heinzelsales (Wilfried Heinzel AG), the sales network of Heinzel Group, announces the acquisition of Firgos (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., a paperboard trading company based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. With a team of eleven employees and a representative office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Firgos Malaysia offers paper and board products from suppliers around the world to customers across Southeast Asia. heinzelsales has taken over the company from Mayr-Melnhof Cartonboard International GmbH, a subsidiary of Austrian paperboard producer Mayr-Melnhof Karton AG. Mayr-Melnhof will continue serving Southeast Asian customers through Firgos Malaysia. Click Read More below for additional information.

Containerboard production was up 0.7 percent compared to April 2017 and up 0.7 percent year-to-date. The month-over-month average daily production compared to March 2018 was 0.5 percent lower. The containerboard operating rate was 98.3 percent, 2.5 percentage points higher than the same month last year. Production for exports was 3.0 percent lower than April 2017 and 5.8 percent lower year-to-date.

Total Packaging Papers shipments were up 12.3 percent compared to April 2017, but down 1.0 percent year-to-date. Bag & Sack shipments were flat year-to-date. Multiwall shipments were down 6.7 percent, Converting shipments were down 0.4 percent and Food Wrapping shipments were up 3.1 percent. The operating rate for April increased slightly to 92.9 percent from 92.7 percent in March. Inventories were down 0.8 percent since March.

Owens-Illinois, Inc. announced that it has finalized plans to cease production at its Atlanta, GA, plant. The closure is expected to occur on or after July 18, 2018. O-I intends to facilitate the closure in a respectful manner for the approximately 250 people impacted at the Atlanta plant. Current customers of the plant will be served by other domestic plants in the O-I network. The Company remains strongly focused on optimizing the overall efficiency of, and investments in, its regional plant network. The required capital outlay for the Atlanta operations and continued decline of beer in the domestic market influenced the decision to close the plant. O-I's supply-demand profile in the U.S. will be roughly balanced after this closure. Click Read More below for additional information.

Huhtamaki La Rochelle in France is proud to introduce a new range of bottle dividers, the PRESTIGE, created in collaboration with Vitis Valorem, located at Meursault, Burgundy. PRESTIGE range is the result of a big idea, paying homage to the vitality and natural qualities of wine and at the same time building on our deep knowledge of using recycled materials. Our new bottle divider uses a new and unique raw material normally wasted every year: vine shoots. “Our aim was to create a high-quality, natural bottle divider solution for wineries including a new sustainable raw material,” says Amandine Duranton, Wine Segment Sales Manager from Huhtamaki in France. “The 100% biodegradable and recyclable PRESTIGE wine bottle dividers are made of recycled paper and vine shoot powder.” Click Read More below for additional information.

The Group's consolidated sales went up to EUR 592.1 million and were thus 1.3 % above the comparative figure of the previous year (1Q 2017: EUR 584.5 million). The slight increase results from both divisions. Operating profit at EUR 57.1 million was 12.8 % or EUR 6.5 million above the previous year’s value (1Q 2017: EUR 50.6 million). A rise at the cartonboard division contrasted with a decline at the packaging division. The Group's operating margin reached 9.6 %, following 8.7 % in the first three months of 2017. Click Read More below for additional information.

TC Transcontinental Packaging is pleased to announce that it swept the Wide Web/Process/Film category at the 2018 Excellence in Flexography Awards of the Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) by winning a Bronze, Silver and Gold award. Additionally, TC Transcontinental Packaging was the recipient of the coveted “Best of Show” award, for Transcontinental Robbie’s Post Fruity Pebbles/Cocoa Pebbles packages, while also winning a Silver award in the Wide Web/Line/Film category as well as in the Wide Web/Screen/Film category, a Bronze in the Wide Web/Screen/Coated Paper category, and a Self-Promotion award for its Inspire NexGen 240 bag. For the second year in a row, TC Transcontinental Packaging has been recognized with the prestigious “Best of Show” for its printing performance and execution. These back-to-back awards are further proof that TC Transcontinental Packaging is creating some of North America’s finest and most innovative flexible packaging; each carefully tailored and printed to meet the specific needs of its customers. Click Read More below for additional information.

Packaging Première exhibition has been a great success last year gathering designers, advertising agencies, brand owners and the major players of the sector. This year the number of converters and exhibitors has considerably increased. Kotkamills is confirming its strong presence with its high performance virgin fibre folding boxboards AEGLE® White and AEGLE® Pro. Most of the key customers in cosmetic, body care, pharma and luxury packaging will be also present with their own booths or visiting Kotkamills and Sapii Srl representing the Kotkamills products in Italy. A big success is again expected with Kotkamills’ AEGLE® brand recognized as a main player in these sectors.

UPM Raflatac is introducing four new food-safe labeling products to the European market. This will expand the company's food labeling range, providing a wider range of material options for brand owners and packaging designers. All four products meet the European Union's stringent requirements for food safety. Synthermal Clear Plus is a high-clarity direct thermal film that provides excellent product visibility for a no-label look on food packaging. Demonstrating a clear commitment to product safety, the film is Bisphenol A (BPA) and Bisphenol S (BPS) free - taking the European Union legislation that requires thermal paper sold in Europe to be BPA free after 2 January 2020 one step further. Synthermal Clear Plus has excellent convertibility with a great deal of flexibility for process improvements at the printer. Click Read More below for additional information.

Colbert Packaging Corporation recently hosted a TICCIT® (“Trees Into Cartons, Cartons Into Trees”) event for elementary students in Wisconsin’s Salem School District. Jeff MacDougall, production manager at Colbert Packaging, led the educational outreach program, which drew participation from over 320 students in the third, fourth and fifth grades. Salem students learned how trees are grown and harvested for the making of paper and paperboard, and then turned into packaging materials that are recyclable and renewable. Click Read More below for additional information.

Sonoco has invested in a state-of-the-art, direct-to-sheet digital printing press for the production of point-of-purchase displays and other promotional packaging. The high-speed, 6-color press enables brand owners to respond quickly to a dynamic retail and shopper environment without the need for costly overruns or printing plates. Sonoco’s digital solution offers several advantages over traditional flexography/lithography, including: •Improved print quality and display strength due to a touch-free printing process •Reduced cost and lead time from the elimination of printing plates •Flexibility and short-run advantages due to the lack of price penalties for smaller quantities •Nearly unlimited customization opportunities from 100 percent digital processes •Durable, fade-resistant printing made possible by high-quality UV inks.

For two days every year, the most creative luxury packaging designers managers and designers converge in NYC for Luxe Pack New York. And, for the 13th consecutive year, Neenah Packaging will join these innovators at Pier 92 in Manhattan to show its creative luxury packaging solutions and innovations. (Booth C601.) Inspired by the latest trend colors of the year, Neenah is displaying its growing collection of cosmetics and fragrance packaging and will highlight custom solutions, the results of 1:1 partnerships with corporate clients. Click Read More below for additional information.

The first product was the engaging AlphaBooks display produced for the IF gifts company. Smurfit Kappa designers created a bespoke POS display which gave a 360o degree view of the quirky, letter-shaped notebooks. The second winning product was a sophisticated packaging system for different left and right Audi automotive latches. Thanks to cleverly placed cut-outs, 12 latches fit in easily without any damage during either insertion or transport, and the time spent on assembly and filling was reduced by 87%. Click Read More below for additional information.

Sonoco has announced its position as a joint development partner and investor in the Plant City, Fla.-based robotics company Harvest CROO Robotics. “This partnership solidly aligns with our focus on improving the supply chain for fresh produce by connecting harvesting technology with new packaging technology,” said Sonoco CEO Rob Tiede. “Efforts to improve harvesting efficiency, decrease food waste and extend freshness life are key focus areas for us as we expand into fresh food packaging.” Click Read More below for additional information.

Q1 2018 Highlights • Sales of $1,098 million (compared to $1,082 million in Q4 2017 (+1%) and $1,006 million in Q1 2017 (+9%)) • As reported (including specific items) • Operating income of $112 million (compared to $45 million in Q4 2017 (+149%) and $31 million in Q1 2017 (+261%)) • Adjusted (excluding specific items) 2 • Operating income of $50 million (compared to $46 million in Q4 2017 (+9%) and $28 million in Q1 2017 (+79%)). Click Read More below for additional information.

Expera Coated Products announced a new brand of liners used in the manufacture of Performance Tapes and Sealants. DualBak™ liners have the necessary performance characteristics to withstand demanding converting and end use applications, yet maintain the strength and stability to ensure specified customer requirements are met. “Expera Coated Products’ DualBak™ liners are highly-engineered solutions that offer a wide breadth of silicone systems and release differentials as well as targeted base papers to fit the many demands of this segment,” explained Harry Challender, Vice President of Expera Coated Products. “We excel at customer collaboration, and that collaboration allows Expera Coated Products to develop application-specific liners that contain the functional properties critical to the success and delivery of our customers’ products.” Click Read More below for additional information.

First Quarter 2018 Highlights (as compared to first quarter 2017): • Revenue increased 14.5% to $237.2 million primarily due to additional revenue from the Cantech Acquisition(1) and an increase in average selling price, including the impact of product mix. • Net earnings attributable to the Company shareholders ("IPG Net Earnings") decreased $2.1 million to $11.4 million, primarily due to the increase in SG&A and other finance costs, partially offset by a decrease in income tax expense and an increase in gross profit. • Adjusted EBITDA(3) decreased 0.6% to $30.2 million primarily due to an increase in SG&A and the non-recurrence of Insurance Proceeds of $2.1 million realized in the first quarter of 2017, partially offset by adjusted EBITDA contributed by Cantech and an increase in gross profit. Excluding the Insurance Proceeds, adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2018 increased by almost 7% compared to the first quarter of 2017. Click Read More below for additional information.

Mondi’s renewable packaging material helps Paulig Coffee lower carbon footprint. Climate change is harming our planet’s fragile ecosystems, driving the movement for drastic cuts to carbon emissions at a global scale. All industries have a part to play in this transition towards a low-carbon economy, including manufacturers of consumer goods. The snacks, seasoning and coffee producer Paulig Group, together with Mondi, is responding to this challenge. Paulig Coffee brand is the market leader in Finland and the Baltics, and is the second largest provider of coffee in Russia. The company strategically works to reduce its environmental footprint. In Finland for example, all its coffee roasteries run entirely on renewable energy. Paulig has made a commitment to reduce its carbon emissions by 40% by 2020. To meet the target the entire supply chain is involved, including packaging. Click Read More below for additional information.

Dublin, Ireland-based Smurfit Kappa Group is partnering with Silicon Valley printing technology company Electronics For Imaging, Inc. to establish an efficient, robust digital corrugated packaging production offering with the installation of an EFI™ Nozomi C18000 single-pass LED inkjet corrugated packaging press. As a result of this partnership, Smurfit Kappa, one of the top innovators in packaging, and main driving force of digital print technology in Europe, will establish leaner and more-effective processes to deliver ready-to-sell high quality print packaging that will provide its customers maximum brand benefit in the retail store. “This digital printing partnership with EFI reflects Smurfit Kappa’s serious commitment to providing the best packaging solutions available,” said Ignacio Sevillano, CEO Smurfit Kappa Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Click Read More below for additional information.

The company’s PolyInert laminates, which enable sensitive pharmaceuticals to be packaged in stick-pack form, won the Resource Efficiency category, and AluFix Retort Xtra, the newest addition to the successful AluFix range, won the Technical Innovation award. PolyInert Laminates - This material helps keep pharmaceutical patients safe because its stable and inert high barrier doesn’t interact with or absorb active pharmaceutical ingredients and keeps medication effective longer. AluFix Retort Extra - The aluminium foil membrane makes more convenient peelable lidding practical on metal cans for a wider range of food products. For the first time, that includes on cans containing foods with low pH values of 2-4, or those containing salts, spices and oils that can corrode or damage packaging materials. Click Read More below for additional information.

Brands today must align all aspects of their packaging development and production to satisfy the needs and preferences of a new generation of consumers. Skilful optimisation of point-of-sale packaging has never been more important for food and beverage brand owners. A key component is ensuring that primary and secondary packaging designs, materials and missions are fully aligned in order to attract consumers and satisfy their needs. Consumer brands today face many challenges – from an explosion in the number of competitors and the resulting struggle to get noticed on the retail shelf, to rising demand for sustainability and changing consumer demographics. Click Read More below for additional information.

Novolex, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group and an industry leader in packaging choice and sustainability, announced it will acquire The Waddington Group from Newell Brands, Inc. The transaction is expected to close in approximately 60 days. Headquartered in Covington, Ky., The Waddington Group is a global manufacturer and marketer of packaging and disposables serving the foodservice, bakery, deli, produce and confectionery markets. Novolex is a leading provider of packaging solutions serving retail, grocery, food service, hospitality, institutional and industrial markets. Click Read More below for additional information.

First Quarter Overview – Significant year-on-year improvement across all key metrics * Group underlying1 revenue growth of 7% year-on-year * Group EBITDA growth of 22% year-on-year to €340 million * EBITDA margin of 15.7%, significant year-on-year improvement * Increased ROCE of 16.1% * Improved net debt to EBITDA ratio of 2.2x; medium-term target of 1.75x to 2.5x. Click Read More below for additional information.

