Since the beginning of our partnership, we’ve enabled the recycling of over 625,000 pouches that otherwise would have

For Enval, the ultimate aim of the project is to see our first recycling plants in the United States.

February 23, 2021 - Leading inkjet technology company, Xaar, and novel jetting technology provider Meta Additive, will demonstrate how Xaar’s technologies and collaborative approach are enabling ground-breaking applications, at this month’s FuturePrint virtual conference. 

Titled, ‘Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible’, Graham Tweedale, General Manager of Xaar’s printhead business, will review how Xaar’s unique technologies are pushing inkjet and 3D printing beyond its traditional applications into increasingly new areas. 

Highlighting the culture which exists to drive creativity and innovation at Xaar, Graham will focus on three of Xaar’s technologies – TF Technology, High Laydown Technology and High Viscosity – and explain their contribution to moving beyond the conventional limits of inkjet printing. 

In addition, Dr Kate Black, Chief Technology Officer at Meta Additive, will introduce its innovative binder jetting process and explain why the collaboration with Xaar has been an important part of their development process.

Graham commented, “The FuturePrint conference focuses on new technology that enables production to adapt to fast-changing, new markets, and if the last year has shown us anything, it’s the need for agility and innovation. 

“Our work with Meta Additive and its binder jetting invention is as creative as it is relevant to today’s evolving manufacturing environment, and above all demonstrates the role that inkjet technology and collaboration between two forward-thinking businesses is playing in pushing the boundaries of inkjet.”
The two-day FuturePrint Virtual Conference will highlight the latest developments within industrial, packaging, labels, commercial and wide-format print technologies designed to meet the needs of customers in 2021 and beyond.

Graham and Kate’s presentation takes place on February 26th at 15.00GMT / 16.00CET. The session is open to all and can be attended by pre-registering at www.futureprint.tech.  
 

About Xaar

Together with our partners and customers, Xaar has been transforming the world of inkjet technology for 30 years – and we’re just getting started.

With a new leadership team, new technology and new products, we have an exciting roadmap for the future – that will help our partners unleash the true power of inkjet printing and open up a world of opportunities for their business.

We believe true innovation comes from collaboration, which is why all our teams work together in Cambridgeshire where industrial inkjet was born.

Collaboration is at the core of our global partnerships too - whether we’re helping customers enhance their uptime or create production efficiencies from high-speed digitisation - we’re always innovating together.

We know that inkjet technology can not only maximise the efficiency of our partners’ businesses but help them evolve too. That’s why we go on a journey with our customers - offering expert insights and technical support every step of the way. Just like our printheads, Xaar’s partnerships are built to last.

Welcome to a whole new Xaar. 
www.xaar.com

Contacts:

Xaar: Charlotte Baile

T: +44 1223 802151

E: charlotte.baile@xaar.com 
Global ex China/USA: Nielsen McAllister, Simon Wildash /

Richard Pettinger

T: +44 1332 293939

E: info@nmpr.co.uk 
China: CommNow, Qianzi Che,

T: +86 10 5096 1513

E: qianzi.che@commnow.cn 
USA: Press+, Irvin Press

T: +1 508-384-0608 E: irv@press-plus.com 
 

Company’s contribution to “Backpacks of Hope” mission provides emergency supplies and resources to local residents. 

Camden, NJ – Rondo-Pak, LLC/Contemporary Graphic Solutions, a leading provider of printed components and quality folding cartons for the pharmaceutical, medical device and consumer industries, is proud to have participated in “Backpacks of Hope”, a community aid initiative in Puerto Rico formed in response to the series of earthquakes that hit the island in December 2019. Organized by EcoExploratorio, a local science and technology center in San Juan, the initiative aims to develop resilience and preparedness against natural disasters in communities across Puerto Rico. 

“Backpacks of Hope” seeks donations to provide much-needed emergency supplies, resources and support to hundreds of communities affected by the recent natural disasters across the island. Rondo-Pak’s contribution went towards providing 54 backpacks filled with safety items such as thermal blankets, first aid kits, emergency water packs, school supplies and educational literature on how to prepare for natural disasters like earthquakes and climate change. The backpacks were given to 50 families in three municipalities including those affected by the series of earthquakes in southern Puerto Rico that began in December 2019, along with families affected by a series of flash floods in August 2020.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic arising shortly after the company’s donation, distribution of the backpacks was delayed but completed in January 2021.

As a HUBZone company with a facility in San Juan, Rondo-Pak has become an integral part of the community and employs many residents. With a local connection and valued employees in the areas affected, contributing to this cause was an important one for the company.

“We are pleased to have been able to contribute to such a worthy cause thanks to the generous donations of our Rondo-Pak employees,” said Tim Moreton, CEO of Rondo-Pak/CGS. “The several recent natural disasters in Puerto Rico have brought tragedy to many communities, and we trust that the backpacks donated will bring hope and necessary resources to those affected.”
“Through these community aid initiatives, the EcoExploratorio has been able to bring help and support to hundreds of communities across the island with the goal of providing necessary tools that empower and develop resilience in both students and their families,” said Jenny M. Guevara Rivera, Executive Director of EcoExploratorio, Inc. “It is with the gracious help of organizations such as Rondo-Pak that we are able to make a difference to those that need it most.”

# # #
About Rondo-Pak
Rondo-Pak/Contemporary Graphic Solutions is a global print and packaging specialist whose unique blend of capabilities and forward thinking yields present-day solutions for tomorrow’s challenges. Strategically aligned with Körber Pharma to link packaging equipment, materials, and software, Rondo-Pak provides a comprehensive assortment of marketing and packaging solutions to address challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry, including global brand management, packaging efficiency, and supply chain optimization.

In combination with a wide range of printed materials such as inserts, leaflets, medication guides and regulated marketing materials, Rondo-Pak’s packaging innovations address precise requirements for compliance, child resistance, anti-counterfeiting, e-pedigree and more. For more information, visit www.rondopak.com.

client:    Rondo-Pak, LLC

contact:    Christopher Dale
    Turchette Agency
    (973) 227-8080, ext. 116
    cdale@turchette.com

    Rondo-Pak/Contemporary Graphic Solutions, LLC
    (800) 575-4238
    info@rondopak.com 

Latest addition to company’s EcoDesign portfolio of sustainability-minded tubes uses up to 30% less virgin materials 

Oberdiessbach, Switzerland – Hoffmann Neopac, a global provider of high-quality, responsible packaging for a broad array of industries and applications, has introduced a lighter plastic tube solution comprising up to 30% less virgin materials. The latest addition to the company’s EcoDesign series of eco-friendly tubes, the new LIGHTWEIGHT TUBE aligns with packaging industry desires to minimize carbon footprint and materials waste. 
    
