NOVA Chemicals Corporation recently announced it is developing its first mechanical recycling facility in Connersville, Indiana. The facility will employ about 125 people and process post-consumer plastic films to produce the company’s SYNDIGO™ recycled polyethylene (rPE) at commercial scale as early as 2025, the company said in a news release. It will create more than […]
Read MoreNews Desk
Industry and Association Updates
Accredo Packaging Hires FPA’s ELC Co-Chair
Jonathan Quinn, co-chair of the Flexible Packaging Association’s (FPA’s) Emerging Leadership Council (ELC), recently took a new job as vice president of global marketing and sustainability for the API Group and Accredo Packaging. Quinn, formerly the director of market development and sustainability at Pregis, is a member of the senior leadership team responsible for advancing […]
Read MorePennsylvania Packaging Company Continues Expansion in Europe
Oliver Healthcare Packaging of Pennsylvania recently announced it has bought EK-Pack Folien GmbH, a manufacturer of film and foil technology, located in Ermengerst-Wiggensbach, Bavaria, Germany. The acquisition includes Vacopack H. Buchegger AG, a fully owned subsidiary of EK-Pack, based in northeastern Switzerland, according to Oliver, a global supplier of sterile barrier flexible packaging solutions to […]
Read MoreSidel Adds Solar Panels to Facility in Italy
Sidel recently installed a solar panel system at its site in Parma, Italy. The 5,000-panel system will allow the industrial facility to generate 40% of its electricity needs by early 2024 and reduce its yearly carbon dioxide emissions by 871 tons, the company said in a news release. “This reduction is equivalent to the carbon […]
Read MoreCanadian Company to Expand in Europe
A Canadian company has agreed to buy an Italian maker of flexible pouches. Toronto-based CCL Industries Inc, which provides specialty label, security, and packaging solutions, reported that it has signed a binding agreement to acquire Pouch Partners s.r.l., Italy, from Pouch Partners AG, a company owned by Capri-Sun Group headquartered in Switzerland. Pouch Partners supplies […]
Read MoreFPA and PMMI Develop Best Practices Guide for Transitioning Flexible Materials
The project’s main objectives were to uncover the key operational challenges and barriers to switching between flexible materials in the consumer packaged goods company production lines; and to create a best practices document as an industry guide for CPG companies, original equipment manufacturers, and materials suppliers/ converters on the most effective way to transition between flexible materials
Read MoreDuraco Buys Strata-Tac
Duraco Specialty Materials recently bought Strata-Tac, Inc., a manufacturer of custom-engineered pressure-sensitive self-adhesive products and top-coated films. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Strata-Tac, headquartered in St. Charles, Illinois, was founded in 1995. Duraco is headquartered in Forest Park, Illinois, and has a workforce of 400 employees. “The addition of Strata-Tac’s expertise in water-based […]
Read More2022 Merger Leads to New Branding, Corporate Name
Syracuse Label, Macaran Printed Products, and W.N. Van Alstine & Sons have rebranded under a new group name and corporate identity, The NextGen Label Group™. The change combines the three operating units under one identity and better reflects the organization’s commitment to its employee owners and the customer communities they serve following a June 2022 merger, […]
Read MoreFPA Responds to News Program on Plastic Recycling
The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) recently responded to an ABC News segment on plastic recycling, saying people need to stop vilifying plastic bags and packaging. The nearly 30-minute program—“Trashed: The Secret Life of Plastic Recycling”—primarily looks at the recycling of plastic bags in the United States. By using electronic trackers placed in bags, the news […]
Read MoreBOBST Acquires Majority Stake in Robotics Company
Switzerland-based BOBST recently reported it has acquired a majority share in Dücker Robotics, based in Italy. The 70% equity stake in Dücker will help BOBST fulfill its vision for packaging production, the company says. Dücker uses robots in loading and palletizing in the corrugated board sector, while offering opportunities in the folding carton industry. Dücker’s […]
Read MoreAmcor Plans Purchase of Moda Systems
Amcor says it intends to buy New Zealand-based Moda Systems, a manufacturer of automated protein packaging machines. Privately held Moda designs, assembles, and supports high-performance modular vacuum packaging solutions for the meat, poultry, and dairy industries. The deal, subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to be completed in the June 2023 quarter. Amcor said […]
Read MoreTIPA Compostable Packaging Buys Bio4Pack
Israel-based TIPA Compostable Packaging has bought Bio4Pack in a deal that will give TIPA a foothold in the Netherlands and Germany, according to a recent report from Packaging News. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. “There is a great value and strength in cooperating with other players in the sustainable packaging solutions industry,” said […]
Read MoreMSU School of Packaging Celebrates Major Renovation
Michigan State University (MSU) recently celebrated the opening of its newly renovated MSU School of Packaging, following a fundraising campaign that raised more than $10 million. “This significant expansion of our facilities, enabled by the generosity of donors and stakeholders, will reinforce MSU’s longstanding leadership in packaging education,” said MSU Interim President Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D., […]
Read MoreOverview of FPA Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition
Since 1956, the Flexible Packaging Association has conducted the annual Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition to showcase the industry’s innovation and the advances that have changed packaging.
Read MoreCompostable Flexible Packaging Facility Planned in Guatemala
India-based Yash Pakka Limited (YPL) intends to open a plant in Central America by 2025 to make compostable flexible packaging for sale in North America. The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Guatemala’s major sugar companies to procure bagasse, the primary raw material used for its products, according to an article in Paper […]
Read MoreRoger Kearns Named President and CEO of Nova Chemicals
NOVA Chemicals Corporation recently announced the appointment of Roger Kearns as president and CEO, effective June 12. Kearns most recently served as chief operating officer of Westlake Corporation, the global diversified manufacturer of essential products with 15,000 employees. Kearns succeeds Danny Dweik, who has served as interim president and CEO of NOVA Chemicals since October […]
Read MoreConstantia Flexibles Expands with New Purchase
Austria-based Constantia Flexibles recently bought Lászlópack Kft., a Hungarian flexible packaging producer specializing in flexo printing. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Pim Vervaat, CEO of Constantia Flexibles, says the companies share a common vision to serve customers with more eco-friendly, innovative packaging solutions. “This acquisition further seizes new growth opportunities for Lászlópack to […]
Read MoreVonco Products Buys Genesis Plastics Welding
Wisconsin-based Vonco Products LLC recently bought Genesis Plastics Welding based in Indiana. Terms of the deal, which Vonco says is it’s third in the past three years, were not disclosed. Genesis Plastics Welding is a thermoplastics contract manufacturer that uses radio frequency (RF) welding and heat sealing. “Vonco is on a mission to create more […]
Read MoreConverters Expo Starts April 12
Converters Expo in Green Bay, Wisconsin, starts April 12, bringing converters of paper, film, plastics, and nonwovens together with industry buyers, specialists, and suppliers. “Now in its 16th year, Converters Expo attracts hundreds of converters looking to find manufacturing partners, discover the latest testing and prototyping equipment, network with producers of disposables, and learn the […]
Read MoreePac Flexible Packaging Says It Has Reached PFAS Compliance
Texas-based ePac Flexible Packaging recently reported it has reached compliance ahead of deadlines with regulations surrounding polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances and plastic packaging. The company says it worked ahead to comply with state laws and regulations banning intentionally added PFAS in packaging before rules go into effect this year. PFAS substances do not break down in […]
Read More