Packaging Strategies articles from January 2003

Packaging Strategies archives from January 2003

In a native tongue, Ball says 'can' do with commitment to Eastern Europe.(Ball Corporation opens plant in Serbia )(Brief Article)
January 31, 2003... In sports, the adage is "No guts, no glory." In business, particularly in the still-emerging and often risk-prone economies of Eastern Europe, the phrase more likely uttered by those hoping ventures will pay off is "Ni zisk, ni slavu" -- "No...

Unique technology, greater capabilities attractive in Riley & Geehr acquisition.(TechniPac)
January 31, 2003... Recognizing the growth potential stand-up and alternative styles of pouches represent, and the established niche, technology, and reputation of a venerable competitor, relative industry newcomer TechniPac has scored an industry coup in...

Canned, retorted flavored milk goes head to head with soft drinks in vending distribution channels.(Dairy Farmers of America test marketing drink in Florida)
January 31, 2003... While there has been a good amount of buzz as of late concerning the FDA approval of select U.S. manufacturing sites for the aseptic filling of low-acid dairy products for high-density polyethylene containers, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA),...

Holy Cow! Will kids be 'udderly' overjoyed with zany dairy drink, or will packaging cause Raging Cow to plop?(Raging Cow is new drink from Dr Pepper/Seven Up Inc.)
January 31, 2003... Cadbury Schweppes division Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc., Plano, TX, is the latest soft drink producer hoping to gulp a share of the exploding kid/teen market for single-serve, dairy-based beverages. It's offering -- Raging Cow -- is...

PTI grabs exclusive license for third-party 'M-Rule' bottle modeling.(Plastic Technologies Inc. gets license from Container Consulting)(Brief Article)
January 31, 2003... Within three months of the debut of the M-Rule Permeation Model at PET Strategies 2002, Plastic Technologies. Inc. (PTI), Holland, OH, has wrapped up an exclusive, worldwide license for M-Rule for third-party testing. PTI, which is generally...

'Active' packaging, 'active' food preservative agents combined in bio-based packaging material for shelf-life enhancement.(Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Denmark researches)
January 31, 2003... Though lacking the outward desirable and marketable consumer attributes of, say, standup pouches with dispensing fitments or home-meal replacment (HMR) packaging, "active" technologies are quietly and methodically working their way into...

Paperboard, plastic frame combo make 'Surepak' a duo a mother could only love.(MeadWestvaco's new medical packaging)
January 31, 2003... Scoring on both ends of the compliance court, MeadWestuaco's Global Healthcare Packaging group is racking up points with kids, parents, and golden-agers alike with Surepak, a unit-dose packaging system that's both child-resistant and...

Amcor promoting use of recycled PET through R-PET plant expansion.(Amcor PET Packaging Europe/Asia expands bottle-to-bottle recycling plant in France in cooperation with Buhler Technology Group)
January 31, 2003... Amcor PET Packaging Europe/Asia, Ratingen, Germany, has invested 18mn euros (U.S. $l9mn) to expand its bottle-to-bottle recycling plant in Beaune, France. As a result of the planned expansion, the plant will be able to produce 21,000 tonnes...

Rock-Tenn Company. (Acquisitions, Transactions).(buys Cartem Wilco Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 31, 2003... Rock-Tenn Company, Norcross, GA, has acquired Cartem Wilco Group Inc., Quebec, ON, Canada, a privately held manufacturer of folding cartons and specialty packaging, for $65.3mn.

Silgan Holdings Inc. (Acquisitions, Transactions).(assets of Thatcher Tubes L.L.C. acquired)(Brief Article)
January 31, 2003... Silgan Holdings Inc., Stamford, CT, has acquired the assets of Thatcher Tubes LLC, Woodstock, IL, a privately held manufacturer and marketer of decorated plastic tubes serving primarily the personal care industry. The purchase price for the...

Multi-Color Corporation. (Acquisitions, Transactions).(North and South American Decorating Technologies division of Avery Dennison Corp. acquired)(Brief Article)
January 31, 2003... Multi-Color Corporation, Cincinnati, OH, has completed the purchase of the North and South American Decorating Technologies division of Avery Dennison Corp. Avery Dennison's Decorating Technologies division, based in Framingham, MA, is a...

Gualapack S.p.A. (Acquisitions, Transactions).(Safta S.p.A. acquired)(Brief Article)
January 31, 2003... Flexible packaging converter Gualapack S.p.A., Alessandria, Italy, has acquired 75% of fellow Italian flexible packaging converter Safta S.p.A., Piacenza, Italy.

Jefferson Smurfit Group. (Acquisitions, Transactions).(to acquire European assets of Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.)
January 31, 2003... Jefferson Smurfit Group, Dublin, Ireland, plans to acquire the European assets of its former U. S. associate Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. (SSCC). Under the terms of the deal, Jefferson Smurfit will exchange its 50% stake in Canadian...

Weyerhaeuser Co. (People).(Patricia M. Bedient named vice president of Strategic Planning)(Brief Article)
January 31, 2003... Weyerhaeuser Co., Federal Way, WA, named Patricia M. Bedient vice president, Strategic Planning, effective Feb. 3, 2003. Bedient replaces Sandy D. McDade who was named senior vice president, Canada.

