Israel-based Syfan has opened its first U.S. manufacturing plant, Syfan Mfg. Inc., in Everetts, NC. The eight-acre facility, which had its grand opening on April 11, will produce shrink wrap for the food, hi-tech and pharmaceutical industries in North America and employ more than 80 people at full capacity.

“Syfan’s Israel facilities are at full capacity and have been exporting over 90 percent of our products to North America and European markets,” said Boaz Roseman, director of Syfan North American operations. “With the North American market consuming over 250 million pounds of shrink wrap and producing 97 percent domestically, we wanted to be closer to our key customers and be able to quickly provide their packaging needs without the expense and delay of overseas shipping.”

Stage one of the facility added two production lines and will employ 41 people in its first year of operations. The ISO 9002-certifiec plant is 74,500 square feet and joins four existing North American warehouses. At full capacity, it will cover more than 82,000 square feet.

Multivac will be showing some of its latest packaging and labeling systems at PACex International 2005, taking place May 24-26 at the National Trade Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Multivac will be at booth #3341 and will be demonstrating its compact R140 thermoform fill-seal system as well as labeling and vacuum chamber technologies at the show. Packaging professionals will be available to discuss the company’s full range of equipment.

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BDL, Wassenberg, Germany, a manufacturer of internally powered drum motors specifically designed for driving conveyor belts, has established a North American headquarters in Wilmington, NC. BDL manufactures a broad range of drum motor units for all types of material handling, including, chemical processing, poultry, meat, fish and food processing, and feed and grain handling. For more information, contact BDL America, 101 Portwatch Way, Wilmington, NC 28412, phone (910) 790-8008, or visit www.bdlamerica.com

Food Safe International/Apollo Scientific Group, in conjunction with Food Safety International LLC and Sphere Group Inc., announced it will market and distribute the Spherequat 1000 and Spherequat 6400 disinfectants. The EPA-certified and patented products are food grade and are effective in five minutes against Staphyloccoccusaureaus, Salmonenne choleraesuis, and Pseudomonas aruginosa.The Spherequat products are effective for fresh produce, meat, dairy, poultry, hog barns, deli and more operations.

ExxonMobil Chemical’s packaging program has graduated its 9,000th student. Al Kuhl, technical marketing manager for MACtec, graduated from the University of Orientated Polypropylene, a flexible packaging and labeling edication program hosted by the Films Business of ExxonMobil Chemical. The two-day seminar includes an overview of basic oriented polypropylenes and the use of OPP film for labeling face stocks and release liners.

Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.’s Corrugated Container division display group won 15 awards at the Point of Porchase Advertising International (POPAI) Outstanding Merchandising Achievement (OMA) awards contest. The OMA award recognizes innovative and effective retail marketing displays and programs that lift sales and make products memorable and enticing to customers. Smurfit-Stone won awards in nine different categories, including Grocery and General Merchandise, Beer, Snack Products & Soft Drinks, and Entertainment.

Shuttleworth Inc. hosted a visit for Purdue University Dean of International Programs Dr. Riall Nolan, along with Dr. Michael Brzezinski, director, international students and scholars; Dr. Brian Harley, director, study aborad, and Dr. Liza Boffen-Yordanov, director of development, internal programs and the graduate school of Purdue University. Shuttleworth and Purdue are working to develop a student internship program to allow students to experience first-hand the daily business opportunities and challenges that international business face today.