Partnerships strengthen Pack Expo 2010
This fall’s Pack Expo International will feature several enhancements, including a co-location partnership with the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA). Pack Expo, organized by PMMI, will be held Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at McCormick Place in Chicago. PMMI officials held a press conference Feb. 17 to discuss several features of this year’s show. They include:
• A DistriPak Pavilion, sponsored by NPTA Alliance (formerly the National Paper Trade Association). This will be devoted to distributors of industrial packaging, as well as machinery and materials manufacturers who sell through distribution channels.
• A Reusable Packaging Pavilion, which will feature exhibitors displaying reusable pallets, bins, dunnage and other transport packaging.
• A first-ever Confectionery Pavilion, which will fill 15,000 square feet in the South Hall of McCormick Place. This pavilion is being done through a partnership with the National Confectioners’ Association.
• The partnership with GMA, which comprises a co-located Manufacturing Excellence Conference. This will deliver two days of education on topics including product safety, sustainability and operational reliability.
The DistriPak and Reusable Packaging Pavilions made their debuts at last year’s Pack Expo in Las Vegas; this year will mark their first time at Pack Expo International. The partnership with GMA is new, and the Manufacturing Excellence Conference will be the first of its kind.
“By partnering with PMMI, our goal is to provide GMA members and all of our industry partners a forum where we can work to align manufacturing, engineering and plant management problem-solving in the critical areas of product safety, sustainability and operational reliability,” said Pamela Bailey, president and CEO of GMA.
In addition, this year’s show will be the first to bring processing under the same roof. Many of the show’s expected 1,600 exhibitors will include packaging and processing innovations regardless of their locations on the show floor. F&BP
BRIEFS
INX International Ink Co.,a supplier of inks and coatings for packaging and commercial print applications, has joined the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership as a Bronze Patron.
The National Institute of Packaging, Handling and Logistics Engineershas inductedNorm Barstowa packaging engineer forHardigg Industries(now part ofPelican Products), into its Hall of Fame.
MWVhas received a “Four Globes” rating from theGreen Building Initiativefor its new headquarters building in Richmond, Va. The rating, which recognizes aspects like energy efficiency and green building materials, was given to only two other building projects in the country.
VIVID Packaging Inc.has been selected byAmcor PET Packaging North Americaas its preferred vendor for just-in-time shipment of stock bottle products. VIVID will warehouse the products at its Cleveland headquarters, making them ready for immediate distribution.
Mike Ukropinahas been named president and general manager of Shorewood Packagingand an officer of its parent company,International Paper.Ukropina was promoted from senior vice president of Shorewood’s global tobacco packaging.
The North American Packaging Associationhas merged into thePaperboard Packaging Council.The merger, effective in February, brings together nearly 200 paperboard packaging industry companies.
Industrial Dynamics/filtechas hiredBrian Keithas a technical writer, Dave Kriebel as research and development project manager, andBeny Levyas HMI/media analyst.
Jim Connershas been hired byIlapak,a supplier of filling and other packaging machinery. He will be responsible for sales of the vertical range of Ilapak in the Northeast territory.
Robert Wiedmaier,CEO ofContainer and Pooling Solutions (CAPS), was recently recognized bySupply & Demand Chain Executiveas a 2010 Provider Pro to Know. Wiedmaier has led CAPS since 2004.
tna, a supplier of filling and other packaging machinery, has promoted three people:Patrick Avelangeto group sales manager,Bachar Ghadrito general manager for Middle East operations andSuresh Chandranto aftermarket sales manager.
Bradman Lake Inc.,a designer and assembler of packaging machinery, is relocating from its manufacturing plant in Charlotte, N.C., to a new 40,000-square-foot factory in Rock Hill, S.C. The move is scheduled to be completed in March.
Rennco, a division ofPro Machand leading supplier of vertical packaging machinery and systems, has relocated to a larger facility in Homer, Mich. Before moving into its new 90,000-square-foot facility, Rennco operated out of three buildings elsewhere in Homer. “The new facility allows us to put all of our operations under one roof and operate more efficiently,” said Robin Thurgood, Rennco vice-president and general manager. Rennco has been located in Homer since its founding in 1969. During that time its product offering has evolved from basic hand load packaging machines to fully automated packaging solutions.
