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R & R Insurance FW: Ransomware Defense Strategies

A ransomware attack can leave a permanent mark on any business’ financials and reputation.  The recent uptick in ransomware attacks has further proved that no business is safe regardless of their size or industry. A recent report by cyber security leader Cybereason provided actions to help protect against a ransomware attack:

• Implement email and web scanning
• Initiate data backup and recovery systems
• Add endpoint protection
• Create a security operations center
• Provide security awareness training

Implementing these pro-active strategies can be key in protecting your business against a ransomware attack. R&R Insurance and its dedicated cyber division can help identify and implement strategies like these to help defend your business against ransomware attacks.

If you are interested in learning more about how R&R can assist you or your business, please give us a call or visit myknowledgebroker.com.

GOpak adds inhouse pouching

GOpak, a digital production flexible packaging manufacturer located in Delafield, Wisconsin has expanded their capabilities by adding a pouch converting line.  The PCMC -Hudson Sharp machine was delivered and installed in November.  GOpak started in 2019 with the HP 20000 as their printer platform and Electron Beam curing capabilities and now adding in-house pouch converting

“Our emphasis is delivering speed to market for our customers. Since we started, we have worked closely with a few converting companies and will continue to work with our partners”, said AJ Buran, President.  “The digital sector of flexpack continues to have strong growth and by adding the in-house capabilities we will be able to better manage quality and maintain our emphasis on fast turns to the marketplace.”

“We work with small, medium and large brands and with the combination of EBeam technology and digital print in tandem have a strong position in providing both sustainable solutions and speed, said Buran.” GOpak provides completed pouches and roll stock products for form fill seal to the reseller channels and select end users. Lead times for pouches is 15-20 days and for roll stock is 5-7 days.

Vetaphone reports record year!

In a year blighted by travel restrictions and lockdowns, the leading manufacturer of surface treatment technology beats all previous sales records.

The period since the first lockdown began in April 2020 has had a major impact on world trade and the way companies do business, so Vetaphone is more than happy to report a huge boost in orders across the board that saw it return a year-end total that will not only surpass expectations but exceed all previous years in the company’s long history.

Speaking for the company, VP Sales & Marketing Kevin McKell explained: “We were quick to assess the situation and adapt our sales and marketing approach to suit the new trading conditions.  With travel either impossible or severely limited we had to find alternative ways for face-to-face contact with customers, and the actions we took have clearly worked well!” 

With trade fairs being cancelled on a rolling basis, Vetaphone took the bold decision to withdraw from exhibiting at all future events, whether large or small.  Instead, the company officially opened its new Showroom and Demo facility in May that is fully equipped with working corona and plasma technology and offers both in-person and online appointments via a video link.  Allied to the adjacent Test Lab facility that it opened in 2020, Vetaphone now has a permanent trade fair stand of its own that is available 24/7, if necessary!

“We’ve had great customer response to the new showroom and the fact that we can actually demonstrate the equipment – something we could never do at Drupa or Labelexpo – and it’s really started to pay dividends in terms of orders secured.  We know that many of our customers are unlikely to ever visit us in Denmark – now we can take our technology to them wherever they are in the world,” he added.

The new trading conditions also had an impact on how the company promoted itself and publicised its activity.  Marketing Director Jeannette Woodman explained: “We quickly switched our focus from a ‘broad-brush’ approach to one that is far more zoned in on the different sectors and parts of the world.  By refining our use of the latest in computer and electronic communications we have been able to impact target markets with information that is specific to individual requirements – and at a fraction of the cost of attending a major international expo!”

For Vetaphone, the new trading conditions have opened new business opportunities, and in addition to reporting a record sales year, 2021 has seen the company move to the No 1 spot worldwide in surface treatment technology.  As Kevin McKell put it: “We were the first, so to be at No 1 in our 70^th year is a fantastic achievement.  Bring on 2022!”

DOD Awards Teel Plastics $4.65 Million Contract to Increase COVID-19 Diagnostic Swab Stick Production

The grant will allow Teel to produce hundreds of millions more swab sticks for Covid-19 test kit manufacturer Puritan Medical Products of Guilford, Maine 

For Immediate Release.  

