Companies Invest in Their Communities

Companies involved in the flexible packaging industry participate in their communities and provide services beyond their business models. Here is a look at some of those efforts at some companies that are Flexible Packaging Association members.

ProAmpac Donates to Welding School

ProAmpac is supporting the welding program at the Manistique Center in the Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District (ISD) in Michigan by donating equipment and supplies for the 2024–2025 school year. This contribution was organized to support Welding I, Welding II, and Introduction to Welding classes, enhancing students’ hands-on learning experiences and preparing them for the workforce, according to a release. The donation included welding hoods, grinding and cut-off wheels, markers, paint pens, soapstone, weld pliers, tape measures, steel, wire wheels, practice steel coupons, and welding gloves.

The collaboration was spearheaded by Nicole Barker and Dave Ekstrom, both from ProAmpac. They serve on the Delta-Schoolcraft ISD’s Welding Advisory Committee and identified the need for additional resources.

Ohio-based ProAmpac is a global flexible packaging company owned by Pritzker Private Capital along with management and co-investors.

Donations Made in Communities Where Michelman Operates

Michelman is making donations of $750,000 that will be distributed across various community-focused nonprofits, along with STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) education initiatives that advance sustainability.

Employees at the Michelman facility in Mumbai, India, celebrate the company’s commitment to invest in communities where it operates. | Submitted

The money will be contributed through the company’s six global locations in honor of the company’s 75th anniversary and is in addition to Michelman’s tradition of philanthropy and giving back to the communities where it has a presence, according to the company.

Company associates will be actively involved in the giving process, selecting the nonprofit organizations to receive support from a portion of the gift reserved for their local communities. The announcement coincided with the company’s annual Commitment to Community Day during which associates from every location volunteer at charitable organizations.

Michelman’s corporate headquarters is in Cincinnati, with facilities in Aubange, Belgium; Shanghai, China; Mumbai, India; Windhof, Luxembourg; and Tuas, Singapore.

“It’s important that we give back to the communities that have helped us grow and succeed,” said Rick Michelman, president and CEO of Michelman, in a statement. “This gift is intended to make our communities even better places to live and work. In addition, funding for robust STEM education will help develop future generations of innovative thinkers who will be crucial in solving the industry’s most pressing challenges while also protecting our planet.”

Michelman is a global developer and manufacturer of specialized sustainable chemistry used in agricultural and architectural coatings, digital printing, foodservice packaging, and advanced composites for automotive and aerospace.

Pioneer Award Goes to Sun Chemical Scientist

Mohammad Farahat, Ph.D., director of Sun Chemical’s Novel Device Laboratory, received the 2024 National Association of Printing Ink Manufacturers’ (NAPIM) Printing Ink Pioneer Award.

The award goes to people who have given more than 20 years of service to the printing ink industry through their work with one or several printing ink companies or suppliers, in addition to service work with ink associations, production clubs, and other committees.

Farahat holds a doctorate in photochemistry from Boston University. The award was presented during NAPIM’s 2024 annual convention and technical conference, which was held in October in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Children’s Museum Gets Donation From Mid South Extrusion

Mid South Extrusion donated $25,000 in 2024 to the Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum, says Mark Kent Anderson, Jr., executive vice president of sales and marketing at the company based in Monroe, Louisiana.

Above and Beyond/Transitions wants your news. Please send us information about how your company is giving back to your communities—charitable events, community drives, and other initiatives. We also would like to report when someone is hired or promoted to a senior position. Email Thomas Barstow, senior editor, at thomas.barstow@theYGSgroup.com and FlexPackVOICEcontent@theYGSgroup.com.

Companies Invest in Their Commun... Next>

The SPE Flexible Packaging Division has been presenting FlexPackCon since 2000. In 2023, the Montreal location reached maximum capacity of almost 200 attendees. The event blends fundamentals with applied experience to address emerging issues and opportunities in packaging.

Visit Event Page

Held annually in the U.S. since 2012, Digital Print for Packaging began as an opportunity for digital print equipment suppliers to network with converters on the relatively new idea of digital print for packaging. The interest and desire for digital print options continues to grow as converters look to provide new services and satisfy growing demands, and the industry shares a desire to explore more mainstream applications for digital print, and hopefully iterate the ROI of switching to fully digital. Smithers’ Digital Print for Packaging Conference (DPP) is the key place in the industry to have technical discussions around commercializing digital print for the packaging industry. FPA is a media partner for the event, and FPA members enjoy a 10% discount on the registration fee. Contact FPA for the discount code.

Visit Event Page

Packed with first-hand experience, our high-level lineup of expert speakers will share their industry insights, best practices, and lessons learned throughout their e-commerce packaging journeys to provide invaluable market insights that help attendees to evaluate and optimize their own e-commerce packaging strategies. FPA is a media partner for the event, and FPA members enjoy a 10% discount on the registration fee. Contact FPA for the discount code.

Visit Event Page

The Packaging Recycling Summit 2025, presented by Packaging World, brings together brands, materials suppliers, reprocessors, and materials recovery facilities (MRFs) to illuminate all facets of the circular supply chain. Discover the critical role of design and material selection for recyclability, and the importance of collaborating early in the design process. Engage in discussions on current legislation, brand innovations, and how collaborative efforts across the supply chain can build more resilient and sustainable business practices that benefit both the bottom line and the planet. FPA is a media partner for the event, and FPA members enjoy a 50% discount on the registration fee. Contact FPA for the discount code.

Visit Event Page

Join the premier event for the compostable products industry! Whether you're involved in product and material development, zero waste initiatives, collection and hauling, compost operations, or policy development, this is the event for you. Together, we'll work to build a successful system for food scraps diversion that incorporates compostable products and packaging.

Visit Event Page

See All Events