MAY 8, 2009Printpack Inc. Wins 2009 FTA Award
The Flexographic Technical Association has awarded Printpack a 2009 FTA Excellence in Flexography Award. Low income consumers make up a considerable segment of the market in Latin America. They want access to high quality products but in most cases cannot afford large content formats of those products. (Eight oz bottles, for example.) Procter and Gamble demanded a low cost solution for a small volume, barrier structure produced with consistent quality all over Latin America. P&G's additional goals were for both cost reduction and response time for the manufacturing plant. A very fluctuating product demand required a very flexible film supply. Printpack's Queretaro, Mexico plant developed a 3-ply laminated structure that met the required barrier specifications and exceeded the expected performance in production lines by optimizing the required sealing temperature and reducing overall production stops, all resulting in higher productivity. Additionally, they overcame the belief that flexographic printing quality was not comparable to the current rotogravure standard. After working closely with the color separator, an excellent print quality was achieved, completely changing P&G's original perception that only rotogravure could do the job. www.printpack.comMOCON joins Flexible Display Center as Associate Member
MOCON, Inc. has become an Associate Member of the Flexible Display Center (FDC) at Arizona State University (ASU), a collaboration among government, industry and academia designed to advance the development of full-color flexible display technology. MOCON will install its state-of-the art AQUATRAN unit, an ultra high-barrier water vapor permeation test instrument to support the FDC’s development efforts. The AQUATRAN makes it possible to accurately measure water vapor transmission rates down to 0.0005 g/m2 per day under varying temperature conditions. (Conventional units typically only measure to 0.005 g/m2 per day.) The AQUATRAN unit is said to be ideally suited as a measurement instrument for new, commercial or developmental ultra high-barrier structures. These structures are being engineered to push the barrier envelope. Therefore, accurate and extremely sensitive instrumentation is necessary to build performance statistics. The unit targets developers, manufacturers or converters of ultra high-barrier films, as well as food and pharmaceutical packagers using them to help extend product shelf life. www.mocon.comPakTechIncreases Latin American Presence
PakTech has brought on two new employees specifically to serve the Latin American market, particularly Mexico. The company has hired Victor Reyes as the Sales Director of PakTech Latinoamericana S. de R.L. de C.V. (dba PakTech de México), a Mexican subsidiary corporation formed in February 2009. Mr. Reyes has been in sales for over 15 years, serving the printing and industrial equipment markets. Mr. Reyes is based near Mexico City and has been helpful in adding Grupo Jumex, CCM/Femsa (Coca-Cola Mexico), Peñafiel and Herdez as PakTech’s newer customers. PakTech has also hired International Customer Service Account Manager Gayleen Orozco. Ms. Orozco is based in Eugene, OR. She has extensive customer service experience, and is fluent in both Spanish and German. Ms. Orozco now manages all Latin American and international accounts, and is the key support person for Mr. Reyes. PakTech is enthusiastic about their new staff and about serving new and growing Latin American companies. While they currently plan on serving customers directly from Eugene, OR, they are locating and will be warehousing directly in Mexico within the next three months. www.paktech-opi.comEnercon promotes Owen Schmidt to Regional Sales Manager – Induction Sealing
Owen Schmidt has been promoted to Regional Sales Manager- Induction Sealing Systems. In his new position Owen Schmidt will be responsible for supporting Enercon customers in the Southern and Western United States. He will work closely with Enercon’s regional sales and service network. Owen Schmidt’s customers benefit from his hands-on application experience of induction seal dynamics between caps, sealers, liners and bottles. As Inside Sales Manager Schmidt developed and implemented several key training programs, forged strong relationships with customers in his new territory, and mastered the intricacies of the induction cap sealing process. www.enerconind.comSencorp and White Systems join forces
Sencorp, Inc., a manufacturer of thermoforming and sealing machines designed for consumer, medical, electronics, and pharmaceutical packaging, and White Systems, the originator of automated carousel type storage and retrieval technology for manufacturing plants, warehouses, and distribution centers, are pleased to announce the combination of the two industry-leading companies under a newly organized holding company, SWS/TEK, LLC. In early 2009, White’s Kenilworth, New Jersey manufacturing operation was relocated to Sencorp’s modern 155,000 square foot facility in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Sencorp and White’s sales forces have already identified a number of applications where Sencorp/White products provide solutions for a customer’s material handling and packaging problems. The medical device, pharmaceutical, and electronics industries extensively utilize Sencorp/White machines to package, inventory, and manage high-value, sensitive parts. www.sencorp-inc.com / www.whitesystems.com
MAY 7, 2009Wonderware introduces packaging industry application for food & beverage and consumer goods industries
