US-based Oaktree Capital Management is selling Germany-headquartered Nordenia International, a consumer packaging solutions and hygiene components maker, to Mondi Group, an international paper and packaging company. Mondi will pay EUR240 million for the purchase.

After completion of the transaction, in the fourth quarter of 2012, subject to customary completion conditions including the approval of certain competition authorities,it is planned that the existing management team of Nordenia will lead the combined Consumer Packaging Business Unit from its current headquarters in Greven, Germany.

In FY 2011, Nordenia’s sales value grew almost 10% reaching EUR881 million while volume was 244,670 tonnes. About 3,000 employees work for Nordenia in Germany, Spain, Hungary, Russia, Poland, and outside Europe in the US, China, Malaysia and Australia. Additionally, a wholly owned greenfield plant is currently being constructed in China and is expected to begin operating in early 2014.

US firm Huntsman Corp. has acquired the remaining stake of Huntsman NMG, its Russian PU joint venture with NMG, the manufacturer of PU in Russia and other areas of the former Soviet Union.

Shanghai Sinopec Mitsui Elastomers, a 50:50 joint-venture between Chinese firm Sinopec and Japan-based Mitsui Chemicals, will build an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPT) production plant in Shanghai Chemical Industry Park

Swiss speciality chemicals group Clariant is acquiring the remaining 40% share of a joint venture between Alvigo and Chemie.

Belgian firm Solvay has started up its EUR21 million speciality polymers compounding plant at Changshu, targeting the electronics, automotive, consumer and industrial applications markets.

German automotive Tier 1 supplier Faurecia has opened a major R&D centre in Pune, India. Employing 800 automotive engineers, the facility will serve interior systems, automotive seating and automotive exteriors.

US international aerospace and industrial manufacturing and service provider Barnes Group will acquire privately held hot runner maker Synventive Molding Solutions for US$335 million.

US firms Bermis has tied up with Norwegian Thin Film Electronics to develop the Bemis Intelligent Packaging Platform for the commercial development of functional sensor labels manufactured from new and emerging printed electronic technology made from Thin Film’s propriety read/writable printed memory and programme logic

Not only did German robot maker Krauss-Maffei Automation celebrate its 30th anniversary since its foundation, it also marked it with its 1,000th robot delivery from the “robot wharf” of its branch in Schwerin.