Packaging Briefs – WEDNESDAY JUNE 9

Aluminum Association taps Alcoa’s Kevin Kramer to lead new member push
Steven J. Demetriou, Chairman of both Aleris International Inc. and the Board of Directors of the Aluminum Association, announced that Kevin Kramer—President, Alcoa Growth Initiatives and a member of the Board’s Executive Committee—has agreed to serve as chairman of the Membership Development Committee tasked with recruiting new companies to the Association. In a related action, Demetriou noted that the Association’s Board has expanded eligibility for Associate Membership to aluminum service centers and jobbers. Together with aluminum foundries, which are eligible as Producer Members on a revised dues schedule, they will form a key focus of the recruitment effort.

Solo Cup Company to consolidate manufacturing network
Solo Cup Company today announced that it will close its Owings Mills, Md., North Andover, Mass., and Springfield, Mo. manufacturing facilities due to improved production efficiency across its 10 other North American manufacturing plants. The North Andover and Springfield facilities are expected to close in mid-to-late 2011, and the Owings Mills facility is expected to close in mid 2012. The plant closings eventually will result in the elimination of approximately 540 full-time manufacturing positions in Owings Mills, 360 in North Andover and 340 in Springfield.

Casey Container in final stages of its acquisition of Mountain Green
Casey Container Corp. announced that it has completed the majority of the due diligence process in its proposed acquisition of Mountain Green of Arizona, LLC. As previously disclosed, Casey Container Corp. entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Mountain Green of Arizona, LLC on March 3, 2010, for the purchase of the assets and business of Mountain Green. Casey has begun preparation of the definitive purchase agreement. The parties are moving towards the purchase being consummated within sixty days, although there is no assurance it will be consummated. Casey is a Nevada corporation headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona that is engaged in the design and custom manufacture of biodegradable PET, HDPE and other plastic polymer preforms and containers for use in the bottled water, beverage and consumer products industries.

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