Wonderware, a business unit of Invensys announced the release of Wonderware Industry Application for Packaging, targeting the unique needs of packaging operations in the food and beverage and consumer goods industry markets. The Industry Application for Packaging delivers integrated, real-time monitoring, control and performance measurement of packaging operations. This new application has been developed to address today’s critical business objectives such as maintaining stringent product quality, adhering to safety and regulatory requirements and enforcing waste management practices. It helps minimize materials and energy consumption and assists in establishing best manufacturing practices. By leveraging the ArchestrA software architecture inside the Wonderware System Platform, the Industry Application for Packaging provides packaging operations with a common solution that can scale from a single line up to an enterprise-wide deployment. In addition, timely reporting of yields, events, alarms and performance is achieved through the Wonderware Information Server Web reporting and data visualization component of the Wonderware System Platform. Wonderware Information Server offers report templates that utilize Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services and saves time when creating and distributing packaging reports.Cenveoto acquireNashua Corporation
Cenveo, Inc. announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which Cenveo will acquire all of the common shares of Nashua Corporation in a stock and cash transaction valued at approximately $44.4 million including the assumption of Nashua debt. The combination will enable Cenveo to expand the range of products and services it offers customers, while at the same time enhancing its existing offerings to the pharmaceutical, retail & grocery store shelves, and pressure sensitive label markets. The agreement has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies and is expected to close during the summer. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to Cenveo's earnings and is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval of Nashua's shareholders. Metabolix Mirel™ bioplastic resins receive Vinçotte Certification
Metabolix, Inc. announced that Mirel™ bioplastic resins have received the Vinçotte certification of “OK Compost” for compostability in an industrial composting unit and “OK Compost HOME” for compostability in home composting systems. Belgium-based Vinçotte is widely recognized in Europe for materials inspection, certification, assessments and technical training. Mirel bioplastic resins received OK Biodegradable Soil and OK Biodegradable Water certifications announced in October of 2008. Mirel bioplastic resins are the only non-starch bioplastics to gain all four Vinçotte certifications. The OK Compost mark verifies that Mirel bioplastic resins will biodegrade under industrial composting conditions. All products certified with the OK Compost mark meet the EU packaging Directive as well as the EN 13432: 2000 standard. The OK Compost HOME mark confirms that Mirel bioplastic resins will biodegrade in home composting systems of varying temperatures.
MAY 6, 2009Free Accu-Sort Webinar Explains Low Impact Ways to Boost Warehouse Throughput
Accu-Sort Systems announced a free web-based seminar for warehouse and logistics managers who seek best practice ideas for increasing throughput and lowering costs via bar code sortation. Attendees will learn how bar code sortation proved greater than the sum of the parts for an industrial parts supplier with 400,000 SKUs: the distribution center boosted throughput 25% while maintaining shipments during a major automation upgrade. The webcast features two industry experts, Cindy Zeiger, Product Manager for Accu-Sort Systems, and Mark Hollebeek, Director of Controls for viastore, who bring their expertise to the discussion of distribution center automation. Highlights of this web-based seminar include: how to engineer compact scanning tunnels for maximum coverage in minimum space, how to select high-performing low-maintenance bar code scanners, and how to design sortation that handles a wide variety of packages. Modern Materials Handling magazine is hosting this live webcast followed by an interactive question-and-answer session, on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. To register for the webcast, or to view the webcast archive, visit: www.accusort.com/mmh_webinar.htmlMilacron Reaches Agreement with Investor Group for $175 Million Asset Sale
Milacron Inc., a global supplier of plastics-processing technologies and industrial fluids, has signed a definitive agreement to sell substantially all of its assets to a company formed by certain affiliates of Avenue Capital Group, certain funds and/or accounts managed by DDJ Capital Management LLC and certain other entities that together hold approximately 93% of the company’s 11½% Senior Secured Notes for total consideration estimated at approximately $175 million. The definitive agreement is on substantially the same terms as the agreement in principle for such a sale announced on March 10, the same day Milacron filed for Chapter 11 protection in Federal Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Ohio in Cincinnati. In return for Milacron's assets, the purchasers will, among other things, repay or assume Milacron's debtor-in-possession loan facilities, assume certain of the company’s other liabilities, including ordinary course liabilities and other debt, credit bid $6.1 million of pre-petition secured notes and provide additional consideration to noteholders who are not part of the purchasing syndicate. The acquisition is part of a comprehensive financial restructuring, intended to permit Milacron to continue as a going concern with substantially less debt. 
