Blown and cast film maker Sigma Stretch Film, a division of Sigma Plastics Group with operations in Ontario, is boosting its production capacity by 30 million pounds through two new Davis-Standard equipment installations. Sigma’s plant in Belleville, Ont., will receive a Davis-Standard seven-layer agricultural stretch film line aimed at expanding the current silage film offerings. According to Sigma officials, the new line allows production using the latest resins, expanded exploration in sustainability options, and better service for both domestic and international agricultural customers. The new line adds fifteen million pounds of silage film capacity in Belleville. The second machine is a three-layer Davis-Standard blown film line for Sigma’s Shelbyville, Kentucky location. “Supporting the ever-growing demand for prestretched hand films and the Vortex product lines, this equipment will add fifteen million pounds of capacity,” Sigma officials said.

Transcontinental Inc. announced that it has acquired H.S. Crocker Co., Inc., a manufacturer of die cut lids for the food industry and labels for the pharmaceutical industry. Primarily serving North American customers, with approximately 150 employees, H.S. Crocker operates two facilities, in Huntley, Illinois, and Exton, Pennsylvania. For the 12 months ending July 31, 2021, H.S. Crocker’s consolidated sales were around US$50 million. “H.S. Crocker is a die cut lidding leader in North America, serving markets that are highly strategic for us,” said Thomas Morin, President of TC Transcontinental Packaging. “The integration of H.S. Crocker’s Huntley facility to our platform will broaden our packaging solutions portfolio, especially in the dairy, coffee lids as well as shelf stable and chilled desserts markets, and provide significant cross-selling opportunities with our respective customers. As for the Exton plant, it will allow us to expand our pharmaceutical and medical expertise in the advanced coatings product offering through the addition of value-added and specialized labels, while increasing our market share in the healthcare industry. We are also planning on leveraging the excess capacity within both H.S. Crocker’s facilities in order to support our organic growth. We wish to extend a warm welcome to all of H.S. Crocker’s talented employees.”

Drive down almost any street in America and you’re bound to see them— brown shipping boxes (many made by Georgia-Pacific). They’re stacked up in apartment complex offices; slung on front porches and lining the back doors of many businesses. Ecommerce demand has tended to be more seasonal because of holiday shopping, but the last several years the seasonality has flattened somewhat as online purchasing has become more common throughout the rest of the year. The pandemic is also having an impact on demand. In fact, COVID-19 has created approximately a 30-40 percent increase in demand for boxes, as many are ordering online to decrease in-person shopping trips. Unlike the grocery store, there is no “paper or plastic” option in your online cart. These days, almost everyone gets a box (or a shipping envelope) and those home deliveries are expected to continue. Georgia-Pacific has 40 operations in the U.S. dedicated to making brown paper (called containerboard) and converting that paper into boxes of all kinds. Watch this 1-minute video for some behind the scenes “How It’s Made” footage.