January–March 2018 (10–12/2017) • Sales were EUR 492.3 million (451.3). • Comparable operating result was EUR 69.0 million (54.4), or 14.0% (12.0) of sales. The operating result was EUR 69.0 million (54.4). • Comparable earnings per share were EUR 0.15 (0.12), and earnings per share were EUR 0.15 (0.12). • Comparable return on capital employed was 15.8% (12.4). Click Read More below for additional information.

AptarGroup, Inc. announced that as of May 1, 2018, it has acquired Reboul from Vacheron Industries SAS. Reboul is a French leader in the design and industrial production of high-quality metal components, metal-plastic sub-assemblies, next generation lipstick mechanisms, and complete color cosmetic packaging solutions. This strategic acquisition brings to Aptar complementary and distinctive capabilities including deep metal drawing, high speed metal stamping, as well as differentiated lipstick mechanism design and manufacturing. The transaction positions Aptar well to capitalize on growth in the color cosmetics market, while further strengthening its ability to serve customers in the skincare and fragrance markets. Click Read More below for additional information.

The net sales increase of $161 million from the prior year quarter was primarily attributed to acquisition net sales of $106 million, selling price increases of $59 million due to the pass through of higher resin prices, and a $34 million favorable impact from foreign currency changes, partially offset by a 2% base volume decline. The operating income increase of $13 million from the prior year quarter was primarily attributed to acquisition operating income of $20 million, a $13 million decrease in selling, general and administrative expense due to synergies and cost reductions, a $7 million decrease in depreciation and amortization, and a $5 million favorable impact from foreign currency changes, partially offset by a $22 million negative impact from under recovery of higher cost of goods sold, and a $7 million negative impact from lower base volumes, and a $3 million increase in business integration expenses. Click Read More below for additional information.

Norbord Inc. reported Adjusted EBITDA of $170 million for the first quarter of 2018 versus $103 million in the first quarter of 2017 and $204 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. The year-over-year improvement is primarily due to higher North American oriented strand board (OSB) prices and shipment volumes, as well as higher European panel prices. The quarter-over-quarter decrease is due to lower North American OSB price realizations and shipment volumes. North American operations generated Adjusted EBITDA of $156 million compared to $102 million in the same quarter last year and $195 million in the prior quarter. European operations delivered Adjusted EBITDA of $18 million versus $6 million in same quarter last year and $12 million in the prior quarter. Click Read More below for additional information.

Net sales of $1.1 billion increased 10% on an as reported basis. Currency had a positive impact on total net sales of 4%, or $36 million. As reported, net sales increased across all regions. Net loss from continuing operations on an as reported basis was $208 million, or $(1.25) per diluted share, as compared to $54 million, or $(0.27) per diluted share, in the first quarter 2017. Net loss in the first quarter 2018 was unfavorably impacted by $293 million of special items, primarily related to $290 million of provisional tax expense for one-time tax on unrepatriated foreign earnings pursuant to the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 ("TCJA"). Click Read More below for additional information.

The international packaging design competition Better with Less – Design Challenge, organised by Metsä Board was created to find new environmentally-friendly and functional packaging solutions for some of the world’s most frequently used and fastest growing types of consumer packages. The competition was launched in November and by the time it closed at the end of March 2018 there had been an impressive 302 design concepts entered from 38 different countries. The competition jury included several renowned packaging design experts who now have selected the following ten finalists: Janne Asikainen - Koepala Cup Pocket™; Jeroen Caelen - Plastic banning toilet roll; Abdullah Cam - Moisture Face Creme Cosmetic Package; Insik Chung - ECO cake tray; Alessandro Grossi - Playing nature; Gerlinde Gruber - Fune - Sushi take-away; Sī Míng Guì - A scarf which can be turned into a hanger; Yukihiro Hozumi - Paperboard pocket tissue case; Pawel Krawczugo - Twist; Iiro Numminen - Stretching inner part. Click Read More below for additional information.

Challenges, opportunities and new ways of working were the topics of the day at Europe’s first shopping bag summit, hosted by Mondi. The paper bag industry took an important step towards sustainable innovation when leading shopping bag converters, suppliers and customers came together in Prague on 19 April for Let’s Paper the World 2018 – the first European shopping bag summit, organised by Mondi Group’s Speciality Kraft Paper segment. Participants included global brands Benetton, H&M and REWE Group; bag manufacturers; papermakers and paper associations; ink and glue producers; bag machine manufacturers; and market intelligence leader Mintel. Click Read More below for additional information.

Transcontinental Inc. is pleased to announce that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of the business of Coveris Americas, a business previously held by Coveris Holdings S.A. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Coveris Americas manufactures a variety of flexible plastic and paper products, including rollstock, bags and pouches, coextruded films, shrink films, coated substrates and labels. Coveris Americas operates 21 well invested production facilities in the United States, Canada, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and China. With this Acquisition, TC Transcontinental welcomes 3,100 employees, the majority of whom are located in North America and Latin America. "We could not be prouder of this historical acquisition as we become a North American leader in flexible packaging,” said François Olivier, President and Chief Executive Officer of TC Transcontinental. “We started building our Packaging network only four years ago through a robust acquisition strategy to complement our well established printing and media operations and, today, the acquisition of Coveris Americas marks a major milestone in our continued journey to long-term profitable growth." Click Read More below for additional information.

Huhtamaki’s innovative GreeNest® egg packaging, using 50 percent grass fibers, is now available in the United States. In partnership with Sauder’s Eggs, Huhtamaki has introduced an environmentally conscience egg package nearly as natural as Sauder’s Pasture Raised Eggs themselves. Our GreeNest® line of molded fiber egg packaging provides the same protection as traditional molded fiber egg packaging, while being both home and commercially compostable. Customers will be able to actually see and feel the grass fibers on the surface of the packaging, reinforcing brands who value sustainability. It all comes together with a patented production technology that produces a completely natural product made from grass collected in nature reserves. The process also reduces the carbon footprint of production by 10 percent while consuming less recovered paper. Click Read More below for additional information.

Huhtamaki has acquired the majority of Tailored Packaging, an Australian foodservice packaging distribution and wholesale group. With the acquisition Huhtamaki gains access to a national network of distribution centers across Australia, allowing it to serve its customers even better and with more agility. Tailored Packaging is a national foodservice packaging distribution and wholesale group, founded in Sydney in 2001 and having sales offices and distribution centers in each state of Australia. Tailored Packaging employs app. 130 people and is one of the largest importers and distributors of foodservice packaging in Australia. Click Read More below for additional information.

Huhtamaki has sold its confectionary trademark portfolio to Highlander Partners, a US based investment firm. Related to the sale, an after taxes gain of approximately USD 16 million will be booked as an item affecting comparability (IAC) during the second quarter of 2018. The sold trademark portfolio was related to Huhtamaki's confectionary business divested in 1996.

Tetra Pak aims to launch a paper straw that is suitable for its portion-sized carton packages before the end of the year, as part of a broader programme to help address the issue of plastic straw waste. Straws play an integral functional role on portion packages, but if not properly disposed of, they then become part of the plastics waste problem. The company has been working to encourage consumers to push straws “back in the pack” once empty, so they can be collected along with the rest of the package. Now, work is under way to develop a paper straw that is suitable for use on its portion-size carton packages. Click Read More below for additional information.

First Quarter Summary • Reported sales increased 17%, including the positive effect of currency rates (+10%) • Core sales, excluding currency effects, rose 7% driven by growth in each business segment • Reported net income (8% of net sales) increased 14% to $59 million • Adjusted EBITDA (19% of net sales) increased 17% to $134 million • Reported earnings per share grew 14% to $0.92 and included costs associated with our business transformation ($0.07 per share) • Adjusted earnings per share of $0.99 compared to prior year reported earnings per share of $0.81 (+22%) and to prior year currency adjusted earnings per share of $0.90 (+10%) • Business transformation progressing as planned. Click Read More below for additional information.

U.S. Packaging net sales of $666.0 million for the first quarter of 2018 represented an increase of 2.6 percent compared to the same period of 2017. The increase in net sales was driven primarily by sales price and mix partially offset by lower unit volumes of approximately 1 percent. Lower unit volumes were driven by the Company’s planned shutdown of its Shelbyville, Tennessee facility. U.S. Packaging operating profit increased to $87.2 million in the first quarter of 2018, or 13.1 percent of net sales, compared to $83.5 million, or 12.9 percent of net sales, in 2017. The increase in U.S. Packaging operating profit was driven by improved operations and cost savings from the Company’s Agility plan. Click Read More below for additional information.

Net sales for the first quarter of 2018 were $1.01 billion, an increase of $206.9 million, or 25.7 percent, as compared to $805.4 million in 2017. This increase was the result of the acquisition of the Dispensing Systems operations in April 2017 and higher net sales in each of the businesses. Income before interest and income taxes for the first quarter of 2018 was $92.2 million, an increase of $35.4 million, or 62.3 percent, as compared to $56.8 million for the first quarter of 2017, and margins increased to 9.1 percent from 7.1 percent for the same periods. Click Read More below for additional information.

Highlights: • For the first quarter 2018, the Company recorded earnings from continuing operations of $0.59 per share (diluted). This was on the upper end of management guidance of $0.55 to $0.60 per share. • Net sales were $1.7 billion, an increase of nearly 8 percent compared to the prior year, due to higher prices and favorable currency translation. Total glass container shipments in the first quarter of 2018 were comparable to the prior year quarter, with low-single-digit gains reported in the Americas. • Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes were $135 million, compared with $73 million in the prior year, driven by solid operational performance and non-recurrence of certain expenses in the prior year. Click Read More below for additional information.

Net Sales increased 39% to $1,476.0 million in the first quarter of 2018, compared to $1,061.5 million in the prior year period. The $414.5 million increase was driven by $359.5 million of revenue from the SBS mill and foodservice converting assets, $25.5 million of improved volume/mix related primarily to acquisitions, $24.0 million of favorable foreign exchange, and $5.5 million of higher pricing. EBITDA for the first quarter of 2018 was $187.6 million, or $35.3 million higher than the first quarter of 2017. After adjusting both periods for business combinations and other special charges, Adjusted EBITDA increased 43% to $230.8 million in the first quarter of 2018 from $160.9 million in the first quarter of 2017. Click Read More below for additional information.

Total boxboard production decreased 1.9 percent when compared to March 2017 but increased 5.2 percent from last month. Unbleached Kraft Boxboard production increased over the same month a year ago but decreased compared to last month. Total Solid Bleached Boxboard and Liner production increased when compared to March 2017 and increased compared to last month. The production of Recycled Boxboard decreased compared to March 2017 and increased when compared to last month.

Following extensive dialogue with international packaging converters and brand owner partners, Flint Group is positioned to revolutionise printing and colour management with VIVO Colour Solutions. With increasing demands from global brand owners for colour equity across geographies and packaging substrates, Flint Group’s Paper & Board business segment has developed a solution that can truly, and reliably, meet the colour management needs of all stakeholders in the package print value and supply chain. VIVO Colour Solutions is a family of products and services with its foundations dating back to 2010 when Flint Group started to compile the essential elements of a robust and dynamic colour communication and service platform. Click Read More below for additional information.

Net sales for the first quarter were $1.30 billion, an increase of $131.9 million, or 11.2 percent, from last year’s quarter. The improvement reflects an increase in sales added by acquisitions, the positive impact of foreign exchange, higher selling prices implemented to recover rising freight, wages and operating inflation, and modest volume growth. Gross profits were a record $250.6 million in the first quarter, an increase of $27.6 million or 12.4 percent, compared with $223.0 million in the same period in 2017. Gross profit as a percentage of sales increased to 19.2 percent, compared with 19.0 percent in the same period in 2017. The gross profit percentage increase was primarily due to manufacturing and procurement productivity mostly offsetting higher raw material and other operating costs. Click Read More below for additional information.

Metsä Board is delighted to announce it has won the 2018 Luxe Pack Shanghai ’in green’ Award with its SkinCare 2.0 gift box Design. Created by Metsä Board’s packaging design team, the new SkinCare 2.0 gift box uses fibre based materials to replace plastic. The outer rigid box is made with a new pulp molding process. Each of three cartons are made of lightweight paperboard and offer a unique opening and reclosing experience combined with maximum runnability performance on automated packaging lines. Cyril Drouet, Design and Innovation Director at Metsä Board, comments; “We are extremely pleased with the recognition that the SkinCare 2.0 gift box design is currently getting globally. It is a great example of how we want to inspire packaging designers and brand owners with new innovative solutions in packaging design and using renewable materials.” Click Read More below for additional information.

Total Packaging Papers shipments were down 6.6 percent compared to March 2017 and down 6.5 percent year-to-date. Bag & Sack shipments were down 8.3 percent year-to-date. Multiwall shipments were down 12.6 percent. Converting shipments were down 2.8 percent and Food Wrapping shipments remained essentially flat. The operating rate for March decreased to 87.4 percent from 88.5 percent in February. Inventories were up 1.4 percent since February.

Containerboard production was up 3.5 percent compared to March 2017 and up 0.5 percent year-to-date. The month-over-month average daily production compared to February 2018 was 3.5 percent higher. The containerboard operating rate was 97.4 percent or 0.7 percentage points higher than the same month last year. Production for exports was 3.3 percent lower than March 2017 and 6.7 percent lower year-to-date.