November 18, 2021 

The Department of Defense (DOD), on behalf of and in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services,  has awarded a $4.65 million firm-fixed price contract to Teel Plastics, LLC to expand US-based industrial production  capacity of extruded swab sticks. These swab sticks will support Puritan’s efforts to supply swabs for various COVID-19  testing kits. 

Teel Plastics, located in Baraboo, Wisconsin, has been a US-based producer of plastic products for over seventy years.  This industrial expansion effort will allow Teel to increase their production capacity of extruded swab sticks an additional  200 million per month to over 330 million per month by July 2022. Teel is planning to add over 25 employees to meet  this increase in production rate. 

The DOD’s Defense Assisted Acquisition (DA2) Cell led this effort in coordination with the Department of the Air Force’s  Acquisition COVIS-19 Task Force (DAF ACT). This effort was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to  enable and support domestic industrial base expansion for critical medical resources. 

Statement from Teel CEO Jerry Pritchett: We’re proud of the role our employees have played in helping to combat the  COVID-19 pandemic. This additional funding will both increase our capacity and allow for more secure production in a  second facility. 

For more information or for interviews on the contract: 

Christian Herrild, Director of Growth Strategies 

cherrild@teel.com 

608-355-4559 

About Teel Plastics:

Teel Plastics is a premier manufacturer of custom extruded and injection molded plastic products due to the expertise of  their distinguished, skilled team – a group of problem solvers known for being professional, progressive, and personable.  Specializing in complex projects, Teel produces high-quality custom parts in a wide variety of sizes with tight tolerances.  

Teel focuses on the medical, cosmetic, industrial piping, film core, and water treatment markets. In addition, there is a  full-service analytical laboratory on campus. Founded in 1951, Teel is headquartered in Baraboo, WI. For more  information, visit www.teel.com.

Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Announces Acquisition of Sustana, a Leading Manufacturer of Sustainable Recycled Fiber, Paper and Packaging

Blackstone (NYSE:BX) announced today that funds managed by its Blackstone Tactical Opportunities business (“Blackstone”) have acquired Sustana Group (“Sustana” or the “Company”), a leading manufacturer of premium, sustainable recycled fiber, paper and packaging products, from an affiliate of H.I.G. Capital (“H.I.G.”).

Headquartered in De Pere, Wisconsin, Sustana uses post-consumer materials and the high standards for environmental sustainability to produce a comprehensive suite of recycled fiber, paper and packaging solutions for customers throughout North America. It services a diversified customer base through four facilities, all of which have leading energy efficiency, water conservation systems, wastewater treatment technology and recycling of process by-products.

Andrea Serra, a Managing Director at Blackstone, said: “The increasing focus on environmental sustainability by businesses and consumers alike is one of Blackstone’s highest conviction investment themes – and we are proud to back Sustana, a fast-growing leader in this sector. We look forward to partnering with the company and its management team to continue accelerating their further expansion as they deliver leading sustainability products and solutions to their customers.”

Fabian De Armas, CEO and Chairman of Sustana, said: “Blackstone’s investment is a strong endorsement of our Company and our highly talented team, and launches an exciting new chapter for Sustana. Our team has built a leading sustainability platform in our markets and Sustana is well positioned for robust continued growth in partnership with Blackstone.”

TD Securities served as financial advisor to Blackstone, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges; Davies Ward PhillIps & Vineberg; and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as legal advisors.

About Blackstone

Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, and the communities in which we work. We do this by using extraordinary people and flexible capital to help companies solve problems. Our $731 billion in assets under management include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets and secondary funds, all on a global basis. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow Blackstone on Twitter @Blackstone.

About Sustana

Sustana Group, comprised of Sustana Fiber and Rolland, is committed to industry-leading product quality, continuous improvement and environmental stewardship – by innovating solutions that are better for business, better for the environment and better for society at large. Sustana Group is proud to provide a comprehensive, sustainable pulp and paper solution for customers throughout North America. For more information visit: https://www.sustanagroup.com/

Wynnchurch Capital, L.P. today entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a majority of the  assets of Appvion Holding Corp. and its subsidiaries. 

