Page 8 - Packaging News Magazine May-June 2020

8 NEWS |
www.packagingnews.com.au | May-June 2020
Caspak
Australia
appoints
new CEO
SHELF-LIFE packaging specialist company Caspak Australia has appointed Greg Roberts as the new Australian CEO.
Bryce Hickmott, Caspak found- ing managing director, said, “After running the business for 30 years I’m witnessing a really exciting time for the packaging industry, one where we have the opportunity to have great impact through innovation.”
“With new technology and materials becoming available I’m keen to focus my efforts on product development and evolu- tion. And, bringing someone of Greg’s calibre onto the team means I can turn my attention fully to development of our sus- tainability and new product ini- tiatives,” Hickmott said.
This appointment is more than handing over the reins, a statement from Caspak said. A fresh pair of eyes with a new per- spective will provide support and direct new products and operational initiates.
Roberts said there would be many overlaps with his experi- ence in the textile industry.
“I’m looking forward to work- ing with the Caspak team, learn- ing more about our impact in the industry and how we can col- laborate and take the company to the next level, building on the base that Bryce has created over the past 30 years,” he said. ■
ABOVE: Greg Roberts, Caspak Australia CEO
ORORA has finalised the sale of its Australasian Fibre business to a subsidiary of Nippon Paper Industries for $1.72bn, with the company’s net proceeds after tax and costs amounting to $1.55bn.
According to a statement from Nippon Paper, the business has been incorporated with Austra- lian Paper, which is now called Opal. Nippon Paper says it is “a vertically integrated paper and packaging solution business.”
The statement continues: “The Opal business covers collecting wastepaper under its own sys- tem, manufacturing packaging board with cutting-edge facili- ties, converting board into pack- aging boxes through highly auto- mated production, and supplying ancillary materials and associated services.”
Nippon Paper will appoint Masanobu Iizuka as the CEO of Opal effective 25 June 2020.
Orora managing director and CEO Brian Lowe said, “Today
The new Opal is a vertically integrated paper and packaging solution business.
marks a new era for Orora, where the group retains its market- leading Australasian beverage business, with a history of sus- tained growth, innovation, and profitability, and its North American packaging solutions and visual businesses, which are both positioned in the top five of their respective market seg- ments,” he said.
“Looking ahead, Orora has commenced a review of the strat- egy for the continuing busi- nesses, including assessing com- petitive advantage in key market segments and identifying growth
options to leverage our existing core strengths,” Lowe said.
“The sale of the Australasian Fibre business provides an impor- tant opportunity for Orora to assess and shape the strategic path ahead for the company. The review is underway, and an update will be provided to share- holders later in the calendar year.”
The Australasian Fibre busi- ness has 25 plants and 27 depots across Australia and New Zealand. Revenues in the past financial year were around $1.4bn, with an EBITDA a smidge under 10 per cent at $137m. ■
$1.72bn sale of Orora’s Fibre business complete
Detmold steps up to make masks for virus fight
PACKAGING manufacturer Detmold Group is producing 145 million surgical and respirator masks at its Adelaide factory to help with efforts against the coronavirus pandemic.
The Commonwealth and South Australian governments reached a deal with the com- pany, which saw it employ an extra 160 staff. One hundred million of the masks are for the National Medical Stockpile, and 45 million are for SA Health.
Detmold Group CEO Alf Ianniello said, “To be able to
assist with both flattening the curve in this time of crisis and helping keep South Australians in work is immensely rewarding.”
He said production was to start by May.
“We expect to have the capac- ity to manufacture more than 20 million masks per month by June, and the facility will pro- duce both surgical masks and respirator masks,” he said.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said Detmold was the latest in a
line of Aussie companies rising to the challenge that the pan- demic presents.
“This is a fantastic example of how our strong manufacturing base in Australia puts us in a position to be able to make more of the medical supplies we need during the outbreak of the virus,” she said.
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said the announcement is a great exam- ple of state and federal govern- ments working together to fight the spread of Covid-19. ■