KANSAS CITY

xpedx announced a new network of seven Package Design Centers with the opening of centers in the San Francisco Bay Area and Rochester, N.Y., and the expansion of existing design centers in Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Juarez, Mexico, metropolitan areas. xpedx provides total packaging solutions for manufacturers, brand owners/marketers and other businesses. xpedx also announced it has added new package design staff and services in 12 other U.S. metropolitan regions: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Grand Rapids, Mich., Greensboro, N.C., Memphis, Tenn., Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle, and Tampa, Fla.

BUFFALO GROVE, ILL. (Dec. 21, 12:40 p.m. ET) -- Packaging converter Plastic Packaging Technologies LLC has been purchased by private equity firm Mid Oaks Investments LLC of Buffalo Grove. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to a Dec. 21 news release from PPT and Mid Oaks, PPT’s current management, led by President and CEO David Staker and Executive Vice President Dan Staker, will continue leading the business. “PPT prides itself on providing innovative, high-quality products using the best technology available. With Mid Oaks as our new owners, we will have additional resources at our disposal to help

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.—As the sole corporate sponsor of PrintGuard® Safety Train-the-Trainer courses, INX International Ink Co. has been involved in the first safety course developed specifically for the printing industry since 1999.

KENNESAW, Ga.—For the third year in a row, Heidelberg USA hosted the annual Georgia SkillsUSA competition in advertising design and graphic communications at its technology center on March 11 and 12.

OMAHA, Neb.—YORK Label, a manufacturer of pressure-sensitive labels, has acquired both Cameo Crafts and Package Service Company, LLC. With these acquisitions, YORK Label becomes a multi-national company, approximately doubling the number of associates and increasing in size from five to 11 facilities. Cameo Crafts is a solutions-oriented manufacturer of high-end decorative labeling and packaging technologies based in Canada and the U.S., and specializes in the pharmaceutical and wine and spirits markets. Cameo Crafts will operate as Cameo Crafts, a YORK Label Company. Package Service Company (PSC) is a pressure-sensitive label company located in Kansas City, Missouri, specializing in four core markets: personal care, beverages,

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Dennis Garrity, head of the DREC steering committee, announced the final details for the Diecutting Resource Exposition & Conference (DREC), which will be held in Kansas City, on Tuesday, Oct. 30; in Denver on Friday, Nov. 2; and in Salt Lake City on Monday, Nov. 5. This free one-day education, information, and problem-solving workshop has 18 exhibitors; two industry expert session leaders in Clint Medlock and Kevin Carey; and a technical solutions clinic combined with new products, new materials, and new techniques. For more information about this opportunity and to register call 1-800-227-7528, or visit www.drec.org