Alcan Inc. to open two Russian plants
MONTREAL - The rapid growth in consumer packaging across Russia is prompting Alcan Inc. to invest US$55 million in two new plants there to serve the food and tobacco sectors.
Montreal-based Alcan plans to build and equip a $25 million flexible packaging plant near Moscow aimed at the confection and dairy-food markets. The plant, to employ 100, will be equipped to laminate, print and die cut, and will start operating before the end of April 2006, Alcan announced.
The company also is investing around $30 million in a new cigarette carton plant near St. Petersburg. That facility, which will employ 120, also is to begin operating by April 2006.
Until now, Alcan has been exporting its products to Russia from other plants in Europe. A spokeswoman declined to provide details about any plastics operations at the plants.
Klöckner Pentaplast buys Finnish firms
MONTABAUR, GERMANY - Rigid film extruder Klöckner Pentaplast GmbH has moved into flexible packaging film by purchasing Finland's Nordpak Oy and Avanspack AB.
The acquisitions take Montabaur-based Klöckner Pentaplast into the blown film extrusion process for the first time. Also, the deals extend the firm's geographical spread in northern Europe and expand its product range for food packaging.
The privately owned Finnish companies, together employing 100 and with combined annual sales of more than 30 million euros ($39 million), were acquired independently, but have an established relationship, Klöckner said. The former owners will continue to work with Klöckner, it said.
Nordpak of Valkeakoski produces multilayer film, including high-barrier varieties. Avanspack of Euro prints, laminates and coats film.
Injectronics installs 2,500-ton machine
CLINTON, MASS. - Injectronics Inc. is installing its largest injection press, at its newest facility.
The 2,500-ton Engel press is one of a series of expenditures for the Howell, Mich., factory that once housed Gilreath Manufacturing Inc., said Tim Scollin, vice president of sales and marketing. Clinton-based Injectronics bought Gilreath in May.
Injectronics wants to reach $100 million in sales this year. The new machine will support new contracts with Ford Motor Co.
``We also have a number of new opportunities we are looking at that will require additional large-tonnage capacity,'' he said.
The Howell plant already had 33 presses with clamping forces of 33-1,000 tons.
Unimark takes name of parent firm Jarden
GREER, S.C. - Greer-based Unimark Plastics has changed its name to Jarden Plastic Solutions, taking on the name of its increasingly well-known parent, Jarden Corp. of Rye, N.Y.
The change took effect Jan. 10.
Jarden Plastic has seven factories. Included in the division is the product-design operation called Jarden Design Associates, renamed from Innovative Solutions.
Jarden Plastic President Chuck Villa said the design unit will move into its own dedicated building this year at the Jarden Plastic headquarters complex.
The division also includes Yorker Closures in Greenville, S.C., a line of twist-spout caps found on mustard bottles, wood glue and many other packages.
Villa said Jarden wants to expand the focus of Yorker beyond just the closure niche, and has renamed the business Yorker Packaging.
Jarden Plastic generates about $160 million in annual sales, according to Villa.
The new name makes the organizational chart much simpler. Before, Unimark had been a division of Alltrista Plastics Corp., which was a subsidiary of Jarden.
Chinese tape maker teams with Plymouth
CANTON, MASS. - Plymouth Rubber Co. Inc. is forming a joint venture with a Chinese firm to make PVC adhesive tapes in China.
Canton-based Plymouth Rubber is teaming up with Hebei Huaxia Group Co. Ltd. of Zhouzhou, China. The companies plan to open a new facility in Shanghai, China, early this year under the new name of Plymouth Yongle Tape (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., officials said. Plymouth Rubber will provide PVC technology and marketing support, and Hebei Huaxia will manage the plant and provide manufacturing assets.
Publicly held Plymouth Rubber makes plastic and rubber tapes and films. Hebei Huaxia produces biaxially oriented polypropylene film, PVC film and various tape products for the Chinese market.
The facility will be Plymouth Rubber's first in Asia.
Schefenacker gets grant from Michigan
MARYSVILLE, MICH. - German auto supplier Schefenacker Vision Systems Inc. has a $1 million grant from the state of Michigan to help with an $8 million expansion of its Marysville plant.
Schefenacker will install a new paint facility for the mirrors it injection molds and assembles in Marysville, adding about 50 jobs to the 750 already in place there.
The Michigan Economic Development Corp. announced the grant Dec. 23. The city has added $375,000 toward the project and the Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County is giving $3.1 million.
The Michigan operation is part of Schefenacker AG of Essingen, Germany.