The National Association of Manufacturers reported in its Workforce in Focus newsletter earlier in October that manufacturing jobs have exceeded 13 million for the first time since November 2008. “Manufacturing employment rose by 17,000 in September, the fastest monthly gain since October 2022 and an extension of the gain of 11,000 seen in August,” according to the […]
Read MoreJanice Kresin
FPA President and CEO Alison Keane offers her valuable perspective on consumer trends, legislative change, sustainability, and more. Keep your finger on the pulse of the flexible packaging industry by learning about the obstacles and achievements outlined in these letters.
ProMach Acquires Lofton Label & Packaging
Ohio-based ProMach recently announced it has bought Lofton Label & Packaging in Minnesota. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. ProMach, which makes processing and packaging machinery, said in a news release that Lofton will expand ProMach’s labeling and coding capabilities. Founded in 1981 in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area, Lofton provides flexographic and digital […]
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WiKoff Color Names New CEO
Wikoff Color Corporation recently named a new CEO after a search that started more than a year ago, according to an article in Ink World magazine. Mark C. Lewis officially assumed his role on September 11. He replaces Geoff Peters, who will remain a member of the board of directors. Peters announced his intention to retire […]
Read MoreInterFlex Deal Expands European Operations for TOPPAN
InterFlex Group, a global flexible packaging supplier and converter, recently completed the acquisition of Skymark Packaging International based in the United Kingdom. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. InterFlex Group is a subsidiary of TOPPAN, a global printing company based in Japan. TOPPAN bought InterFlex in 2021. “With the acquisition of Skymark, InterFlex Group […]
Read MoreMorchem Outlines Need for Better Laminates
One key to improving recyclability in flexible packaging will be advancements in adhesive solutions for mono-material structures, an executive with an adhesive and coating company said during a presentation at PACK EXPO Las Vegas earlier this month. Michael Reed, president of Morchem in the U.S., said his company has developed products that reduce material and […]
Read MoreEvent Producer: PACK EXPO Las Vegas Sets Record
Nearly 32,000 people attended PACK EXPO Las Vegas last week, the most in the show’s history, according to show producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. The show, which ran from Monday through Wednesday, had 2,300 exhibitors that had set up in the Las Vegas Convention Center. “This is proof that the industry […]
Read MoreTredegar Sells Its Flexible Packaging Films Business
Tredegar Corporation has agreed to sell Terphane, its flexible packaging films business, to affiliates of Oben Group. Terphane has about 500 employees with manufacturing sites in Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Brazil, and Bloomfield, New York. It is headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, and exports to 29 countries. Tredegar trades as TG on the New York […]
Read MoreColorado Packaging Company Sells to 360Pack
Privately held packaging distribution company 360Pack has bought Team Packaging Inc., a Colorado-based privately held custom packaging solutions provider. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founded by Mike Anderson and Becki Charchenko in 2003, Team Packaging is a full-service custom packaging distribution business based in Aurora, Colorado. The company offers flexible and fiber-based packaging, […]
Read MoreAmcor to Expand India Operations Through Acquisition
Amcor recently entered into an agreement to buy Phoenix Flexibles, which has a plant in Gujarat, India. Terms of the deal, which is expected to close this fall, were not disclosed. The acquisition is subject to customary closing procedures. In a news release, Amcor says Phoenix Flexibles generates about $20 million in annual revenue from […]
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Students Capture Awards for 2023
Annual Contest Recognizes Work at Packaging Programs
Sept/Oct 2023
The entries for the Flexible Packaging Association’s Student Flexible Packaging Design Challenge included short videos, where students explain the prototypes they developed. Several videos stood out because the students created strong marketing campaigns.
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Transitioning to Flexibles
New Guide Outlines Best Practices
Sept/Oct 2023
Brands, particularly in the realm of consumer products, are eyeing a range of new materials to meet ambitious goals for creating more sustainable packaging.
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Striving for Safety
SPMC® Continues Oversight of Packaging Excellence
Sept/Oct 2023
Sterile packaging rarely penetrates the public’s consciousness, creating an awareness gap that the Sterilization Packaging Manufacturers Council has been striving to close since 1994 and continues with ongoing guidance on issues affecting the industry.
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A Closer Look at Kasie Fairbarn
Vice President of Sales, Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corporation
Sept/Oct 2023
In this issue, we interview Kasie Fairbarn, vice president of sales at Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corporation. Fairbarn also is co-chair of the Emerging Leadership Council of the Flexible Packaging Association.
Read MoreUniversity of Florida Offers Packaging Engineering Program
Sept/Oct 2023
FlexPack VOICE® profiles colleges, universities, and schools that have developed programs to train people for work in the packaging industry.
Read MoreNo New EPR Laws for 2023—So Far
Sept/Oct 2023
This year, we saw legislatures act more cautiously with extended producer responsibility (EPR), pushing through needs-assessment legislation rather than full-blown EPR.
Read More118th Congress Confronts Tech Issues
Sept/Oct 2023
As manufacturing floors become more integrated and companies increase investments in technology, technology oversight has become an increasing area of interest.
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Key United Nations Report Outlines Food Waste and Packaging Issues
Sept/Oct 2023
This report establishes recommendations per food archetype based on 33 studies.
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SPMC® Gears Up for Sterile Packaging Day 2024
Sept/Oct 2023
Sterile Packaging Day raises awareness for the invaluable role sterile packaging plays in healthcare and includes a blood drive.
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ELC Advocacy Committee Restructures and Adds Vice Chair
Sept/Oct 2023
The advocacy committee of the Emerging Leadership Council elected Monica Scott, strategic account manager at H.B. Fuller, as vice chair. With her support, the advocacy team was split into two subgroups, legislatorial advocacy and sustainability advocacy.
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Flexible Packaging Industry Growth Accelerates
Sept/Oct 2023
The annual State of the Flexible Packaging Industry Report, recently released by the Flexible Packaging Association, provides industry converters, suppliers, investors, and analysts with insights into the U.S. flexible packaging industry’s performance over the past year.
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