Companies
Signode Canada, a division of Signode Packaging Group Canada ULC and International Bar Coding (IBC) announced a strategic partnership that enhances Signode’s position in wood products printing and bar coding while expanding IBC’s reach into North American wood products mills.
Toray Plastics (America), Inc. was selected to join the HP Indigo Pack Ready community of film providers. HP Indigo Pack Ready is a set of post-print solutions for HP Indigo digital presses that enables digital converters and printers to print, laminate, and pack on demand. Toray said it is the first U.S. manufacturer of extrusion-coated OPP, PET, metallized, barrier, and sealant print-web film technologies to join the HP Pack Ready ecosystem.
Mitteldeutsche Erfrischungsgetränke GmbH & Co. KG (MEG) is building a recycling plant near Aachen, Germany to process more deposit-bearing and non-returnable bottles into regranulate. Krones was included as part of the project due to its experience completing turnkey projects.
Klöckner Pentaplast acquired Turkey-based Farmamak from Gözde Girisim Sermayesi Yatırım Ortaklıgı A.S. (Gözde Girisim). Farmamak will operate as a subsidiary within the Klöckner Pentaplast Group.
SMAC Moving Coil Actuators introduced its Tech Niches, which include the packaging, electronic, and automotive industries.
Tekni-Plex, Inc. announced that its aerosol and pump dispensing manufacturing will be doing business as Action Technology, a Tekni-Plex, Inc. company.
Amcor Rigid Plastics entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Sonoco’s Global Plastic blow molding business in North Ameerica.
Berry Plastics and AEP Industries entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Berry will acquire all of the outstanding shares of AEP in a cash and stock transaction.
People
WestRock announced the following personnel changes: Bob Feeser was named President of Consumer Packaging; Jeff Chalovich was named President of Corrugated Packaging; Jim Porter will transition to the role of President of Business Development and Latin America; and Craig Gunckel was named President, Enterprise Solutions.
Jennifer Abella was named Vice President, People, for BW Container Systems.
Markus Haid joined Mettler-Toledo as Strategic Accounts Manager for pharmaceutical products.
Maria Guadalupe Sandoval was appointed Southern Mexico Regional Manager and Jon Schadeberg was appointed Territory Manager, Georgia and Florida, for Dorner Mfg. Corp.
Thomas Murphy joined Harpak-ULMA as Product Manager of Automation.
Guilherme Vivona was named Director, South America for BluePrint Automation.
Achievements
Bennett Packaging was recognized for its new direct-to-corrugate digital printing capability at the 2016 packagePRINTING Excellence Awards.
In Memoriam
Robert G. Koppe, 76, passed away Saturday Sept. 3, 2016. Koppe was the founder of Robert’s Packaging, a pioneer in the manufacture of standup pouch machinery and contract packaging services in North America. Working with some of the largest CPG’s, Robert’s Packaging provided the opportunity for their clients to evaluate the standup pouch format in the market prior to investing in their machinery. This dual-purpose strategy in the early days of package change was instrumental in the dramatic growth we have seen in the market today.
