Bemis’ Corporate Responsibility Report is available online here in the “Sustainability” section. Highlights in the report include:

» Demonstrating economic sustainability by increasing Bemis’ annual dividend for the last 28 consecutive years.
» Establishing environmental sustainability metrics and goals.
» Participating in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) since 2006.
» Advancing employee safety success with 87% of Bemis’ plants achieving safety results better than the industry average Total Recordable Injury Rate.
» Contributing over $3.25 million annually to charitable organizations and programs in communities around the world.

Bemis’ responsible business practices have been recognized. For five consecutive years, Bemis has been included in Forbes’ “America’s 100 Most Trustworthy Companies” list for consistently demonstrating transparent accounting and sound corporate governance. Bemis has been recognized as one of the 500 greenest companies in the U.S. in Newsweek’s Green Rankings since the list’s inception in 2009. Bemis has also been named one of S&P’s Dividend Aristocrats for each of the past four years.

“The acquisition of Solutia is a significant step in our growth strategy and one that I am confident will strengthen Eastman as a top-tier specialty chemical company with strong, stable margins,” said Jim Rogers, chairman and chief executive officer of Eastman. “The addition of Solutia will broaden our geographic reach into emerging geographies, particularly Asia Pacific, establish a powerful combined platform with extensive organic growth opportunities, and expand our portfolio of sustainable products, all of which are consistent with our growth strategy.

“This transaction is also expected to deliver immediate value to our stockholders in the form of accretion and strong cash generation, as well as create potential upside through the combination of two leading global chemical companies,” said Rogers.

"This complementary transaction will accelerate the growth of our businesses around the world. The shared commitment to innovation, quality and technical service will allow us to better serve our customers and creates opportunity for our employees around the globe," said Jeffry N. Quinn, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Solutia. "This transaction provides Solutia’s shareholders with immediate value and an attractive premium, as well as the opportunity to benefit from the future prospects of a leading global chemicals producer with the financial strength, a diversified mix of premium products, and the geographic footprint to capitalize on long-term growth opportunities."

“I commend the excellent management team and employees of Solutia. Over the past several years, Solutia has transformed itself into a financially strong, innovative performance materials and specialty chemicals company, with enviable market leading positions in virtually every market it serves,” added Rogers. “That, in addition to both companies’ success integrating prior acquisitions, gives me confidence we will achieve a smooth transition. We look forward to welcoming Solutia employees to Eastman.”

Solutia a strong, strategic fit

Eastman and Solutia share several key fundamentals, such as complementary technologies and business capabilities, a polymer science backbone, similar operating philosophies and a high performance culture. In addition, the overlap of key end-markets is expected to provide opportunities for growth.

This acquisition is also a significant step in Eastman’s strategy to extend its global presence in emerging markets. In particular, it should significantly accelerate Eastman’s growth efforts and offer excellent growth opportunities in Asia Pacific. By leveraging infrastructure in the region, Eastman expects to have a compound annual growth rate in Asia Pacific approaching 10 percent for the next several years.

Transaction expected to deliver strong earnings growth and significant cost and revenue synergies

Eastman expects the transaction to be immediately accretive to earnings, excluding acquisition-related costs and charges. After giving effect to the acquisition of Solutia, including expected cost synergies, Eastman expects 2012 EPS to be approximately $5 excluding acquisition-related costs and charges. Eastman is also increasing its 2013 EPS expectation to greater than $6.

Eastman has identified annual cost synergies of approximately $100 million that are expected to be achieved by year-end 2013. Key areas of value creation include the reduction of corporate costs, raw material synergies, and improved manufacturing and supply chain processes.

Further, Eastman expects to realize significant tax benefits from Solutia’s historical net operating losses and other tax attributes that are expected to contribute to free cash flow (defined as cash from operations minus capital expenditures and dividends) of approximately $1.0 billion through 2013.

