Contract Packaging

Annual meeting emphasizes strategy

The Contract Packaging Association’s just-concluded annual meeting in Tucson, AZ, explored the many challenges facing companies as opportunities for contract packaging and services grow and expand. The meeting provided time to share ideas with peers while exploring strategies for solutions.

April 11, 2007

Trends: Page 556

Contract Packaging

High-Visibility Packaging Demand $8.5 Billion By 2010

Demand among U.S. consumer packaged goods companies for high-visibility packaging is expected to increase 5.1% annually to $8.5 billion in 2010, representing nearly 32 billion units and creating a market for 900 million pounds of plastic resins. This forecast comes from market research firm The Freedonia Group Inc.

April 11, 2007

Contract Packaging

Praxis appoints two managers

aAnne Armstrong has joined Macatawa Holdings LLC–Praxis (www.praxispackaging.com), Grand Rapids, MI, as director of quality assurance. Armstrong has 27 years of experience in quality assurance and regulatory compliance in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and packaging industries.

April 11, 2007

Contract Packaging

CCB earns superior rating from AIB

The production facilities of CCB Packaging (www.ccbpackaging.com), Hiawatha, IA, have received a Superior rating from the American Institute of Baking for the third consecutive year.

April 11, 2007

Contract Packaging

Surefil expands facilities, increases testing capabilities

Surefil LLC (www.surefil.com), a contract manufacturer for the personal care and medical industries, has added 50,000 sq ft to its manufacturing facilities in Grand Rapids, MI.

April 11, 2007

Contract Packaging

Cardinal Health sells pharma segment

Cardinal Health Inc. (www.cardinal.com) has reached an agreement to sell its Pharmaceutical Technologies and Services (PTS) segment to The Blackstone Group (www.blackstone.com) for about $3.3 billion. With this move, Cardinal Health is exiting the businesses of developing and packaging medication and other products for pharmaceutical and biotech firms

April 11, 2007

Contract Packaging

Winona Foods expands for the second time in three years

With the recent completion of a $3 million expansion of its facility in Green Bay, WI, Winona Foods Inc. (www.winonafoods.com), says it is able to better serve its food service, industrial, and retail customers. Winona Foods offers contract packaging and private-label packaging services for natural cheeses as well as dips, spreads—including those marketed under the Painted Cow brand—and sauces.

April 11, 2007

Controls & Machine Components

CCL Label, Inc: CCL Label, Inc: RFID

RFID Tags

April 11, 2007

Controls & Machine Components

Fluid power catalog

Clippard Instrument Laboratory has released its new 388-page, full-line catalog, which includes features, specs, technical drawings, color photos, and application highlights throughout. Products can be found in 6 main categories:

April 5, 2007

Controls & Machine Components

Beckhoff Automation: Platform-independent communication

Beckhoff Automation offers its OPC UA in TwinCAT software—one of the first to implement the new OPC UA specification, company says.

April 5, 2007

Controls & Machine Components

Renco Encoders Inc: Compact optical encoder

Renco Encoders has introduced a 3.3 V feature for the RCML15 compact optical encoder, which provides signals for brushless motor commutation as well as incremental position feedback in a low profile (.350” heigh) optical encoder. A custom LED and CMOS sensor arrangement reduces cost while improving performance and reliability of the encoder package.

April 5, 2007

Controls & Machine Components

SICK, Inc: SICK, Inc: Wire draw encoders

Sick Stegmann has introduced BKS Wire Draw Encoders, a compact wire draw measurement system that includes and integrated absolute encoder to minimize the size of the unit.

April 5, 2007

Controls & Machine Components

Oriental Motor USA: RoHS-compliant stepping motors

Oriental Motor USA now offers a complete RK series 5-phase stepping motor and driver package that is RoHS compliant.

April 5, 2007