Chr. Hansen has opened its new facilities in Argentina. The new premises will be the cornerstone in the company's aim to expand its activities in the Argentine food market. In addition to modern offices and conference rooms, the new 2,000 square meter facilities comprise pilot plants and application labs for Meat & Prepared Foods, Food & Beverages, and Dairy."We have been active in Argentina for more than 40 years," says Jan Boeg Hansen, Group Vice President for Chr. Hansen. "After some years with a slow-down in the Argentine economy, it is again showing promise, and we believe that the time is ripe to strengthen our activities in the country."

InkJet, Inc., a leading supplier of inks and replacement parts to the coding and marking industry has been certified ISO 9001:2000 by Perry Johnson Registrars, Inc., a world leading quality management systems registrar.

Umpqua Dairy Products of Oregon has chosen CSB-SYstem to provide an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system. The new system will be implemented in phases, starting with inventory management, sales, purchasing, and quality management. The second phase involves production planning, monitoring, and control. Soon after, a network of handheld devices will be employed by Umpqua's 50 sales-drivers to streamline distribution and customer replenishment. Established in 1931, the family-owned dairy firm is the largest independent dairy in southern Oregon.

Following the recent acquisition of utowrappers, Europack and GEI Ashford, a new Bradman Lake company is being formed. Bradman Lake Group Limited will own the assets and manage the combined operations of the three former GEI businesses and current Bradman Lake companies in Bristol, UK, Charlotte, N.C., and Wiggensbach, Germany.

FKI Logistex has agreed to make GE Commercial Finance, Vendor Financial Services, a preferred source of financing to the company's customers and distribution channels. FKI Logistex customers can get enhanced value thanks to innovative financing solutions offered through GE's wide range of competitive financing products, including operating leases, capital leases, and secured loans tailored to meet each customer's needs. Customers considering large capital equipment expenditures need to carefully consider all available financing options and choose the one that best supports their ongoing needs and growth objectives.

Markem Corp. has been named an authorized RFID specialist by Zebra Technologies. As an authorized RFID specialist, Markem is fully qualified to sell, install, and service Zebra's line of industry-leading RFID printers/encoders. As part of this program, Markem will receive priority access to Zebra RFID training and forums, technical support, and other incentives targeted towards increasing its market share and revenue.

Videojet Technologies Inc., Wood Dale, Ill., has announced an agreement with the Hewlett-Packard Co. to develop new variable printing solutions for the graphics market using HP thermal ink jet technology. Videojet, a Danaher company, will work with HP Specialty Printing Systems to provide these solutions. Lettershops, commercial printers, service bureaus and in-house plants that need to print addresses, barcodes, graphics and customized messages will be able to leverage the capabilities of this technology and provide an increased spectrum of services for their customers.

AdvantaPure, Southampton, Pa., is touting a new International Distribution Network, offering customers in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia quick access to the company's sanitary tubing, hose, fittings, and assemblies products. The network allows nearly worldwide coverage for markets such as pharmaceutical, biomedical, food, beverage, dairy, cosmetic, chemical, and others involving high purity applications. AdvantaPure distributors included in the Network are found in the United States and Puerto Rico, Canada, Brazil, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Japan, Korea, and Malaysia.

If you have a Supplier News item, send it to Chief Editor David Phillips at phillipsd@bnpmedia.com.