Eastman also recognizes the potential for meaningful revenue synergies by leveraging both companies’ technology and business capabilities and end-market overlaps, particularly in automotive and architectural.

Attractive capital structure, benefiting from low interest rate environment

Eastman intends to finance the cash portion of the purchase price through a combination of cash on hand and debt. Debt financing has been committed by Citi and Barclays Capital which are acting as financial advisors to Eastman on the transaction, and Jones Day is acting as legal counsel. Eastman’s management and Board of Directors remain committed to maintaining an investment grade credit rating and to its current annual dividend rate of $1.04 per share.

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Moelis & Company LLC acted as financial advisors to Solutia on this transaction. Perella Weinberg Partners LP acted as financial advisors to Solutia's Board of Directors. In addition, the Valence Group, LLC conducted an independent evaluation of Solutia’s long range plan for Solutia’s Board of Directors. Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal counsel to Solutia.

The transaction, which was approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, remains subject to approval by Solutia’s shareholders and receipt of required regulatory approvals as well as other customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2012.

A. Schulman, Inc. (Nasdaq-GS: SHLM) announced today that it entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Elian SAS, a French portfolio company of British Vita plc, for approximately euro 48 million or $63 million in cash based on current exchange rates. Elian is a leading producer of highly specialized color masterbatch products. The transaction is expected to generate approximately $2.5 million of annual run rate synergies to be realized by the end of fiscal 2013. The transaction is anticipated to close in early February 2012.

Elian provides specialty formulated color concentrates to end markets such as healthcare, cosmetics, packaging, pipes and tubing and personal hygiene products that require demanding customer specifications. The company offers superior quality, technology and responsiveness to its diversified customer base.

"I'm pleased that we have reached an agreement to purchase Elian which is an excellent strategic fit as we continue to provide highly technical and differentiated solutions to our customers," said Joseph M. Gingo, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of A. Schulman. "The acquisition of Elian will move us into the number-three position in France's color masterbatch market. It also will allow us to significantly improve our product mix in the EMEA region by leveraging our full portfolio of masterbatch products with a wider customer base. Our strategic goal is to become the leading global manufacturer of masterbatch and we will continue to seek out global opportunistic acquisitions that will diversify our end markets and provide profitable long-term growth to our shareholders."

"Under an experienced management team, Elian has outperformed the challenging French economy by specializing in higher-margin products with a keen focus on quality and innovation," said Bernard Rzepka, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of A. Schulman, Europe, Middle East, Africa. "We are excited to add their expertise to our team and to expand our product and service capabilities for our growing customer base in the region. Elian will help our continued efforts to penetrate faster into attractive market segments."

Founded in 1949, Elian has approximately 100 associates and is located in France's "Plastics Valley" in Oyonnax. A. Schulman currently has European color operations in Belgium, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, United Kingdom and Italy.

ISSUE: Cephalon, Inc. notified healthcare professionals of a recall of Treanda (bendamustine HCL) for Injection 25mg/8mL, lot TB30111, expiration date 12/2012. This product lot is being recalled due to the presence of particulate matter found in a single vial, which has been identified as glass fragments. Potential adverse events after intravenous administration of solutions containing particulates may present as an emboli and result in disruption of blood flow causing tissue/organ damage, especially in vulnerable patients such as those undergoing surgery, immunosuppressed individuals, and the elderly, as well as patients with micro or macrovasular disease, such as cardiac and renal disease, who may be more at risk since their vasculature and end organs are already compromised.

The affected Treanda lot is packaged in 8 mL vials and was distributed to wholesalers and distributors nationwide between March 22, 2011 and October 5, 2011.

BACKGROUND: Treanda (bendamustine HCL) for Injection 25mg/8mL is indicated for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) that has progressed during or within 6 months of treatment with rituximab-containing regimen.

RECOMMENDATION: Recipients of the subject lot have been previously notified of this recall via overnight notification on 11/18/11. Wholesalers, retailers, hospitals and health care professionals who have lot TB30111 in their possession are instructed to immediately cease using the product and immediately quarantine product for return.

Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:

Complete and submit the report Online.

Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

Read the MedWatch safety alert, including a link to the Press Release, here.

The ISO Class 8 cleanroom will be enhanced via Rollprint's vertical integration which means that the rollstock from which the pouches are made is also produced at the same facility in Addison, Ill. No other pouch manufacturer has both vertical integration and cleanroom capabilities in the United States, making it another "first" for Rollprint.

By definition, a cleanroom environment has a controlled level of contamination that is specified by the number of particles per cubic meter at a specified size. ISO Class 8 Cleanroom certification dictates the following maximum concentration limits for airborne particulate (particles/m3) according to ISO 14644-1: 3,520,000 at 0.5 ?m; 832,000 at 1 ?m, and 29,300 at 5 ?m.

"We started preparing for this two years ago with investments in vision systems, web cleaners and other equipment and procedures to minimize particulates in our film converting area. We wanted to properly address upstream criteria before taking the next step," said Dwane Hahn, vice president of sales and marketing, Rollprint.

The upgraded capability has been driven by customer demand for domestic supply that has been produced in a clean room environment. Pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostic/life science manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to reduce the number of contaminants that come in contact with their products.

"There is a big difference between 'cleanroom environments' that some manufacturers claim they have, and actual cleanroom certification. In a few months time, we expect to be able to announce to the industry that we have met the rigorous certification criteria and are producing pouches in our cleanroom," Hahn explained.

The cleanroom will house five production lines capable of producing a variety of pouch structures for which Rollprint is known. This includes header bags, chevron, vented, three-side weld seals, corner peels, etc.

"Many of the packaging structures used today for pharma and medical device applications-such as film and foil header pouches, coextruded, peelable heat-seal films and silicon oxide/aluminum oxide composites-were first introduced to the industry by Rollprint. The new cleanroom capability builds on that legacy," said Hahn.

Post-commercial and post-consumer packaging is any material that is recycled after its intended end-use. Post-industrial material is any scrap generated during the manufacturing process that is recycled but never served its end-use. 2010 marks the highest post-consumer & post-commercial recycling rate for the EPS industry since the inception of the recycling rate report in 1990. The report illustrates that EPS recycling has reached a stable baseline of incremental growth and steady end-use market developments.

"ACH Foam Technologies alone recycled about 4 million pounds of both post-industrial and post-consumer EPS in 2010," said Todd Huempfner, VP of Operations. "Considering that EPS is 98% air, this is a huge volume of material." ACH Foam Technologies has become actively involved in assisting companies with their recycling needs, as reflected in the company's large volume of recycled material.

ACH Foam Technologies, a major EPS manufacturer, uses a closed loop manufacturing model in the production of its EPS products. ACH manufactures EPS for packaging, construction and OEM applications in 8 plants across the US.

"We have taken an holistic approach to servicing our customers by not only offering our recycling capabilities but also serving as a valuable recycling resource. We provide them with information about how to locate a large volume recycler when we are not able to accommodate their needs," said Erich Brandt, Senior VP Sales & Marketing. "In addition, ACH Foam also provides training and resources to encourage our customers to set up their own collection process and will connect them with EPS recycling equipment manufacturers." ACH Foam Technologies has been working with the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers, which has put together a comprehensive sustainable packaging program that provides a step-by-step tool kit containing recycling resources. Information for packaging & OEM customers about how to set up their own recycling program is included. The AFPR program has assisted companies such as Ethan Allen, GM, Crate & Barrel, NASA and NSA by providing them with recycling information and resources.

Companies such as sanofi pasteur have partnered with AFPR to develop successful collaborative EPS recycling programs. EPS, which has been criticized for its environmental impact, has proved to be a sound material choice, according to Bill Tarabek, director, U.S. distribution for sanofi pasteur, the Lyon, France-based vaccines division of the Sanofi-Aventis Group. "EPS is not environmentally unfriendly-it's just the opposite," Tarabek contends.

