BMO Capital Markets’ Mergers & Acquisitions in the Packaging Industry: Annual Deal Review announced that mergers and acquisitions volume increased for the fifth consecutive year, aggregate packaging value reached $32.6 billion for the 137 transactions with reported values, the 2007 median reported packaging transaction value was $35.3 million in 2007, and strategic and private equity acquirers accounted for 66% and 34% of transactions respectively in this sector.

An anti-counterfeiting watermark for plastic products was developed by University of Warwick WMG researchers. It is molded into the plastic product, and would require detailed technical knowledge and equipment to replicate.

Packaging solutions company MeadWestvaco Corp.’s new identity is “MWV: How brands take shape,” which was chosen to articulate its global packaging capabilities.

Sidel opened a new Packaging Development and Tooling Center in Guadalajara, Mexico. The facility offers all of Sidel’s plastic bottle manufacturing services, and has an manufacturing capacity of 2,000 molds per year that can be used on all blow molding machines.

Integrated packaging equipment provider Pro Mach Inc. has acquired pressure-sensitive labeling equipment designer and manufacturer Labeling Systems Inc. (LSI). LSI is now a division of Pro Mach’s Identification and Tracking Business Unit.

Multivac has joined with commercial hygiene chemicals provider Johnson Diversey to deliver a customized sanitation plan to every customer purchasing a Multivac packaging system with clean-in-place (CIP) option. The same customers will also each receive a free customized introductory chemical solutions kit.

Hewlett Packard has received the 2007 Industry Award of the National Association for Printing Leadership. The award is given annually to a graphic arts manufacturer or supplier.

Design North has hired Andrea Stern as a design support specialist to assure that final files are done efficiently and to quality standards.