Packaging Briefs – Wednesday, October 20, 2010

PPG to acquire Chinese packaging coatings producer Bairun Chemical Co.
PPG Industries has reached an agreement to acquire Bairun, a privately-held packaging coatings company in Gaoming District, Foshan, Guangdong in southern China. Financial terms were not disclosed. The deal is expected to close during the current quarter. Approximately 70 Bairun employees involved with sales, research and development, quality control, technical support, manufacturing and warehousing will transfer with the business.

Pro Mach announces new Latin America Sales Manager for end-of-line business unit
Bill Long, a 25-year packaging sales veteran, has been named Pro Mach’s Latin American Sales Manager, End of Line.  Mr. Long will lead sales efforts of Pro Mach’s extensive End-of-Line product portfolio, which includes stand alone machines and multi-component, integrated systems.  Solutions include Brenton case packers and robotic systems, Currie palletizers, Wexxar/Bel cases erectors and sealers; IPak tray formers, and Orion stretch wrappers.Mr. Long, who has lived in Ecuador, Guatemala, Puerto Rico and Mexico, is experienced developing sales in packaging, beverage, glass and other diverse industries throughout Central and South America.

Constar International Inc. Announces Senior Appointments
Constar International Inc. announced that George Caplea has joined the Company as Executive Vice President of Global Business Development, and that Joseph Bione of Whitehall Group, LLC will be consulting with the Company as acting Executive Vice President of Operations. Both report directly to Grant Beard, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

3M to acquire tape business from Alpha Beta Enterprise Co. Ltd.
3M announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the tape-related assets of Alpha Beta Enterprise Co. Ltd., a manufacturer of box sealing tape and masking tape headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. According to 3M, Alpha Beta is recognized around the world as one of the leading manufacturers of general purpose box sealing and masking tapes.

Clariant focuses on further Growth in China
Swiss specialty chemicals company Clariant continues to strengthen its presence in Greater China with the official opening of its new Greater China headquarters in Shanghai today, October 20, 2010. The new facility also includes a new technical application center for pigments. Clariant further announced the start-up of its new Quinacridon pigment joint venture in Hangzhou. Additionally, in September 2009, Clariant had launched its new multi-purpose-plant (MPP) in Zhenjiang. A new ethoxylation facility in Dayabay, the industrial hub in Southern China is currently under construction. Its opening is scheduled for mid 2011.
 
Dow to establish strategic supply chain services center in Northern Ireland
The Dow Chemical Company announced plans to establish a Dow Design & Modify Supply Chain (D&MSC) center in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This Center will help to ensure that the Company’s supply chain is optimally designed to respond to emerging social and economic trends and customer needs around the globe.

A. Schulman agrees to purchase Brazil-based masterbatch and engineered plastics producer
A. Schulman, Inc. has agreed to purchase Mash Compostos Plasticos ("Mash"), a masterbatch additive producer and engineered plastics compounder based in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  The transaction is expected to close on November 3, 2010, pending customary closing procedures.

Spartech Corporation announces the formation of integrated packaging solutions provider
Spartech Corporation’s is announcing the launch of its new IQPKG group, which will provide integrated packaging solutions. IQPKG will be located at Spartech’s new Technology and Innovation center in the St. Louis area. The 90,000 square foot facility being developed at 11650 Lakeside Crossing Ct,  Maryland Heights, MO, will include a full complement of technology and lab capabilities to support Spartech’s advancement of integrated technologies in material science, extrusion technologies, and packaging products. The Technology and Innovation Center is slated to open in late 2010.

Second GPCA Supply Chain Conference Speakers Announced
At the Second Supply Chain Conference to be held in the Kingdom of Bahrain from 24-26 October 2010, industry leaders from the Gulf and global chemical and petrochemical communities will gather to discuss all aspects of the supply chain. Issues that will be discussed include land and sea transportation of liquid and bulk chemical products, global standards and regulations, what chemical companies in the Middle East are doing to ensure supplies are delivered to markets safely, and cost-effectively and in a socially responsible manner. The Second GPCA Supply Chain Conference will be held at the Gulf Convention Center, Gulf Hotel, Bahrain. For more information please visit www.gpcasupplychain.com.

SCA is named top-ranked for CO2 reporting in Sweden
SCA has been named the number one Swedish company – and the number three in the Nordic region – in terms of carbon-dioxide reporting. These were the results of the annual, global Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) survey. The CDP project acts on behalf of 534 institutional investors, including Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs and HSBC, which use the survey as an evaluation tool.

Roland launches new Spanish-language website
Roland DGA Corp. today announced the launch of a Spanish-language version of its consumer website designed to better serve Spanish speaking businesses across the Americas. The Spanish-language site was developed to accommodate the growing segment of Spanish-speaking businesses within Roland DGA’s sales territory, which spans the United States, Central and South America, and Canada. Users can easily access the site from the Home Page at www.rolanddga.com.

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