“We are very excited to share that Appvion has a new sponsor. This sponsorship will enable new  investments, continued expansion, and additional resources that we collectively need to  accelerate growth in our AMS and Packaging & Specialty Coatings businesses. We see this as a  terrific opportunity to continue delivering the same great Appvion value our customers expect  while remaining fast, flexible, and responsive. Wynnchurch shares our values of safety, integrity,  and honesty and putting the customers first to deliver value. We are excited to partner with them  to pursue our next phase of growth.” said George Wurtz, Appvion’s President, Chief Executive  Officer & Chairman of the Board. 

“We are very excited to partner with George and the Appvion leadership team to continue to  deliver superior products and services to their customers as well as accelerating their future  growth plans in AMS and Packaging.” said Greg Gleason, Managing Partner at Wynnchurch  Capital Partners L.P. Wynnchurch Capital manages a number of private equity funds with $4.2  billion of committed capital under management and specializes in recapitalizations, growth  capital, management buyouts, corporate carve-outs and restructurings. They focus on leveraging  a business’s strengths and identifying new market opportunities to support management’s  vision—with an unwavering commitment to sound business judgment, partnership,  communication, and integrity. 

The deal was completed on December 3, 2021. 

About Wynnchurch Capital, L.P.  

Wynnchurch Capital, L.P., headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, with an  office in California, New York and an affiliate in Canada, was founded in 1999, and is a leading  middle-market private equity investment firm. Wynnchurch’s strategy is to partner with middle  market companies in the United States and Canada that possess the potential for substantial  growth and profit improvement. 

About Appvion 

Appvion was founded in 1907 and is a pioneer in the specialty and high-performance coatings  business. Headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, Appvion develops innovative, water-based,  and environmentally responsible coating solutions for consumers’ everyday life. Appvion’s  functional coating solutions are applied to a wide variety of flexible substrates, including  products from an FDA-compliant facility. Primary product offerings include direct thermal  paper and film solutions and renewable, fiber-based consumer and industrial packaging  solutions. As a leading manufacturer in North America, you can count on Appvion to tackle  your customers’ biggest challenges. Connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn to learn more.

Augmented & Virtual Reality for Flexographic Printing Demonstration & Discussion

We would like to invite you to a special demonstration and discussion on how mixed reality (augmented reality and virtual reality) applications may provide the tools to train employees in flexographic printing. Our Learning Innovations team will demonstrate mixed reality applications and answer questions on how custom applications can be developed. We will also discuss grants that may be available to develop these applications.

Date: Thursday, December 16, 2021  |  9:00 am – 11:00 am

Location: D.J. Bordini Center  |  Appleton  |  Room BC141

Please register by clicking this link

We’ll offer a Microsoft Teams option when we get closer to the event, for those who have registered, but can’t attend in person.

For more information contact:

Dave Wuestenberg

Economic Development Manager

Office: 920-831-5416

Email: wuestenb@fvtc.edu

Fox Valley Technical College

5 N Systems Drive ● Appleton, WI  54914-1655

THE SCAN GROUP EXPANDS AGAIN 

Dynamic Waukesha Corporation Opens Fourth Wisconsin Facility 

[Waukesha, WI]: The Scan Group, Inc. announces their newest production facility in Waukesha, WI. This modern, 13,500-square foot plant expands operations for high-volume wide-format print, finishing, and fulfillment. As part of this expansion, The Scan Group has invested in new equipment which doubles their wide-format capacity. This innovative equipment includes a new Canon Arizona 6100 series XTS wide format printer, Zund 3XL-3200 digital flatbed cutter, and custom front-end technology.  

This expansion is the latest step taken by Scan Group to meet the growing demand for  high-quality print production and fulfillment. According to company president Dave Patzer, “This  strategic investment allows us to immediately gain speed, efficiency, and capacity to meet our  client’s growing needs. We chose this versatile space because it gives us the flexibility to expand  for the future. We’re ready to meet the rapidly rising demand for our services.”  

The secured facility will run multiple shifts with production, fulfillment, and shipping staff.  This fourth facility for The Scan Group joins their corporate headquarters in Waukesha, WI,  their e-commerce and design office in Menasha, WI, and their fulfillment warehouse and photo  studio in Waukesha, WI.