Omron STI to Host 35+ Skill Builder Seminars in Summer 2009
Omron Scientific Technologies, Inc. will host more than 35 regional US Skill Builder training seminars from June through August of 2009. Skill Builder seminars are not a sales pitch, rather they are one-day training seminars designed to educate plant personnel on the requirements and methods of machine and process safeguarding to help them identify, and sometimes correct, machine safeguarding discrepancies. Skill Builder attendees will walk away with a greater understanding of methods for machine safeguarding, and the correct application of guarding devices. Each seminar is limited to a maximum of 30 attendees, and are intended for EH&S, plant maintenance, plant engineering and production management personnel, and other management-level stakeholders concerned with the safety of plant personnel. The cost to register is $250 per attendee, and Omron STI will fully refund the registration fee to anyone not completely satisfied with the seminar.Lion Precision Offers New Video Instructions for Popular Label Sensor
The very popular LRD6110 label sensor from Lion Precision now offers video setup instructions. Unlike photo-eyes (optical sensors), the LRD6110 does not use changes in contrast for operation. The sensor works equally well with standard labels and clear-on-clear labels without the need for “eye-marks.” The setup procedure is slightly different than a photo-eye. To aid customers in getting the highest performance and quickest setup time, Lion Precision now offers a Video TechNote on their web site providing a clear explanation of the concepts and techniques used in adjusting the sensor. “While the sensor is quiet easy to setup thanks to the light bar display, nothing makes instructions clearer than video,” according Mark Kretschmar, communication manager for the company. The video is available at: www.labelsensors.com/6110.htmlNumatics Introduces Cylinder Express Shipping Program
Numatics, a global manufacturer of fluid power products, has introduced what it says is the industry’s most comprehensive 2-day guaranteed shipping program for pneumatic cylinders. The program covers the Numatics A Series N.F.P.A. interchangeable cylinder line and its M Series non-repairable round body air cylinder line. The A Series 2-day program includes seven bore sizes ranging from 1-1/2 inches to 6 inches. Customers have the flexibility to order their cylinder stroke in 1/16 inch increments. They also can specify the precise locations for both their ports and cushion needle adjustments. In addition, the 2-day program includes highly desirable options such as high-temperature and low-breakaway seals plus rod and/or thread extensions. The M Series 2-day program has 12 bore sizes ranging from 5/16 inch to 3 inches and offers 1/16-inch stroke increments. It also includes 23 cylinder mounting styles/types. A multitude of popular options are offered such as bumpers, high-temperature seals, magnetic strip on the piston for position feedback, rod and/or thread extension, plus much more. For more information about the Numatics 2-day guaranteed cylinder shipping program, contact 1-888-NUMATICS (1-888-686-2842) or www.Numatics.com/Express.Wilkinson Industries and Dispoz-o Products announce merger
Wilkinson Industries, Inc., a manufacturer of foodservice containers and Dispoz-o Products, Inc., a producer of premium disposable plastic cutlery, drinking straws, meal and dietary kits have merged, effective April 30, 2009. The announcement was made by privately-held Mid Oaks Investments LLC, Buffalo Grove, IL. The company has invested in the food packaging industry for almost 20 years and has owned Wilkinson since 2004. Mid Oaks purchased Dispoz-o for an undisclosed amount. The new company will serve the foodservice/restaurant, grocery, food processor, educational, institutional and healthcare markets through one million square feet of manufacturing and distribution space located in Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas and California. Production capabilities include injection molding, thermoforming, extrusion, aluminum stamping, printing and kit packaging. The merged companies collectively employ approximately 1,000 people and operate 110 production lines. Tharo Systems offers CUPS for H-Series printers
Tharo Systems, Inc. the author of EASYLABEL software for product identification, bar code and RFID labeling, has developed a CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System) based printer driver to add printing support for the Tharo H-427, H-436, H-626, and the H-634 thermal transfer label printers, under UNIX-like operating systems. This driver can be configured to control the optional cutter, rewinder and applicator of the H-Series printers as well as directly print from applications installed on the following operating systems: Mac OS X; Linux; BSD; Sun Solaris; IRIX; and HP-UX. The Tharo CUPS driver and installation instructions are available for download at www.tharo.com .
