Even before the pandemic, a workforce shortage was brewing nationwide. The shortage is particularly impactful in the manufacturing sector, as appropriately skilled workers were becoming harder to find.
Read MoreJanice Kresin
FPA President and CEO Dan Felton offers his 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.
Cooperation Needed Along Value Chain to Achieve Sustainable Flexible Packaging
A Circular Economy Requires a Holistic Approach
Sept/Oct 2022
The flexible packaging industry is seen as a source of single-use plastic and a landfill mainstay, causing flexible packaging’s sustainability benefits to be often overshadowed by public perception. This is why it should be the industry’s top priority to not only talk about sustainability—but also to live it.
Read MoreSPMC® Forms Sustainability/Regulatory Committee
Technical Committee and Communications Efforts Accelerate
Sept/Oct 2022
The Sterilization Packaging
Manufacturers Council recently formed a Sustainability/Regulatory Committee, which will be working on ensuring that legislation around plastics, packaging, and packaging waste considers the unique requirements of medical device packaging.
Advocating for Flexible Packaging: ELC Group Seeks Your Input
Sept/Oct 2022
This year, the advocacy group of the Emerging Leadership Council is setting its sights even higher, transitioning from informing our member companies to educating and influencing legislators. With this step change in the target audience, we now need your support more than ever to make an impact.
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Why ‘Elimination’ Won’t Solve the Packaging Pollution Problem
Sept/Oct 2022
Flexible packaging has a target on its back. Shortsighted elimination policies for flexible packaging—and all packaging in general—will not solve the problem and, in many cases, will result in more environ-mental harm.
Read MoreAdvanced Recycling Works—We Just Need to Ramp it Up
Sept/Oct 2022
Recycling does work—but our U.S. recycling infrastructure is decades old; markets have been severely limited by relying on exports for too long; and it doesn’t provide circularity for much of today’s packaging types, including flexible packaging.
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Washington State University Emphasizes Food Packaging
Sept/Oct 2022
Nationwide, industries have been struggling to find well-trained workers, and the packaging and flexible packaging industries have not been immune. For the rest of this year, FlexPack VOICE® will profile some of the colleges, universities, and schools that have developed programs to train our future workforce. In this edition, we talk to Shyam S. Sablani, […]
Read MoreConstantia Buying UK-Based Company
Constantia Flexibles based in Austria says it is buying FFP Packaging Solutions, a maker of sustainable, flexible packaging in the consumer market from Northampton, United Kingdom. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. “The acquisition aligns well with our Vision 2025 growth strategy of investing in competitive businesses with potential for future growth,” says Pim […]
Read MoreDazpak Expands With New Acquisitions
Dazpak Flexible Packaging recently announced that it has completed the acquisition of Atlapac Corporation of Columbus, Ohio. Dazpak, which is based in Southern California, is a portfolio company of H.I.G. Capital, a private equity firm based in Miami, Florida. Since H.I.G. bought Dazpak in late 2020, Dazpak has completed four acquisitions, including the recent purchase […]
Read MoreOffer Made for BOBST Group Shares
BOBST Group SA’s largest shareholder, JBF Finance SA, has made a public tender offer for the publicly held shares it does not already own. JBF of Buchillon, Switzerland, holds approximately 53% of the shares and voting rights in the company, BOBST says in a news release. JBF says it will pay 78 Swiss francs in […]
Read MorePremier Paper Group Buys Zulu Packaging
Premier Paper Group, which is based in the United Kingdom, recently bought Zulu Packaging. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Independently owner Premier Paper offers 5,500 paper products including packaging board, postal packaging and envelopes, and office paper, according to its website. Founded in 2002, U.K.-based Zulu sells lamination and packaging films, including flexible […]
Read MoreFILMtech Expands in Tennessee
FILMtech Inc. is expanding on its 18-acre campus near Knoxville, Tennessee, with excavation already completed for a new 30,000-square-foot structure. The building will increase FILMtech’s manufacturing facility to 150,000 square feet, the company says in a news release. The maker of metallized and clear barrier films says that the addition will accommodate a new metallizing […]
Read MoreFortis Buys Anchor Printing
Virginia-based Fortis Solutions Group LLC has bought Anchor Printing, a family-owned company based in Novi, Michigan. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Anchor Printing is a flexographic and offset printing specialist providing shrink sleeves, flexible packaging, and pressure-sensitive labels across a range of industries including the paint, automotive, medical, food, beverage, health and beauty, […]
Read MoreAmerican Packaging Corporation Utah Plant to Open in 2023
American Packaging Corporation (APC) intends to open a 275,000-square-foot manufacturing facility next year in Cedar City, Utah, creating more than 135 jobs. APC purchased the land in October and officially broke ground in February, with a completion date expected in June 2023. The plant will include flexographic printing presses, laminating, preformed pouching, and finishing equipment. […]
Read MoreNew York Companies Plan Merger
Syracuse Label & Surround Printing, Macaran Printed Products, and W.N. Van Alstine & Sons Inc. recently announced that they plan a merger in a deal that will create an employee-owned company. “A critical aspect of the merger is the continued development and support of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP),” the companies say in a […]
Read MoreProMach Buys Reepack of Italy
Ohio-based ProMach, a global maker of packaging machines, recently bought Reepack, a manufacturer of flexible packaging machinery known for its vacuum chambers, thermoformers, tray sealers, and flow wrappers. The deal continues ProMach’s expansion in the food packaging space and solidifies its status as a single-source supplier for protein-packaging automation, the company says in a news […]
Read MoreDigital Exclusive
Proactive Insurance Protects Against Cyber Attacks
FPA Offers NAM Cyber Cover to Its Members
June 27, 2022
Last year, NAM teamed up with two insurance partners to offer a new product to members: NAM Cyber Cover to NAM members.
Read MoreDigital Exclusive
Governments Play Large Role in New Recycling Investments
States Take the Lead, While Federal Efforts Stall
June 27, 2022
Government policies often dictate what and how much recyclable material is collected, ensuring supply. Policies can also help to stimulate demand by setting requirements for incorporating recycled material.
Read MoreDigital Exclusive
Cyberthieves Target Manufacturers
Experts Discuss Trends, Offer Tips
June 27, 2022
Cybersecurity trends have led FPA to offer its members a cyber risk mitigation and insurance package program, developed by NAM, to help prevent cyberattacks.
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Aluminum Foil Shortage Intensifies
War in Ukraine, Tariffs, Trade Policies Frustrate Supplies
July/Aug 2022
Flexible packaging companies may have been hoping this year would bring relief to a stubborn shortage of aluminum foil. However, relief does not appear likely anytime soon.
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