Brand owners in various sectors – particularly health & beauty but also pharma– are increasingly looking to reduce or replace the use of virgin plastic packaging materials to enhance their products’ sustainability profiles. The use of such lighter-weight packaging reduces both shipping costs and extended producer responsibility (EPR) fees. 

Neopac’s LIGHTWEIGHT TUBE is available in plastic tube diameters ranging from 30-50mm, and in four substrate varieties: Polyethelene and Recycled tubes, each with or without EVOH barrier. Materials reduction is most prominent in the tubes’ wall thickness, which has been reduced from 0.5 mm to 0.35 mm without sacrificing exemplary haptics. Low profile closures are already in the pipeline to achieve maximum weight reduction in plastic tubes. 

Neopac estimates that, in its own packaging manufacturing operations, the new tubes will eliminate the need for as much as 4.6 tons of HDPE materials per one million tubes produced. This translates to an overall carbon footprint reduction of about 8.6 tons of CO2 per million tubes manufactured.  

“Finding ways to reduce the overall amount of materials is mandatory for packaging suppliers to move toward ambitious sustainability goals,” said Cornelia Schmid, Head of Marketing for Hoffmann Neopac. “Always, a challenge is to boost a package’s eco-friendliness without sacrificing product protection or aesthetics. The new LIGHTWEIGHT TUBES are viable solutions for brand owners in a number of industries, helping meet increasing consumer desires for comprehensive product sustainability.”

Other solutions in Neopac’s EcoDesign portfolio includes RECYCLED TUBE featuring 70% recycling material, 64% of which is PCR; Sugarcane Tube, made from renewable raw materials; and PICEA™ wood tube, comprised of 95% renewable material in the tube body and shoulder – including 10% of spruce wood from wood waste in sawmills. 

# # #

About Hoffmann Neopac
Hoffmann Neopac is a privately-owned company, headquartered in Thun, Switzerland. The group produces high-quality metal and plastic packaging in six locations: HOFFMANN tins in Thun and in Holland; Polyfoil® and plastic tubes with NEOPAC in Switzerland, Hungary and the US; and 3D Neopac in India. Its longstanding customers include pharmaceutical, cosmetics and consumer goods manufacturers in the European, North American and Asian markets. 
Including all facilities, Hoffmann Neopac employs 1,250 personnel and has a capacity of 1.3 billion tubes and 400 million tins. The company is dedicated to sustainability in both its manufacturing processes and corporate culture, including a dedicated eco-conscious packaging portfolio. For more information, visit www.neopac.com.  

client:    Hoffmann Neopac

contact:    Christopher Dale
    Turchette Agency
    (973) 227-8080 ext. 116
    cdale@turchette.com

Pharma/nutra manufacturing solutions giant, ACG, added another specialist division to its integrated global offering with the official inauguration of its first ACG Laboratories site – a lab for process development in Shirwal. 

The new facility is set to provide ACG's customers and partners with a research, development, testing, and training environment dedicated to the collaborative exploration of all aspects of oral solid dosage manufacturing.   

As an extension of ACG's broader customer service offering (which includes process equipment recommendations and solutions, formulation and scale-up support, new product development and validation, and technical training), the new lab now allows ACG clients to explore and solve their manufacturing needs and challenges in a dedicated and state-of-the-art space. The facility also answers a growing customer need for training and assistance with clinical trials and development projects. 

The lab houses a dedicated R&D space for small-scale development, and a pilot area for scale-up and process optimisation studies. It is equipped to accommodate multiple projects at a time. 

The Shirwal Process Development Lab is led by a fifteen heads-strong team of industry experts, covering every manufacturing niche and application. Among them are specialists in areas including fluid bed and high shear mixer granulation, bottom spray pellet coating and drying, tablet compression and coating as well capsule filling. To date, this team has been responsible for the development of over 3,500 formulations.     

On the launch of ACG Laboratories, Dr Marcus Michel (CEO of ACG Engineering) said: "We believe in constantly trying to make the life of our customers and end users easier and better. The lab's multi-purpose functionality allows us to support our customers in a way of an aligned partnership throughout the product development process. It provides a 'go-to' knowledge hub for continuous support of the customer in various stages of product manufacturing across different OSD applications. It is also a benchmark for our industry. Recent situation has shown us how critical close collaboration and agility have become to reaching the end-user’s requirements. If ACG can be part of that evolution with our clients, then we’ll truly be living up to our ‘Make it better’ mission." 

About ACG
ACG has been providing innovative integrated solutions to the global pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries for 60 years, and in over 100 countries across six continents. ACG produces integrated solutions for capsules, film and foil barriers, engineering equipment, and inspection systems – all fully complying with international regulatory requirements.

For communication queries, contact the ACG media relations management team at 
tanya.grover@acg-world.com
madhurima.chakraborty@acg-world.com

Pharma companies can achieve up to 99.9% defect detection accuracy thanks to the integration of deep learning models and secure, cloud-based technology. A dedicated team will support customers throughout the machine's life cycle. 

Piombino Dese (PD), Italy – February 23, 2021 – Stevanato Group, a leading global provider of integrated containment and delivery solutions to the biopharmaceutical and life sciences industries, has launched an Artificial Intelligence platform, based on Deep Learning (DL) models, that leverages the benefits of human-like decision-making in automatic visual inspection equipment. The platform allows pharma companies to overcome the traditional trade-off between detection rate and false rejection rate, ensuring robust and replicable results. False rejects can be reduced tenfold, and the detection rate can be improved, yielding up to 99.9% accuracy, both for particle inspection and cosmetic defects detection.

Deep Learning is particularly beneficial when applied to difficult-to-inspect and high-value biotech drugs, as it allows pharma companies to achieve higher productivity while preserving drug integrity. Drugs in the form of suspensions or lyophilized cakes frequently challenge available vision tools, causing misinterpretations of supposed defects. Traditional systems can, for instance, misclassify cosmetic defects or air bubbles as particles. Artificial Intelligence mitigates misclassification and reduces costly re-inspection. 