MAY 5, 2009SATO America Reduces Prices on Ethernet Barcode Printers
SATO, a pioneer in the Automatic Identification and Data Collection (AIDC) industry and a leader in barcode printing, labeling, and EPC/RFID solutions, announced it has reduced pricing on its Ethernet installed barcode printers. “Historically SATO products are known for their durability and outstanding performance,” said Gary Krause, director of marketing at SATO America. “Remaining vigilant to our partner’s needs, we have negotiated a significant price reduction for the Ethernet interface installed into our CLe, GTe, M84Pro, LMe, M10e, M5900RVe, and XLe Series, along with the ever popular GLe Series where we have reduced the price on not only the Ethernet installed option but the Wireless installed option as well. The business climate today has many in the industry addressing cost reductions, which in some instances result in service reductions to their customers. We will continue to seek methods and ways to lower the cost of operation and ownership for our partners and customers, without having to lower their operational expectations or our service to them.” Integrated Packaging opens $10 million manufacturing facility
Integrated Packaging Corporation (IPC), a maker of corrugated boxes servicing many Fortune 500 brands, today announced the grand opening of a new, $10 million, 90,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The plant will house a new high-tech BHS Corrugator machine which provides IPC with a distinct competitive advantage and serves as a cornerstone of the company’s “NuWay” mantra. With plans to create more than 30 new jobs in the New Brunswick area; the capability to triple the amount of output; and create an environmentally sustainable manufacturing process; the NuWay facility positions IPC at the forefront of innovation within the packaging business. Led by respected industry veteran Carl Tinsley, IPC has assembled a diverse NuWay management team spanning nearly 150 years of combined experience in the field. 
MAY 4, 2009Graham Packaging announces appointment of CFO 
Effective May 5, 2009, David Bullock has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of Graham Packaging. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Bullock, age 45, served as Chief Operating Officer, as well as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of UAP Holding Corporation, a distributor of agricultural-related products, from 2002 until 2008. Prior to this, Mr. Bullock was employed by FMC Corporation from 1995 until 2002. Mr. Bullock received his M.B.A. from Cornell University and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Lehigh University.ConAgra Foods Recognizes Sustainable Business Practices 
ConAgra Foods announced the winners of its 2009 Sustainable Development Awards. In total, the projects have reduced carbon emissions by over 25,000 metric tons, eliminated 4,000 tons of landfill waste, 7,000 tons of packaging material, and conserved 348 million gallons of water during fiscal years 2008 and 2009. One award was given in each of five categories. The Sustainable Packaging, Product and Process Innovation award was given to the company’s Research, Quality & Innovation team for its use of recycled PET in frozen meal trays. The project is expected to divert more than eight million pounds of waste from landfills annually. The company reintroduced its Sustainable Development Awards program in 2009 to drive and reward innovative approaches to sustainability that produce tangible results. Winners were announced at the 2009 Sustainable Development conference in Omaha, Neb., April 29.Dow Adhesives Flexible Packaging Seminar Demonstrates for Food Packaging 
Food safety, environmental sustainability and energy savings were keynote topics at a recent gathering of flexible packaging suppliers, converters and end-users held concurrently with Exhibition Converflex in Milan, Italy. Nordmeccanica Group, leading coating and laminating equipment producer, hosted the day-long technical session at their Piacenza, Italy headquarters, which was attended by representatives of major global companies on hand for Exhibition Converflex nearby. The Dow Chemical Company was invited to address recent advancements related to adhesives performance available with the company’s high-solids solvent-based, water-based and solventless adhesive technologies that, among other achievements, greatly reduce or completely eliminate VOCs related to flexible packaging manufacture.Chesapeake Recapitalized and Positioned for Growth 
Chesapeake today announced that it has completed its previously announced financial restructuring through an acquisition by private equity institutions Irving Place Capital Management, L.P. together with management. New ownership marks an important transition for Chesapeake, one of the world’s leading suppliers of consumer packaging. The sale effectively marks the completion of the reorganization of Chesapeake’s United States operations and its transition from being a publicly traded company listed in the United States to a private company headquartered in Europe. Chesapeake will now operate as a private, independent, global company led by packaging industry veteran Jerry Kerins, who has been named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Chesapeake’s United States-based businesses will continue to operate as part of the company’s global operations, which include 42 locations around the globe, including locations in Europe, Asia, South Africa and the United States. The Company has relocated its headquarters to Amersham, United Kingdom, where Kerins is based. 

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April 20 – 24, 2009 Supplier News