Amcor buys two Rexam U.K. flex-pack plants: The Melbourne, Australia-based converter agrees March 18 to acquire the facilities for about US$15.5 million. Located in Ledbury and Thetford, U.K., the plants reportedly had combined sales of about US$59 million last year. The operations are a strategic fit with its Amcor Flexibles Europe business, the company says. Thetford performs high-barrier, vacuum metallizing and coating, and Ledbury complements other AFE positions in the U.K., notably in packaging for fresh produce and baked goods.

Iggesund Paperboard controls coat-weight with Honeywell system: The converter's Swedish plant will install a cross-directional, coat-weight control system on its BM2 line by mid-May. The BM2 produces 180,000 tons of fully bleached, coated multi-layer paperboard annually. Five blade-coating stations are used to apply two or three layers of coating agent.

Filmmaker Toray Plastics (America) restructures: The North Kingstown, R.I.-based company divides operations into three business units: Lumirror, Torayfan and PEF. The move affords downstream material customers a more seamless sales/manufacturing organization and positions it for growth and broader market penetration, the company says. Toray Plastics converts PET and PP films for industrial and packaging applications.

GE Supply opens Midwest distribution hub: The electrical-products distribution business of Conn.-based General Electric Co. opens the center in Naperville, Ill., March 15. The 180,000-sq-ft site also houses the GE Midwest Region HQ and national sourcing operations. It features a state-of-the-art operation, stocking more than 30,000 products.

Boise Cascade launches new identity: The Idaho-based paper provider changes its trade name to Boise and alters operations titles March 14 to more accurately reflect the full scope of its business. Three divisions are now known as Boise Office Solutions (office and home paper products), Boise Paper Solutions (converting and printing papers), and Boise Building Solutions (timber/wood and construction materials).

Converting-machinery makers form alliance: Geometric, Edison, N.J., and Elite Cameron, Inc., Piscataway, N.J., form a partnership, whereby EC will manufacture and sell Geometric coater/ laminators to Europe under license. Geometric will reciprocate by building and selling EC's line of slitter/rewinders in the U.S. Under the alliance, Elite Cameron will retain its facility in New Jersey for parts rebuilding and sales.

Foods and beverages make up 41 percent of the overall demand for boxes and cartons, says a new Freedonia Group study. Strong opportunities lie ahead for fresh fruits and vegetables—and in the nondurable goods area, cartons for OTCdrug blister packs.

U.S. consumption of packaging materials will grow 2.2 percent a year to 2005, reaching $104.8 billion, says a new study by Vermont-based Impact Marketing Consultants, Inc. In contrast, GDP is forecast to rise by about 3.5 percent a year over the same time period.

Unit volume is forecast to grow at only 1.8 percent annually between 2000-2005. Slower growth is due to the dominance by consumer-goods industries, including food and other nondurables, which typically increase at the same rate as population, IMC reports.

But opportunities abound, especially for plastics and laminated flexible packaging, IMC says. Inter-material competition will continue to be fierce as plastics keep replacing paper in end-use applications. IMC predicts sales of plastics-based packaging will grow at 3.8 percent annually to $27.16 billion in 2005 while paperboard/molded pulp-product sales will climb 2 percent a year to hit $40.4 billion three years hence.

More info: 802/362-2325, fax:: 802/362-3693, www.impactmarket.com