"Unlike other material such as paper, EPS does not degrade and will not leach any substances into groundwater, nor will it form harmful gases," he adds. "So although EPS can be safely disposed in today's landfills, sanofi pasteur developed a Return and Recycle Program for our customers who prefer to recycle." Since January 2008, sanofi pasteur has offered its U.S. customers a prepaid mail-back recycling program that works through its partnership with AFPR.

Sanofi pasteur's customers-physician's offices, hospitals, and healthcare providers- who receive EPS shippers containing their medical supplies, are provided with tape strips and a recyclable shipping label. They simply empty the EPS container, tape the lid closed, apply the label to the container and give it to their courier for shipment to a recycler.

The manufacturing process for EPS is very clean. First, the original polystyrene beads are expanded with the use of steam. The pentane-loaded bead is exposed to pressurized steam that causes the polystyrene to expand and mold into the desired shape and density needed. Manufacturing EPS does not involve the use of ozone depleting CFCs, HFCs or HCFCs. The final product is a moisture resistant closed-cell structure that is comprised of 98 percent air. Despite its light weight, this plastic can possess a compressive strength of up to 60 psi.

EPS is renowned for its superior performance properties, which make it one of the most efficient packaging and insulating materials. The use of EPS packaging offsets millions of gallons of gas and emissions (EPS weighs half as much as comparable coated paperboard products), and is the most protective of the products being shipped, which reduces waste due to product breakage in transit. EPS also has superior insulating qualities, which protect perishables during transit.

ACH Foam Technologies' plants are drop-off facilities for smaller quantities of post-consumer EPS packaging from any clean (non-food contaminated) source. Those who don't have access to a drop-off site are using different methods of recycling their EPS packaging, such as the mail-back program.

For more information on ACH Foam Technologies visit here. For more information about the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers or to download the 2010 Recycling Rate Report visit here.

Schneider Packaging Equipment Co., Inc.

ISO Class 8 cleanroom expected to be operational by second quarter, with pouches produced at same facility.

The new contract manufacturing facility, Preco MPC, "Medical and Precision Converting", offers laser processing and die cutting services for the medical, packaging and converting industries. With ISO certified clean rooms, dozens of laser and die cutting work stations, and PhD level Applications Engineers, Preco will offer unprecedented development and manufacturing capabilities, customer service, and quality.

Preco, Inc. employs 300 workers globally, and offers laser, die cutting, laminating and screen printing systems and services for customers in the medical, flexible packaging, electronics, energy, transportation/automotive and other general industries around the world.

For more information please visit our website or call 715-247-3285.

Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., winner of the Facility of the Year Award for Sustainability for its Chiesi Farmaceutici Research and Development Centre facility in Parma, Italy

Eisai Pharmatechnology & Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd., winner of the Facility of the Year Award for Project Execution for its Eisai Knowledge Centre facility in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh India

Merck & Co., Inc., winner of the Facility of the Year Award for Facility Integration for its Merck Vaccine Bulk Manufacturing Facility (VBF) Program of Projects in Durham, North Carolina USA

Rentschler Biotechnologie GmbH, winner of the Facility of the Year Award for Equipment Innovation for its REX III manufacturing facility in Laupheim, Germany

Roche Diagnostics GmbH, winner of the Facility of the Year Award for Operational Excellence for its TP Expand project in Penzberg, Germany

National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT), winner of the Facility of the Year Award Special Recognition for Novel Collaboration for its New Greenfield facility in Dublin, Ireland

The FOYA program is the pharmaceutical industry’s premier awards program dedicated to celebrating innovation and accomplishments in facility design, construction, and operation. The Facility of the Year Awards program recognizes state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing projects that utilize new and innovative technologies to enhance the delivery of a quality project, as well as reduce the cost of producing high-quality medicines. Now entering its ninth year, the awards program effectively spotlights the accomplishments, shared commitment, and dedication of individuals in companies worldwide to innovate and advance pharmaceutical manufacturing technology for the benefit of patients worldwide. The Facility of the Year Awards program is sponsored by ISPE, INTERPHEX, and Pharmaceutical Processing magazine.

