The merger between Ireland's Jefferson Smurfit Group (JSG) and Kappa Packaging announced in September, creating one of the world's biggest paper-based packaging groups, has been completed. With operations in 32 countries, 43,000 staff and combined 2004 revenues of €7.6bn, the group will have an annual capacity of 6.1M tonnes of containerboard and 5.1M tonnes of corrugated.
Europen has published a new edition of its guide to the CEN Packaging Standards. "Essential Requirements for Packaging in Europe – A Practical Guide to Using the CEN Standards" is designed to ensure companies comply with the EU's Essential Requirements for Packaging set out in the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive. An electronic version, priced at €150 can be ordered from: www.europen.be/whats/whats_publications.html. The print version costs €160.
Berkshire Labels of Hungerford has launched a new business, Berkshire Security Products, offering a standard range of self-adhesive security sealing and labelling products designed to meet many different types of applications. New products are currently being developed. T: +44 (0)1488 683628; www.berkshiresecurity.co.uk
Claricom has launched a training services suite to help manufacturers get the best out of coding and labelling systems. One of the key training areas focussed on examines how to better fulfil legal and retailer traceability requirements. T: +44 (0)115 955 5153; www.claricom.co.uk
Over 25,000 professionals from throughout the Russian Federation and neighbouring countries attended December's Upakovka/Upak Italia packaging trade exhibition and its sister event, Interplastica 2005. Organiser Messe Düsseldorf says the Russian market is "enjoying lively demand for product-savvy and marketing-friendly packaging". A total of 360 exhibitors from 23 countries booked space at the Russian packaging event.
Pack Expo, the trade exhibition organised by leading US packaging machinery trade association the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI), celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The inaugural show, in Cleveland, Ohio in 1956, featured 136 exhibitors occupying 43,116 ft² of space, attracting 5,000 visitors. In contrast Pack Expo International 2006 (October 29-November 2 at Chicago's McCormick Place) will feature over 1,600 exhibitors covering over 1.2M ft². Over 50,000 visitors are anticipated.
