News Briefs

Finish packaging processor Huhtamaki (Espoo; www.huhtamaki.com) has indicated it is seeking to divest its rigid plastics processing operations, which account for about euro 400 million/yr in sales but, says the firm, have not met its profitability targets. Almost all of the business is based in Europe. Stretch blowmolding machinery manufacturer Sipa (Vittorio Veneto, Italy) this month acquired 100% of Berchi Group, a manufacturer of complete food/beverage packaging lines. The move allows Sipa to better compete with competitors such as Sidel and Krones, both of which are part of giant beverage filling line machinery manufacturers. Negri Bossi is set to deliver an all-electric Canbel-Multi-Shot molding machine to an unidentified molder in the U.S. state of Ohio this month, the first of this type of machine for Negri Bossi (www.negribossiusa.com) in North America. The new Canbel-Multi-Shot is available from 55 to 350 tons with a broad range of injection units in standard and custom configurations. According to Negri Bossi, the new multimaterial electric presses can help processors save up to 60% in energy cost compared to conventional hydraulically-operated multishot machines. Graham Engineering Corp. (York, PA) has named Representaciones Tecnipack S.A. de C.V. (Tlalnepantla, Mexico) as its sales and service representative in the country. Tecnipack, which was founded in 1989, is active in plastic processing technologies, providing representation in blowmolding, injection molding, and extrusion, as well as auxiliary equipment.