Converting machinery maker Elsner Engineering Works, Inc. (www.elsnereng.com) opens its new sales office in Bremen, Germany, and names Uwe Gerigk as International Sales Manager. He will initially be responsible for Elsner's direct sales in Northern and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia with a concentration in developing new markets. Gerigk will work closely with Elsner's current sales team and related network of sales reps throughout Europe.

Bologna, Italy-based Bieffebi S.p.A. (www.bieffebi.it), maker of flexo-plate mounters, mounter/proofers and plate-washing systems, appoints PPC Technologies & Solutions LLC (www.ppcts.com) as its US sales and service representative. Bieffebi offers a complete range of equipment to produce high-quality, precise mounting, proofing and cleaning of flexo-printing plates.

Covington, KY-based Ashland, Inc., acquires Northwest Coatings LLC (www.northwestcoatings.com) for approximately $72 million from owner Caltius Equity Partners (Los Angeles). Northwest Coatings 14 is a maker of adhesives and coatings for the converting and printing industries, which employ ultraviolet and electron-beam polymerization technologies. The deal includes production facilities in Oak Creek, WI, and Greensboro, NC.

Brückner Group (Siegsdorf, Germany) and JM Gesellschaft für industrielle Beteiligungen mbH & Co. KgaA (Worms, Germany), purchase all shares of Kiefel AG, (Freilassing, Germany). The Kiefel facility in Worms specializes in blown-film extrusion systems and winders for the packaging industry.