Net sales in the first quarter were $2,197 million compared to $1,901 million in the first quarter of 2017 reflecting increased beverage can volumes, the pass through of higher material costs to customers, and $121 million of favorable currency translation impact. Income from operations was $221 million in the quarter compared to $225 million in the first quarter of 2017. Segment income increased to $245 million in the first quarter compared to $226 million in the prior year first quarter and included $12 million of favorable currency translation impact. Click Read More below for additional information.

First Quarter Operating Highlights: Consolidated net sales of $799 million in the first quarter of 2018 increased by $33 million, or 4 percent compared to $766 million for the 2017 first quarter. The increase in net sales is primarily due to higher prices, partially offset by lower sales volume. The Company sold 662,000 tons of paper during the first quarter of 2018 compared to 699,000 tons a year earlier. Net income of $33 million for the 2018 first quarter increased by $27 million, or 446 percent, compared to the 2017 first quarter. The higher earnings primarily reflects: •Higher selling prices and a better product mix of $48 million, •Favorable productivity of $10 million mainly due to higher mill production, •Lower recycled fiber costs of $6 million. Click Read More below for additional information.

An upgrade of the mill, which is in South West France, was successfully completed in March following a three-week shutdown and included the implementation of a new pulp washing line, and a complete overhaul of the black liquor recovery boiler. SKG next plans a series of improvements to the paper machine No. 5 commencing in 2019 which, on completion, will increase its production capacity of white top kraftliner from 174,000 tonnes to 220,000 tonnes per annum, and further enhance the quality of this premium product. Click Read More below for additional information.

The Covington Paperworkers Union says they have ratified the WestRock offer after a vote Thursday. This means that the union has agreed on a new contract that was presented by union representatives for the papermill's workers. 94 percent of the eligible members voted, with 54 percent in favor for the new contract. It is the first new contract offered to WestRock workers in Covington since 2010.

Sonoco announced it has completed the acquisition of Highland Packaging Solutions, a Plant City, Fla.-based, leading manufacturer of thermoformed packaging for fresh fruits, vegetables and eggs found in the fast-growing perimeter of retail supermarkets. Sonoco acquired the privately-held Highland for approximately $150 million in cash. Highland’s financial results will be added to Sonoco’s Consumer Packaging segment, and the business will operate within the Company’s Global Plastics division. Click Read More below for additional information.

Sonoco ThermoSafe and Cathay Pacific Cargo announced a global partnership agreement for the leasing of the PharmaPort 360 temperature controlled bulk shipping container. The agreement enables pharmaceutical shippers to lease PharmaPort 360 containers directly from Cathay Pacific Cargo. The PharmaPort 360 utilizes proprietary hybrid technology to provide extremely precise, long duration +5C temperature control for transporting high value cargo for the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies. Once charged, the PharmaPort functions like an active temperature controlled container without the energy consumption, heat discharge or temperature variability of other compressor-based technologies. The PharmaPort’s hybrid technology allows it to operate on battery power substantially longer than competing active units used for bulk air shipments, and it also eliminates the need for refrigerated trucks for lengthy truck lanes. Click Read More below for additional information.

Alliance Packaging is adopting high-end, direct-to-board digital printing with the purchase of an EFI™ Nozomi C18000 single-pass corrugated packaging press from Electronics For Imaging, Inc. The ultra-high-speed press is a groundbreaking offering in the digital corrugated packaging space because of its high production capacity and its complete integrated system. Alliance Packaging – the Northwestern U.S.’s largest independent corrugated box manufacturer – is installing the breakthrough digital production press at its Seattle headquarters facility to provide its customers with new capabilities that will reduce waste, cost and turnaround time. The second-generation, family-owned 500-employee business focuses on high-end corrugated applications and specializes in fast turnaround times, intricate designs and superior-quality printing. Click Read More below for additional information.

LEIPA Group CEO Peter Probst: “We look forward to growing successfully with our customers and partners. The demand for White Top Liner remains consistently high and the trend is rising. Prices are at a high level as well. These factors result in excellent conditions for the market launch of the PM 5.” As an international market leader LEIPA will have developed a one-stop shop for their customers with the PM 3 and PM 5, offering an annual total capacity of 700,000 tons of coated and uncoated White Top Testliner. Christian Schürmann, COO of LEIPA Georg Leinfelder GmbH said: “The entire project team has done a great job rebuilding the PM 5. We will produce a state-of-the-art testliner on this machine – the world’s most powerful of its kind – and start with our first deliveries in April.” Click Read More below for additional information.

UPM Raflatac has further expanded its PP Lite range of labeling solutions for the European market with the introduction of two new products, clear-on-clear PP FTC Lite and PP Solid White FTC Lite. The PP Lite range helps brands achieve their sustainability targets with lightweight, eco-designed face materials, adhesives, and backing materials. Products in the PP Lite range combine a lighter face material, a lower coat-weight adhesive, and a lighter backing. This makes them incredibly lightweight overall, optimizes raw material use, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, energy and water consumption, and waste. As well as helping brand owners increase the sustainability of their packaging, PP Lite range also boosts productivity across the value chain. Click Read More below for additional information.

Smurfit Kappa is installing a revolutionary new industrial-scale HP PageWide C500 digital press for corrugated printing which will provide greater customisation and flexibility for customers. The HP PageWide C500 Press, which will be the first commercial HP single pass press in Europe, is HP’s most technologically advanced digital press for corrugated application. The press will be installed in Smurfit Kappa’s Interwell plant in Austria. With a fully integrated stack-to-stack workflow, the press combines digital simplicity with off-set replaceable print quality on both coated and uncoated paper. The cutting-edge technology will provide brand owners with customised packaging solutions that can drive sales across both online and traditional sales channels. The graphic flexibility and quality of the new HP PageWide C500 Press will further enhance the company’s service to drive brand recognition and provide fit-for-purpose packaging. Furthermore, the HP water-based inks facilitate printing on both primary and secondary food packaging without an additional barrier which can comply with even the most stringent global food safety regulations. Click Read More below for additional information.

Tetra Pak has launched a suite of new packaging material effects, known as Tetra Pak® Artistry, to help food and beverage producers revitalise the look and feel of their products. These effects help brands attract shoppers’ attention without the need for the manufacturer to switch to a new packaging format or invest in new equipment. Charles Brand, Executive VP, Product Management and Commercial Operations at Tetra Pak said, “In a world where almost everything needs to be ‘personalisable’, we want to provide customers with something unique to help their brands rise above the noise and reach the shopper. The new suite of effects and expressions will help our customers enhance their brand at no additional investment, making it a cost-effective solution to their needs.” Click Read More below for additional information.

Packaging Corporation of America recently celebrated the start of construction of its new full-line corrugated box plant in Marshfield, Wisconsin. Attendees at the official groundbreaking included PCA management; the mayor of Marshfield and other city officials; the builders of the new facility; and employees from the nearby Colby plant, who were transported on coach buses to Marshfield for the event. PCA's new, state-of-the-art plant will replace the existing plant in Colby. Many of that plant's long-time employees will continue to work at Marshfield, which is about 20 miles from Colby. Click Read More below for additional information.

Sonoco announced the start of Robert C. Tiede’s tenure as the new President and CEO of Sonoco. Tiede replaces the retiring Jack Sanders, who served as President and CEO since 2013. Tiede will be the ninth CEO of the 119-year-old company. "It’s humbling, and truly an honor to have the opportunity to lead such a storied company, with a legacy going back more than a century,” said Tiede. “This is an exciting time for Sonoco as we continue to evolve our portfolio and geographic footprint in ways that help us serve our purpose, Better Packaging. Better Life., while delivering value to our shareholders, our customers and our teammates.” Prior to being named CEO, Rob served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Sonoco, with global leadership, sales and operating responsibility for all of the Company’s diversified consumer, industrial and protective packaging businesses. Click Read More below for additional information.

Employees of the local Sonoco Products Co. plant have been notified the plant will close by the end of May, officials said. Plant Manager Andy Holden said the closing of the Florence-Lauderdale Industrial Park plant is part of an overall strategy from the company, which produces consumer and industrial packaging products. Holden said 36 employees are at the plant. He said the company and state career center officials are assisting them in seeking other employment. Click Read More below for additional information.

PCA recently celebrated the start of construction of its new full-line corrugated plant in Marshfield, Wisconsin. Attendees at the official groundbreaking included PCA management; the mayor of Marshfield and other city officials; the builders of the new facility; and employees from the nearby Colby plant, who were transported on coach buses to Marshfield for the event. PCA Executive Vice President Tom Hassfurther addressed the audience and participated with others in a ceremonial groundbreaking. The event also included lunch served inside a warming tent.

For those of us who love our dogs and treat them like children, it’s rewarding to buy treats to help keep them healthy and happy—a purchase made especially easy when the treat packaging delivers shelf appeal as enticing as Blue Dog Bakery’s new treats. Packaged Facts’ “Pet Treats and Chews in the U.S., 2nd Edition” estimates that sales of pet treats and chews reached $6.4 billion in 2017. “Pet marketers looking to tap into ‘pet parenting’ dollars are on fertile ground when it comes to dog and cat treats and chews,” says Packaged Facts, “with treat time serving an important role in the human/animal bond.”

The Contract Packaging Association (CPA) has released its State of the Industry Report, a comprehensive benchmark study that provides valuable insights for anyone involved in the industry. The report combines 100-question interviews with more than 120 CEOs and senior industry executives with primary and secondary research, making it a valuable planning tool for anyone connected to the industry.

In 2017, PMMI awarded over $140,000 in scholarships to support the development of a skilled workforce capable of moving the packaging and processing industry forward. Each year through the PMMI Foundation, PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, provides scholarships to students studying packaging, food processing, engineering and mechatronics at PMMI Partner Schools throughout the United States and Canada. “As an industry leader, PMMI knows the importance of developing a workforce to advancing the packaging and processing industry,” says Jim Pittas, president, and CEO, PMMI. “We are committed to the future of this industry and want to spread the message that the packaging and processing industry is a great place for students to start a career.”

As a result of innovative thinking based on decades of competence from papermaking, BillerudKorsnäs today proudly launches its first packaging with a climate-positive impact. D-Sack®, the dissolvable sack for cement and other construction materials, disintegrates in a conventional mixer and the bio-based carbon in the paper is captured in the construction itself. The award-winning D-Sack, co-developed in a close cooperation between BillerudKorsnäs and LafargeHolcim, has several significant advantages over conventional cement sacks. The sack dissolves during the mixing process, which minimizes cement waste, eliminates packaging waste and saves time, whilst ensuring a cleaner, safer and healthier workplace.

The Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators (AIMCAL) on March 23 presented its 2018 Technology of the Year Award to Celplast Metallized Products Ltd. (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) for its role in the northbox insulated shipper. The awards ceremony took place at the group’s annual meeting, which was held at the DoubleTree South Park Hotel in Charlotte, N.C.

The privately held Italian-Dutch global manufacturer of confectionery and gum launched SHARE-A-BOWL by teaming up with Sonoco Flexible Packaging, which acquired the PrimaPak technology when it purchased Clear Lam Packaging in July of last year.

The Board of Smurfit Kappa (the “Board”) announces that it received a revised proposal (the “Revised Proposal”) from International Paper Company (“International Paper”) on Thursday evening, 22 March 2018. Under the terms of the Revised Proposal, Smurfit Kappa shareholders would receive €25.25 in cash (which would be reduced to €24.605 after payment of the final dividend of 64.5 cent recommended on 7 February 2018 and to be paid on 11 May 2018 (the “Final Dividend”)) and 0.3028 new shares of International Paper common stock for each Smurfit Kappa ordinary share held by them.

Back in the news after a self-imposed hiatus is one of the more intriguing sustainable-packaging initiatives of the past decade. That would be the paper bottle made by Ecologic Brands. Made popular in a number of categories—wine, pet food, protein powders, and laundry detergent to name a few—the container consists of a molded-pulp outer shell made from recycled corrugated and old newspapers that can be recycled up to seven times. An inner film polyethylene pouch with spout has been, until now, the inner component that comes in contact with the product, whether liquid, powder, or other. When compared with a rigid plastic container, the pouch reduces plastic use dramatically, says Ecologic. And because the shells can be nested and the pouch can be transported flat to an end user, one truckload of the packaging materials equals nine truckloads of rigid plastic containers.

Packaging Corporation of America’s containerboard mill in DeRidder, Louisiana, recently announced that it is offering scholarships to two graduating seniors from each of six local schools: DeRidder High School, Merryville High School, Singer High School, East Beauregard High School, Rosepine High School and South Beauregard High School. For each school, one scholarship will be awarded in the amount of $1,000 and another at $500. The criteria used to select the recipients includes financial need, scholastic excellence, extra-curricular activities and relationship of degree to the papermaking industry.

Xanita, the makers of sustainable fiberboard, launched the Xanita Board in the USA and Canada. Xanita Board is being brought to market through a partnership with Mohawk Fine Papers Inc. The partnership will entail Mohawk taking the position of master distributor for Xanita Board in the North American region. Mohawk will offer the full range of Xanita products and have stock available until the end of March 2018. “The U.S. is by far the biggest market in our category, and we’re thrilled to have a partner like Mohawk to help maximize our position in the market,” says James Beattie, CEO, Xanita.