Thanks to its partnership with Microsoft and the adoption of Microsoft Azure platform, Machine Learning and AI features, Stevanato Group intends to deliver "smart" equipment compliant with strict pharmaceutical data management and security requirements, while improving inspection performance and reducing costs related to production reparametrization. The certified cloud-based platform is compliant with U.S. CFR 21 Part 11 and EU GMP Annex 11, meets data integrity needs, and offers advanced monitoring tools such as heat maps and confusion matrix for model performance evaluation. 

Incorporating new technologies can be challenging for pharma companies, as it usually requires them to adapt internal processes and invest time and resources. The combination of the latest digital developments and a qualified team of vision and AI engineers bring a dedicated and accurate data analysis service with continuous support for tasks from image collection to model validation. 

Raffaele Pace, Engineering Vice President of Operations at Stevanato Group said: "We are glad to provide our customers with inspection machines equipped with the latest AI technology, which are able to substantially increase defect detection accuracy even with the most challenging drugs. Choosing Microsoft Azure as our technology platform allows us to offer a proven solution while delivering the highest standards in terms of data security. Thanks to our skilled visual inspection engineers and experts in big data analysis, we can support clients from the implementation of Artificial Intelligence to ongoing support during operations."

Key features of the new Artificial Intelligence platform include: 
Cloud-based: Data remains online and therefore perpetually available. The certified cloud-based platform that stores images and data can work with any cloud-based system and allows operators to manage images even if they are stored in the server. 

Security: Compliant with U.S. CFR 21 Part 11 and EU GMP Annex 11, the platform enables data sharing in a completely safe environment. Further, multifactor authentication and encrypted communication ensure complete access control and data security. 

Assistance: Continuous support is available for all platform capabilities throughout the process, assisting pharma companies with a variety of tasks including a labeling assistant tool to optimize timing for classification and new recipe development.  

Monitoring: The platform features a wide range of statistics and visualizations (heat maps, confusion matrix, etc.) for model performance evaluation. Pharma companies can track and monitor all processes through real-time reports.
 
--------------------
ENDS

About Stevanato Group
Founded in 1949, Stevanato Group is one of the world's largest providers of integrated containment and delivery solutions for the biopharmaceutical industry. From the beginning, the Group has developed its own glass forming technology to ensure quality of the highest standards. The Group includes a wide range of skills dedicated to serving the biopharmaceutical and diagnostic industry. It offers glass containers with its historic Ompi brand, plastic components for diagnostics and medical devices, contract manufacturing services for drug delivery systems, up to inspection, assembly and packaging machines. The Group also provides analytical services and tests that study the interaction between container and drug and integration into delivery systems, supporting the drug development process. By bringing together several skills under the same entity, Stevanato Group is able to offer unique solutions to companies by reducing the time to market and the overall cost.

For more information, please visit www.stevanatogroup.com.

Press contacts:
Christopher Dale,

Director of PR and Communications at Turchette,

cdale@turchette.com
 

Considered by many as one of the ‘next big things’ in science-based beauty care, epigenetics studies our lifestyles’

The move into China is part of Quadpack’s 2020-2025 business strategy, which sets out growth plans in each of its key

“Positive-impact packaging is a long-term journey that aims to better inform our clients,” says Lyne Hélène Bouchard,

The project consists of an HK-S cartoner  for packing biscuits and a subsequent case packer for forming packs in a wr

Three heating zones ensure that the water-soluble film is placed close to the tabs at high speed.

Four V-Shapes ALPHA lines enable the company to manufacture non-food products for domestic and international distribution and to differentiate itself in the global marketplace

Bologna, Italy, February 18, 2021. V-Shapes, an innovative supplier of vertically integrated products and services for convenient, hygienic and sustainable single-dose packaging, today reported that Thailand-based NR Instant Produce PCL, a leading global manufacturer of sustainability produced ethnic, plant-based and functional foods, has installed four V-Shapes ALPHA packaging lines to support manufacture of its non-food consumer products for domestic and international distribution, including its Sustainable Development Brand (SDB) clean shots hand sanitizer as well as co-packing of third-party products. The company, which was founded in 1991 and had annual sales of approximately € 31 million in 2019, was recently listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) with the distinction of being the first purpose-led listed Thai company in the field of plant-based food, its primary business. The company has manufacturing facilities in Nakhon Pathom and Ratchaburi provinces in Thailand and plans to invest in plant-based manufacturing plants in the UK and United States. The IPO will also provide funding to reach a total of five (5) V-Shapes manufacturing lines for the production of sanitization products for sale in Canada, the United States and the Middle East.

NR Instant Produce PCL is building a global platform focused on producing the future of food, building state-of-the-art facilities in key geographies around the world to enable the production of food that will support a world of 10 billion people by 2050.

“We decided to partner with V-Shapes in December 2019,” said NR Instant Produce PCL CEO Dan Pathomvanich. “We saw it as a super-cool solution that has provided us with a packaging solution that is very different and unique from what everyone else is offering.”

NR Instant Produce PCL is another example also of V-Shapes’ ability to adapt to pandemic conditions by providing virtual installation support using smart glasses. Pathomvanich added, “The experience of virtual/online commissioning is perfect to help a company and not commit any error during the installation while keeping everyone safe.” In addition, with V-Shapes lines in place, NR Instant Produce PCL was able to assist with pandemic mitigation by providing 10 million of its SDB clean shot hand sanitizer sachets, produced with V-Shapes technology, for use in the Southeast Asian region. “Prior to implementing V-Shapes,” Pathomvanich said, “we would have been unable to provide this critical service.” 

Pathomvanich notes that existing customers are excited to implement V-Shapes technology in the Southeast Asian region, and the availability of this unique packaging approach is also generating new business for the company. “We are very happy with the configurations we have in place today,” he concludes, “but we are also looking forward to continued innovation from V-Shapes, including in-line printing, that will make us more productive and enable us to provide faster cycle times and more variations in the products we provide to our customers. Another reason we chose V-Shapes is their consistent work towards a circular economy and the continuous development of sustainable materials with a 360-degree approach to using compostable, biodegradable, and/or recyclable materials, laminates and substrates.” 

