Industry watch

COMPANIES

MeadWestvaco Corp. entered into a licensing agreement for its Natralock® security packaging products with Packaging Graphics, LLC. Under the agreement, Packaging Graphics will utilize Natralock technology to manufacture and market theft-deterrent packaging products in North America.

Balluff Inc. announced that its parent company, Balluff GmbH, Neuhausen, Germany, acquired SIE Sensorik Industrie GmbH, Viernheim, Germany.

Tegrant Alloy Brands, Inc., a sub. of Tegrant Corp., completed the acquisition of Dot Packaging Group, Inc.

NJM/CLI appointed Pack & Process, Mexico City, Mexico, as exclusive sales agent for Mexico and Central America.

International Paper acquired Fidelity Container Corp., which will operate as a unit of xpedx, a distributor of packaging supplies and equipment.

acpo ltd. announced plans for a 20,000 sq-ft plant expansion to its facility in Oak Harbor, OH, which will include enlarging the production area, incorporating new equipment, and expanding the shipping department.

Sonoco’s Matrix Packaging Unit will open a new 150,000 sq-ft plant in St. Louis, MO, which will produce rigid plastic containers.

Cryotech Intl. , Inc. opened a regional office in Albany, NY.

PEOPLE

Sonoco named Vicki Arthur division vice president and general manager, Global Corporate Accounts.

Sören Bräutigam was named marketing director of Bosch Packaging Technology responsible for the company’s global
marketing.

Multivac appointed the following new regional sales managers: James Stillinger, Food Division, northwest; Jeffrey Winkler, MCI Division, central; and Michael Barron, MCI Division, western.

Steve Sanchez was named sales account manager of DS Containers.

Rollprint Packaging Products, Inc. named Tony Paolino vice president of sales and marketing.

Serge Larocque joined WeighPack Systems Inc. as vice president, finance and administration.

The PMMI membership elected the following new members to the PMMI board of directors: Jack Aguero, Pro Mach, Inc.; Matt Lerner, Automated Packaging Systems, Inc.; Neal Nordling, Multifeeder Technology, Inc.; and Robert Storms, Moen Industries.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Ropak Packaging won a gold medal and Best of Show Chairman’s Choice Award for its round 1- and 2-liter in-mold labels, which decorated Scotsburn Ice Cream containers at the 2007 Packaging Assn. of Canada’s biennial National Packaging Competition.

American Packaging Corp. was awarded the “Best Workplace in America, Best of the
Best-2007” by the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation for its exemplary human
resources practices.

Colbert Packaging Corp. was presented with the Illinois Sustainable Technology Award from Gov. Rod Blagojevich
and the Waste Management and Research Center, a div. of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.