Packaging Briefs – TUESDAY, MARCH 2

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2010

Propack, Bradman-Lake changing product marketing strategies
Propack Processing & Packaging Systems, an international supplier of robotic automation solutions, including the LJ Robotic Top Loader System, has changed its business relationship with Bradman-Lake, the manufacturer and global supplier of feeding, wrapping, cartoning and casepacking systems. Effective immediately, both companies have mutually agreed to market their respective products independent of each other. Propack Processing & Packaging will now provide wrapping and cartoning systems to compliment the LJ Robotic toploader. Bradman Lake will continue to develop their approach of ‘Integrated Packaging Technology' uses products within its portfolio, with no business restrictions on their top loader systems they have now developed.

Amber Ungrady joins Red Lion Controls as Director of Quality.
Red Lion Controls is proud to announce the appointment of Amber Ungrady to the position of Director of Quality. Ms. Ungrady’s responsibilities will include managing and maintaining the high standards of the company’s Quality Assurance department. She will also implement company-wide improvements that will qualify Red Lion for new agency approvals and certifications required in its growing global markets. Ms. Ungrady brings a wealth of experience from Honeywell International Inc., Graham Packaging Company Inc., and Owens-Illinois, Inc. (O-I).

Squid Ink donates $50k printing system to Dunwoody College of Technology
Squid Ink recently donated a new VDP In-Line variable data printing system to Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis, MN. The donation, valued at approximately $50,000, underlines Squid Ink’s continued commitment to the printing industry and enables Dunwoody students to gain hands-on experience printing variable data on their flexographic presses. The donation by Squid Ink included a VDP In-Line variable data printing system that mounts on Dunwoody’s existing 10" Mark Andy flexographic press.

RockTenn’s Solvay and St. Paul containerboard mills earn triple chain-of-custody certification
RockTenn has received triple chain-of-custody (CoC) certification for its Solvay (Syracuse, NY) and St. Paul (St. Paul, MN) containerboard mills. These facilities, together producing over 970 thousand tons on an annual basis, are now independently certified to standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), representing the leading global forestry certification bodies. These organizations provide standards for third-party validation of each of the mills documented processes and chain-of-custody monitoring. Additionally, both mills are certified to SFI’s fiber sourcing procurement requirements.

Society of Plastics Engineers names Associated Packaging Technologies a 2010 Environmental Stewardship Award winner
The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) has named Associated Packaging Technologies (APT), the Chadds Ford, PA-based maker of CPET and RePET™ (recycled PET) food trays, a recipient of a GPEC 2010 Environmental Stewardship Award, which recognizes "Sustainability & Recycling: Raising the Bar in Today's Economy." The award will be given to APT and eight other plastics industry companies at the Global Plastics Environmental Conference, March 9 at the Florida Hotel & Conference Center, Orlando.

CCL Industries Acquires Australian Healthcare Label Company
CCL Industries Inc. a world leader in the development of labeling solutions and specialty packaging for the consumer products and healthcare industries, announced today that it has acquired Purbrick Ltd, a privately held company based in Melbourne, Australia. Purbrick supplies patient information leaflets and pressure sensitive labels to global pharmaceutical customers located in Australia. 

Blount Fine Foods Breaks Ground on Major Plant Expansion
Blount Fine Foods, a leading manufacturer of hand-crafted artesian soups and seafood products, today broke ground on a 58,000 square foot expansion to its Fall River, Mass. headquarters. The expansion makes room for more production space, the installation of a large soup chiller, new soup fillers and improved packaging capabilities. Blount will also be building new cold processing rooms to expand its entrance into the dip, spread and salad business.

Vifan Canada Inc. Receives $500,000 in Funding from the Government of Canada
The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, announced the awarding of $500,000 in repayable funding to Vifan Canada Inc. under the Business and Regional Growth program to purchase specialty equipment that will enable it to strengthen its market position. Vifan Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Vibac International Group, is investing $1.6 million in the project. This government financial assistance will go toward the acquisition of a state of the art plastic recuperator. This equipment makes it possible to reuse polypropylene plastic wastes from finishing operations in the production of plastic film. The new equipment will facilitate the recovery of approximately 1,600 tons of plastic per year, representing annual savings of $1 million.

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