Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/415707
28 | /INSIGHT ON MANUFACTURING • November 2014 w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g . c o m PLANT|NEWS cont. Wisconsin Technical College has demonstrated that better student outcomes are possible when an institution focuses on policies and practices that help students learn at high levels and overcome challenges life throws at them." BEMIS SELLS BUSINESS TO PLATINUM EQUIT Y Bemis Company, Inc. of Neenah reached an agreement to sell its global Pressure Sensitive Materials business to Platinum Equity, a California-based private equity firm, for a purchase price of $170 million. This transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2014. The company plans to use the proceeds of the sale to fund the growth of its flexible packaging business. "Bemis is now positioned to dedicate all of our resources to accelerating strategic growth in our core flexible packaging business," says William Austen, Bemis Company's president and CEO. "Our focus on increasing sales of value-added products for high barrier, medical, and pharmaceutical applications around the world will support our improving performance metrics as well as our organic and inorganic growth objectives." The Pressure Sensitive Materials business segment includes manufacturing facilities located in Scranton, Pa.; Columbus, Ind.; San Luis Potosi, Mexico; Soignies and Genk, Belgium; along with offices located in Stow, Ohio, and a worldwide sales and distribution network. EXPERA LAUNCHES NEW FOOD PACKAGING, TECHNICAL BRANDS Expera Specialty Solutions of Kaukauna launched a new portfolio of food packaging and processing brands this fall, as well as a refreshed line of industrial and technical brands. Product brand names include Adhera, Culinera, Delicitera, Palettera, Servera and Tempera, and they include bleached and environmentally sensitive natural products, says Robyn Buss, vice president of sales and marketing. "This naming system is a continued theme from our corporate name Expera," Buss says. "The 'era' in the name truly helps identify our organization as one of a new era and the innovation of our food brands represents this." IRONWOOD EXPANSION COULD MEAN UP TO 80 JOBS Ironwood Plastics Inc. announced a $19 million expansion that will recycle a vacant production facility and potentially add up to 80 new jobs in Two Rivers. The first phase of the expansion C O U R T E S Y O F B P M A N D P H O T O G R A P H E R R O B E R T B U R G E S S Jim Koronkiewicz, BPM general manager, (right) and Steve Peterich, plant engineer, accept the Better Plants Award presented by Kathleen Hogan, deputy assistant secretary for energy efficiency in Washington D.C. for recognition of the company's pledge achievement to reduce energy efficiency by 25 percent in 10 years. BPM surpassed this goal, with more than a 30 percent reduction in five years. BPM, Inc. of Peshtigo received national honors for surpassing its energy saving goals ahead of schedule. The company was recognized at this year's World Energy Engineering Congress for its success in the Department of Energy's Better Plants Program. Since joining the program in 2009, BPM has reduced its energy intensity by 30 percent, surpassing its original pledge of 25 percent over a 10-year period. BPM manufactures specialty papers and converted material for the food service and packaging industries. The company is an active participant in efficiency programs offered by Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and Focus on Energy, a statewide program for energy efficiency and renewable energy. BPM has saved an estimated 69 million kWh and 3.3 million Therms of energy per year. Since collaborating with Focus on Energy in 2001, BPM has received nearly $700,000 in energy-saving incentives by installing energy efficient compressed air systems, lighting, a pump system, and various process efficiency technologies. "Focus on Energy is an excellent resource for us to develop tools and implement energy efficiencies into our paper manufacturing," says Jim Koronkiewicz, BPM's general manager. "The energy intensity reduction is credited to our partnership with the Better Plants Program, Focus on Energy, Wisconsin Public Service and our employees' dedication to a successful mill." BPM, INC. EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR ENERGY EFFICIENC Y