PACKAGING BRIEFS Tuesday, January 11

Cereplast opens European Headquarters
Cereplast Inc., a manufacturer of proprietary bio-based, compostable and sustainable plastics, announced that it has opened a European headquarters in Bönen, Germany, to support the rapid expansion of its European operations.

Transilwrap Co. acquires Interfilm Holdings
Transilwrap Co. a manufacturer, coater, and precision converter of plastics in the lamination, print, packaging, and industrial markets, announced today the acquisition of Interfilm Holdings, Inc., a distributors and converters of flexible films in the U.S.

Reslan orders second Rotocontrol RSC slitter rewinder inspection machine
Reslan Labels Inc., a label producing company serving the Turkish packaging sector, has ordered a second RSC Slitter Rewinder Inspection Machine from Rotocontrol

Disc named newest GreenLeader by Newsday
Disc Graphics, a specialty packaging solutions provider, has been recognized as a GreenLeader by Newsday’s GreenStreet LI program. Disc says its approach to the three Rs of sustainable packaging – Rethink, Resize and Reconstruct – as well as its solid “green” business practices brought the company to the attention of Newsday’s “green roots” environmental initiative.

West appoints president of pharmaceutical packaging systems
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. appoints Jeffrey C. Hunt to president of the company's Pharmaceutical Packaging Systems business. He replaces Steven A. Ellers, president and chief operating officer, who plans to retire.

Overnight Labels wins gold for superior craftsmanship in IAPHC's 2010 International Gallery
Overnight Labels Inc. was presented with the Gold Award in recognition of excellence for superb craftsmanship by the Intl Assn of Printing House Craftsmen (IAPHC), when the organization announced its Intal Gallery award winners for 2010. This is the fourth year in a row that the company has both entered and won awards in the competition.

Mocon installs permeation inspection units in high-altitude pharmaceutical lab
Mocon Inc. installs oxygen and water vapor permeation units in a Lhasa, Tibet pharmaceutical testing laboratory, located at 11,450 feet above sea-level. The the two-mile plus, above sea-level location represents MOCON’s highest altitude installation. The units will be used to measure package permeation for traditional Tibetan herbal remedies and conventional pharmaceuticals.

Schawk names new chief information officer
Schawk Inc. has appointed Gary Rietz as chief information officer (CIO). Rietz's 30-year career includes service as vp and CIO officer at Dean Foods Co., positions of increasing responsibility in information technology systems and management at The Quaker Oats Co., and participating on the IT Council of the Grocery Manufacturers Assn for four years.

Smurfit-Stone expands chain-of-custody certification to entire mill system
Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. announced that all of its U.S. paper mills have been recommended for chain-of-custody certification to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards.

Americhem hires new director of global manufacturing
Americhem names Jim Milk as new director of global manufacturing. Milk comes to Americhem with three decades of manufacturing experience including various senior roles at Goodyear Tire and Rubber. Most recently, he served as vp of global manufacturing for Veyance Technologies Inc., a Goodyear spin-off.

TAPPI, PIMA announce new members of Young Professionals Committee
TAPPI, PIMA has announced fourteen young professionals in the pulp, paper and converting industry have joined TAPPI/PIMA Young Professionals Committee. The new members and their affiliations are: Laura Beauchesne – White Birch Paper; Maggie Gerhart – Intl Paper; Zachary Growe – Weyerhaeuser; Nichole Hartley – Ashland; Natalie Hughey – Intl Paper; Tim Li – Amec; Jamie Percy – Alpac; Eric Schweighofer – Rio Tinto; Derek Sorensen – Alpac; Michael Subilia – Sappi Fine Paper; Dan Sweeney – Utah University; Emily Tomes – Ashland; Ashley Urbanski – BHS; and Bailey Wandyg – Naval Surface.

Maxcess’ Zhuhai, China, facility becomes ISO certified
Maxcess announces that their production facility in Zhuhai, China has achieved certification to the ISO 9001 quality system standard. The certification demonstrates that FIFE, MAGPOWR and Tidland products manufactured in China adhere to the stringent guidelines of the ISO 9001 quality system.

ASTM names female engineer to its highest elected position
ASTM Intl has announced that Catherine (Kitty) H. Pilarz is the organization’s 2011 chairman of the board --the highest elected position in the organization. Pilarz also is senior director of Mattel/Fisher-Price product safety in East Aurora, NY, and is responsible for the safety policy of the Mattel and Fisher-Price product lines. Mattel/Fisher-Price designs, manufactures and markets toys and family products sold in more than 150 nations around the world. Pilarz graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a B.S. in mechanical engineering, and received her M.B.A. from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY. She also is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Society for Quality. Through ASQ, she has earned the designations of certified reliability engineer and certified quality engineer.

DAK Americas to acquire Eastman’s U.S. integrated PET business.
DAK Americas LLC expects to complete the acquisition of the integrated PET and PTA business of Eastman Chemical Co. by the end of January 2011. The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 has expired without request for additional information from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Viki Solutions announce partnership with Enfocus
Viki to incorporate Enfocus PitStop preflight technology in its Vsuite platform of custom software solutions in the first stage in what is anticipated to be a multi-level partnership. Viki is also planning to bring Enfocus' Switch automation platform into its portfolio.

Capital Printing installs three Komori presses
Capital Printing Co., has installed three new Komori presses--a Lithrone LS840P and two LS440Ps, all with inline coating units and perfecting capabilities. The installation of the new presses replaces existing presses.

Fujifilm Dimatix receives 2010 NH Governor’s Award for Excellence in Pollution Prevention
Fujifilm Dimatix Inc. receives the 2010 New Hampshire Governor’s Award for Pollution Prevention. Dimatix was lauded for eliminating more 2,100 gal/ year of hazardous waste Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) and associated management costs by using an innovative vapor deposition method to replace a wet bath process. The company also has worked with its supply chain to ensure that pollutants such as lead, mercury, cadmium, haxavalent chromium and hazardous fire retardants are eliminated from its products. Dimatix also was recognized for having installed capacitors on its electric motors and adding an equipment-specific lubricant to compressors to extend their life.

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