Reston, Va.-based Packaging Machinery Manufacturer’s Institute (PMMI) used its presence at interpack to address the top trends and challenges impacting the North American manufacturing sector. Kicking off the week-long tradeshow May 8-14 in Düsseldorf, Germany, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies discussed topics including reduced dependence on foreign oil, “Made in the USA” products, robotics, innovations in traceability technologies and retail-ready packaging at its press conference.

FT System, in partnership with the CNR researchers, Italy’s National Research Council, and the University of Padua, developed the L.Sensor.O2 quality-control instrument.

Sazerac Co., Metairie, La., is scheduled to install automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) and Savanna.Net warehouse management system (WMS) software, provided by York, Pa.-based Westfalia Technologies Inc., in two of its Kentucky distilleries: Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort and The Glenmore Distillery in Owensboro. The Sazerac Co. is the first U.S. spirits producer to use AS/RS technology, according to Westfalia.

Vacuum Barrier Corp. added the EasyDose G2 Lite to its Nitrodose portfolio of liquid nitrogen injection systems.

Pro Mach Inc., Cincinnati, completed its acquisition of global capping machinery manufacturer Ets. André Zalkin & Cie. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Zalkin’s management team and employees will continue to operate from their facilities in Montreuil L’Argillé and Rueil-Malmaison, France.

Avure Technologies, Franklin, Tenn., separated into two distinct operating units: Avure Industrial Division and Avure HPP Equipment and Services Division. Both divisions will operate as separate strategic business units. This separation allows each to focus on customer service, new product development and application support specific to its specialty, the company says. Jeff Williams was named chief executive officer of the HPP Equipment and Services Division, and Jan Söderström will assume the position of chief executive officer of the Avure Industrial Division.

KHS developed the new, horizontally arranged Feedflow feed module for conveying very light preforms to its InnoPET Blomax stretch blow molder.

Palmer Wahl Instrumentation Group added a new precision digital pressure gauge to its portfolio of pressure products.

Thomasville, N.C.-based Wright Global Graphics made a $1.5 million investment in an eight-color Mark Andy P5 press to meet the demands of the expanding food and beverage industry. The new press streamlines the label printing and finishing process and allows the company to provide customers with the printed product labels needed to stand out on retail shelves, the company says.

Spirax Sarco released its new AEL6 series of smart, high-speed linear electric actuators.