Originally Published PMPN April 2005
NEWS
Industry BriefsThe Contract Packaging Association, International Safe Transit Association, and the Institute of Packaging Professionals will present Packaging Services Expo 2005 on May 10–12 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. In addition to an exhibition hall featuring leading industry suppliers, the Expo will include a conference targeting brand owners, manufacturers, packagers, and retailers. The conference is arranged into four issue tracks: Design and Marketing; Contract Packaging; Testing, Quality Control, and Distribution; and Value-Added Packaging, Making Packaging Smarter.
The 2005 Global Pouch Forum, sponsored by Packaging Strategies (West Chester, PA), will be held on June 7–9 at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg, FL. The forum, which features four plant tours, the unveiling of two industry pouch/retort project initiatives, and more than 50 exhibitors, will also feature eight leading end-user and retail executive speakers.
Smiths Group (London) has completed a $925 million acquisition of device company Medex Inc. (Carlsbad, CA). Under the terms of the acquisition, Medex will be integrated into Smiths Medical. "This transaction is a significant step in the continuing evolution of Smiths, and moves us into the medical devices big league," said Keith Butler-Wheelhouse, chief executive of Smiths Group.
Anderson Packaging (Rockford, IL) has opened a new contract packaging facility across from its company headquarters in Rockford. The 148,000-sq-ft pharmaceutical packaging building includes both primary and secondary packaging capabilities. It also contains cGMP-compliant packaging cleanrooms with independent environmental controls including temperature, humidity, and HEPA filtration. "This new facility provides ample capacity to support continued growth in primary and secondary packaging services, and highlights our commitment to the business," said Peter Belden, vice president of sales for Anderson. The new plant joins the company's six existing contract packaging facilities, all located in Rockford.
Unisys Corp. (Blue Bell, PA) has signed an agreement with GenuOne Inc. (Boston) in which Unisys will leverage GenuOne software to help clients meet regulatory and retail mandates. The joint agreement will include applications for electronic pedigree, diversion control, and anticounterfeiting. The two companies have already integrated a preconfigured template of GenuOne's TraceGuard track-and-trace software into Unisys' Guardian Framework, which supports RFID technologies, smart bar codes, covert inks, and other methods.
Alcan Packaging Global Pharmaceuticals took home a Gold Award at the recent Flexible Packaging Association Annual Achievement Awards in Carlsbad, CA. The company was awarded the honor in the technical innovation category for the Autopak Sterilization Pouch, which serves the institutional medical market.
Syfan Manufacturing Inc., an Israel-based supplier of shrink and overwrap films, has opened its first facility in the United States, an 8-acre manufacturing plant in Everetts, NC. The plant will produce shrink wrap for pharmaceutical and other industries and will employ more than 80 people.
Green Printing and Packaging Co. (Lexington, NC) was honored with 10 awards at the 2004 Printing Industry of the Carolinas competition for printing excellence. The company, a subsidiary of Chesapeake Corp. (Richmond, VA), received awards for printing projects that showcased its printing and packaging capabilities and finishing techniques for folding cartons, foil stamping, self-promotion products, presentation folders and kits, and art reproductions.
Ansell Healthcare (Red Bank, NJ) has received the "Best Supply Chain Management of the Year Award" from Fisher Safety. The company received the award at the recent Fisher Safety national sales meeting in Orlando, FL.
Copyright ©2005 Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News
