In a significant corporate development in Australia’s packaging industry, Kin Group, an investment company controlled by the wealthy Geminder family, has unveiled a bold takeover bid for Pact Group.

Two major players in paper-based packaging, Smurfit Kappa and WestRock, have confirmed a transaction to combine and create a "global leader in sustainable packaging with unparalleled scale, quality, product and geographic diversity".

Melbourne contract packing operation, Alepat Taylor, has invested $25m to expand its beverage packaging plant in Preston, with the installation of a new canning line, including a KHS Innofill Compact C filling system. PKN took a tour of the new facility.

Over 100 ANZ team members, customers and supplier partners joined TricorBraun's Bev-Cap team for the grand opening of its new Western Sydney manufacturing facility. PKN was there.

Orora is making a major strategic move, acquiring French-based global bottle manufacturer Saverglass, for an enterprise value of A$2.156 billion. The deal will add $1.2 billion to Orora's $4.3 billion revenue.

The Australian Institute of Packaging hosted a gala dinner to celebrate its 60-year legacy and mark the special milestone in the company of past presidents, AIP Fellows, lifetime members and VIP guests.

Two Melbourne-based flexible packaging businesses have joined forces, with Filton Packaging buying Australian Contour Packaging, adding capability to service customers in the food industry.

Zipform Packaging has opened its new $8m manufacturing facility in Dandenong, Victoria, for linear formed composite packaging. The opening ceremony was attended by customers, suppliers and key industry stakeholders. PKN was there.

Arnott’s has officially commissioned its $65m automated distribution centre in Western Sydney. With almost 4x previous capacity and comprehensive automation, efficiencies have already been unlocked.

End-to-end collection and recycling operation Close the Loop Group achieved soaring revenue in the 2023 financial year, on the back of strong organic growth, and its latest acquisitions.

Visy unveiled a major $42.5 million upgrade to its paper recycling campus in Coolaroo, with Victorian premier Daniel Andrews and federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek in attendance.

Orora’s $110m investment in expanding its aluminium can manufacturing capability at its Dandenong and Ballarat plants was part-funded by a grant from the Victorian Government, whose ministers toured the new multi-size can facility this week.

The country's biggest print operation, IVE, is committed to entering the packaging market, and is zeroing in on the higher margin, shorter run, folding cartons segment, and the flexibles packaging segment.

APCO's interactive forums around the country to engage industry on a packaging reset have been booked out, with strong support for recycled content targets and mandatory participation in EPR schemes.

Pro-Pac Packaging CEO John Cerini says the company’s period of rationalisation of sites, plant and services is over, with the business now positioned to focus on growing its profits.

The AFGC’s latest State of Industry report shows years of pandemic, supply chain, weather, and inflationary impacts took a toll on the food and grocery manufacturing sector in the2021-22 reporting period.