Pathomvanich also notes that V-Shapes brings a high level of quality and state-of-the-art technology to the market, including the fact that there are a number of patents in place on the process, as well as the unique single-dose packaging it enables. These were also contributing factors to choosing to partner with V-Shapes. 
To learn more about products and services from V-Shapes, visit www.v-shapes.com/.

About V-Shapes
Founded in 2018, V-Shapes is the leading provider of products and services designed to produce and fill single-unit dose packaging that enables product to be dispensed using one hand. Located in Bologna, Italy, V-Shapes manufactures, sells and services innovative vertically integrated systems for single-dose packaging that minimize waste, shorten time to market, offer a more sustainable packaging solution and are a unique and safe means for consumers to dispense single-unit measures of liquid and powdered products. The company partners with packaging converters/fillers around the globe to offer these unique services to brands in a wide range of industries, from food and cosmetics to hand sanitizer and industrial products that are efficiently served up in single-unit doses, producing packaging on demand in small or large quantities.

About NR Instant Produce PCL
NR Instant Produce PCL produces and distributes Asian and plant-based food products. The company offers sauces, seasoning mixes, condiments, ready to eat meals, noodles, fruit juices, and snacks, as well as private label and co-packing services. NR Instant Produce PCL markets its products worldwide.

Monika Dürr
duomedia
PR Consultant
monika.d@duomedia.com
+49(0)6104 944895

Jesper Gustavsson
V-Shapes
Business Development & Founding Partner
jesper.gustavsson@v-shapes.com
+39(0) 51 0185079
 

Travagliato, Italy – Antares Vision, a leading global provider of intelligent Track & Trace, Inspection and Smart Data Management solutions for the Life Science and Food & Beverage sectors, today announced entering into an agreement for the acquisition of rfXcel Corporation (“rfXcel”), a leading US-based Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) company, serving the Life Science and Food & Beverage sectors, for an upfront consideration of $120 million on a debt free and cash free basis.

Key Highlights of the Acquisition
rfXcel’s AI-enabled SaaS platform more than doubles Antares Vision Group’s software business and adds high share of contracted, recurring and scalable revenues 
Combining rfXcel’s industry leading software platform with Antares Vision Group’s Track & Trace complete solution will significantly enhance value for Life Science and Food & Beverage customers in North America, Europe and Asia
Antares Vision Group will leverage rfXcel’s software to continue to drive global growth and expand into new market segments requiring end-to-end supply chain digitalisation solutions
The acquisition is expected to be accretive to Antares Vision Group’s (1) revenue growth, (2) EPS and (3) Free Cash Flow from year-1 (before synergies) 

Highly Attractive Standalone Business
Founded in 2003 by Glenn Abood and Jack Tarkoff, and backed by Kayne Partners Fund, the growth private equity group of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. since August 2017, rfXcel is a pure play software provider to the global Life Science sector, offering SaaS-based Track & Trace solutions that improve safety, enable regulatory compliance and deliver real-time business insights. The company provides supply chain digitalisation and transparency through a comprehensive, data driven offering that includes traceability, serialisation and integrated supply chain monitoring. rfXcel operates a 100% SaaS business model with a significant portion of its revenues deriving from long-term subscription-based contracts, largely recurring and with strong visibility (average contract length >4 years, >80% recurring in nature). 
Headquartered in Reno, Nevada (USA), offices in San Francisco and subsidiaries in UK and Russia, rfXcel has 63 full time employees and is led by an experienced management team of veterans each averaging over 25 years of experience in the industry. With global presence in 40 countries, a diversified customer base of more than 190 clients and thousands of partners across the Life Science, the Food & Beverage and the Public sectors, rfXcel is one of the leading Track & Trace software players in the market. The company has created over 5 billion serial numbers and has the capacity to process over one million items a day, enabling complete supply chain transparency and rapid digitalisation.
For the 12-month period ending 31 December 2020, rfXcel reported consolidated revenues of $17 million (c.80% generated in the US and all derived from software contracts), with a gross margin above 85%. In the period 2018-2020, rfXcel recorded a revenue CAGR in excess of 25% and the company is expected to continue to perform on a similar trajectory over the coming years. 

Strategic and Operational Rationale
The acquisition of rfXcel will strengthen further Antares Vision Group’s software capabilities, consolidating its position as one of the global leaders in Track & Trace. The Antares Vision Group will leverage rfXcel capabilities and software suite to help customers accelerating the transition towards digital and sustainable supply chains, enabling full transparency and visibility. The acquisition will also enable significant opportunities to cross-sell (i) rfXcel solutions across Antares Vision Group’s large and growing installed base of Track & Trace and Inspection solutions and across a broad, blue-chip customer base of over 2,500 clients, as well as (ii) Antares Vision Group’s products to rfXcel’s existing customer base.
Together with rfXcel, the Antares Vision Group makes an important headway to provide full stack end-to-end digital solution enabling traceability, serialisation processing, regulatory compliance and gathering and monitoring of real-time data to optimise and streamline customers’ supply chains while providing complete end-to-end visibility: from the product ingredients and raw materials to the end customer experience. The acquisition meaningfully increases Antares Vision Group’s share of contracted, recurring, high growth and high margin software revenue, more than doubling to c.21% of total Group revenues (compared to 9% LTM as of June-2020 prior to the transaction). 

Emidio Zorzella, Chairman and CEO of Antares Vision said: 
“Massimo and I are delighted that we have reached agreement to acquire rfXcel. The acquisition has a compelling strategic rationale with strong operational and financial benefits. The combination will strengthen Antares Vision Group's position as one of the global leaders in the Track & Trace segment, accelerating our growth and representing an attractive value creation opportunity for our customers, our shareholder the whole Antares Vision Group.
Demand for traceability and serialised products and services has increased significantly over the last few years, and this transaction accelerates our ability to offer best-in-class propositions in all our key reference sectors, Life Science and Food & Beverage. We look forward to welcoming the management and employees of rfXcel to the Antares Vision Group and working together to serve our customers across the world.
The acquisition of rfXcel will be perfectly in line with our strategic vision and it will accelerate our role in the digitisation of the industrial world. The acquisition will enable the Antares Vision Group to broaden and deepen its relationships with existing and new customers thanks to a more comprehensive and complementary product portfolio to market.”