International Paper. (People).(executive vice president David Oskin resigns)(Brief Article)
January 31, 2003... International Paper, Stamford, CT, announced that executive vice president David Oskin is resigning from the company. A successor has not yet been named.

Mitsubishi Polyester Film Group. (People).(Steve Yurich named CEO)(Brief Article)
January 31, 2003... Effective March 28, 2003, Steve Yurich will become ceo of Mitsubishi Polyester Film Group, replacing Kosuke Kanaya, who will be retiring. Yurich is currently president and coo of Mitsubishi Polyester Film, LLC, and will continue to serve in...

Pliant Corporation. (People).(Len Azzaro appointed president of Flexible Packaging)(Brief Article)
January 31, 2003... Pliant Corporation, Schaumburg, IL, has appointed Len Azzaro to the position of president, Flexible Packaging, effective Feb. 3, 2003. Azzaro will be responsible for leading Pliant's printed and converted film and packaging businesses, as...

Cebal Americas. (Capacity, Supply Announcements).(to build tube manufacturing plant in Mexico)(Brief Article)
January 31, 2003... Cebal Americas, a division of the Pechiney Group's packaging sector, announced plans to build a tube manufacturing plant in Mexico. The new $l0mn facility will manufacture plastic tubes for the cosmetics segment in North America. A site...

Inland Paperboard and Packaging, Inc. (Other Business News).(Inland Display and Packaging Solution group formed)(Brief Article)
January 31, 2003... Inland Paperboard and Packaging, Inc., Indianapolis, IN, announced the creation of Inland Display and Packaging Solution, a new operating group with plants in Indianapolis, Chicago, and Mishawaka, IN. Inland Display and Packaging Solution...

Growth forecast for all packaging resins in 2003. (Plastics Packaging).
January 31, 2003... * Shrink film, the major packaging component of LDPE, is expected to increase about 7% in 2003 as the popularity of purchasing consumer goods in bulk, overwrapped cases from supercenters, discount stores, and wholesale clubs continues to grow...

Flexible packaging industry has weathered turbulent year to face improved market for growth in 2003. (Flexible Packaging).
January 31, 2003... * Forecasted better economic growth, new technologies, and favorable demographics all point the way to growth in flexible packaging. * The total flexible packaging market has eclipsed the $20bn mark and now accounts for nearly 20% of the...

Beer, 'malternatives' continue to help drive glass bottle demand. (Glass Packaging).(industry outlook )
January 31, 2003... * Lower energy costs and the emergence of new market opportunities for glass packaging have contributed to a favorable outlook for glass packaging * The glass container industry continues to ride the momentum created by the popularity...

Forced or welcomed, multiple dynamic pressures could kickstart paperboard segment as converters work to recover from 'difficult' market conditions. (Paperboard Packaging).
January 31, 2003... * Macroeconomic factors including the U.S. manufacturing recession, weak demand, and the strength of U.S. dollar negatively impacting the paperboard packaging sector * "The most demanding business environment for paperboard producers in...

Canmakers show improved results as volume stabilizes and prices recover, leading to new era of consolidation and restructuring. (Metal Packaging).
January 31, 2003... * While can volume decreased modestly in 2001 in the U.S., the outlook for 2002 is positive for all end uses * Company operating profits are expected to make a dramatic improvement in 2002, as a result of improved pricing, production...

Amcor moves rekindle speculative fires.
January 15, 2003... Australia-based and globally positioned Amcor continues to spark considerable interest and fuel wide speculation regarding its intentions toward becoming a multi-continent packaging powerhouse. In the past 30 days, Amcor announced the...

Packaging Stragegies' inside track: a pioneer of juice pouches goes rigid with 'Bottle Can'.(Kraft Foods using Daiwa Can's resealable aluminum Bottle Can for its Capri Sun Island Refreshers juice drink)(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... As speculated by Packaging Strategies last November, Kraft Foods is using Daiwa Can's resealable aluminum 16.5 fl oz Bottle Can for its new Capri Sun Island Refreshers juice drink, one of the most notable juice brands for stand-up pouches...

Rexam leads in consolidating German glass container industry.(Rexam to acquire 100% of Luener Glashuttenwerke GmbH )(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... In line with Rexam's strategy to consolidate the German glass container industry, the London-based packaging powerhouse has reached an agreement to acquire 100% of German glass container manufacturer Luener Glashuttenwerke GmbH for $53mn....

Tetra Pak launches first 'Tetra Recart' food application.(Bonduelle to launch 4 different vegetable mixes in Tetra Pak's Tetra Recart retortable carton in Europe)(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... European producer of canned, frozen, and fresh vegetables Bonduelle is planning to launch four different vegetable mixes in Tetra Pak's Tetra Recart retortable carton throughout Europe in March 2003. This is the first commercial food...

Dean Foods' Morningstar first to commercially use Stork low-acid aseptic filling line.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... Continuing recent announcements regarding FDA approvals for low-acid aseptic filling, Dean Foods Company says that its Morningstar Foods division is the first company to use Stork's aseptic plastic bottle and filling technology commercially...