Sonoco announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Highland Packaging Solutions for approximately $150 million in cash. Highland is a privately owned producer of thermoformed plastic packaging for fresh produce and dairy products, based in Plant City, Fla. The transaction is subject to normal regulatory review and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2018. Owned by Steve Maxwell, Chief Executive Officer, and John Durham, along with select members of the company’s leadership team, Highland has grown from a regional supplier of agriculture packaging products into a global packaging company with 2017 net sales of approximately $90 million. The Company has approximately 425 employees operating a world-class production facility in Plant City producing a total packaging solution for customers that includes sophisticated engineered containers, flexographic printed labels and inventory management through distribution warehouses in the Southeast and West Coast of the United States. Click Read More below for additional information.

The two new containerboard production lines will be designed to produce high-quality testliner grades out of 100 percent recycled raw materials as the four production lines ordered last year. The start-ups of PM 43 and PM 45 are scheduled to take place within a few months' timeframe in 2019. The start-ups of the four previous production lines are scheduled to take place a few months apart from each other starting from mid-2018. PM 43 and PM 45 will produce testliner grades with a basis weight range of 75-140 g/m2. Click Read More below for additional information.

Olov Winblad von Walter has been appointed VP, Husum Board and Pulp Mill. He will be responsible for managing Metsä Board’s integrated board and pulp mill at Husum. Winblad von Walter will start 20 September at the latest, and will report to Harri Pihlajaniemi, SVP Production at Metsä Board. Olov Winblad von Walter has extensive experience in the forest industry with companies including Iggesund Paperboard, Metsä Board, APRIL Fine Paper and MoDo Paper. He succeeds Pertti Hietaniemi, who will continue in his present position until Winblad von Walter’s start date. Metsä Board’s Husum mill is an integrated board and pulp mill producing fresh fibre folding boxboard, food service board and white kraftliner as well as bleached market pulp.

Total boxboard production increased 2.4 percent when compared to February 2017, but decreased 4.8 percent from last month. Unbleached Kraft Boxboard production increased over the same month a year ago, but decreased compared to last month. Total Solid Bleached Boxboard & Liner production increased when compared to February 2017 and increased compared to last month. The production of Recycled Boxboard decreased compared to February 2017 and decreased when compared to last month.

Smurfit Kappa’s Mengíbar Paper Mill in Spain is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The mill first opened its doors in 1968 and quickly established itself as a strategic partner for innovative paper solutions. The Mengíbar Paper Mill uses recycled fibres to make high-quality containerboard for corrugated packaging. The mill’s location in Southern Spain puts it in a prime position to serve Smurfit Kappa’s extensive network of corrugated plants. The close integration between the Mengibar Paper Mill and the corrugated plants enables Smurfit Kappa to facilitate customers’ needs at a moment’s notice. With 121 employees, the mill is a key local employer with many families having two and sometimes even three generations working there since the mill opened 50 years ago. Click Read More below for additional information.

Containerboard production was down 3.0 percent compared to February 2017 and down 1.1 percent year-to-date. The month-over-month average daily production compared to January 2018 was 3.2 percent lower. The containerboard operating rate was 94.1 percent, or 3.1 percentage points lower than the same month last year. Production for exports was 6.0 percent lower than February 2017 and 8.4 percent lower year-to-date.

Total Packaging Papers shipments were 207,700 tons, 3.1 percent lower than February 2017. Bag & Sack shipments were down 8.6 percent year-to-date and Multiwall shipments were down 14.5 percent, while Food Wrapping shipments and Converting shipments were both down less than 1 percent. The operating rate for February increased to 88.5 percent from 84.3 percent in January. Inventories were 175,600 tons, up 2.2 percent since January.

Mondi has launched Orange Board, a new customer service brand covering a full range of technical sales services for containerboard customers. Taking into account the importance of customer service and the value of round-the-clock support, Mondi Containerboard has updated its offering and aligned its three service packages under a new umbrella brand. Orange Board offers customers enhanced services including a new 24/7 online platform called Corrugated Paper Expert; seminars and workshops covering the entire value chain from the forest to corrugated box performance; country-specific seminars to equip customers for their marketplaces and enable tailor-made consultations at customers' sites. Click Read More below for additional information.

UPM Raflatac's new Premium Gloss UVI product, the highest quality premium-gloss paper labelstock for UV ink-jet printing on the market, continues to receive rave reviews from the industry. The latest comes from Domino, which is one of the industry-leading printing press manufacturers UPM Raflatac collaborated with to ensure the product would achieve excellent print quality on their machines. "We endorse UPM Raflatac's new Premium Gloss UVI product," says Dale Rawhoof, Product Manager, Digital Printing, Domino. "Ideal for multicolor labels, their new product reproduces images with an almost photograph-like quality, every time, which is a true innovation for semi-gloss papers on UV ink-jet printers. Domino is proud to have worked closely with UPM Raflatac to help them bring this innovative, superior solution to market." Click Read More below for additional information.

Sonoco has been awarded several Gold- and Silver-level Achievement Awards at the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) Annual Meeting. Sonoco’s PrimaPak® package for Perfetti Van Melle Mentos® SHARE-A-BOWL™ was awarded a Gold Award for Packaging Excellence, a Silver Award for Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging and a Silver Award for Technical Innovation. Sonoco’s PromoPeel™ integrated label technology for flexible packaging was awarded a Silver Award for Printing and Shelf Impact. “We’re so proud of these achievements – it’s an honor to be recognized by our peers,” said Ross Bushnell, division vice president and general manager, Sonoco Global Flexibles. “As a company, we value brand and consumer insights as the engine for innovation. Each of these new technologies represents unmet needs in the marketplace, delivering added value to both customers and consumers, and that’s a powerful combination.” Click Read More below for additional information.

TC Transcontinental Packaging is pleased to announce that it has won the Gold award for Sustainability with its compostable peanut bag at the 2018 Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition. Developed internally at Transcontinental Ultra Flex, the new flexible peanut bag was designed using certified compostable materials to support arenas and stadiums’ green initiatives and help sports teams, venues, and leagues achieve the next level of landfill waste diversion. This award celebrates TC Transcontinental Packaging’s commitment to sustainability, especially to ecodesign, as it strives to design products that take into consideration the environmental impacts of the product during its entire life-cycle. “The chief benefit of the new bag is that it reduces the amount of labour previously devoted to the manual sorting of materials collected during clean-up after games. The economic benefit is the lowering of overall waste management costs for the venue and the environmental benefits of this package center around the use of renewable resources and its easy inclusion into the venue managed composting program,” said Todd Addison, Vice President, Business Development at TC Transcontinental Packaging. “It is a great honour to be recognized by the industry for setting a new bar for packaging sustainability. Our customers can count on us to always look for new materials, new technologies and new techniques to create brilliant packaging that meets today’s consumer needs.” Click Read More below for additional information.

UPM is committed to creating value from sustainable bioinnovations. In addition to renewable diesel, the UPM Lappeenranta Biorefinery produces renewable naphtha - an excellent raw material for bioplastics. It can be transformed into renewable resins needed to create bioplastics, e.g. for the packaging industry. Choosing the right packaging solution can make a big difference. Beverage cartons have the lowest CO2 footprint among liquid food packaging today. Now even the plastic coating of cartons can be wood-based - using renewable polyethylene reduces the footprint further. Elopak, Norway-based company supplying 15 billion cartons around the world each year, joined forces with UPM Biofuels and Dow to offer 100% renewable cartons that are both recyclable and responsibly sourced. Click Read More below for additional information.

To support the delivery of beverage packaging innovations that increase shelf appeal, convenience and sustainability and continue providing world-class customer service, Crown Europe has made major investments in its Bevcan Graphics Studio. The facility, based in Leicester, U.K. features new computer-to-plate (CTP) imaging technology, a new 8-colour proofing machine to complement the existing upgraded version and additional enhancements to its flat digital proofing capabilities. “Crown recognizes that packaging is an essential element of brand identity, which is built on consistency, quality, innovation and graphical excellence,” said Ian Gannicott, General Manager Graphics at Crown Bevcan Europe and Middle East. “Our investments in the Graphics Studio were made with the customer front of mind, and from the results we have seen so far, we are confident that we focused efforts in the right places. In 2017, activity levels soared by 26 percent on top of an already busy visit schedule, which demonstrates the quality, dedication and commitment our team delivers every single day.” Click Read More below for additional information.

Highlights – underlying earnings unless otherwise indicated (1)(2) •Profit after tax (PAT) of USD 329.7 million up 3.7% on a constant currency basis; •Earnings per share (EPS) of 28.5 US cents up 3.7% on a constant currency basis; •Profit before interest and tax (PBIT) margin up 30 basis points to 11.4%; •Strong returns, measured as profit before interest and tax to average funds employed of 19.7%; •Operating cash flow, after net capital expenditure and cash significant items of USD 90.8 million(3); and •Interim dividend per share increased 7.7% to 21.0 US cents. Click Read More below for additional information. Click Read More below for additional information.

Metsä Board is pleased to announce that its revolutionary paperboard cup design, ‘Lidloc’, has won an iF Design Award at a prestigious awards ceremony held at the BMW Welt in Munich on 9 March. The Lidloc design has broken new ground in paperboard cup design and recognises the increased focus upon developing sustainable packaging. The design has a patent pending and is based upon an extension to a standard cup structure that folds and locks into an integrated lid. Click Read More below for additional information.

Creative eCommerce and shelf-ready packaging solutions for a diverse range of products including gin, orchids, sausages and pizza received praise from the judging panel for their clever use of materials and innovative approach to the brief. The packaging leader’s haul included two gold, four silver, three bronze and two special awards. The ‘Packaging Star of the Year’ award went to Smurfit Kappa Designer Paul Lowes for his ‘infectious energy’ in striving for the best solution when creating his ‘Shop in a Box’ product. Click Read More below for additional information.

Fourth Quarter 2017 Highlights (as compared to fourth quarter 2016): • Revenue increased 13.1% to $237.4 million primarily due to additional revenue from the Cantech Acquisition (1), an increase in average selling price, including the impact of product mix, and an increase in sales volume. • Gross margin decreased to 22.8% from 25.6% primarily due to the non-recurrence of Insurance Proceeds (2). Gross margin in the fourth quarter of 2016 would have been 21.7% excluding the impact of the Insurance Proceeds. Fourth Quarter 2017 Highlights (as compared to fourth quarter 2016): • Revenue increased 13.1% to $237.4 million primarily due to additional revenue from the Cantech Acquisition (1), an increase in average selling price, including the impact of product mix, and an increase in sales volume. • Gross margin decreased to 22.8% from 25.6% primarily due to the non-recurrence of Insurance Proceeds (2). Gross margin in the fourth quarter of 2016 would have been 21.7% excluding the impact of the Insurance Proceeds. Click Read More below for additional information.

UPM Raflatac has joined Ellen MacArthur's Circular Economy 100 programme on its journey towards a more sustainable future. As the world's most sustainable labeling company and as part of UPM, the Biofore Company, UPM Raflatac wants to aim higher and make the circular economy a reality in the whole packaging value chain. The Circular Economy 100 (CE 100) is a pre-competitive innovation programme established to enable organisations to develop new opportunities and realise their circular economy ambitions faster. It brings together corporates, governments and cities, academic institutions, emerging innovators and affiliates in a unique multi-stakeholder platform. Specially developed programme elements help members learn, build capacity, network, and collaborate with key organisations around the circular economy. Click Read More below for additional information.

Smurfit Kappa explored the part that packaging can play in boosting online sales in an eCommerce event last week. During the week-long event, the packaging leader launched an array of innovative new concepts and services designed to optimise performance in the rapidly growing eCommerce sector. Over 150 visitors, including brand owners and etailers, came to the event which also included interactive exhibitions and demonstrations of how packaging can differentiate a product offering. A range of tools tailor-made for the eCommerce sector were unveiled at the event including one which is used to define the exact type of packaging required to prevent product damage during the supply chain and another that kick-starts the processes to ensure fit-for-purpose automation solutions. Click Read More below for additional information.

Smurfit Kappa notes the announcement released on the evening of 6 March 2018 by International Paper Company setting out the price of the unsolicited and highly opportunistic proposal that was originally made to the Board of Smurfit Kappa on 23 February 2018 and rejected in the Group’s announcement of 6 March 2018. The Board of Smurfit Kappa has already carefully considered, with its financial advisers, the Proposal in detail and has unanimously rejected it on the basis that it fails entirely to reflect the Group’s superior prospects as an independent business and represents a valuation multiple significantly below recent comparable transactions. Shareholders are strongly advised to take no action. This announcement is made without the consent of International Paper. Click Read More below for additional information.

Further to the announcement by Smurfit Kappa Group plc, International Paper Company confirms that it has submitted a proposal to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Smurfit Kappa. Under the terms of the Proposal, Smurfit Kappa shareholders would be entitled to receive €22.00 in cash and 0.3028 new International Paper shares of common stock for each Smurfit Kappa ordinary share held by them. In aggregate, the Proposal values Smurfit Kappa's current issued share capital at approximately €8.6 billion and would provide Smurfit Kappa shareholders with a shareholding of approximately 15 per cent. in International Paper post-completion (calculated by reference to the number of International Paper shares of common stock in issue as at 5 March 2018). Click Read More below for additional information.

In March 2018, Hamburger Rieger GmbH will start the scheduled construction of its second paper machine at its Spremberg location. The new plant’s commissioning is scheduled for summer 2020. The planned product range includes white and brown corrugated base papers (testliner) based on 100% recycled paper. With a width of 7.80 metres, the machine will produce 500,000 tonnes of paper per year. For the preparation of white base materials an environmentally friendly deinking section will be installed. It combines innovative resource-conserving raw material processing and the paper machine's patented mode of operation.

