Kimberly, Wis.-based Crane Engineering Sales Inc. has purchased Greenville, Wis.-based Debelak Technical Systems. Crane says the acquisition strengthens its ability to help customers in food, beverage and dairy markets as well as adds process control and instrumentation expertise to better serve its customers in pulp and paper, general industrial and environmental markets.

The International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) has named DuPont as the 2005 recipient of the prestigious Black Pearl Award for corporate excellence in food safety. The honor is given annually to one company for its efforts in advancing food safety and quality through consumer programs, employee relations, educational activities, adherence to standards and support of the goals and objectives of the association. The award will be presented at the IAFP Annual Meeting in Baltimore in August.

B&H Labeling Systems, Ceres, Calif., has incorporated in Mexico under the name BH Labeling Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., and has opened an office in Mexico City. The new BH Labeling Mexico office will provide ongoing support to the company’s many customers in Mexico with in-country service, spare parts and training, all available in the local currency. The office is staffed by Flavio Henrique Schalcher Mendes, Mexico field service manager.

North Kingstown, R.I.-based Toray Plastics America Inc. has been designated one of the America’s healthiest companies by the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA). The national organization’s prestigious Gold Well Workplace Award recognizes companies that have successfully built comprehensive worksite wellness initiatives and demonstrate concrete results related to behavior change, cost effectiveness and return on investment.

To better service customers, Valparaiso, Ind.-based Urschel Laboratories Inc. is expanding its product test-cutting facility. The construction of an additional 5,000 square feet at an approximate cost of $950,000 will accommodate the ever-increasing customer demand of free, no-obligation test cutting of customers’ products on Urschel equipment. The company says the new space will also facilitate ongoing research and development as well as offer increased storage. The addition, on the north side of Urschel headquarters, will more than double the current area of the existing test-cutting facility. Increased parking is also planned. Completion date is set for early fall.

Des Moines, Iowa-based Kemin Industries and the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) have formed an alliance to help improve shelf life and protect the microbiological safety of food commodities distributed worldwide by the international agency. In June, Kemin and WFP signed a letter of understanding in Rome recognizing Kemin’s expertise in assessing the shelf life of food commodities used in emergency relief and development aid. Under the agreement, Kemin will work with WFP on a pro bono basis for two years to provide technical assistance in developing programs to evaluate food aid for safety against spoilage, bacterial contamination and loss of vital nutrients.

Atlanta-based Consolidated Container Co. has announced its plans to acquire Carson, Calif.-based Mayfair Plastics. The company says the acquisition is anticipated to provide Consolidated with a West Coast platform for continuous-extrusion shuttle machinery as well as an opportunity to create an expanded custom bottle platform for smaller and mid-market customers through an integrated offering of similar bottles from its recently acquired STC Plastics plant in Chino Hills and other Consolidated plants in the Los Angeles area.

In June, KUKA Robotics Corp., Clinton Township, Mich., signed Accurate MachineWorks of Newport Beach, Calif., as its newest system partner. The companies say they will work together to deliver expanded automation offerings to the rapid prototyping, milling and material removal markets.

Willoughby, Ohio-based The Kennedy Group’s radio frequency identification (RFID) group has entered into a multi-year commitment with Alien Technology® in which Alien will supply large volumes of inlays and additional products for production of Smart Therm™ labels and smart cards.

FKI Logistex North America, St. Louis, has introduced a new RFID white paper translated into Spanish for customers in Latin America. “RFID for the Real World” discusses the challenges and opportunities for RFID implementation in the warehouse and distribution center environment, including distribution facilities serving manufacturing operations. In other company news, FKI has opened a new regional office in Atlanta to increase support for the company’s growing base of customers in the southeastern United States.