Converter Clips
- Published: August 01, 2006, By Edited by Deborah Donberg Associate Managing Editor
American Roller Upgrades
UNION GROVE, WI — American Roller Co. has expanded the capabilities of two of its manufacturing facilities.
The Rock Hill, SC, plant added and upgraded equipment to expand its capacity and provide for tighter tolerance capability and added a second shift to the machine shop. In Arlington, TN, the Plasma Coatings Div. also added a second shift and increased both capabilities and capacity.
Alliance to Market Security
JUPITER, FL — H.W. Sands Corp. and InkSure Technologies have signed a letter of intent to form a strategic alliance that will be marketed under the Sands-Secure line of security solutions.
Sands supplies products and technologies to the ID, security, and financial transactions card markets. InkSure develops covert encoded-ink authentication solutions.
Plastics Show Visitors Increase
CHICAGO — NPE 2006 wound up its June 19-23 run at Chicago's McCormack Place with visitor registrations 9% greater than the 2003 show, reports the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI), sponsor of the triennial international plastics exposition. International visitor registration was 33% greater.
The number of exhibitors (1,850) was 4% fewer than in 2003, which SPI says reflects industry consolidation.
According to Walt Bishop, VP of trade shows for SPI, the event “mark(s) a turning point in NPE history. In preparing for [this show], SPI developed innovative programs that would broaden the technological content of the show, attract new kinds of participants, and increase the value of attending. We will further develop this strategy of tradeshow transformation as we begin to prepare for NPE 2009.”
For more information visit www.plasticsindustry.org.
A New Customer Is Impressed
A Novoflex CL ten-color press from Windmoeller & Hoelscher is coming to Cello-Pack Corp., Buffalo, NY, this summer. Cello-Pack is a full-service provider of quality flexible solutions, with a large percentage of its market in the food industry.
The first-time W&H customer was looking to increase capacity as well as upgrade its equipment. “We felt the [Novoflex CL's] 59-inch widths with the long 49-inch repeats would help grow existing markets, as well as enable a greater presence in others, such as case-ready meat and printed shrink film,” says Rich Hummell, Cello-Pack's executive VP/general manager.
A key feature of the press is W&H's Easy-Set automatic impression setting system, reportedly a “must have” requested by Cello-Pack's operators following a demonstration.
Hummell's explanation for the choice of supplier is a simple one: “W&H offers world-class technology,” he says.
Supplier Information:
Windmoeller & Hoelscher — PFFC-ASAP 305.
www.whcorp.com
Innovative Films on Display
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND — Specialty plastic films will be on display at Maack Business Services' SPF 2006, scheduled for October 24 and 25 at the Düsseldorf (Germany) Hilton.
Included among the 26 presentations will be one by Alcan Packaging describing what it says is the world's first biodegradable technology for films. The technology is based on a blend of SiOx (for barrier) and PLA (for biodegradability).
Other presentations include the future of BOPP, brand-owner perspectives, MDO technology, and more.
For additional information visit www.mbspolymer.com.
Polo Adds Film Lines
SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL — Polo Films reports a (US)$40 million investment in a new bioriented polyester (BOPET) films unit, allowing the company to diversify its product line. Films are used primarily for food packaging.
Polo also is investing an additional (US)$50 million in a new BOPP film production line at its site in Montenegro, Brazil. The line will have an annual capacity of 30 million tons, and startup is schedule for July 2007.
General director Jorge Cardoso says the two investments will give Polo an advantage with the synergy between BOPP and BOPET films, especially in food market applications.
MonoSol Adds Greensol
MERRILLVILLE, IN — MonoSol reports the acquisition of Greensol S.A., Sens, France. Greensol has more than 30 years of experience in marketing, developing, and packaging with water-soluble films.
Greensol president Ines Naude-Filonniere will work with MonoSol on marketing initiatives, and Greensol sales manager Laurent Colliot joins MonoSol as regional sales manager.
Two Business Groups at Eastman
KINGSPORT, TN — Eastman Chemical Co. has made changes to its organizational structure that reportedly will help it take advantage of growth opportunities more efficiently and quickly.
In the new structure, Eastman is organized into two business groups. The chemicals and fibers business group comprises performance chemicals and intermediates; fibers; and coatings, adhesives, specialty polymers, and inks segments. The polymers business group includes polymers and specialty plastics segments.
Organizations that were part of Eastman's Voridian Div. will be folded formally into these two groups. Fibers will become part of the chemicals and fibers group; polymers manufacturing will be part of the polyesters business.
Flex-Pack Event in Shanghai
NORCROSS, GA — TAPPI and Reed Huayin Exhibitions report the first AsiaPLACE Symposium will be held October 24-25, at the Sofitel Jin Jiang Oriental Pudong in Shanghai, China.
The flexible packaging symposium takes place just prior to Sino-Flexpack 2006; all sessions will be conducted in Mandarin. For more information visit www.tappi.org/06asiaplc.
Omniflex Joins in Venture
GREENFIELD, MA — Omniflex, a manufacturer of waterproof-breathable barrier films, has formed a joint venture with Marc Etchells of Etcetera, Northampton, MA. The new entity will operate as Etcetera LLC and will provide infection and odor control technologies to be incorporated in Omniflex's line of Transport and Vacuflex brand films.
Etcetera also will offer products direct to market that integrate bacteria-killing capabilities in solid, liquid, and aerosol forms to medical device manufacturers and broader plastic, adhesive, and fabric applications.
Paper Agreement Signed
YORK, PA — Glatfelter has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the carbonless and specialty papers business of NewPage Corp., Dayton, OH, for $80 million in cash.
“The acquisition leverages our strengths, creates a major increase in scale, and supports revenue and margin growth in our product lines,” says George H. Glatfelter II, chairman and CEO.
He adds, “The transaction's structure allows us to maintain a strong balance sheet with no net increase in fixed assets. …the dramatic improvement in earnings power expected from this investment should enhance the company's credit profile.”
New Name Reflects the Product
WIDNES, CHESHIRE, UK — Sherwood Technology has changed its name to DataLase, the name of its brand of color-change chemistry and low-power laser light. The company reports the change is the result of its great success with the brand and coincides with the opening of a new US facility in 2006.
The move also signals the 2006 launch of a product portfolio in which DataLase's existing coding and marking solution will be branded DataLase Packmark. The company will rebrand its existing portfolio of security applications, with the DigiVU range of products renamed Guardmark.
DataLase reports it has appointed Kevin Murray VP and general manager of the new North American-based headquarters in Atlanta, GA.
