The Food Processing Machinery Association (FPMA) has developed an updateable member directory. The new system is downloaded to the user’s computer and updated by periodic uplinks to the Internet, trading old information for new. FPMA President George Melnykovich says the system is “truly revolutionary.” The association will be distributing the program initially in Stagnito Communications’ Pre-Show Planner in August, which is distributed for advance information on the Food Processing Machinery Expo and Pack Expo. Users will be able to install the program and begin searching for suppliers relating to their business. For more information, contact John Lyons, FPMA director of marketing, at (703) 684-1080.

Dressed in Alcoa Flexible Packaging shrink labels, Nestlé’s Coffee-Mate® line of non-dairy creamers, as well as Nestlé’s Nesquik®, Rolo® and CoffeeCrisp® Ready-To-Drink flavored milk beverages, were recently introduced to the Canadian market. Alcoa’s commercial manager, Terry Copenhaver, says the company was a natural choice for the expansion due to its leadership in the printed shrink label industry. The Nestlé Canadian products are bottled in the same HDPE containers recognized in the U.S. market, Alcoa says, but the printing conveys a more unique, hip image.

Italian manufacturer Sympak has announced the awarding of the biggest order in its history, confirming its leading position as supplier of turnkey solutions for the food industry. The contract for a turnkey plant for process cheese has been awarded by Almarai, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the largest dairy food company in the Middle East. The plant, scheduled to begin operation by mid-2005, will be equipped with a highly sophisticated process data and recipe automation system, management information features and the possibility to communicate with existing ERP systems and bus networks for equipment communication and data handling.

Walchem Corp. (USA) and Iwaki Co. Ltd. (Japan) have announced a name change for their joint venture manufacturing and sales company in Holliston, Mass., formerly Iwaki Walchem Corp. The new name, Iwaki America, more accurately defines the 13-year-old firm’s hemispheric marketing reach, the company says. Still majority-owned by Walchem Corp., Iwaki America plans to continue building on the global strength and ubiquity of the Iwaki brand.

The National Food Processors Association’s Supplier Audits for Excellence program, known as NFPA-SAFE, recently conducted its thousandth audit. Since its inception three years ago, NFPA-SAFE has experienced rapid growth with over 160 certified auditors performing audits in the United States and 14 foreign countries.

The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) has officially certified Farmingdale, N.Y.-based Seal-It Inc. as a woman-owned business — a nationally recognized standard of certification for woman-owned companies.

B&H Labeling Systems, Ceres, Calif., has received purchase orders for the company’s new Marathon roll-fed labelers from two prominent manufacturers in Mexico. The contracts are valued at more than $750,000.

Specialized Vehicles Corp. will open a manufacturing plant in Montgomery, Pa., to produce Kidron-brand truck bodies and trailers. The 235,000-square-foot plant was acquired by Kidron last year and re-tooled. The Pennsylvania facility is Kidron’s fourth plant, including one opened last year in Tulare, Calif. Specialized Vehicles, Washington, N.C., is the parent company of Kidron, Ohio-based Kidron.

Milwaukee-based Sensient Technologies Corp. will reduce headcount and eliminate subsidizing some retirement programs this year to improve efficiency in its Color Group. The ingredients manufacturer expects to record a $6 million charge and a $13 million benefit related to these programs.