Atlanta-based Orkin Inc. has received the Best-In-Class Customer Service Award from Pest Control Technology magazine and Syngenta Professional Products. Orkin received the award at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) Academy in Las Vegas in July. The Best-In-Class Customer Service Award is part of the NPMA’s Crown Awards program, which was initiated in 2005 and recognizes pest control companies that lead the industry in excellent customer service.  

Applied Materials Inc., Santa Clara, Calif., has announced its acquisition of Longmont, Colo.-based Applied Films Corp., a leading supplier of thin-film deposition equipment used in manufacturing flat panel displays, solar cells, flexible electronics and energy-efficient glass. Applied officials say that this is an important acquisition for the company in that it complements and extends its thin-film nanomanufacturing technology capabilities and provides a number of opportunities to expand its business into growing new markets.

Silliker Group Corp., Homewood, Ill., has announced the opening of Silliker Shanghai Ltd. in a cooperative venture with St. Paul, Minn.-based Ecolab Inc.

Ohio-based Ampac Packaging LLC has entered into an agreement with Prudential Capital Group, Chicago and Falcon Investment Advisors, Boston, to recapitalize the company for an undisclosed amount. Ampac officials say the influx of new capital will enable their company to continue pursuing strategic and organic growth in the flexible packaging sector.

CROPP Cooperative/Organic Valley Family of Farms has selected York, Pa.-based Westfalia Technologies to supply an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) and warehouse management system (WMS) in a new 80,000-square foot distribution center that has broken ground in Cashton, Wis. The future Organic Valley facility, which is scheduled to open in spring or summer 2007, will handle fluid milk, meat, eggs, produce and various dairy products. The entire facility will be controlled by Westfalia’s WMS modular management software, Savanna.NET.

Evansville, Ind.-based Berry Plastics Corp. is being acquired by two private equity firms, Apollo Management LP and Graham Partners. Apollo and Graham have signed a definitive agreement to acquire Berry parent BPC Holding Corp. from Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and JPMorgan Partners for $2.25 billion in aggregate consideration. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.

Greek dairy manufacturer Fage S.A. has selected Vernon Hills, Ill.-based Tetra Pak Inc. to design, install and commission a new yogurt processing plant in Johnstown, N.Y. Fage makes a strained yogurt that sells under the brand name Total, a product that’s currently imported directly from Greece. The main processing components will consist of a number of pasteurizers, milk separator, homogenizer, tanks, valves, pumps and all necessary CIP.

Plastic Suppliers Inc. was one of 29 Ohio companies to be recognized for its efforts in exporting products while growing Ohio jobs in relation to increased exportation. Ohio Gov. Bob Taft recognized Ohio companies and organizations with the Governor’s Excellence in Exporting Award (“E” Award) in June. Established in 1985, the “E” Award recognizes Ohio companies that have increased sales volume through exports, increased Ohio-based employment as a direct result of export activity, or developed and implemented a strategy to expand their international sales.