November 6, 2024
Menasha Packaging is investing $50 million into its North American pre-print capabilities, including a new equipment and investment in automation and robotics.
The company will add a new eight-color plus varnish press to its existing fleet of assets. In addition, it will be adding new facility automation and robotics. These investments are set to double Menasha’s North American preprint capacity, according to a Menasha news release.
“These investments are going to drive improvements in both quality and safety, while delivering incremental capacity and significant reductions in make ready and set up times,” said Jeff Krepline, executive vice president at Menasha.
Also according to the release, the investment will come with the creation of 25–30 new jobs in the Fox Valley, Wisconsin, area.
Element Solutions, a chemical company that owns MacDermid Graphics Solutions, is selling MacDermid’s business to XSYS, a specialist provider in the flexographic printing industry.
“We are excited about the future of MacDermid Graphics Solutions. XSYS has a great track record in the industry and the combined businesses will be poised for growth with a broader product offering, balanced global reach, and a deep partner network,” said MacDermid Senior Vice President Graeme Dickinson. “This decision aligns with MacDermid Graphics Solutions’ long-term strategic goal to maximize value for customers and is intended to strengthen the successful track record of the business.”
SUN Automation Group is partnering with Versor Engineering, bringing specialty folder-gluer machines and tape applicators to SUN Automation’s product portfolio.
“Partnering with Versor Engineering is a game-changer for both companies and our customers,” said Chris Kyger, president of SUN Automation Group. “By combining our expertise with Versor’s innovative machinery, we are not only expanding our offerings but also reinforcing our commitment to delivering the most advanced, reliable solutions in the corrugated packaging industry.”
According to a SUN Automation news release, as an exclusive agent partner, SUN Automation will provide comprehensive sales, service, support, and inventory of essential parts in Maryland for Versor Engineering’s products in the United States and Canada.
Kadant Johnson LLC promoted Chad Corte to vice president and general manager.
In his new role, Corte is responsible for the company’s operations in Three Rivers, Michigan, which include research and development, design, and manufacturing activities.
“Chad’s diverse experiences at Kadant Johnson position him well for his next role as general manager,” said Wes Martz, president of Kadant Johnson. “I look forward to Chad advancing our high-performance culture, where our people are engaged and expected to develop into their best selves to create sustainable value for our customers, communities, and shareholders.”
Corte has served as vice president, finance, at Kadant Johnson since 2021 and, before that, served as director of customer service. Since joining the company in 2007, he has worked in various capacities in the financial, commercial, and operations areas of the company.
The International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF) provided Bowling Green State University’s (BGSU) Packaging and Prototyping (P&D) Lab with a full grant of brand-new equipment.
The newly installed Zünd Digital Cutter G3 M-2500 replaces equipment previously donated by ICPF in 2011, which enabled the establishment of the P&D Lab to service students in BGSU’s Visual Communication Technology (VCT) program.
“ICPF was delighted to provide the grant and placement of this machine at BGSU,” said ICPF President Caitlin Salaverria. “ICPF’s longstanding partnership with BGSU has promoted student awareness of corrugated packaging industry careers and allowed students to develop structural and graphic design skills to meet the needs of our industry. This donation will allow the VCT program to continue those efforts with nine courses affected by the new digital cutting table.”
Valmet will supply its IQ quality control system for corrugator to Thai Containers Group’s corrugated containers plant in Rayong, Thailand.
According to a Valmet news release, the system will enable the plant to improve corrugated board quality and productivity and reduce waste caused by warped board. The start-up of the system is scheduled for the first quarter 2025.
“We are committed to support our customer to improve the end-product quality and production efficiency,” said Thossapon Arunsaengsuree, solution sales manager, Southeast Asia, automation systems, at Valmet. “The customer wishes to produce flat sheet while avoiding post-warp and cracking in converting. With Valmet’s quality management solutions, we can help them achieve the set targets for the project and improve competitiveness.”
BCM Inks recently relocated and expanded its headquarters within the Cincinnati, Ohio, area.
The new building is approximately three times larger than the previous building, according to a company news release.
“After having spent over 30 years at the old headquarters, the new building provides an improved layout with additional production, lab, and R&D space to better serve our customers,” said Robert Callif, president of BCM Inks. “Furthermore, customers and BCM employees can learn in an improved environment at our spacious training center.”
Vanguard Digital Printing Systems, a Durst Group company, has entered into a distribution partnership with American Print Consultants (APC).
“Vanguard is growing at an incredible rate, and our sales reflect that,” commented Jim Peterson, chief operating officer and founding partner of Vanguard. “Our technology is innovative and answers the needs of so many print service providers, so we wanted to partner with a trusted distributor who could elevate their current and future clientele with our solutions. Bringing the level of experience, dedication, and customer commitment we bring is important to us, and we know APC mirrors our approach and will be an incredible partner as we continue to grow and expand.”
