RockTenn, DS Smith Alliance Extends Packaging Innovations to U.S.

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RockTenn, Norcross, Ga., USA, and DS Smith Plc, U.K., have entered into a strategic alliance that gives RockTenn the exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute proprietary corrugated packaging designs and to distribute innovative packaging equipment in the U.S. The new Meta® technology produces a wide range of two-piece Shelf Ready Packages that enable multinational package goods companies to meet the varied requirements of U.S. retailers. Unique predictive software and stacking devices also optimize and reduce packaging weight and minimize environmental impact.

"The RockTenn team is tenaciously focused on delivering industry-leading innovation in packaging solutions for our customers," said RockTenn's Corrugated Packaging President, James Porter. "This exciting technology brings new opportunities to reduce the total cost of packaging and to improve print options to better sell our customer's products and do so in a more sustainable fashion."

DS Smith Group Chief Executive Miles Roberts noted that "this alliance with RockTenn brings the advantages and value of our patented technology to a wider audience, and allows us better to serve our global customers. The extension of our licensee network to the U.S. market, combined with our extensive European corrugated manufacturing footprint, means we now have one of the world's broadest capabilities for the creation of innovative corrugated packaging propositions."

RockTenn's Automated Packaging System business unit is a previous licensee of DS Smith's Otor® mandrel forming technology. The new agreement encompasses the next generation of Otor technology, including the exclusive right to packaging designs and to high-speed mandrel forming equipment distribution.