Graphic Packaging Plans to Discontinue Folding Carton Production at Middletown, Ohio and Cease Lamination Operations at Elk Grove Village, Illinois (14330)
MARIETTA, Ga., -- Graphic Packaging International, Inc., a subsidiary of Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), plans to discontinue folding carton manufacturing at its operations in Middletown, Ohio, by the end of the third quarter of 2008. The Company also plans to cease production at its paper lamination plant in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

Type 1 Simple Support Frame High-Volume Bag Discharger from Spiroflow Systems (14323)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA -- A simple Type 1 Support Frame High-Volume Bag Dischargers that supports the weight of the bag for safe, secure and controlled discharge of steady flowing product is available from Spiroflow Systems. The Type 1 Support Frame accommodates most types and sizes of High-Volume Bags (Flexible Intermediate Container) and can easily controlled by a single operator.

New RHV Welding Hood – a Complete Packaged Welding Smoke and Fume Hood for Industrial Air Filtration. Industrial Maid Model RH36V 1x2 Industrial Maid RHV Series Welding Ventilation Hoods (14176)
Industrial Maid LLC introduces the new RHV welding hood – a complete packaged welding smoke and fume hood for industrial air filtration. The units can be configured to cover areas from 4’ X 4’ to 16’ X 16’ and larger if needed.

Metso Minerals Industries Expands North East Ohio Manufacturing Operations (14151)
Metso Minerals Industries, Incorporated announces plans for a significant expansion of its Northeast Ohio manufacturing operations. The new fabrication facility will be located in Northeast Ohio near the company’s existing, engineering and manufacturing facility in Brunswick, Ohio.

2008 Could Be A Year Of Uncertainty For Manufacturers By Joe Cogliano II (13918)
Economists say the collapse of the housing market, the credit crunch, falling consumer spending and high fuel prices will continue to drag on the overall economy and lead to a rocky ride for many shops this year. A leading industry indicator, The Institute of Supply Management (ISM) PMI, weakened to 47.7 percent in December, ending 10 consecutive months of growth. The tipping point for the index is 50, with readings below signaling a contraction in manufacturing. Although the index stayed above 50 most of the year, December marked the sixth straight month it posted a decline. “Industries close to the housing market appear to be struggling more than others and those involved in exports seem to be doing better,” said Norbert Ore, chair of ISM’s Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. “Slower demand appears to be more of a problem than excessive inventories.”

Robotic End-Of-Arm Tooling Trends In Key Markets (13903)
Robotic sales have increased over recent years in the non-automotive markets as the cost of robots goes down and familiarity of robotic cells increases. North American companies can readily justify ROI when they look at competition, quality, productivity, and flexibility issues. Packaging, palletizing, and other material handling applications are key areas where robotic cells have assisted the non-automotive markets

Kentucky Biotech Supply Maker Sold By Joe Cogliano II (13891)
LevTech Inc., a maker of disposable mixing products for the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, changed hands in a $27 million deal in January. Danbury, Conn-based ATMI Inc. will add LevTech to its medical division and keep the company in Kentucky, at least for now. “ATMI LifeSciences definitely has the intention to grow our infrastructure in the U.S. and in the coming months, together with LevTech management, we will decide what the best way to do that is,” said Mario Philips, general manager of ATMI’s LifeSciences division. “The current plan is to stay in Lexington.”

SPIROFLOW SYSTEMS OFFERS UNIVERSAL BULK BAG DISCHARGER (13743)
The ‘Spiroflow' Universal Type 2 Bulk Bag Discharger (BBD) controls the flow by means of a highly accurate, highly repeatable integral flexible screw conveyor. Directly coupled to the base of the bulk bag discharger, the flexible screw conveyor meters the flow of big bag contents to the customer’s process vessel

Automated Packaging Systems Adds New Multi-layer Co-extruder to Meet Growing Demand for Bag-on-a-Roll Materials (13725)
Automated Packaging Systems, the world leader in high-reliability packaging systems, has recently added a new high-efficiency, blown film extrusion system for creating multi-layer films. This Alpine brand co-extruder is considered one of the most advanced film processing systems in the world and includes many new capabilities that will allow Automated Packaging to offer its customers increased capacity, higher quality bags, and shorter lead times

New Autobag(r) Scratch Resistant Bag Packaging Film (13619)
Flexible yet very durable, this new film is ideal for packaging products with high gloss finishes or surfaces that are sensitive to scratching or abrasion. NSCR is a low density polyethylene film that features a unique embossing technique, creating a highly durable material that is flexible and easily machined, yet eliminates abrasive properties