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Emerald Packaging<\/a>, one of the nation\u2019s largest suppliers of flexible packaging solutions for the produce industry, has expanded its market-leading production capabilities to Southern California, establishing its second facility in the state.\u00a0<\/p>\n The company\u2019s new production facility will run out of Blower-Dempsay Corp. in Santa Ana. Emerald announced the purchase of their flexible packaging assets, for an undisclosed sum. The deal is the first acquisition in Emerald Packaging\u2019s 63-year history and gives the company a well-positioned location to serve produce customers in Arizona and northern Mexico. <\/p>\n The purchase will eventually increase Emerald\u2019s headcount from 250 today to over 300 by the end of the year.<\/p>\n \u201cThe opportunity to expand Emerald Packaging\u2019s footprint and acquire the manufacturing assets of Pacific Flexible Solutions checked every box,\u201d says Pallavi Joyappa, President of Emerald Packaging<\/strong>. \u201cWe\u2019ve never had a second facility, and this location allows us to set up shop close to a key customer base\u2014while also close to our Union City, California, headquarters\u2014with equipment and capabilities that match our own.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Emerald will benefit not only from increased capacity, but a strong geographic link to its largest customers. Emerald will now be only three hours to the Mexicali crossing as opposed to over a day, which is critical to serving customers in that region. This also gives Emerald Packaging redundant capabilities, a critical advantage during any potential business interruption.\u00a0<\/p>\n Emerald\u2019s new Santa Ana facility features an eight-color, 52\u201d-wide Windmoeller & Hoelscher<\/a> printing press, two Nordmeccanica laminators, two slitters, and a thermal oxidizer. The company plans to add slitters with laser and hot needle capability and a second printing press soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s rare to align with another family-owned business that shares such a similar culture and view of how to operate a business, treat employees and support valued customers,\u201d says Brad Jordan, President of Blower-Dempsay Corp<\/strong>. \u201cWe look forward to exploring synergies that are mutually beneficial, with the added advantage of having Emerald operate within our Santa Ana facility.\u201d <\/p>\n Kevin Kelly, CEO of Emerald Packaging, will be a featured speaker at this year\u2019s Global Pouch Forum<\/a>, which will take place May 27-29 in Clearwater Beach, Florida.<\/p>\n Kelly will present an Innovation Spotlight<\/strong> on \u201cPCR Resin Use in Potato Bag Packaging.\u201d Emerald Packaging recently gained recognition via the Flexible Packaging Association Achievement Awards for its new 30% Food Contact Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Resin for 5 lbs. and 10 lbs. Potato Bags, winning awards for Packaging Excellence and Technical Innovation. <\/p>\n To register for Global Pouch Forum and learn more about the event, visit www.packagingstrategies.com\/global-pouch-forum<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nGlobal Pouch Forum<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n