Madison, MS-based converter Hood Packaging will make a major investment in bagmaking systems from the Multiwall Div. of Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp. (Lincoln, RI). The company has agreed to buy a PB® 2555 pinch bottomer, two AD® 8310 bottomers, two TRANSYS-TEMS® and two Arcomat® 2 robotic palletizers for installation in early 2006.

Hood Packaging is a long-time W&H customer. "It is our confidence in their products," says Gene Schneck, manufacturing vice president, that once again brought Hood to W&H when faced with the decision to increase production efficiency and lower operational costs. The converter designs and manufactures a wide range of plastic and paper packaging products. Hood Packaging is also known for quality flexo printing and maintains its own graphics facility.

The new pinch equipment will be installed at Hood's plant in Hamlet, NC. That facility will then have two completely automated pinch lines, giving it the capability to tube, bottom and palletize pinch sacks in a single operation. The Hamlet plant currently runs four pinch bottomers.

Hood's Pine Bluff, AR, plant will have the AD 8310 bottomers installed with automated systems. The new AD 8310 bottomers will have multiple valve units and bottom-patch capabilities. The Pine Bluff facility will have the leading-edge technology in pasted-valve sack product capability once the AD 8310 bottomers are in place.