“This transaction represents the next chapter in rfXcel’s evolving story—the combined company will offer the most comprehensive Track and Trace solution in every market around the globe.  When Jack Tarkoff and I started rfXcel over 17 years ago, our vision was to make it possible to Track & Trace finished goods, raw materials and ingredients as they move in the supply chain.  Antares Vision shares the same goals and, by virtue of their size and global footprint, we will be able to accelerate our plans.  The rfXcel management team is delighted to join with Antares Vision to offer customers in the Life Science, Food & Beverage and other industries the most complete end-to-end solution for Track & Trace on the market today.”

Additional Details on the Acquisition
The acquisition of the entire share capital of rfXcel for an upfront consideration equivalent to $120 million (on a debt free and cash free basis, assuming a normalised level of working capital and payable in cash at closing), will be carried out as a reverse triangular merger between rfXcel and Antares Vision Acquisition Corporation, a newly incorporated vehicle of Antares Vision Inc., fully owned US subsidiary of Antares Vision S.p.A. The transaction represents an acquisition multiple of 6.9x LTM revenues at Dec-20, well below recent precedents in the industrial software space.
The parties have also agreed to an additional potential deferred cash consideration of up to $30 million payable in Q1 2023 by Antares Vision to rfXcel’s current shareholders, should certain cash-in targets be reached. The earn-out payment is linked to the collection of up to $19 million of cash from certain specific existing contracts, underpinning recurring subscription revenues and currently sitting outside of rfXcel’s standalone business plan. 
As part of the transaction, it has also been agreed that rfXcel’s key management team, including CEO and founder Glenn Abood, will reinvest a significant portion of the cash proceeds from the sale of rfXcel’s shares owned by them into Antares Vision (40% of their post-tax cash proceeds, totalling c. $8 million), while remaining in their roles to continue expanding the company and to support the delivery of the full strategic, operational and financial benefits of the acquisition. Antares Vision Group values the expertise of rfXcel’s management team and employees and will work closely with them to support the integration. As in similar recent transactions, the Antares Vision Group expects rfXcel's management to become an integral part of our team, focusing on continuing the rapid growth of the combined business Software and Smart Data offering. 
The transaction will be financed primarily with a committed bank facility provided by Mediobanca S.p.A. At closing, Antares Vision will transfer to Antares Vision Inc. the necessary funds required to complete the transaction through a capital increase before completion of the transaction. This financing transaction qualifies as a related party transaction pursuant to Antares Vision’s Procedure for Related Parties Transactions (as Antares Vision Inc is wholly owned by Antares Vision). However, the transaction benefits from the exemption provided for in article 3(e) of Antares Vision’s Procedure for Related Parties Transactions, as there are no significant interests of other related parties of Antares Vision in its subsidiary Antares Vision Inc.

Financial Impact of the Acquisition
The transaction is expected to be accretive to Antares Vision across multiple dimensions: (i) highly accretive to future revenue growth given the expected performance of rfXcel’s over the coming years; and (ii) accretive to Antares EPS and Free Cash Flow already from year-1 before considering any additional synergy impact. 
The acquisition of rfXcel is expected to support the achievement of Antares Vision Group’s medium-term targets and enhance its long-term growth opportunity, with further upside through operational leverage, cost and revenue synergies thanks to Antares Vision Group’s global presence, installed base and customer portfolio to deploy combined and integrated solutions across the Life Science, Food and Beverage and adjacent sectors. 
A business combination with rfXcel is also expected to result in cost and capex synergies driven by operational efficiencies, cost structure optimisation, enhanced operating leverage and an acceleration of Antares Vision Group’s R&D plans and innovation capabilities. Antares Vision and rfXcel have a complementary product offering, which provides revenue synergies in multiple industries, enabling product integration and customer value.
The acquisition of rfXcel is not significant within the meaning of art. 12 of Regolamento Emittenti AIM, as none of the applicable relevance indices exceeds 25%.

Expected Timetable to Completion 
The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including expiration of the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period in the US and the Russian Antitrust approval by Federal Antimonopoly Service, and is expected to close in March 2021.

Advisor to the Transaction
Morgan Stanley (financial advisor), Skadden Arps (legal advisor and legal due diligence) and Orsingher Ortu (legal advice on financing and rfXcel’s management reinvestment), New Deal Advisor (financial due diligence), Funaro & Co (fiscal advisor and fiscal due diligence) and Mediobanca (acquisition financing), supported the Antares Vision Group in connection with the transaction.
DC Advisory (financial advisor), O’Melveny & Myers (legal advisor) and Armanino (auditor) supported rfXcel in connection with the transaction.

Investor and Analyst call
Antares Vision is hosting a webinar tomorrow for analysts and investors which will start promptly at 16:30 CET time on Wednesday 17 February 2021.

Please register here https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3974086235599351310
 by 14.00 CET time on Wednesday 17 February 2021 to receive the access credentials.

The presentation that management will use is available here: https://www.antaresvision.com/investors/investor-relations/6725/mta-adm…

Investors and analysts wishing to ask questions to management on the acquisition are kindly requested to send their questions by 14.00 CET time on Wednesday 17 February 2021 to: investors@antaresvision.com. * * *

About Antares Vision
Listed since April 2019 on the AIM Italia market of the Italian Stock Exchange, Antares Vision Group guarantees the protection of products, people and brands through inspection systems for quality control, Track & Trace solutions for anti-counterfeiting and supply chain transparency, smart data management tools for maximized efficiency and digitalization of the supply chain, from the point of production to the end consumer. The Antares Vision Group is active in the life science sector, including the pharmaceutical, medical device and hospital segments, as well as in other industries, including, primarily, food & beverage, cosmetics and in consumer-packaged goods. The Group reaches over 60 countries worldwide with complete and flexible solutions, hardware and software, with related services: it has five offices in Italy (Brescia, Parma, Piacenza, Latina and Vicenza), 15 foreign branches (Germany [2], France [2], USA [3], Latin America [2], India, Russia, Hong Kong, China, Croatia and Serbia), three Innovation and Research Centers (Italy) and a worldwide network of more than 40 partners. With the twenty years of experience in vision technologies of the two founding partners, the Antares Vision Group is the supplier of ten of the 20 leading pharmaceutical companies in the world (by turnover), with more than 25,000 inspection systems, which ensure everyday product safety and quality, 6,500 quality controls and more than 3,500 serialization modules on lines installed all over the world. With the aim of continuing and supporting the growth and development strategy, during 2019, Antares Vision finalized participation agreements with T2 Software, a Brazilian company specialized in smart data management solutions, and Orobix, an Italian company leader in artificial intelligence services, and acquired 100% of FT System, leader in control and inspection in the beverage sector. In 2020, Antares Vision acquired 82.83% of Tradeticity, a Croatian company specialized in software management of traceability and serialization processes, 100% of Convel, an Italian company specialized in automated inspection machines for the pharmaceutical industry, the assets of Adents High Tech International, a French company specialized in software for serialization and traceability, and 100% of Applied Vision, a global leader in inspection systems for glass and metal containers in food & beverage. In 2019, Emidio Zorzella and Massimo Bonardi won the Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” award for innovation. For more info: www.antaresvision.com. 
 