Smurfit Kappa announces that it has received an unsolicited proposal from International Paper Company, headquartered in Memphis, USA, whereby International Paper would acquire Smurfit Kappa and Smurfit Kappa shareholders would receive a combination of cash and a minority holding in the combined business. The Board of Smurfit Kappa has carefully considered the Proposal and believes it is in the best interests of the Group’s shareholders and other stakeholders to pursue its future as an independent company, operating as the European and Pan-American leader in paper-based packaging. Smurfit Kappa is a world leader in paper-based packaging with an established track record of consistently delivering strong and improving operating and financial performance. Click Read More below for additional information.

Every winery has a story to tell as unique as the wines it bottles. But, with more wineries in the Eastern U.S. and Canada than ever before, standing tall among the competition has never been more difficult. And the label material a winery uses is key in catching the consumer's eye. UPM Raflatac, one of the global leaders in the production of wine label materials, is pleased to announce it will be bringing its wine experts to the Eastern Winery Exposition in Lancaster, Pennsylvania from March 6-8. Winemakers and wine industry professionals are invited to stop by UPM Raflatac's set-up at booth 173 in the Lancaster County Convention Center to learn more about what the company's wine label materials can do to distinguish wine brands. Samples of wine label materials will be available as well. Click Read More below for additional information.

Q4 2017 Highlights: • Sales of $1,082 million (compared to $1,103 million in Q3 2017 (-2%) and $979 million in Q4 2016 (+11%)) • As reported (including specific items) • Operating income of $45 million (compared to $51 million in Q3 2017 (-12%) and $33 million in Q4 2016 (+36%)) 2017 Annual Highlights: • Sales of $4,321 million (compared to $4,001 million in 2016 (+11%)) • As reported (including specific items) • Operating income of $175 million (compared to $221 million in 2016 (-21%)) Click Read More below for additional information.

•63% increase in throughput; 32% increase in run speed •Push button automation, 8,000 sph run speeds •Improved uptime and quality has resulted in improved bottom line •KBA North America along with KBA-Iberica team improves long term commitment to Ellis. In today’s competitive folding carton industry, manufacturers are continually challenged by demanding customers who request unique value-added features. That’s become even truer when those customers are leading international pharmaceutical firms. Canadian packaging specialist Ellis Paper Box, a member of the Ellis Group, the country’s largest privately-held manufacturer of folding cartons, has made it its mandate---and ultimately its successful reputation as one of the most valued manufacturers in the industry---to understand and respect the demanding standards required by the pharmaceutical industry. Click Read More below for additional information.

UPM Raflatac offers the highest-quality digital papers and films in the pressure sensitive label industry and one of the broadest film face stock portfolios in the digital market. But with such a diverse selection available, it can be daunting to find precisely the right materials for your digital printers. Help is here with UPM Raflatac's newly launched digital printer recommendation tool, which promises to deliver a comprehensive database of paper and film materials suitable for a variety of digital printing technologies. This innovative new tool provides up-to-date and accurate product information about UPM Raflatac's digital label stock materials as well as ratings for how they will perform on various digital printers, ranging from small desktop models to industrial-scale digital presses. Whether looking for paper or matte, gloss, white or clear film face stock materials, this new tool has you covered. Click Read More below for additional information.

Total boxboard production decreased 0.8 percent when compared to January 2017 and decreased 1.2 percent from last month. Unbleached Kraft Boxboard production increased over the same month a year ago and was flat compared to last month. Total Solid Bleached Boxboard & Liner production decreased when compared to January 2017 and decreased compared to last month. The production of Recycled Boxboard decreased compared to January 2017, but increased when compared to last month.

Kotkamills Oy will launch the AEGLE™ Barrier Light in the show. AEGLE™ Barrier Light is an ideal packaging material, for example, for the needs of large fast-food chains. The products are also suited for short-term packaging of other greasy food-to-go products where a barrier is required. You are welcome to meet our sales representatives to learn more about our solutions for the packaging and food service industries, including the development of innovative, easily recyclable, barrier coated products. Click Read More below for additional information.

The CanCollar is cool. It’s also perfect for craft breweries who want to embrace better environmental stewardship. WestRock’s CanCollar is a durable, environmentally friendly, paperboard-based multipack solution for cans. The CanCollar is made from 86 percent renewable fiber and up to 15 percent recycled content. But maybe the best part of the CanCollar setup is that WestRock (an American paper and packaging manufacturer) also makes the machinery that smaller brewers and beverage companies can use to pack cans using the CanCollar. Watch the video above to see how easy these suckers are to install over your cans. The machinery, known as The Chunk, has helped breweries reduce line labor by 30 percent, giving one employee the ability to apply CanCollar to a full case of 24 cans in 12 seconds using a simple one-motion applicator. Click Read More below for additional information.

Pregis LLC has acquired Rex Performance Products (RPP), Marysville, Michigan, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition will enable Pregis to build on its leadership position as one of the largest foam producers in North America. Founded in 2011, RPP is known for its high-quality laminated foam technology, as well as its customer-centric approach to doing business. The acquisition adds another 100,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space, as well as 150,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space to the Pregis network. RPP currently has 85 employees. RPP has been led by Don Tate, president and chief executive officer, who will be joining Pregis and leading the combined engineered foam business going forward. Click Read More below for additional information.

Sun Chemical has launched SunCure® Accuflex UV, a new UV ink system for primary and secondary food packaging that is not manufactured with Bisphenol A (BPA)-based materials and meets low migration specifications. Designed for both folding carton and flexible film packaging applications where high press performance, color vibrancy and regulatory compliance are critical, SunCure AccuFlex UV flexo inks offer good adhesion to a variety of film substrates, provide great flexo viscosity stability under high shear conditions, and exhibit excellent UV cure response. Available in North America, SunCure AccuFlex UV inks can be used for a variety of paper packaging applications and feature low post-odor properties that are essential to many brand owners. Click Read More below for additional information.

Containerboard production was up 0.7 percent compared to January 2017. The month-over-month average daily production compared to December 2017 was 2.9 percent lower. The containerboard operating rate was 97.2 percent, or 2.2 percentage points higher than January 2017. Production for exports was 10.5 percent lower than January 2017, which was the month with the second highest export volume in 2017.

Total Packaging Papers shipments were 219,200 tons, 9.5 percent lower than January 2017. Bag & Sack shipments were down 13.4 percent month-over-month and Multiwall shipments were down 19.0 percent. Food Wrapping shipments were up 0.4 percent. The operating rate for January was 84.3 percent, the second lowest over the last 13 months. Inventories were 171,800 tons, up 3.6 percent since December 2017.

Tetra Rex® Bio-based, which was launched in October 2014, is manufactured solely from Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™) certified and controlled sources paperboard, together with plastics derived from sugar cane, all traceable to their origins. Packages made from renewable materials are essential for preserving the environment for future generations. Renewable resources can be replenished naturally over time and enable a move away from fossil fuel-based materials, reducing the environmental impact as well as improving resource efficiency. Click Read More below for additional information.

Custom blow-molder Apex Plastics has added a new Aoki 250LL-50S injection blow molding machine. By adding the new Aoki machine, Apex has not only added additional capacity, but also added to their already impressive list of capabilities. Apex Plastics has established themselves as a leader in extrusion blow-molding, and with the addition of the Aoki 250LL-50S they have the added capability of injection blow-molding. The Aoki is a versatile injection blow-molding machine that is able to mold a variety bottles and containers from narrow neck to wide mouth. With the Aoki, Apex Plastics gained the added capability of running PET material. This has opened up a wide range of new products for Apex to pursue. Click Read More below for additional information.

Lincoln International is pleased to announce Command Packaging, LLC, has been sold to Delta Plastics of the South, LLC. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Command is an industry pioneer and market leading provider of flexible packaging solutions, focused on supplying 100% certifiably sustainable carryout bags across the food service, retail and grocery industries. Headquartered in Vernon, California, the Company offers technically-sophisticated capabilities, including extrusion, printing, conversion and value-added services to 400+ blue chip customers nationwide. These customers rely on Command to solve their most complex carryout bag challenges and design products that represent their brands through superior quality, innovation and premium graphics. Click Read More below for additional information

The Paper & Packaging – How Life Unfolds® campaign revealed two new animated characters to further strengthen consumer connection to paper and packaging. The new industry brand ambassadors are a springboard for inspiring creativity, connection and achievement–qualities consumers around the world appreciate when using paper and paper-based packaging products. “Paper and packaging products are prevalent in our lives, and it was our goal to create highly-relatable characters to represent the vital roles that paper and packaging play for each and every one of us,” shares Mary Anne Hansan, president of the Paper and Packaging Board. “We launched the Paper & Packaging – How Life Unfolds® campaign in 2015, and we are thrilled to introduce these new characters to help consumers nationwide recognize and remember the value of paper in their everyday lives.” Click Read More below for additional information.

Sun Chemical has launched its SunLam™ De-seaming Adhesive for shrink-labeled containers. This new de-seamable adhesive helps recyclers improve recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) yield without process changes. Developed in partnership, Sun Chemical and Eastman extensively tested SunLam on labels made with Eastman Embrace™ LV copolyester. It has received a “Responsible Innovation Acknowledgment” by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) after passing stringent testing outlined by the APR. By changing from a traditional solvent to SunLam De-seaming Adhesive, shrink labels deseam and release during the whole bottle wash step of the wet recycling process, without sacrifice of label performance. The label removal occurs prior to color, infrared and manual sorting, thus preventing shrink-labeled PET bottles being removed from the rPET stream due to misidentification. Click Read More below for additional information.

Sealed Air Corporation announced that it is implementing a price increase on products in its North American Product Care business. The increases will be effective April 1, 2018. The price adjustments are necessary because of increases in raw materials, freight, and other input costs. A seven (7) percent price increase will be applied to the following products: Bubble Wrap® IB Film, Bubble Wrap® Brand Air Cellular Products, Cell-Aire® Packaging Foam and Laminate Products, Fill-Air® Inflatables Film, FloWrap™ Film, Jiffy® TuffGard® Mailers, Jiffy® ShurTuff ® Mailers, NewAir I.B.® Film, PriorityWrap® Bubble, Shrink Film Products and Materials, Specialty Foams Products and Materials, TempShield™ Reflective Foil Air Cellular Material, and Wonderfil™ Film. A five (5) percent price increase will be applied to the following products: Consumable Paper for all Sealed Air Paper Systems, PriorityWrap® Rigid Board, Custom Wrap™ Converted Paper, Kushion Kraft® Converted Paper, Jiffylite® Kraft Bubble Mailers, Jiffy® Utility Mailers, Jiffy® Padded Envelopes, Jiffy Rigi Bag® Mailers, Korrvu® Suspension & Retention, Macerated Pads, and Rapid Fill® Automated Bags. The business also previously announced increases in the prices of Instapak® products, which are effective March 15, 2018: lnstapak® chemical formulation prices will increase 15 cents per pound, lnstapak® packaging film prices will increase 6 percent and lnstapak Simple® "A" and "B" Component prices will increase 2 percent.

In September 2017, IP announced plans to invest around $300 million at the Selma plant as part of a strategic plan to grow its industrial packaging business. The additional investment…

KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation (NYSE:KS) today reported preliminary results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017. As compared to 2016’s fourth quarter, results for 2017’s fourth…

Amcor has proven its game-changing LiquiForm® technology with the commercialization of the first consumer package. In addition to reducing supply chain costs, LiquiForm technology has the potential to improve packaging…

Berry Global Group, Inc. (NYSE:BERY) today reported results for its first fiscal 2018 quarter, referred to in the following as the December 2017 quarter. Highlights » Net income was $163…

Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017. Highlights Loss per share of $0.67 for the quarter, including…

• 2017 Sales from Continuing Operations of $4.5 Billion, an increase of 6% As Reported • 2017 Net Earnings from Continuing Operations of $63 Million, Reported Net Earnings Per Share…

UPM Raflatac has expanded its range of adhesives for food labeling with the launch of its RP48 AT (All-Temperature) acrylic adhesive for the European market. With good adhesion across a…

Fourth Quarter and Full Year Key Points * Group revenue growth of 7% for the fourth quarter and 5% for the full year * Fourth quarter EBITDA up 10% year-on-year…

Metsä Board, a leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboard, announced today that its North American customers can now use Metsä Board’s products with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®)…

Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), (the “Company”), a leading provider of packaging solutions to food, beverage and consumer product companies, today reported Net Income for fourth quarter 2017 of…

Ball Corporation (NYSE:  BLL) has announced plans to build a one-line beverage can and end manufacturing plant in Asunción, Paraguay, and to add capacity in its Buenos Aires, Argentina, facility.…

Green Bay Packaging accepted this year’s 2017 Manufacturing Awards of Distinction presented by the Greater Green Bay Chamber and Advance, its economic development department. The Chamber is a convener, bringing…

Particularly the ever increasing pulp costs but also other rising raw material prices force Sappi to increase its Specialities and Packaging Papers prices as from 1 April 2018. This measure…

Smurfit Kappa, one of the world’s leading paper-based packaging firms, continues its investment in sustainable technology in Mexico, demonstrating its long-term commitment to the country. An advanced new paper machine…

Sonoco (NYSE:SON) today announced it is implementing a price increase, the minimum of which will be 8 percent, for all paperboard tubes and cores sold in the United States and…

