Taxes, bans on plastic packaging looming in California
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (August 12, 2008) -- A series of recommendations from the Ocean Protection Council in California could lead to more bans and taxes on plastics packaging in the state. The
report, published late last month, calls for producer responsibility for the take-back of packaging waste, and bans or fees on commonly littered items such as plastic bags and polystyrene containers.
Husky to emphasize packaging over automotive
BOLTON, ONTARIO (August 12, 2008) -- Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. will reduce its presence in the large-molding-machine market for the automotive sector in favor of building up its core
business of presses for PET preforms and the packaging sector. The decision to de-emphasize large-machine manufacturing reflects differing growth rates in the respective markets.
Australian bag distributor ‘embarrassed’ by findings
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (August 5, 2008) -- Australia’s biggest municipal council is wondering why the plastic bags it has been distributing aren’t what they’re supposed to be. The bags, which are made
available to park patrons for collecting dog droppings, were supposed to be made of 2 percent polyethylene and the rest of biodegradable starch materials. Laboratory tests show only a 10 percent
starch content. The bags’ distributor, Melbourne-based Dog Tidy Co. Pty. Ltd., said it is trying to find out why the bags supplied by its Chinese manufacturer are not what the city asked for in a
contract that started in January.
German machinery maker touts new thermoforming tech
 Thermoformed bottles using new Illig tech
U.S. closures maker strikes bankruptcy restructuring deal
BATAVIA, ILLINOIS (August 5, 2008) -- Portola Packaging Inc., one of the largest manufacturers of tamper-evident closures, plastic containers and related services for the dairy, juice and water
industries, will enter into a restructuring support agreement through a prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. A factor in the filing was prompted by an internal investigation of accounting
irregularities at two of the company’s subsidiaries in China, Portola (Asia Pacific) Holding Ltd. and Shanghai Portola Packaging Co. Ltd.
Decro hangs its future on tech, market development
 Luo
U.S. to impose duties on Chinese PP woven sacks
WASHINGTON (July 22, 2008) -- The U.S. government ruled July 18 that it believes China subsidizes makers of laminated polypropylene woven sacks, and will impose penalties of up to 444 percent on the
Chinese-made bags. The decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission was hailed by American bag producers, who said it would help "restore fair competition in the U.S. market."
Hoffer buys minority stake in auto molder Intec Group
SOUTH ELGIN, ILLINOIS (July 22, 2008) -- At the request of some of its top customers, Hoffer Plastics Corp. has expanded its global footprint by investing in a minority share of Intec Group Inc. Intec
runs three plants in China, and one each in the U.S., Singapore and Mexico. The two firms see it as a complementary marriage since their markets have little overlap. Hoffer’s end markets include
packaging and industrial and consumer products, with less than 10 percent automotive, while Intec’s reputation as an auto molder should help Hoffer gain business in that area.
Firefighters die in Rexam Shanghai blaze
SHANGHAI (July 22, 2008) -- Three firefighters were killed and nine more are reported to have been injured in a blaze at a Rexam plc plastics packaging plant in Shanghai. The fire started midday July
17, local time, at the site’s warehouse, which contained resin and some semi-finished goods. Production facilities were not affected. The factory makes cosmetics and personal-care packaging such as
shampoo bottles.
Sipa aims for flexibility in the China market
HANGZHOU, ZHEJIANG (July 22, 2008) -- After a whirlwind debut on the Chinese market more than a decade ago, Italian bottle machinery company Sipa SpA has gained a reputation in the region. And with
the help of a new China-made injection press and increasing marketing efforts, it’s a reputation the company is looking to expand.
International plastics mergers, acquisitions on rise
 Blaige
Has China lost its ‘low-cost workshop’ status?
 Franz
Design competition goes international for NPE 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 15, 2008) -- In a break with tradition, the Washington-based Society of the Plastics Industry Inc. (SPI) will make its next design competition an international event and will
add new design categories. The competition will be held in conjunction with NPE 2009, scheduled for June 22 to 26 in Chicago, Illinois. In the past, the National Plastics Design Competition was
mostly restricted to U.S. entries and limited to load-bearing parts, enclosures and structural parts. The upcoming competition will be open to virtually any type of design, including packaging
products, bioplastics, nanocomposites, and products that address energy efficiency and sustainability.
Zhejiang Kinlead Packing Material adds BOPP capacity
SHAOXING, ZHEJIANG (July 8, 2008) -- Chinese biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film extruder Zhejiang Kinlead Packing Material Co. Ltd. has added capacity in a bid to expand in both the Chinese
domestic market and in exports.
Opinion: Design center gala full of surprises
 Grace
China’s packaging market offers potential
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (July 8, 2008) -- A recent report released by Edge consultancy analyzes the Chinese packaging market, which has significant growth potential. Edge estimates that by 2012 the packaged
foods market will total 119.6 million metric tons. But the country’s market dynamics are not easily understood by Western companies, and large Western retail groups have underestimated the
significance of the differences between Western and Eastern markets.
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