For further information

Issuer
Antares Vision S.p.A.
Via del Ferro, n. 16
25039 – Travagliato (BS)
Alioscia Berto (CFO e Investor Relator)
Tel.: +39 030 72 83 500
E-mail: investors@antaresvision.com

Nominated Adviser and Specialist
Equita SIM S.p.A.
Via Filippo Turati, n. 9
20121 – Milano
Marcello Daverio
Tel.: +39 02 6204 1
E-mail: m.daverio@equita.eu
IR ADVISOR
IR Top Consulting
Via Bigli, n. 19
20121 – Milano
Tel.: +39 02 45473884
Maria Antonietta Pireddu
E-mail: m.pireddu@irtop.com
Antonio Buozzi
E-mail: a.buozzi@irtop.com

MILAN (18 February 2021) - Berlin Packaging, the world’s largest hybrid packaging supplier,  announced the acquisition of Sodis-Uhart and Audoubert, two historic companies offering glass and  metal packaging in France.

 Sodis-Uhart was founded in 1979 in Biarritz as a family-run business and expanded in 2015 with the  acquisition of Audoubert, based in Toulouse, creating a hub for glass and metal packaging in  southern France. The two companies offer a wide range of glass and metal containers and  packaging components and have more than 9,000 square meters of strategically located warehouse  space to support their customers.

 “Sodis-Uhart, together with Audoubert, will significantly expand Berlin Packaging’s product portfolio,  especially in the food sector,” said Paolo Recrosio, CEO of Berlin Packaging Europe. “Moreover,  both companies have strong customer and supplier relationships that will help us continue to expand,  particularly in France and the neighbouring areas of Spain.”  

“Our combination with Berlin Packaging represents the culmination of a family adventure that began  in 1979 with just one employee. We’re proud of our accomplishments, and we believe strongly that  this transaction is not an end but a new beginning, enabling us to bring our experience in southern France to the rest of Berlin Packaging, and to allow our customers and employees to benefit from  the opportunities offered by a global company,” said Dominique Uhart, Director of Sodis-Uhart, and  Michel Uhart, Director of Audoubert. 

The acquisition of Sodis-Uhart and Audobert is Berlin Packaging’s eleventh acquisition in Europe  since 2016, confirming the company’s strong commitment to offering packaging solutions in all  segments of the European market.

 "Expanding our presence in Europe remains a critical objective for us in 2021," said Bill Hayes, CEO  and President of Berlin Packaging. "Targeted acquisitions, like the acquisition of Sodis-Uhart and its subsidiary, Audoubert, continue to be an important way for us to execute on our strategic growth  plans for Europe.” 

Berlin Packaging  
Berlin Packaging is the world’s largest Hybrid Packaging Supplier® of glass, plastic, and metal  containers and closures. The company supplies billions of items annually along with package design,  financing, consulting, warehousing, and logistics services for customers across all industries. Berlin  Packaging brings together the best of manufacturing, distribution, and income-adding service  providers. Its mission is to increase the net income of its customers through packaging products and  services.  

See BerlinPackaging.com for more information. 
About Bruni Glass, a Berlin Packaging Company 
Bruni Glass, the largest packaging distributor in Europe, has 40+ years’ experience supplying  premium and specialty glass packaging to the wine, spirits, food, and gourmet markets.  Headquartered in Italy and with locations across Europe, Bruni offers thousands of custom-designed 
products along with popular standard items. The company has a world-class design studio, a network  of high-quality manufacturing partners, a team dedicated to thrilling service, and is certified by CISQ IMQ (Italian Institute for the Quality Mark) to ISO 9001 standards.  

See BruniGlass.com. for more information. 
For more information:  
Press Office – Omnicom PR Group Italy  
Barbara Papini,

barbara.papini@omnicomprgroup.com

+335 6113555 
Ilaria Sala,

ilaria.sala@omnicomprgroup.com

+39 335 8112968 

Berlin Packaging 
Elena Franzetti, Elena.Franzetti@BruniGlass.com

+39 02 48436611 +39 3401204145

 Julie Saltzman, Julie.Saltzman@BerlinPackaging.com

+1 312 869 7554 for North America.
 

Mondi’s consumer flexible plant in Steinfeld, Germany has been certified as CO2 neutral by ClimatePartner
The certification applies to the manufacturing process at Steinfeld after switching to hydropower and other renewable energies

16 February 2021 – Mondi Steinfeld in Germany has been certified as CO2 neutral for its manufacturing processes by ClimatePartner, an organisation which supports companies in reducing and offsetting their CO2 emissions. This certification was awarded as a result of Mondi Steinfeld switching to renewable energy and supporting certain climate projects in 2020.

Once the total emissions of the plant were calculated in 2019, ClimatePartner helped the plant find further ways to reduce, and then offset, its emissions with climate projects and measures such as switching to hydropower.

As part of this certification, the plant in Steinfeld combined carbon offsetting with participation in a number of carbon trust projects. These projects engage in local and international reforestation efforts to protect environmentally sensitive regions, such as Brazil and some parts of Europe. The next local project will focus on protecting an environmentally vulnerable moor close to Lichtenau in Germany through reforestation, to protect diverse ecosystems and habitats for a variety of wildlife.

“Being sustainable by design is Mondi’s purpose. Not only does this mean creating more sustainable products, but also making our production process more sustainable by optimising our processes and reducing our emissions. We are proud to achieve this carbon neutral status while also supporting Mondi’s 10 year sustainability action plan, MAP2030, to tackle global issues across the value chain, including taking action on climate,” said Werner Ferlings, Managing Director, Mondi Halle and Steinfeld, on behalf of the entire management team. 