During 2017, the Company launched an improvement plan called “Agility” to fix, strengthen, and grow its business. As part of this three-pronged approach, the fix aspect involves the restructuring and…

Cascades Inc. (TSX: CAS), a leader in the recovery and manufacturing of green packaging and tissue products, announced that it has completed the sale of the building and land of…

Evergreen Packaging® , a global leader in fiber-based packaging solutions, in conjunction with EcoFocus Worldwide, has identified four key trends that will shape the U.S. food and beverage industries in…

As the world leader in label papers, UPM continues to grow in the attractive release liner segments to support its customers mainly in Europe and the Americas. Healthy growth is…

Change often begins with a question. This fact forms the basis of BillerudKorsnäs’ new communication concept “What if?” – with the ambition to inspire more to challenge conventional packaging for…

Highlights • Record net income of $2.42 per diluted share • Record adjusted net income of $1.65 per diluted share • Cash from operations of $389.7 million, or $3.50 per…

Metsä Board, a leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards, is launching a new eco-barrier paperboard. This new, innovative paperboard with a special barrier treatment is bio-based, recyclable and…

Caraustar Industries, Inc. announced a price increase of 8.0% on all paper tube and core and protective packaging product lines.  The increase will be effective starting with shipments on March…

Smurfit Kappa, expert in complete Bag-in-Box® packaging solutions, is official partner of the Concours International Wine in Box contest once again. Smurfit Kappa has had a strategic partnership with the…

Tetra Pak has ​today (Monday 29th January)​ been named on the CDP Supplier Climate A list for the second time, as well as being announced as a CDP Forests A…

Independent German paper mill Feldmuehle Uetersen has filed for insolvency. The business filed for insolvency at the Pinneberg district court yesterday (January 24) and Hamburg-based Tjark Thies of Reimer Rechtsanwälte…

Atlantic Packaging, one of North Carolina’s largest privately held companies, headquartered in Wilmington, announced today that management is awarding $1,000 bonuses immediately to full-time employees. Nearly 1,000 Atlantic employees will…

Amcor today became the first global packaging company pledging to develop all its packaging to be recyclable or reusable by 2025, directly addressing a major environmental issue with capability, scale…

Caraustar Industries, Inc. announced a price increase of $50 per ton on all uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) grades. The increase on the uncoated recycle board grades will be effective starting…

International technology Group ANDRITZ has received an order from Zellstoff Pöls AG, Austria, to supply a large paper machine for the production of bleached kraft paper grades. At the Pöls…

Total Packaging Papers shipments were 240,000 tons, 2.5 percent higher than December 2016. Bag & Sack shipments were up 1.3 percent year-to-date, while Food Wrapping shipments were down 6.0 percent over the same period. The operating rate for December 2017 was the second highest of the year at 92.0 percent, while the year-to-date rate was 88.6 percent. Inventories were 165,800 tons, down 4.2 percent since November 2017.

Containerboard production was up 3.6 percent compared to December 2016 and up 3.1 percent year-to-date. The month-over-month average daily production was 1.8 percent higher compared to November 2017. The containerboard operating rate for December increased from 96.9 percent to 98.9 percent, 2.4 percentage points higher than December of 2016 and production for exports was 3.3 percent higher than December 2016. Year-to-date production of containerboard for exports is up 4.1 percent.

Smurfit Kappa has opened a new recycling plant in Malaga, Spain, which will strengthen its recovered paper service in the region. The plant, which is expected to process over 30,000 tonnes of recovered paper annually, is perfectly positioned to meet the city’s growing recycling needs. A fleet of eco-friendly hybrid vehicles collect paper and board from households and businesses. This is then sorted at the plant and sent to the Smurfit Kappa Mengibar Containerboard Mill where it is converted into board that is used to create new packaging. Click Read More below for additional information.

Sonoco announced it is implementing a $50 per ton price increase for all grades of uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) in the United States and Canada, effective with shipments beginning February 19, 2018. A positive of the robust economy is solid backlogs at our mills. A challenge that the growing economy presents is inflating input costs such as we are seeing in freight, energy and a host of other paper-making consumables. Sonoco must seek to recover these inflating costs in the market,” said Palace Stepps, division vice president of sales and marketing for Sonoco’s U.S. and Canada paper and adhesives.

Sun Chemical has launched a new UV offset ink that was developed to make sophisticated graphics look stunning and vibrant on high-end luxury folding cartons while at the same time providing the longer-term shelf appeal brand owners require. The new ink system, SunCure® Aspire UV, has been formulated to exhibit immense color transparency to help create vivid color graphic effects on metallized, lenticular and holographic board stocks frequently used for pharmaceutical, perfume, liquor, cosmetic and POP applications. Click Read More below for additional information.

Increasing consumer preference for healthy, convenient, zero-calorie beverages are expected to drive revenue growth of the Brazil flavored water market by 7.3% CAGR through 2024. In response, Eklo Water, based in Rio de Janeiro, has partnered with Crown Embalagens Metálicas da Amazônia S.A. (Crown Brazil), a subsidiary of Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) (Crown) (www.crowncork.com), to introduce the first flavored water to be packed in aluminum beverage cans to the Brazilian market. “It is clear that Brazilians want healthy, flavorful alternatives to teas, soft drinks and sugary beverages,” said Fabio Nono, Co-Owner of Eklo Water. “Our flavored water meets that demand and sleek style beverage cans are the perfect format to market them in. While we originally launched the drink in cartons, we transitioned to sleek style beverage cans as we are seeing consumers display an increased preference for package attributes such as portability, eye-catching design and overall durability.” Click Read More below for additional information.

At the beginning of December last year, Heidelberg China and Gallus Shanghai jointly organized in the Print Media Center in Shanghai a launch event for the Gallus Labelmaster in China. Around 160 guests from label print shops in China and Region Asia as well as media journalists attended the event. They were able to watch live demos of the Gallus Labelmaster in label production and experienced a new height in leading label printing. “We are extremely optimistic about the future development of packaging and label printing in China”, explains Benny Huang, CEO of Heidelberg China. “In recent years, with an increasing middle class and accelerating urbanization processes, there are more and more specific requirements on packaging and label. It is our duty to continue providing high quality products and services for packaging and label print shops in China.” Asia has become the fastest growing label market in the world. It is expected that by 2019, the Asian label market will have increased by 5.5%, in which the growth rate of self-adhesive labels will reach 6.3%. “Owing to the higher cost of raw materials and labor today, print shops are paying more attention to productivity”, describes Teddy Jiang, General Manager of Gallus Shanghai. “At the same time, influenced by consumers and branding goods manufacturers, packaging and label printing is moving towards short run, multiple orders and product diversification.“ Click Read More below for additional information.

The red carpet was rolled out as Jim Hammer, president of Hammer Packaging, and his executive team and employees were honored to welcome Koenig & Bauer president and CEO Claus Bolza-Schünemann who arrived from Germany to its headquarters in Rochester, NY. Bolza-Schünemann was especially interested to inspect the new KBA Rapida 106 41-inch eight-color press on Hammer’s pressroom floor, which was installed in July 2017, and how its unique features are assisting Hammer and its customers. With the installation of its new 41-inch KBA eight-color press at its modern two-story headquarters set in an expansive wooded suburban office park near the campus of Rochester Institute of Technology, Hammer is working hand-and-hand with its customers on how it is pioneering a new generation of offset printing. This new configuration is yet another unique layout to its portfolio of presses, says the company, and is making Hammer truly one-of-a-kind. This latest press represents the newest technology available with the fastest press speeds in the world. Click Read More below for additional information.

Sun Chemical will showcase its SunAltec and SunTrio product families on its stand S10 and visitors can find out about the company’s expertise, knowledge and capabilities in metal decoration through its specialised ink solutions, including special effects, brand protection, brand colour management and print standardisation. Sun Chemical’s SunAltec series of inks for metal decoration on aluminum collapsible tubes and monobloc aerosol cans offer outstanding performance, superior quality, high productivity and strong chemical resistance properties. The MB Plus Series, part of the SunAltec product family, will also be on display. The versatile series has been specifically designed for the application on monobloc aerosols and uses an alkyd-based ink system, which has been modified for optimum performance on new generation production lines utilising today’s basecoat technology. Click Read More below for additional information.

UPM Raflatac is introducing its Synlite Xtra outdoor-resistant film face material to the European market. This material is suitable for industrial chemical labeling applications that require a high level of resistance to challenging outdoor conditions. Synlite Xtra is a lightweight and production-efficient PP-based matt film that offers good UV resistance. The film is paired with UPM Raflatac's high-tack RC77 adhesive, which also offers good UV resistance as well as good adhesion on polar and non-polar surfaces. RC77 performs well in even the most demanding outdoor environments, ensuring that labels displaying critical information about container contents and any safety requirements remain firmly in place for the life of the container. Click Read More below for additional information.

When retail giant Amazon jumped into meal-kit delivery last summer, it was the clearest signal yet that consumer convenience is the new North Star for products and services across all categories. From consumer packaged goods (CPGs) going online to personal care brands and retailers exploring subscription models, the industry is now further investing in e-commerce by embracing a new "last mile" to reach consumers. So, if our first interaction with a product takes place on our front porch instead of in a store, how does that change how we choose brands and develop preferences? One of the greatest challenges for emerging retail models is that consumers buy products without seeing them first. It's crucial to consider what a leap of faith it is for a consumer to buy a product sight unseen. A retailer's success is contingent on the notion of trust among the consumer, the brand and the retailer; yet trust is hard to build and easy to lose. In this new marketplace with so much upside and an equal amount of risk, how can brands establish sustainable competitive advantage? Click Read More below for additional information.

WestRock Company announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Plymouth Packaging, Inc. Plymouth is a corrugated packaging company that derives approximately 70% of its sales from its “Box on Demand” systems and corrugated fanfold, and 30% from traditional corrugated box packaging. This acquisition represents WestRock’s entry into the growing on-demand corrugated packaging market that serves many e-commerce and other custom-packaging applications. The market-leading “Box on Demand” systems are located on the customers’ sites and use fanfold corrugated to produce custom, on-demand corrugated packaging that is accurately sized for any product type according to the customer’s specifications. Click Read More below for additional information.

PaperWorks Industries has invested $3 million in a new warehouse for its Wabash, Indiana paperboard mill. The new facility is expected to be operational during the first quarter of 2018. The 44,500 square foot addition to the company's existing mill will be capable of storing up to 7,000 tons of coated recycled board (CRB) rolls. The mill produces PaperWorks' recently launched MasterWorks Ultra 100 line, as well as other CRB grades. "Over the past three years, PaperWorks has invested more than 60 million dollars to upgrade its paperboard mills and folding carton converting plants. This latest investment is designed to lower costs, improve service and reduce our environmental footprint at this location," said Andy Bolton, president and chief executive officer. Click Read More below for additional information.

Crown Holdings, Inc. has released its 2017 Sustainability Report to demonstrate the progress it has made on its sustainability journey. Metrics published in the report include decreased aluminum usage, lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced VOC and NOx emissions and zero work-related fatalities. The report is available at https://sustainability.crowncork.com. Titled "Infinite Innovation," the report illuminates the Company's strides in the environmental, economic and social dimensions of sustainability. It also documents Crown's efforts in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 to do more with less as unit volume production has increased and its geographic footprint has expanded. Data resulting from assets gained during the acquisitions of Mivisa and Empaque have also been included for the first time in Crown's sustainability reporting. Click Read More below for additional information.

SCA announces a price increase for all Brown and White Kraftliner grades in Europe by € 60 per ton, effective from 1st of February 2018. "The market for containerboard continues to be very strong. The demand for kraftliner of all grades is high and the supply is tight", says Mikael Frölander, Vice President Sales and Marketing Containerboard.

International Paper announced that it has completed the transfer of its North America Consumer Packaging business to Graphic Packaging. As a result of the transaction, Graphic Packaging has assumed $660 million of IP debt. IP now holds a 20.5% ownership interest in the subsidiary of Graphic Packaging that holds the assets of the combined business. The transferred business includes approximately 3,900 employees, two coated paperboard mills and three converting facilities in the U.S., along with one converting facility in the U.K.

Oji Holdings Corporation, a leader in the pulp and paper industry of Japan, decided to start-up a new containerboard machine at Paperboard & Packaging Sdn Bhd (GSPP) located in Malaysia. The company plans to commence the operation in April 2021. According to the announcement, by starting a new container manufacturing machine, Oji wants to be able to respond to the mentioned business, business and business expansion. The investment into 450ktpa machine accounts for around JPY 35 billion (including containerboard machine and equipment for energy supply and water treatment). The machine will produce liner, corrugating medium.

Mondi Group has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares in Powerflute Group Holdings Oy, a division of Nordic Packaging and Container Holdings, for a total consideration of €365 million on an enterprise value basis. Powerflute operates an integrated pulp and paper mill in Kuopio (Finland) with an annual production capacity of 285,000 tonnes of high-performance semi-chemical fluting. Powerflute’s premium semi-chemical fluting is sold to a diverse range of customers, primarily for packaging fresh fruit and vegetables, but also other end-uses such as electronics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Around half of the Company’s production is sold in Europe, while the remainder is exported globally. Click Read More below for additional information.

