Amcor, Velcro partner on flexible packaging
Amcor Flexibles and Velcro Europe have formed a strategic partnership intended to bring an easy-to-open and re-seal system to the fresh and dairy flexible packaging market. The new offering reportedly combines a choice of high-quality films (adapted to meet fresh and dairy product requirements) with Velcro's Press-Lok closure. Company representatives state the closure system system is consumer friendly because of the easy alignment of the two components, is simple to open and reseal, and will function even if contaminated by food because the hooks will still close (whereas with existing closure systems, the rail track would get obstructed).

Millwood acquires National Packaging Specialists
Millwood Inc., a provider of unit load and packaging systems, has acquired National Packaging Specialists Inc., which distributes engineered packaging films, tape, hoods, air bags and other industrial packaging products to the U.S. and Canada. "The NPS acquisition is a natural extension of our core business of industrial packaging and material handling systems and unit load design," says Rich Evick, senior vp of Liberty Technologies, a Millwood Inc. company. In Sept. 2011, Millwood purchased Graham Pallet, a producer of lumber and wooden pallets in Tompkinsville, KY.

Novelis to sell European foil assets
Novelis Inc.,  a producer of aluminum rolled products, has announced its planned sale of three aluminum foil manufacturing plants in Europe to American Industrial Acquisition Corp. (AIAC). The transaction includes foil rolling operations in Rugles, France; Dudelange, Luxembourg; and Berlin, Germany. The company reports the move is designed to help strengthen the company's global presence and help it focus on higher-volume and premium markets such as beverage cans, automobiles and specialty products.

Pharmaceutical and Medical Packaging Leadership Summit announced
Scheduled June 6-7 in Baltimore, the Pharmaceutical and Medical Packaging Leadership Summit is geared toward helping pharmaceutical and medical device professionals, and their packaging partners, share knowledge and strategies for building business in the changing industry. Topics on the agenda include serialization, sustainability efforts across the industry, package testing and more.

Ball lands Top Retail Product awards in Germany
Ball Packaging Europe won a dual accolade in this year's ‘Top Produkt Handel' (‘Top Retail Product') awards from Germany's Handelsjournal retail trade magazine. The ‘Fizzy Beast' augmented reality campaign for Perlquell mineral water scored gold in the sales promotion category, while interactive cans for the MiXery beer mix brand secured Ball the silver medal in the multi-channel category.

H.B. Fuller acquires Forbo's global industrial adhesives business
H.B. Fuller Co. has completed its acquisition of the global industrial adhesives business of Forbo Group. The business acquired represents about 80 percent (by revenue) of the Forbo Bonding Systems division of Forbo Group. It generated approximately $580 million in revenue for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2011, operates 17 manufacturing facilities in 10 countries, and employs more than 1,100 people globally. EBITDA for the business for the 2011 fiscal year was approximately $35 million. "The acquisition strengthens H.B. Fuller and positions us to capitalize on growth opportunities in key geographies and markets, such as packaging and durable assembly. We will leverage our combined assets - people, products, processes, systems and knowledge - to offer customers a superior choice in adhesives," says Jim Owens, H.B. Fuller president and chief executive officer.

Packaging firm fined for safety violations
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined Perfect Packaging Co., based in Perrysburg, OH, nearly $37,000 for five safety violations found during a fall 2011 inspection. Four were "serious" violations, two of which were repeat violations. The fifth was listed as "other." The citations alleged the company was guilty of having a radial saw without the proper guards, not ensuring daily examinations of forklifts, failing to give proper training and evaluation to forklift operators, and not taking out of service for maintenance a forklift with an oil leak. The other violation was related to a forklift not having a legible data plate that allowed employees to see its load limit. The company has 15 days from the filing to pay the fine, request a conference with OSHA, or contest the findings.
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