Mondi Group, a global leader in packaging and paper, produces consumer flexible packaging at its plant in Steinfeld. Several of the products manufactured at the plant include state of the art recyclable pre-made packaging for dry pet food. Mondi is committed to providing customers with sustainable packaging through their customer-centric approach, EcoSolutions. This approach examines the entire value chain, including manufacturing, operations, and logistics. This CO2 neutral certification is another step in making the manufacturing process more sustainable. 

/ends

For further details on how much CO2 has been offset, and the climate projects that Mondi in Steinfeld is supporting, please click here.

Technical details about the certification:
Mondi’s ClimatePartner ID is 15026-2008-1001 
The certification was granted by switching to hydropower and renewable energy
Steinfeld has offset 1.656 tonnes of carbon in 2020 through additional climate protection projects

About Mondi
Mondi is a global leader in packaging and paper, contributing to a better world by making innovative, packaging and paper solutions that are sustainable by design. Our business is fully integrated across the value chain – from managing forests and producing pulp, paper and plastic films, to developing and manufacturing effective industrial and consumer packaging solutions. Sustainability is at the centre of our strategy and intrinsic in the way we do business. We lead the industry with our customer- centric approach, EcoSolutions, where we ask the right questions to find the most sustainable solution. In 2019, Mondi had revenues of €7.27 billion and underlying EBITDA of €1.66 billion.

Mondi has a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange (MNDI), and a secondary listing on the JSE Limited (MNP). Mondi is a FTSE 100 constituent, and has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series since 2008 and the FTSE/JSE Responsible Investment Index Series since 2007.

www.mondigroup.com 

About Climate Partner
ClimatePartner provides solutions for companies committed to protecting the environment.

ClimatePartner offers climate protection projects in different regions and with different technologies and standards in order to help companies contribute to protecting the environment, and the Sustainable Development Goals as laid out by the UN. 

ClimatePartner was founded in Munich in 2006, has 70 employees in Munich, Berlin, Vienna, Zurich and Yerevan, and works with 2,000 companies in 35 countries.

Contact:
Judith Wronn
Senior Communication Manager, Flexible Packaging & Engineered Materials
Tel: +49 151 1771 4692
Email: Judith.Wronn@mondigroup.com 

Josina van der Velden
EMG
Tel: +31 164 317 014
Email: jvandervelden@emg-marcom.com

After 4 years of bringing together the single-serve capsules industry at their unique live events, AMI launched the Single-Serve Capsules virtual summit. The online event, taking place from 9-11 March, provides a platform for professionals from the whole supply chain to connect and review the technical innovations in capsule production, different capsule end-of-life scenarios and the latest in capsules material science.

The new format delivers a three-day program of expert presentations, including live Q&A sessions, allowing attendees to interact, engage and be a part of the discussion. Confirmed speakers include Veith Behrmann from Nestlé Nespresso SA discussing the compliance challenge and regulatory barriers with packaging material suppliers, and Léo Escourrou from The Alliance for the Recycling of Aluminum Capsules, addressing the need to accelerate the recycling of aluminium capsules, with further insights on compatible filling from Kaffa and Cappac. The focus on sustainability is also highlighted by leading compatible capsules suppliers, Laurent Lombart from Capsul’in Pro SA and Jean-Paul Roosendaal from Menshen Packaging Ltd, both reviewing various material options to uncover the most sustainable coffee capsule. In response to market pull for compostable capsules, new solutions will be presented by Terracaps GmbH, Flo S.p.A., Jabil Packaging Solutions, Coda Group BV and NatureWorks. The programme covers the latest technological advances for coffee roasters, with particular focus on grinding, filling and packaging solutions, presented by speakers from leading suppliers such as IMA S.p.A., Rychiger AG, Sarong S.p.A., Modern Process Equipment Corporation, Cama Group and Watttron GmbH. Presentations from StackTeck Systems Ltd. and Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd will address innovation in capsule moulding.

In addition to the comprehensive three-day agenda, the platform also hosts a virtual exhibition area, allowing all attendees to explore and interact with the single-serve capsules industry and its key players showcasing their products. During the designated networking sessions professionals can connect via private meetings, scheduled with their chosen contacts.

For more information on attending the Single-Serve Capsules virtual summit please visit www.ami.ltd/capsules-join-virtual

About AMIAMI is the leading provider of information, market intelligence and conferences for the global plastics industry. Our business is underpinned by our talented staff and our unique databases. Our Consultants, Researchers, Writers and Event Organisers include many of the most respected experts in their fields. We can help you grow your business by identifying exciting market opportunities, new customers and innovative technologies from our intimate understanding of the global plastics processing industry, knowledge of how the markets have changed and where they are heading.
www.ami.international

For further information please contact:
Rebecca Weir
Senior Conference Organiser | AMI
T / +44 (0) 117 314 8111
E/ ​​​rebecca.weir@ami.international
www.ami.international
Third Floor, One Brunswick Square, Bristol, BS2 8PE, UK

-ENDS-

Notes to editor:
For further information, comment or to arrange an interview please contact:
Agata Swietek, Interim Virtual Conferences Marketing Executive
T / +44 (0) 117 314 8111
E / agata.swietek@ami.international

Sidel has launched a new Cermex WB47 case packer, expanding its WB wrap-around range to handle not only the wrap-around blank family, but also American cases (RSC and HSC). Additionally, the upgraded WB platform ensures enhanced flexibility with shorter changeover times. In 45 years, Sidel has installed more than 8,000 packers, including 1,000 wrap-around machines. More than 130 units of the best-seller Cermex WB46 and the new Cermex WB47 have already been manufactured in four years.

The current market situation demands greater adaptability of equipment that is capable of handling various combinations of primary and secondary packaging grouped in many batch sizes and configurations. Moreover, production runs are becoming shorter, and therefore high flexibility with reduced downtime and fast, easy and repeatable changeovers for case packing are essential. Meeting the various requirements of supermarkets, discount stores, online retailers and more, the Cermex WB packing platform is truly unique for the Food, Home and Personal Care (FHPC) markets.