Total boxboard production decreased 0.4 percent when compared to November 2016 and decreased 2.0 percent from last month. Unbleached Kraft Boxboard production increased over the same month a year ago and increased compared to last month. Total Solid Bleached Boxboard & Liner production decreased when compared to November 2016 and was flat compared to last month. The production of Recycled Boxboard decreased compared to November 2016 and decreased when compared to last month.

Crown Holdings, Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Signode Industrial Group Holdings (Bermuda) Ltd., a leading global provider of transit packaging systems and solutions, from The Carlyle Group, in a cash transaction valued at $3.91 billion subject to customary closing adjustments. The acquisition, which is subject to review by various competition authorities, is expected to close during the first quarter of 2018 and to significantly increase free cash flow. Debt financing has been fully committed in support of the transaction. With pro forma sales and adjusted EBITDA of $2.3 billion and $384 million, respectively, for the twelve months ended November 30, 2017, Signode is the world's leading supplier of transit packaging systems and solutions, which consist of strap, stretch and protective packaging consumables and the application equipment and tooling for each. Based in Glenview, Illinois, Signode's global footprint includes operations in 40 countries across 6 continents, with sales to customers in approximately 60 countries. Click Read More below for additional information.

Around 170 guests attended the official inauguration of the new polyethylene (PE) coating plant at the consumer board mill in Beihai, China. Stora Enso has invested EUR 31 million in the PE coating plant, following its establishment in the Guangxi region in China as a response to increasing demand on the market. The plant has an annual capacity of 80 000 tonnes of PE coated products. PE coated board is suitable for products that require barrier against moisture, such as paper cups and food service packaging. Click Read More below for additional information.

Updated estimates show that the investment costs for BillerudKorsnäs' new board machine in Gruvön may increase by approximately 20 percent compared to previously announced investment cost of a total of SEK 5.7 billion. The increase of the investment is mainly due to higher costs for the construction work. The production on the new machine is still expected to start during the first quarter of 2019. "The cost increase is of course not good, and we have worked very hard throughout the project to keep the budget for the project. Unfortunately, we have had a difficult development on the construction side, which will lead to an increase of the investment. We are still seeing a strong development in the liquid packaging segment and other packaging materials that will be manufactured on the machine. We are convinced that we will be perfectly positioned to satisfy global demand in this market with this investment”, says Christer Simrén, BillerudKorsnäs, Senior Vice President and COO.

Increased, incremental cost escalation forces Flint Group to raise the prices of its Packaging Inks products. Further to announcements made in March 2017, it has become clear that the raw material markets for many components within Flint Group’s Packaging Inks products have experienced price escalation. Many raw material markets remain highly volatile as 2017 comes to a close. Q3 2017 saw significant increases and supplementary rises have been announced for Q4 2017. Current forecasts indicate that the price pressure will not lessen as the industry moves into 2018. These unique cost burdens necessitate that Flint Group Packaging Inks raise prices globally as of 1 January 2018. Argumentation is discussed below and our sales representatives are currently in the market discussing the magnitude of increases for each customer and segment. Click Read More below for additional information.

Since its launch in 2015, Mondi’s SPLASHBAG has celebrated international success – and it does not stop here: its rain resistance has tripled to up to six hours and it now prevents moisture ingress for up to five days. “We have introduced a new industry standard here for paper bags to benefit our customers,” says Claudio Fedalto, Sales & Marketing Director, Mondi Industrial Bags. “Workers can now store their cement sacks in damp environments for a whole working week without worrying about the materials getting wet.” Click Read More below for additional information.

UPM Raflatac is launching a new visual sample book to showcase its premium label materials for wine, spirits, and craft beverages. Designed in collaboration with a team from SGA Corporate & Packaging Design led by chief designer Giacomo Bersanetti, the book has been printed by leading Italian printing company Multi-Color Corporation (MCC). The book was inspired by the details and perspectives of the surfaces of the natural world, such as barks, petals, shells, and feathers. The sample book is designed to inspire, stimulate, and excite designers, brand owners, and wineries, providing them with a tool to help select the perfect label materials to showcase their high-quality products. It demonstrates how label designs and label materials can complement each other and showcases the huge range of visual possibilities offered by UPM Raflatac's solutions and expertise. Click Read More below for additional information.

Diva Art is a new one-side coated paperboard with an outstanding silk finish noteworthy for its printability and rich color reproduction in offset and digital printing, in addition to its perfect folding characteristics and exceptional resistance to cracking. Lecta's Diva Art paperboard offers outstanding finishing and converting properties, and is ideal for a wide range of end uses such as book covers, folders, labels, postcards and greeting cards, as well as packaging for cosmetics, perfumes, premium beverages and chocolates or confectionary. The Diva Art range is available in substances of 220, 250, 280, 300, 330 and 350 g/m2. Click Read More below for additional information.

Cherat Packaging Limited, the largest producer and supplier of packaging to the cement industry in Pakistan with a capacity of 600 million bags annually, has made over half a billion cement bags with Mondi’s Advantage Select sack kraft paper in more than 15 years of partnership. Working together exclusively with Mondi, Cherat Packaging switched production from three-ply to mainly two-ply bags, which has reshaped the market and allowed considerable material and cost savings without compromising strength or quality. The company has country-specific exclusive rights to use Mondi’s brown sack kraft paper to produce high quality cement bags and has bought only Mondi paper for it’s use since 2002. In industrial applications especially, the use of paper bags in primary packaging is gaining traction, thanks to their flexibility and high performance credentials. Having partnered with Mondi since 2002, Cherat Packaging Limited was looking for paper alternatives to satisfy its customers’ growing demand for strong, high quality cement bags. Click Read More below for additional information.

International technology Group ANDRITZ has received an order from the Turkish Albayrak Group to deliver a new stock preparation line with a design capacity of 1,000 bdmt/d for its Varaka paper mill in Balikesir, Western Turkey. ANDRITZ will also supply the main components in the approach flow systems for the top layer of PM 2. Start-up is scheduled for summer 2018. Varaka will reinstall and rebuild the PM 2, which currently is a second-hand newsprint paper machine, into a modern brown packaging paper machine. After full conversion, the PM2 will have an annual production capacity of over 300,000 tons, with a design speed of 1,200 m/min and a paper width at reel of 6,500 mm. The machine will produce corrugating medium, imitation kraft papers, and white top testliner with a basis weight range of 90-175 gsm for the production of containerboard. The raw material is OCC and mixed waste paper for the new line, and stock from the existing DIP line for the top layer of white top testliner grades. Click Read More below for additional information.

WestRock Company announced that it has entered into agreements to acquire substantially all of the assets of Plymouth Packaging, Inc. (“Plymouth”). Plymouth is a corrugated packaging company that derives approximately 70% of its sales from its “Box on Demand” systems and corrugated fanfold, and 30% from traditional corrugated box packaging. Plymouth’s market-leading “Box on Demand” systems are located on the customer’s site and use fanfold corrugated to produce custom, on-demand corrugated packaging that is accurately sized for any product type according to the customer’s specifications. Fanfold corrugated is continuous corrugated board, folded periodically to form an accordion-like stack of corrugated material. Plymouth installs “Box on Demand” machines on its customers’ sites under multi-year exclusive agreements for the fanfold corrugated supply. Click Read More below for additional information.

On 4 December Metsä Board, the leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards, was named Champion of Packaging Printing, Paper Packaging, at the 29th Hong Kong Print Awards for its innovative SkinCare 2.0 gift box design. Created by Metsä Board’s packaging design team, the new improved SkinCare 2.0 gift box design demonstrates a more environmentally friendly design through the use of lighter weight paperboard materials and the elimination of the plastic wrap. In addition, each box offers a unique opening and reclosing experience. At the same time each carton has been designed for maximum runnability performance on automated packaging lines. Click Read More below for additional information.

Sonoco has awarded a gold-level Sonoco Sustainability Star Award to Interbake Foods of Front Royal, Va., a subsidiary of Weston Foods of Canada, for achieving zero waste to landfill status. Sonoco Recycling worked with Interbake on a new recycling program designed to maximize rebate, reduce costs and streamline recycling collection. Solid waste recycling was optimized through methods that made collection and processing more efficient, then supplemented with a waste-to-energy program that ultimately resulted in a landfill-free operation. “Interbake really worked smart as well as hard to achieve landfill-free status,” said Mike Pope, general manager and president, Sonoco Recycling. “They took a close look at their operations and found ways to increase efficiencies as well as rebates. Their program provides a great example how recycling isn’t just the right thing to do – it can be the best business decision as well.” Click Read More below for additional information.

No stranger to setting trends, Sappi’s latest specialty paper portfolio development sees it unveiling a new collection for the fashion-forward shopper. Driven by consumer preference for sustainability, Sappi has designed a family of shopping bag grades that present a unique ‘one stop shop’ marketing solution using recyclable and renewable paper-based products. New grades launched by Sappi for its innovative shopping bag portfolio are Fashion® White and Fashion® White OF that feature high whiteness with natural and good printing surface in a wide range of virgin fibre grades and grammages between 70gsm and 130gsm. Fashion White is a premium white MF Bleached Kraft and Fashion White OF is a premium white MF Bleached Kraft without added OBA. Both uncoated, machine finished grades are ISEGA certified for direct food contact and DIN EN71 certified for toy safety. Click Read More below for additional information.

Novolex™ announced it has agreed to acquire certain assets and business operations of Shields Bag and Printing Co., a leading manufacturer of custom engineered flexible packaging products located in Yakima, WA. The transaction is expected to close near year end. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. Shields Bag and Printing Company was founded in 1935. The Shields family expanded their founder’s successful commercial printing business into flexible packaging in the 1960s. Today, Shields ranks among the leading North American producers of flexible packaging with substantial capabilities in the areas of blown film extrusion, printing, bag making and other converting processes. Shields’ core focus is providing custom engineered products to a diverse group of customers across a range of end-market segments, including building and construction, food and consumer, banking and security, lawn and garden, chemicals and energy, and general industrial. Click Read More below for additional information.

In the world of packaging it is sometimes complicated to achieve something that looks simple, minimalist and elegant. The paperboard cartons for Jimmy Choo’s L’EAU that was launched in summer 2017 is a clear example of this. Its colour is pale pink apart from the brand, the name of the contents, and the fact that it is an eau de toilette. Yet the packaging has passed through twelve finishing stages. The carton is made of Invercote from Iggesund Paperboard. Conversion is by the distinguished French printing company Draeger on behalf of Interparfums. The packaging is offset printed on both the inside and outside. The printing on the inside is in a pale pink shade, which creates the mood around the bottle. Externally the packaging has a blind-embossed snakeskin pattern plus two rows of text on the front. The outside is also laminated with soft touch film, matt varnished, and foil embossed with both silver film and holographic film. Click Read More below for additional information.

Sealed Air Corporation announced that it is implementing a price increase of 2.5 – 5.0% for the majority of its Food Care division’s products in Europe, Middle East and Africa with the exception of Switzerland and the United Kingdom who received price increases earlier in the year. The increase will be effective January 1, 2018. “The price adjustment is the result of escalation of notable increases in the Company’s raw materials costs including a 19% rise in the price of polyethylene, a 16% rise in nylon and a 35% rise in polystyrene as well as other non-materials costs such as power, labor and transportation in the range of 1-4%,” said Karl R. Deily, President of Sealed Air Food Care division. “Despite the necessary price changes, we are working to minimize the impact to our customers while delivering them the same high level of value and innovation.” The price changes include an increase on all shrink bags, rollstock products, food films and vertical pouch packaging.

Green Bay Packaging (GBP) has announced that it is in the first phase of evaluating construction of a new, state of the art recycled containerboard machine at its location in Green Bay Wisconsin. The 220” machine would be operational in 2020 and would replace the Company’s existing 164” trim machine, originally constructed in 1950. The investment would increase GBP’s recycled containerboard capacity by over 70%.

Paper has been manufactured in Laakirchen for the past 150 years and now with its entry into the packaging paper market, Laakirchen Papier AG has ushered in a new era. Indeed, the decision to break into the containerboard field will secure the long-term success of the company, as with a volume of 26.4 million t/y and annual growth of between two and three per cent, the strong, European corrugated board market segment offers considerable future potential for the paper industry. Accordingly, the production of lightweight containerboard made entirely from recycled fibres on PM10 started in Laakirchen mid of October. The paper machine meanwhile runs stable and produces paper on A quality level. The PM10 will now manufacture up to 450,000 t/y of containerboard based on recycled paper with working widths of 7.5 m at a speed of 1,600 m/min. This production switch also required additional investments at the company location. These included new plant for the treatment of wastepaper fibres and anaerobic used water cleaning, storage areas for recycling paper, and the completion of a warehouse with an automated crane system for the new products. Click Read More below for additional information.

Cascades Inc. announces the acquisition of four plants in Ontario to strengthen its position in the containerboard packaging sector, and the purchase of an ownership position in Tencorr Holdings Corporation. The company also announces an increase in its equity holding of the Greenpac Mill LLC. "We are very pleased to expand our presence in Ontario and increase our stake in Greenpac for the second time this year. These transactions align perfectly with our vision and strategy for our containerboard activities," stated Cascades President and CEO Mario Plourde. The four following plants were acquired from the Coyle family, and specialize in the manufacturing of boxes and speciality products offering strong growth potential: •McLeish Corr-a-Box Packaging & Design – Etobicoke, Ontario •Brown Packaging – Burlington, Ontario •Coyle Corrugated Containers Inc. – Scarborough, Ontario •Coyle Packaging (Peterborough) Ltd. – Peterborough, Ontario. Click Read More below for additional information.

