ePac Introduces First Two HP Indigo 25K Presses to ANZ Region

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 American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released its November 2020 Containerboard Monthly report. Total Containerboard production in November increased two percent compared to November 2019. It was up four percent when compared to the same 11 months of 2019. November 2020 production of containerboard for export decreased six percent compared to the same month last year; it was up 13 percent year-to-date. The containerboard operating rate was 93.3 percent, essentially flat (-0.4 pts.) from November 2019 and up 2.5 points year-to-date. Mill inventories of containerboard at the end of November increased 39,000 short tons from the previous month and were down 2,000 short tons compared to November 2019.

Cushioning is an essential part of protecting fragile goods from shock and vibration. That’s why for many decades, plastic foams have been used as a versatile and cost-effective solution. However plastic based foams are problematic. If they leak out to nature the material is inert and will not degrade. Furthermore, plastic foams are generally made from finite sources, mainly crude oil, which leads to a release of fossil carbon at its end of life. To turn these challenges into a thing of the past, Stora Enso has developed a lightweight, paper-based foam for protection and cushioning in packaging. Here are three key reasons why Papira® by Stora Enso is better than conventional plastic foams. 1. A bio-based product - Plastic foams used in cushioning today are mainly made of crude oil, resulting in a product with a high carbon footprint over its lifetime and other environmental issues. 2. Recyclable in the paper stream - Even though plastic foams such as expanded polystyrene or polyethylene foams are lightweight and handy, recycling them is difficult. Paper-based Papira® by Stora Enso is designed for recycling in paper or carton streams. 3. Biodegradable and compostable - As a material, Papira® is designed to be biodegradable. Therefore, it does not become waste or pollution even if not recycled properly.