SIG Combibloc Inc. has appointed Ben Hamer as the company’s new President and CEO. Previously he was managing director of Stork Mexico.

Perdue Farms shut down its Petersburg, VA, deboning plant and is phasing out production of its DeLuca line of refrigerated entrees.

The Instrumentation, Systems and Automation Society recognized the achievements of leading professionals at its annual awards banquet. Dr. James Truchard, chairman and president of National Instruments Corporation, Austin, TX received the Honorary Member Award. In 1976 Truchard collaborated with two others from the University of Texas to start a company that reflected their vision to change the way measurements were made to improve everyday lives. From this vision, National Instruments was born. John M. Berre, president of Emerson Process Management and executive and vice president of Emerson, Austin, TX, and Frederick L. Maltby, a private consultant from Jenkintown, PA, received ISA’s Life Achievement Award.

The Food Industry Suppliers Association (FISA) named Alfa Laval, “Manufacturer of the Year 2002. The award was received by Mark Larsen, general manager of the Sanitary Segment which supplies the Alfa Laval and Tri-Clover brands of sanitary fluid handling equipment and heat exchangers.

According to the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI), shipments of packaging and packaging-related converting equipment declined by 4.1 percent in 2001. Responding to PMMI’s 8th Annual Shipments and Outlook Survey, packaging machinery manufacturers reported 2001 shipments of $4.804 billion, a $204 million decline from the previous year. Exports declined by $103 million, a 12.1 percent drop and domestic shipments decreased by 2.4 percent.

FMC FoodTech promoted Steve Smith to the position of General Manager of North American Sales and Service.

Waukesha Cherry-Burrell announced several promotions. Ross Skelton has been promoted to Vice President of Domestic Sales. Jim Scheurell has been appointed National Sales Manager. Dave Murray has been appointed Director, Sales Administration.

Open Modular Architecture Controls (OMAC) Users Group Advisory Board appointed Keith Campbell as Executive Director to support the activities of the Packaging Workgroup. Campbell, who was formerly the workgroup chairperson has been replaced in that role by James Ramsey of Hershey Foods Corporation.

BOC has acquired Environmental Management Corporation (EMC), a privately held St. Louis-based water services company. EMC manages water and wastewater treatment facilities for both industrial and local municipal customers around the US.

The new Director for Food Safety for the National Center for Food Safety and Technology is Karen D. Huether. Previously she was director of microbiology and food safety for Kraft Foods and director of food safety for Nabisco, Inc.