from the U.S. Patent Office for its systems and methods that integrate and optimize supply chain performance in the areas of shipment planning and execution. The key approach to the new Logistics Release process is configuring the unique data to create a common, web-native data utility for each stakeholder in the supply chain. The Logistics Release process then creates an optimum shipment that takes into account weight, cube, packaging, stackability, pallet configuration and mode determination. The shipment receives a plan, or "Release" with the logistics information and instructions for that shipment.

All American Pet Company Expands Dog Food Nutritional Bar Production Capabilities
All American Pet Company, Inc., makers of the super premium natural dog food brands Grrr-nola Natural Dog Food, the Grrr-nola Natural Food Bar, and Bow Wow Breakfast, announces it has expanded its dry dog food packaging capabilities in Nebraska City, Nebraska for the production of its "Dog Nutritional Bars," which are all natural, completely portable and self contained. Each 4-ounce Nutritional Bar provides an 8-ounce meal equivalent and also serves as a heart-healthy snack when served in portioned amounts.

Midwest Digital Package Printing Solutions Specialist Launches New "Tiger Talk" Blog, Refreshed Website
CL&D Digital, a short-run, quick-delivery, new consumer goods products package printing solutions expert that provides sales samples, prototypes, and comps announces a new product launch of its own - its blog and revamped website. Both were introduced last month as a part of a goal to enhance the online experience for its potential and existing customers, as well as to increase CL&D Digital's online presence through search engine optimization (SEO).

Imagin Molecular Corporation to Change Its Name to the Planet Bottle Corporation
The shareholders of Imagin Molecular Corporation (IMGM) by consent of over 51% of the shareholders have approved a name change of the company to “The Planet Bottle Corporation” (PBC). The new name was chosen because it is expected that the fastest growing segments of the newly revitalized company are environmental projects especially the oxo-biodegradable PET plastic bottle of The Planet Green Bottle Corporation (PGBC).

EPG Launches Printing-Cost-Savings Calculator on Website
EPG the Connecticut-based manufacturer of KeyColor ink and color measurement controls, presetting and scanner interface systems, has added a new user-friendly online tool to its expanding line of products and services. Visitors to the EPG website can now access the company’s KeyColor Cost-Savings Calculator. This calculator enables sheetfed and web printers to quickly and privately project the potential cost savings to be achieved by using KeyColor Systems to increase productivity and reduce waste. Industry professionals are invited to enter data about their operations and immediately receive cash flow projections. Changing input data allows users to review various cash flow results. Data entered can be seen only by the individual using the calculator, ensuring that a company’s proprietary information remains confidential.

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