After weak 4q02 results, Alcoa moves to divest some of its packaging operations.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... Global aluminum producer Alcoa Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, after announcing a disappointing fourth quarter loss, says that it will further focus its portfolio and divest some non-core businesses--which will include the sale of a number of the...

Gillette deal could shave years off r&d, application timeline for radio frequency identification adoption.(Gillette places order with Alien Technology)
January 15, 2003... In one giant step, radio frequency identification (RFID) for packaging has moved exponentially closer to mainstream acceptance within the consumer packaged goods supply chain. Though known to Packaging Strategies since late November, Gillette...

'Packaging' notion sticks with tag, label group.(Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute revises its mission statement )(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... The Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI), Inc., Naperville, IL, has revised its mission statement to include the words "packaging" and "narrow-web." Although subtle in verbiage, the impetus behind the change is a direct reflection of...

Canadian brewer claims it's the first to launch pet beer bottle in Canada.(Brick Brewing Co.)(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... Brick Brewing Co., Waterloo, ON, Canada, has launched a 16oz PET beer bottle that it claims is the first single-serve plastic beer bottle in Canada. The Canadian brewer's Yellow Label Lager brand is the company's first brand that will be...

Technology firm says new plastic/cellulose composite produces stronger, less expensive biopolymer.(Xyleco Inc.)
January 15, 2003... Helping to advance packaging applications of biopolymers, Boston-based technology company Xyleco, Inc. is compiling a suite of patents for a technology which facilitates the conversion of waste paper, or any form of cellulose, into a...

Crown Cork & Seal signs second technology license with Amcor.(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... As part of Crown Cork & Seal's initiative to use licensing to help commercialize its proprietary products, it has signed a second technology licensing agreement with Amcor Ltd., Melbourne, Australia. The licensing agreement allows Amcor to...

Capacity, supply announcements.(Chesapeake Corp. is building plant in Melle, Germany, to produce paperboard cartons )(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... * Chesapeake Corporation, Richmond, VA, is building a specialty packaging plant in Melle, Germany, to produce paperboard cartons for confectionery and other markets. The 115,500 sq ft plant is scheduled to begin production in the second half...

Dow Chemical Company. (People).(William S. Stravropoulos is asked to return to position of president/ceo)(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... In light of the "disappointing" financial performance of the Dow Chemical Company during the past eight quarters, the company's board of directors has asked former leader William S. Stravropoulos to return to the position of president/ceo,...

MeadWestvaco Corp. (People).(Jerome F. Tatar retires as chairman of the board )(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... Jerome F. Tatar retired as chairman of the board for MeadWestvaco Corp., Stamford, CT. John A. Luke, Jr., president and ceo, has assumed the additional role of chairman of the company.

American Fuji Seal. (People).(Fred Crowe is named president/ceo)(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... * American Fuji Seal, Bardstown, NY, has appointed Fred Crowe as its president/ceo. Crowe will be responsible for all American Fuji Seal sales and operations in North America, Mexico, and South America.

Alcoa Flexible Packaging. (People).(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... * Frederick Pereira has been appointed to the position of managing director, Asia Pacific region for the thermoforming business of Alcoa Flexible Packaging, Richmond, VA.

Eastman Chemical Company. (People).(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... Brian Ferguson, chairman/ceo of Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, TN, announced that James P. Rogers, senior vice president/cfo for Eastman Chemical Co. and coo for Eastman Division, will be appointed executive vice president for Eastman...

The Essentials and Luxury Division. (People).(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... * MeadWestvaco Corp., Stamford, CT, announced that Thierry Lucereau has joined its Consumer Packaging Group as chief operating officer of the Essentials and Luxury Division, effective January 1, 2003.

Ball Corporation. (Other Business News).(completes acquisition of Schmalbach-Lubeca AG )(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... * Ball Corporation, Broomfield, CO, has completed the acquisition of Schmalbach-Lubeca AG for approximately 900mn euros (U.S. $939mn) in cash. The acquired business will operate under the new name of Ball Packaging Europe and will be headed...

Dixie Toga S.A. (Acquisitions, Transactions).(forming joint venture with Huhtamaki Oyj)(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... * Huhtamaki Oyj, Helsinki, Finland, said it will form a 50/50 joint venture with Brazil's Dixie Toga S.A. to manufacture and market laminate for toothpaste tubes in Latin America. Production is scheduled to commence toward the end of 2003 in...

CCL Industries Inc. (Acquisitions, Transactions).(sold its Toronto-based K-G Packaging business unit)(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... * CCL Industries Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada, has sold its Toronto-based K-G Packaging business unit. K-G Packaging, with annual sales of $53mn, operates three separate business lines, all of which were sold to three separate purchasers.

Carter Holt Harvey Ltd. (Acquisitions, Transactions).(sold its packaging business in Chile )(Brief Article)
January 15, 2003... * New Zealand forest products company Carter Holt Harvey Ltd. has sold its packaging business in Chile to a consortium for $11mn.