Temperature-sensing dyes used to be too costly for food and beverage packaging, but the economics changed with the cold activated bottle from Coors Brewing Co., Golden, CO.

Doug McKeown

Crown Holdings Inc. has promoted Raymond L. McGowan, Jr. from president of Crown’s North American Food Packaging business to president of its North American Packaging business.



Douglas McKeown has been appointed chief executive officer of Woodward & Curran, succeeding Albert R. Curran, who held the post for 30 years. W&C is a 500-person integrated engineering, science and operations company.



Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages (CSAB) has acquired Southeast-Atlantic Beverage Corp. (SEABEV), a leading independent bottling and distribution company based in Jacksonville, FL.  SEABEV distributes much of CSAB’s soft drink and premium beverage portfolio, as well as several licensed brands, throughout Florida and northern Georgia. Founded in 1939, it is the second-largest independent bottling company in the US, with 2006 revenues of $172 million and nearly 900 employees.  The company operates two manufacturing facilities and 16 warehouses and distribution centers from Miami to Atlanta.



Kraft Foods Inc. has made a binding offer to acquire the global biscuit business of Groupe Danone for Euro 5.3 billion ($7.2 billion) in cash. Both companies expect the transaction to be complete by the end of the year.

PMMI’s Certified Trainer (train the trainer) program will grant certification status to employees at consumer and industrial goods companies who successfully complete the two-day program. For more information, contact Maria Ferrante, director of workforce development, at 703-243-8555 or email maria@pmmi.org.



In a cost-efficiency move, Unilever is planning to merge its Dutch and Belgium branches to create a new Unilever Benelux organization.  The reorganization is expected to lead to 340 layoffs, about 200 in Belgium and 140 in the Netherlands.



Frank Burkus

Nordson Corporation named Frank Burkus as its global business development manager for new materials in the Adhesive Systems Group.  Based in Duluth, GA, he will manage new opportunities of current and potential Nordson technologies to provide materials processing solutions.

Tyco International Ltd. has appointed Patrick Decker as president of its Tyco Flow Control business. He joined Tyco in 2003 as CFO of Tyco’s Plastics and Adhesives business.