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CPA and Sonoco collaborate to host successful event

This was the first first Connect to Collaborate education event, and brought insight on consumer trends to contact packagers.

CPA and Sonoco host Connect to Collaborate event
CPA and Sonoco host Connect to Collaborate event

Sonoco, in partnership with the Contract Packaging Association, hosted the first ever Connect to Collaborate education event for the contact packaging industry. A reception on May 11 kicked off the event, leading to the next-day forum at Sonoco’s new Innovation Center in Hartsville, South Carolina.

The event was an insightful deep dive into the drivers of today’s consumer trends and focused on answering the question, “why does packaging matter?”

Side by side with a select group of market leaders, brand designers, packaging experts and their peers, attendees expanded their knowledge on the drivers of today’s consumer, explored packaging trends and built networks, all while enjoying a bit of southern hospitality.

The day was filled with insights and information to help attendees reimagine their businesses and reposition themselves with customers. Topics ranged from a 30,000 ft. view of the consumer marketplace, to emerging trends affecting big brands and challenger brands, to the latest innovations in packaging formats, along with the latest in graphic design for brand breakthroughs.

The key takeaways from each discussion indicated that packaging suppliers and brands have to think holistically about long-term implications and large-scale systems. Speakers for the forum included Lynn Dornblaser from Mintel, Drew Felty from Package InSight, Deborah Ginsburg from Strategia Design, Zack Grove from Dewey’s Bakery/Salem Baking Company, Jeff Schuetz from Sonoco, Woody Swink from McCall Farms and Brian Wagner from PTIS/HAVI.

Sonoco and CPA plan to continue this forum next year. Details to come!

CPA announces new directors
The Contract Packaging Association is pleased to announce three new director additions to the CPA Board. Robert Reinders was elected director by the CPA membership for the term of July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018. The CPA Board of Directors also chose Jon Hayward and Tom Landry to fill two vacant director positions with terms extending through June 30, 2017.

Rob Reinders is the owner and leader of Performance Packaging of Nevada as well as Performance Machinery and RCR Beverages. He has over 30 years of thorough knowledge in the production, operations and sales/marketing of flexible packaging products throughout the flexible packaging industry.

Jon Hayward is vice president of Bonded Pac, the contracting packaging and fulfillment division of Bonded Logistics headquartered in Charlotte, NC.

Tom Landry is the president and co-founder of Allegiance Staffing of Spring, TX. Under his leadership, Allegiance Staffing has become one of only 13 staffing companies to be named “Best in Staffing” by Inavero seven consecutive years (2010 – 2016).

On announcing these new CPA leadership roles, Tim Koers, CPA Board Vice President noted that all three “bring many years of expertise in their respective industries and have proven their dedication to and passion” as well as volunteer contributions to the association and the industry.”

Nikki Johnson, CPA Managing Director added: “The CPA will continue to benefit and grow under the guidance of Rob, Tom and Jon, and I am looking forward to working with them in the months ahead.”

CPA announces Contract Packaging Sourcing Center at PACK EXPO International
The Contract Packaging Association (CPA) hosts the Contract Packaging Sourcing Center at PACK EXPO International in Chicago on Nov. 6-9 at McCormick Place, in booth N-5801.

The Sourcing Center is a place where brand owners interested in contract packaging and manufacturing services can learn about CPA members and how to source these service providers. Visitors will experience real examples of contract packaged and manufactured goods from CPA members and have the opportunity to ask questions and interact with industry experts. The Sourcing Center is also a place for contract packagers and manufacturers to learn about CPA and the benefits of membership.

“The Association Partner Pavilion, located in the North Hall at PACK EXPO International, brings together organizations with services and expertise across all markets in the processing and packaging industry. This pavilion provides attendees the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, gain knowledge within specific market segments or find innovative solutions for existing challenges,” PMMI President and CEO Charles Yuska said.

CPA Managing Director Nikki Johnson echoes Yuska’s sentiment, saying: “Participation in the Association Partner Pavilion at PACK EXPO International provides CPA with the opportunity to serve the industry and its members. The Contract Packaging Sourcing Center is the hub at PACK EXPO for all interested in contract packaging and contract manufacturing.”

Also featured at the Sourcing Center on Nov. 8 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. is the CPA Meet & Greet Happy Hour, which gives attendees an opportunity to mingle with CPA members, prospective members and other packaging industry VIPs.

“We are looking forward to this year’s show and are expecting a heavy turnout throughout the event,” Johnson said.

Sponsorship opportunities for the Sourcing Center and the Meet & Greet Happy Hour are still available. For more information, visit www.contractpackaging.org.

CPA member news overview
Our members have been extra busy making headlines in the last few months. Here are a few things they have been doing:

April:
Ampac, a division of ProAmpac and the world’s leader in creative packaging solutions, has won an Alufoil trophy for a new product innovation.The EZY Pro 10, a protein drink concentrate in a shaped stand-up pouch, won in the Consumer Convenience category.

May:
A new advance in Serac Agami technology allows bottle production from pre-printed plastic sheet reels. Serac’s groundbreaking Agami technology, which received the World Dairy Innovation Award 2015 in the Manufacturing / Process Innovation category, continues to extend bottle thermoforming possibilities by enabling manufacturers to produce their bottles out of pre-printed plastic sheet reels.

Minimus Products, founded in 2006, is a food and non-food contract packager started by the co-founders of Minimus.biz (online retailer and offline wholesaler), and in the last year has expanded to over 20 pieces of packaging equipment to service small and medium sized brands and production runs.In March, Minimus Products doubled its warehouse space. The company is currently in the middle of construction on additional food production rooms inside of its production warehouse.

June:
Hood Container Corporation announced in early June that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the corrugated packaging and contract packaging and fulfillment business of Louisville, KY-based Packaging Unlimited.

Ampac, a division of ProAmpac, announced a new low extractable barrier lamination, PRO FlexiPURE™, which enhances the existing family of successful barrier drug and medical device overwrap laminationsfor the pharmaceutical and medical device markets.

CPA Continues Partnership with IPACK-IMA
The Contact Packaging Association announces a continued partnership with IPACK-IMA, one of the largest global exhibitions for processing, packaging, converting and logistics.

CPA began working with IPACK-IMA at the PACK EXPO International in 2014. In 2015, CPA sent a delegation to the IPACK-IMA exhibition to investigate synergies and opportunities for both organizations to expand their global exposure. CPA plans to attend the next exhibition - hosted every three years in Milan, Italy – taking place May 29 through June 1, 2018.

“These strategic opportunities [like working with IPACK-IMA] allow Italian manufacturers to tap into the entrepreneurial drive of CPA members with the joint vision of global synergy,” CPA Executive Director John Mazelin said.

According to CPA Member Communications Director Nikki Johnson, this partnership provides a tactical opportunity to supply resources on a scalable range, from local entry to nationwide coverage.

“The Contract Packaging Association represents an increasingly important sector in the packaging industry. We are especially pleased with the partnership of this American association to be continued on the occasion of IPACK-IMA 2018, a strategic platform for their members for high-level technological update and new business development,” said IPACK-IMA srl President Riccardo Cavanna.

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