Sonoco has announced a new research partnership with Clemson University: the Sonoco FRESH (Food Research Excellence for Safety and Health) initiative will develop new technologies and new forms of packaging to optimize the fresh food lifecycle. “Sonoco is committed to serving fresh brands, using packaging to tackle the challenges they face,” said Sonoco President and CEO Jack Sanders. “Optimizing fresh food packaging to extend shelf life and maintain quality makes fresh produce more accessible to communities, and helps brands and retailers extend sales opportunities and eliminate food waste. “Each year, the food industry loses $15.6 billion due to food spoilage at retail. Modifying packaging design to extend shelf life by even one day can recover $1.8 billion of that loss – while feeding more people and reducing waste to landfills.” To establish the multi-disciplinary hub for innovation and research to advance fresh food packaging and distribution, Sonoco will contribute $1.725 million over 5 years. The Company will also sponsor business-driven research projects totaling $1 million over that period. Sonoco FRESH is an extension of the partnership that created the Sonoco Institute of Packaging Design and Graphics at Clemson. Click Read More below for additional information.

American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman issued the following statement regarding the passage of the Boston City Council ordinance regarding the reduction of plastic bags in Boston (Docket #0132). The proposed ordinance would place a five-cent fee on recycled paper bags. “Dozens of communities in Massachusetts have enacted plastic bag bans in recent years, and until today, only one taxed paper bags. This undermines an environmentally responsible option for carryout shopping bags. Paper is the most-recycled material in the United States today. Last year, two-thirds of all paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling. Paper is part of the environmental solution, but Boston is treating it like the problem.”

Flint Group continues its leadership position in the Packaging Inks segment with the opening of its new facility in the cosmopolitan district of Beylikduzu, in Istanbul, Turkey. This new 3800 square meter manufacturing and distribution facility is conveniently located only 13 kilometers from the main container terminal on the European side of Turkey and is well positioned for exports to surrounding markets in the Middle East. Kim Melander, VP Sales EMEA & Global Strategy Paper & Board, says this, “Flint Group’s Paper & Board business has been a local supplier in Turkey and the neighbouring regions since 2008 and our team has been satisfying customers’ requirements with state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities and expert local service for nearly 10 years. This additional investment not only solidifies Flint Group’s dedication to the Turkish market, but also confirms our promise to grow together with its customers in this key emerging market.” Click Read More below for additional information.

The striking pre-print liner, which was designed for leading beer brand Beck’s, took the honour in the ‘Sacks and Corrugated Pre-Print Liner’ category. The complex liner required a high concentration of ink coverage to meet the customer’s brief of realistic, stand-out print. In order to achieve the attention-grabbing finish, composite colours were used to build the brand’s vivid green shade and put the bottle in the spotlight. With up to 82% of purchase decisions being made in-store, there is increasing pressure on brands to create a dramatic on-shelf presence and the beautiful Beck’s packaging more than delivers on the brief. Click Read More below for additional information.

An extensive range of self-adhesive materials in sheets and reels for multiple applications. With a new format and a clean, elegant graphic line, the latest Adestor? swatchbook is noteworthy for its functionality, including as a new feature at the end of each section an envelope for future product samples. The catalogue features all of Lecta's self-adhesive papers and films, including its most recent launches such as its new high-gloss, wet-strength Adestor Metal HG WS? metalized facestock and the new Adestor Matt Inkjet and Adestor Gloss Inkjet? facestocks, specially designed for water-based inkjet printing. From stickers to retail and signage applications to labels for specific sectors such as wine, logistics or home and personal care, an Adestor solution is available with permanent, repositionable and removable adhesives and filmic liners in addition to standard glassine and kraft liners. Click Read More below for additional information.

Cascades Inc. is proud to have received a Food Innovation Award from the Food Processing Council of Quebec, in the Packaging category, for its northbox ® product, a new recyclable, insulated box. Cascades has developed northbox, a recyclable thermal box that ensures e-shipment temperature-sensitive product to your customer’s door. The northbox ® is an isothermal container made entirely of recycled materials, that is ideal for shipping temperature-sensitive products by mail. It was designed with the objective of being recyclable at the end of its lifecycle—a first in North America. With its thermal performance and eco-friendly features, northbox ® meets the needs of high-growth markets, notably e-commerce, for prepared and ready-to-cook meals. Click Read More below for additional information.

Metsä Board, a leading European producer of premium paperboards is pleased to announce that its Simpele mill has recently integrated the FSSC 22000 food safety system into its management systems and received third party certificate to verify this. The FSSC 22000 Food Safety System provides a framework for effectively managing an organisation's food safety responsibilities. FSSC 22000 is fully recognised by the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) and is based on existing ISO Standards. It demonstrates that a company has a robust Food Safety Management System in place that meets the requirements of both direct customers and consumers. The GFSI brings together key players from the food industry to collaboratively drive continuous improvement in food safety management systems around the world. Click Read More below for additional information.

This impressive growth is being driven, in part, by a demand for premium products – a category in which single malt whisky, and Glenfiddich undoubtedly belongs. Premiumisation has led many global brands to leverage packaging as a truly unique, sophisticated finishing touch to complement their products. Metal packaging is an ideal option to achieve this goal, offering a great deal of design and decoration freedom to create flourishes and incorporate fine details that add an extra level of class. Glenfiddich partnered with Crown to create two limited edition gift tins for its 12- and 15-year-old single malt whiskies. The format was chosen for its premium feel, and superior sustainable credentials. The metal used to create the tins is infinitely recyclable, meaning it can go through the recycling process over and over again, with no loss of physical properties. Click Read More below for additional information.

Total boxboard production increased 3.5 percent when compared to October 2016 and increased 3.0 percent from last month. Unbleached Kraft Boxboard production increased over the same month a year ago and increased compared to last month. Total Solid Bleached Boxboard & Liner production increased when compared to October 2016 and increased compared to last month. The production of Recycled Boxboard increased compared to October 2016 and increased when compared to last month.

WestRock Company announced today a planned investment in its Florence, South Carolina kraft linerboard mill that will significantly increase the mill’s efficiency, quality and service levels. The $410 million investment over two years will include installing a 330” state-of-the-art kraft linerboard machine and related infrastructure that will replace three older, narrow-width paper machines. The company expects the new machine to produce 710,000 tons of kraft linerboard annually. In addition, the company plans to invest approximately $60 million over the next five years to support the new machine and other mill projects. When coupled with the recently completed modern woodyard, the Florence mill will become one of the lowest cost kraft linerboard mills in North America. Click Read More below for additional information.

Berry Global Group, Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Clopay Plastic Products Company, Inc., a subsidiary of Griffon Corporation, for $475 million in cash on a debt-free, cash-free basis. Clopay is a global supplier of printed breathable films as well as an innovator in the development of elastic films and laminates with product offerings uniquely designed for applications used in a number of markets including; hygiene, healthcare, construction and industrial protective apparel. Clopay has nearly 1,500 employees with a footprint serving markets across the globe with locations in the United States, Germany, Brazil, and China. Clopay delivered $461 million in sales and $53 million in operating EBITDA for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. We expect annual cost synergies to be approximately $20 million. The purchase price, including our expected cost synergies along with the tax basis step-up value, represents an adjusted EBITDA multiple of below 6 times. Click Read More below for additional information.

Fiscal Year 2017 Results: The net sales increase of $606 million is primarily attributed to acquisition net sales of $788 million and selling price increases of $60 million due to the pass through of higher resin prices, partially offset by a negative $136 million impact from a 2 percent base volume decline, $98 million from extra days in fiscal 2016, and a slightly negative impact from foreign currency changes. The operating income increase of $151 million is primarily attributed to acquisition operating income of $62 million, a $36 million decrease in Avintiv integration and restructuring costs, a $35 million decrease in selling, general and administrative expense related to synergies and cost reductions, a $24 million improvement in our product mix and price/cost spread, a $16 million decrease in depreciation and amortization, and a slight improvement in productivity in manufacturing. These improvements were partially offset by a $20 million impact from the base volume decline and $10 million from extra days in fiscal 2016. Click Read More below for additional information.

Containerboard production was up 5.1 percent compared to October 2016. The month-over-month average daily production compared to September 2017 was 3.1 percent higher. The containerboard operating rate for October increased from 95.9 percent to 101.3 percent, which was 6 percentage points higher than October of last year. Year-to-date production of containerboard for export is up 3.5 percent, with the October volume surging 16.2 percent above the same month last year.

Total Packaging Papers shipments were 223,400 tons, 1.6 percent lower than October 2016. Bag & Sack shipments are up 3.3 percent year-to-date, while Food Wrapping shipments are down 7.1 percent over the same period. The operating rate for October 2017 was 85.5 percent, while the year-to-date rate was 88.3 percent. Inventories were 167,800 tons, down slightly since September.

Smurfit Kappa has received the highest seal of approval for its performance packaging technology from a leading European research institution. The pioneering technology, which Smurfit Kappa invented in 2001, has been endorsed by the Papiertechnische Stiftung (PTS) research and service institute in Germany setting a new industry standard. PTS assists companies with the development and use of fibre-based materials. The PTS validation means that Smurfit Kappa’s test prototcols is now published as an official Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN) norm leading to a more scalable and credible approach for corrugated packaging users. Click Read More below for additional information.

The Group’s consolidated sales totaled EUR 1,749.1 million and were thus 2.1 %, or EUR 35.3 million above the previous year’s value (1-3Q 2016: EUR 1,713.8 million). Both divisions contributed to the slight increase. With EUR 158.9 million, operating profit reached the previous year’s level (1-3Q 2016: EUR 160.2 million). The Group’s operating margin thus remained stable at 9.1 % (1-3Q 2016: 9.3 %). At EUR 113.3 million, the profit for the period almost reached the previous year’s figure (1-3Q 2016: EUR 115.5 million). Click Read More below for additional information.

Third Quarter 2017 Highlights (as compared to third quarter 2016): • Revenue increased 17.9% to $243.4 million primarily due to additional revenue from the Cantech and Powerband Acquisitions(1), an increase in average selling price, including the impact of product mix, and an increase in sales volume from certain tape products. • Gross margin decreased to 20.9% from 21.7% primarily due to the dilutive impact of the Cantech Acquisition resulting mainly from non-cash purchase price accounting adjustments and certain manufacturing production inefficiencies occurring mainly in older facilities. • Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") decreased 31.3% to $18.8 million primarily due to a decrease in share-based compensation driven primarily by the decrease in fair value of cash-settled awards. Click Read More below for additional information.

UPM Raflatac has expanded its PP Lite range of labeling solutions for the European market with the introduction of a new clear film, PP Clear FTC Lite. The face materials, adhesives, and backing used in the PP Lite range offer brands new ways to achieve their sustainability objectives. PP Lite label materials offer brand owners the opportunity to differentiate themselves from the competition by becoming a leader in sustainable product labeling while boosting productivity across the value chain at the same time. By combining a lighter face material, a lower coat-weight adhesive, and a lighter backing, products in the PP Lite range optimize raw material use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy and water consumption, and waste. Click Read More below for additional information.

Huhtamaki is investing app. EUR 11 million to have a new manufacturing facility built in Hämeenlinna, Finland. Manufacturing operations will be transferred from the current facility that has been built in the 60's to a new, modern facility. Construction work is planned to begin during spring 2018 and the new facility is expected to begin operations in spring 2019. The majority of the investment takes place during 2018. As part of the investment the Hämeenlinna unit's machine base will also be partially renewed and automation will be increased. Competitiveness will also be improved by designing the new facility according to Lean manufacturing principles and improving the flow of goods and minimizing unnecessary traffic within production. The modernization of the manufacturing facility will also improve workplace safety and ergonomics. Click Read More below for additional information.

Mondi, the global packaging and paper Group, and the Czech packaging producer Litobal have been business partners since 2001, when the privately owned packaging company was taking its first steps in the bread bag business. It joined forces with Mondi Speciality Kraft Paper, putting its trust in the paper specialist’s white machine glazed papers. The two companies then started to grow their business together in various paper-based packaging fields, which enabled them to pass another milestone in 2010. At the time, Litobal had recently entered the paper shopping bag market, which had long been an ambition of its founder Zdenek Stojánek. In order to position itself as a reliable and high-quality supplier in the Czech and European shopping bag markets, Litobal turned once again to the Mondi Speciality Kraft Paper team and their high-quality paper grades. Litobal ´s owner Zdenek Stojánek comments, “We chose Mondi as the main paper supplier for our bread bag and shopping bag production because of its know-how and the high quality and comprehensive range of its speciality kraft papers – all available from a single source. Click Read More below for additional information.

The new Experience Centre provides a place for customers to get hands-on experience of the spectrum of capabilities offered by Bag-in-Box® solutions. State-of-the-art technology and interactive displays designed to showcase the films, taps and boxes are backed up by a wealth of information and technical expertise. Visitors are also given the opportunity to test the products in the laboratory and see how they can benefit their business. The Experience Centre opened last month as part of this year’s celebration of 40 years of the Bag-in-Box division. Dominique Gessat, General Manager of Smurfit Kappa Bag-in-Box Epernay comments: “Customers coming to the Experience Centre can evaluate all the processes of production and see with their own eyes the quality standards that Smurfit Kappa Bag-in-Box has adopted over the years. Click Read More below for additional information.