“The Cermex WB’s case-packing range is able to handle a great variety of primary and secondary packaging types, including complete wrap-around blanks, trays, trays with ledges, two-piece packaging (tray plus lid), and provide Shelf-Ready Packaging (SRP) and easy-to-open functionalities. With the Cermex WB47, Sidel extends the flexibility and adaptability of the solution even more,” said Didier Saussereau, Packing Product Manager at Sidel. The new case packer makes it possible to run RSC and half slotted cases (HSC) with an increased speed of 22 cases per minute compared to 15 cases per minute with the traditional RSC case-packing range. Moreover, the wrap-around version can run at up to 30 blanks per minute. Thus, if some brand owners are still operating today with RSC cases, choosing a WB47 still allows them to switch easily in the future to wrap-around blanks, thanks to this common platform and a simple upgrade kit. Additionally, the WB case-packing platform can perform “easy-to-operate” up to fully automatic changeovers, thus reducing downtime when changing products, packaging, batch sizes or configurations. The average time for the changeover is five minutes, depending on the version. 

For those manufacturers who already have Cermex WB46 machines in their workshop, the new Cermex WB47 will not only widen their secondary packaging options but will also maintain consistency of case-packing assets, with operators and maintenance staff easily trained, while optimising spare parts management. “This was the case with two global brand owners who were satisfied with their well-known, proven and reliable Cermex WB46 solutions and decided to acquire the new WB47 to complete their packaging options,” concluded Didier.

Sidel designs and manufactures packing solutions for any secondary corrugated packaging. In 45 years, Sidel has installed 8,000 packers worldwide, including 1,000 wrap-around machines. Thanks to various infeed and collation systems adapted to the primary packaging types, more than 130 Cermex WB units have been sold with different configurations for different market category needs since 2017. Furthermore, Sidel’s dedicated packing site in Corcelles-lès-Cîteaux (France), where the WB platform is manufactured, received the official “Vitrine Industrie du Futur” award in 2020. This prize recognises the implementation of Industry 4.0 initiatives with new technologies, such as robotics, cobotics, mechatronics, virtual commissioning, connected machines and digital twins. “Alliance Industrie du Futur” (AIF) also appreciated the site’s ambition regarding eco-design and its strategy for training and talent recruitment, including the co-creation of a robotics school.
 

Editor’s Note: The images within this document are for illustrative purposes only and should not be used for reproduction. If high-resolution copies are not attached with the document, please contact Elina Kresa at F&H Communications for copies – see contact details below.

-----------------------------------
For editorial, advertising and sponsorship enquiries, please contact:
F&H Communications
Elina Kresa, Consultant
Tel: +49 (0) 89 12175 147
Email: sidel@fundh.de  

New fully servo-driven HQ Series counting & dispensing machines provide 100% accuracy for primary or secondary packaging of candy, confectionary, and chocolate as well as non-food products

Towaco, New Jersey – Cremer, a leading supplier of product counting machines in the U.S. for a wide array of applications, has introduced its HQ Series, a line of compact counting and packaging machines designed for unmixed, single type or single flavor products. The servo-driven three-model portfolio provides fast, reliable and cost-efficient counting solutions for primary or secondary packaging of candy, confectionary, and chocolate as well as non-food products such as medical parts, hardware and detergent pouches. 

To preserve precious production floorspace, the counting machines can be placed directly atop a packaging machine for bag filling applications, or over a conveyor belt for precise positioning and discharge of product counts into common packaging platforms such as cartons, boxes, tubs or tins.

Counting food and various other products by the piece is regarded as the most efficient, cost-effective alternative to modern weighing and pick-and-place systems, as counting accuracy is not affected by small weight variations between individual pieces. Optical counting – as opposed to weight-centric quality control – guarantees that the net contents in terms of count is 100 percent accurate for both wholesale and retail packages. Optical counting also prevents product loss, avoids product wastage, and maximizes production efficiency.

Available in HQ, HQF and HQI models, the versatile counting machines can be used for a wide variety of products - either in bulk quantities or single piece discharges into any package. The HQ Series is scalable for varying production levels depending on product type and output, with available counting channel options of 4, 6, 8 or 12. Typical output is up to 5,500 individual pieces or 175 units(discharges)/minute.

Compatible with all industrial packaging and cartoning machines, the HQ Series features a compact footprint of just 40 or 60 centimeters, FDA-compliant product parts for processing both food and non-food products and streamlined tool-free disassembly for easy operation and cleaning. Other features include silent operation with no compressed air required and a product detection unit with 100 percent accuracy. Up to three memory flap levels are available for count separation and dispensing. Vibratory plates for product transport and separation and a timing hopper for discharging product counts are also built in.

The HQ series machines can work in tandem with a bulk dosing system with infeed hopper and incline dosing conveyor, or over an indexing conveyor for filling boxes, cartons, tubs, bottles, jars or tins. Fully customized hygienic counting machines are also available.

Founded in 1949, Cremer is the U.S. leader in counting and packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical, food, consumer goods and agricultural industries. Cremer’s highly technical and innovative machinery provides unsurpassed speed and precision, ensuring companies can count and package their products in a guaranteed accurate, fast, and profitable way. Cremer product counting machines are known for their expedient ROI, realized by eliminating wasteful overcounts and reputation-damaging undercounts.

“Cremer’s versatile HQ Series of counting machines are fast, reliable and cost-effective solutions to maximize production efficiency and avoid product loss and wastage typically found with traditional weighing systems,” states Brian Pomponio, Business Development Manager of Cremer North America. “Whether the best solution is a basic, stand-alone HQ counting machine or a more complex packing line to meet more demanding requirements, our experienced team can develop tailored solutions to meet customer needs.”

###

About Cremer
Since 1949, Cremer is the leading global supplier of counting machines and packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical, food, consumer goods and agricultural industries. As part of the Uhlmann Group, the Netherlands-based company is known worldwide for its dedicated focus on quality control. 
Cremer’s highly technical and innovative machinery provides unsurpassed speed and precision, ensuring companies can count and package their products in a guaranteed accurate, fast, and profitable way. Cremer’s commitment to customized equipment solutions has led to a customer base ranging from small family-operated businesses to multinational corporations. For more information, visit www.cremer.com. 

client:    Cremer
contact:    Caitlin Bishop
    Turchette Agency
    (973) 227-8080, ext. 129
    cbishop@turchette.com
    Brian Pomponio
    Cremer North America
    (973) 214-7660    
    b.pomponio@cremer.com

Attendees will get key insights on pandemic-related changes in everyday approaches to sanitation and safety and how t