Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies, Rice Lake, Wis., has recently completed a $2 million plant expansion to better handle the growth of its core business — manufacturing truck bodies. The company has also developed a state-of-the-art paint facility encompassing its new Repair and Refurbish Center.

Minneapolis-based NatureWorks LLC and Risupack Corp., Japan, announced last month the signing of sales and trademark licensing agreements which will enable Risupack to purchase NatureWorks® PLA resin and use the NatureWorks trademark and logo on its plant-based plastics products.

Irving, Texas-based Flowserve Corp. has launched new Learning Resource Center (LRC) instructional labs, which offer hands-on technical facilities for pump, valve and seal system optimization and maintenance training. The LRC practical training in a simulated plant environment that features complete pumping systems and equipment from both Flowserve and other manufacturers.

Massachusetts-based planning, engineering and construction firm Food Tech Structures has completed design and construction of a 13,000-square-foot specialty cheese plant at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Maine.

Ecolab Inc., St. Paul, Minn., has announced a major expansion of its EcoSure quality assurance program. Known best for its onsite third-party food safety evaluations, EcoSure is adding services beyond the kitchen into the areas of workplace safety, guest experience and customer staff education. In other company news, Ecolab raised more than $75,000 for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) at the Ecolab 2006 Chairman’s Reception and Silent Auction held in May.

Kuka Robotics Corp., Clinton Township, Mich., has been selected by Quebec, Canada-based Mecano Industrie to provide robots for its new bottle/container depalletizing system. The system will use the KUKA KR 180 PA 4-axis robot and proprietary end-of-arm tool designed by Mecano that utilizes KUKA servo motors to depalletize layers of bottles reducing customer costs, increasing cycle times and improving overall quality.

Farmingdale, N.Y.-based Seal-It Inc. has introduced Plastic Suppliers’ EarthFirst® TDO Shrink Film to its existing group of shrink films. The new film, made with Natureworks® PLA corn-based resin, is not petroleum based, and is environmentally friendly and compostable.