“Our 2012 Category Winners reflect the true spirit of the Facility of the Year Awards program,” said Judging Panel Chairperson and upcoming “Lessons from 483s” conference keynote speaker Chaz Calitri. “The winning projects exemplify innovation in pharmaceutical manufacturing for the benefit of patients all over the world, who depend upon us for medications that are high quality, available and affordable. Our winners come from 5 different countries and include novel, low cost biologics facilities, creative and visionary industry-academia-government collaborations, and hyper-fast track investments made to ensure vaccine’s get to patients in need. We are also proud this year to recognize facilities that seek to speed up drug development as well as facilities that greatly reduce the environmental “footprint” of manufacturing in the communities in which they reside.”

The Facility of the Year Awards program is truly global, as submissions over the past eight years have been received from more than 25 different countries and territories. Each of the submissions was reviewed by an independent, blue-ribbon judging panel consisting of global senior-level executives from all aspects of the industry. The judging panel met personally in December to select the Category Awards Winners and select the 2012 overall winner, which will be announced to the world for the first time at ISPE’s Annual Meeting in November.

2012 Facility of the Year Events
There will be several opportunities to learn first-hand about the facilities being honored as “best in their class.” These opportunities include:

INTERPHEX2012 - Attendees will be able to meet the Category Award Winners at the Facility of the Year Awards Display Area near the front of the exhibit hall of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, New York, USA. Team members from winning companies will be on-hand to discuss the success stories associated with these pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. More information, including registration information, can be found at http://www.interphex.com.

ISPE 2012 Annual Meeting - Category Winners will give presentations about their winning projects during ISPE’s 2012 Annual Meeting, 11-14 November in San Francisco, California USA. The highly anticipated announcement of the 2012 Facility of the Year Awards Overall Winner will also take place during the Keynote Session of this event. Information and updates on this global event can be found at http://www.ISPE.org.

Feature Articles - Comprehensive coverage will appear in Pharmaceutical Processing magazine and ISPE’s Pharmaceutical Engineering magazine.

Comprehensive details about each of this year’s award-winning projects and their support teams, plus additional information on the awards program itself, can be found at http://www.FacilityoftheYear.org.

Main features leading to the second RSC Slitter/Rewinder 440mm web width inspection machine was Dual Rewind with capacity up to 700mm and Tension Control from 100% servo Bosch Rexroth Drives, enabling the company to produce Shrink Sleeves material at high-speed and efficiently. Also ordered was the Vacuum Splice Table option which delivers unprecedented Operator efficiency by allowing automatic placement of mill-splice/flags, matrix/missing labels and vision detected defects right on the vertical inspection plate/waste rewind for reworking. The machine is also equipped for a Nikka Research Vision System.

“We are extremely pleased with the production results from our first ROTOCONTROL RSC Slitter/Rewinder” commented Ronaldo Baumgarten Jr., Chairman of Baumgarten.
“ROTOCONTROL delivered a high quality technology finishing machine and follow on support that was promised. We look forward to further production benefits from our second ROTOCONTROL finishing machine investment.”

Baumgarten is one of the largest and most modern printing plants in Latin America
specializing in world-wide industrial production of labels including cut and stack, self-adhesive, in-mold, and shrink sleeve; in addition to tags, printed fabric labels and thermoformed trays for the food industry. Baumgarten is one of the fewest printers in the world that offers almost all printing systems including Rotogravure, offset, screen-printing, letter-press, flexography, hot stamping, cold foil, embossing and digital printing.

PDC Intl.

MG2 S.r.l.