Palmolive washing-up liquid

Design agency Tin Horse has redesigned the packaging for Colgate Palmolive's range of washing-up liquids, creating a series of ergonomic packs.

Following a briefing from Colgate’s New York-based global design team, Tin Horse worked closely with the FMCG giant on all stages of the design process – from the conceptual stage, through to pack development, research and final design.

Tin Horse said that it has created a packaging concept that resonates with consumers on an "emotional" level across the globe.

The agency created a design that would work across a variety of pack sizes, with ergonomics to make them comfortable in the hands of consumers. The packs feature a newly-design closure that blends into the shape of the bottle, to create an uninterrupted silhouette.

Saudi joint venture company to manufacture ‘flexible’ products.

JEDDAH – Delaware, Ohio - based Greif Inc. said in a statement that it is forming a joint venture with a Saudi Arabian company to handle the production of “flexible” industrial packaging.

Greif said the joint venture will include a business that makes a type of container called “flexible intermediate bulk containers,” otherwise known as “big bags.”

Greif, through a subsidiary, has agreed to form a flexible products joint venture (JV) with National Scientific Company Limited (NSC), a subsidiary of Dabbagh Group Holding Co. Dabbagh is a leading privately held Middle East business group headquartered in Saudi Arabia. Greif will manage the JV, 50 percent of which will be owned by National Scientific, and 50 percent by Greif’s subsidiary.

The venture includes the flexible products business of Storsack, which was recently acquired by Greif. Storsack is the world’s largest producer of flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs), with 3,000 employees and 16 production facilities worldwide.

The joint venture will be completed after certain conditions are satisfied, including any necessary merger and regulatory approvals.

“This joint venture extends our core rigid industrial packaging business,” said Michael J. Gasser, Greif chairman and chief executive officer. “By joining forces with NSC and the Dabbagh Group, which has an established reputation as a trusted partner and pioneer of business within the Middle East and internationally, the JV will benefit from upstream advantages in the flexible products business.

Acquiring Bemis’ Operations in packing

Exopack Holding Corp. is acquiring Bemis Co.’s plastics packaging operations in Menasha, Wis. and Tula, Okla., for around $81 million, subject to post-closing adjustments The acquisition includes production equipment and intellectual property.

Under the terms of an order signed by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia earlier this year, Bemis was required to divest the two facilities, which were part of its acquisition of Alcan Packaging Food Americas. The sale of the facilities is subject to regulatory approval.

Exopack is a manufacturer of paper and plastic packaging products. The company specializes in substrate development, film extrusion, printing, lamination, and converting of flexible packaging products.

“This purchase of the Menasha and Tulsa facilities reflects our commitment to our customers and other key stakeholders that we will continue to expand our capabilities and product offerings and strengthen the presence of the Exopack brand in the global marketplace,” says Jack Knott, Exopack chairman and CEO.

Microwave packaging market isn't cooked yet, says report.

Despite reaching a plateau of sorts, research firm Global Industry Analysts Inc. (GIA) believes the microwave packaging market will see growth over the near- to medium-term, and ultimately reach $2.52 billion by 2015. This growth, says the researcher, will be driven by trends toward take-home and packaged convenient frozen foods, increasing popularity of microwaveable foods and innovation in product offerings.

Although a look at recent packaging award programs confirms microwave packaging isn't short on innovation, GIA's study shows that growth in the U.S. microwave packaging market recently decelerated. Primary reasons for this sluggishness include a recently tough business environment in the upstream packaging industry, as well as reduced investments on new microwave packaging machinery and equipment and limited availability of financial resources for research and development thanks to the recession. However, as the economic downturn wanes and companies begin to invest in technology development and new applications again, GIA believes growth will return yet again.