Richard Inns, Owner, PEC Partnership Ltd, (Former Chairman Unilever Packaging Group at Unilever)

Plastics Caps and Closures Conference 2012 Chair

A Polymer Physicist has worked in the packaging industry for 38 years for both manufacturers (Metal Box) and users (Unilever) of packaging. Spent ten years as Director of the Packaging Division of Pira before moving back to Unilever taking responsibility for Personal Care packaging in Asia before moving to Italy to take responsibility for packaging at the Global Dental Innovation Centre and then on to a similar role in the Spreads Category in Rotterdam. Both at Pira and Unilever he played a major role in identifying and evaluating new packaging technology from around the World.

He was a member for seventeen years of the Unilever Corporate Packaging and Environment Group becoming Chairman of that group, Global Issue Leader for packaging, packaging sustainability policy advisor to the Unilever Board and a member of Corporate Policy Group. Since becoming a consultant he has been an advisor to EUROPEN and has carried out projects for EUROPEN, ECR Europe, WRAP, BSi and major European packaging manufacturers and brand owners.

He is a member of the Packaging Board of IOM3 and of their Training and Education Advisory Group.

Dr. Huqiu Zhang, Director, Packaging, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, The Coca-Cola Company

Huqiu (Hoo Choo) Zhang holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry.  She joined The Coca Cola Company in 2010 as Director, Packaging, Scientific and Regulatory Affair, responsible for TCCC packaging materials safety and regulatory compliances. 

Before joining The Coca Cola Company, she worked as Product Stewardship, BASF; Head of Regulatory Service,NAFTA, Ciba Specialty Chemicals; and Global Food Contact and Healthcare programs manager, GE Plastics.  Her working experiences cover global food packaging regulations in the whole supply chain includingchemical manufacturer, plastics manufacturer, and consumer product manufacturer. 

She is an active member of the Society of Plastics Industry, Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Packaging Material Committee, and former Chairman of the International Subcommittee.  She played a critical role in building the relationship and establishingproject collaboration between SPI and China MOH NINFS.

Clover Abbott, Packaging Technologist, Innocent Ltd

Clover is responsible for the development of all plastic beverage packaging under the Innocent Drinks brand. Working predominantly in rigid plastics, her work covers new product development, product re-development, sustainability and cost projects, supplier management and component quality management. Clover works closely with component suppliers and the filling sites, and is in her element when she's hands-on at a production line.
 
Clover has worked across manufacture (Boots), retail (Home Retail Group) brand (Innocent), and the public sector (WRAP - where she consulted on the important role packaging can play in reducing waste).
 
Clover originally trained and worked in industrial product design before falling into packaging, and has never looked back
 

Filip Vangeel, Senior Scientist, Procter & Gamble

Born in Belgium in 1967, Filip Vangeel graduated from the “Katholieke Industriële Hogeschool Limburg” (KIhL) as a chemical engineer in 1992.

Following his military service as a non-commissioned officer with the Belgian royal engineers, Filip Vangeel joined Procter & Gamble’s packaging department, where he played a leading role in various high-profile projects, involving blow moulding and injection moulding technology. Filip Vangeel’s efforts as a packaging expert have led to the filing of multiple patents and his appointment to Senior Scientist in 2011.  As a packaging professional, Filip Vangeel has been quick to understand the importance to collaborate with equipment suppliers, mould makers and moulders in his search for new and innovative solutions to bring projects faster to the market. 

Berco C.J. Landman, Principal Scientist Package Development Global Research & Development, Heineken

Berco Landman studied mechanical engineering at the University of Delft, gaining an MSc degree in measurement and control in1983. From 1983 to 1986, he started his carrier at Procter & Gamble’s European Technical Centre in Brussel as packaging development manager.

He joined Heineken in 1986 as a specialist in the packaging engineering department of Heineken Technisch Beheer BV.

From 1991 to 1996, he was section manager of the Bottling and Packaging-engineering department of Heineken Technical Services, currently known as the Packaging Solution department of Heineken Supply Chain.

He is currently principal scientist/project manager of the Product and Packaging Development of Heineken Supply Chain. Berco is 57 years old, is married and has three daughters and a son.

Derek Hindle, Global Innovations Director, Global Closure Systems

Claudio Scudellari, Sales Area Manager Closures & Containers B. U., SACMI IIMOLA

Claudio Scudellari joined SACMI Group in Imola, Italy in the early 1993.

Graduated  at the University of Bologna in 1988 he is presently  responsible of sales in the US and Canada markets for the Closures & Containers B.U. of SACMI Imola, with frequent assignments  as key-account manager and special projects’ manager.
 
After joining SACMI’s organization back in 1993, Claudio was first appointed till the year 1999 as Area Sales Manager for Asia and South-East Asia markets and Australasia, being directly responsible for all sales activities within the Closures & Containers B.U. connected to the caps and closure business.

Steve Dawson, CEO,  Bapco Closures

Joined Bapco in 2008 following almost 18 years in senior positions in global manufacturing businesses. Stephen spent eight years with the Autobar Packaging Group where he became Managing Director for U.K. and Holland in 2005 after joining as European Finance Director. Before Autobar he spent almost 10 years with the Cookson Group holding CFO roles for the U.K. and Europe since 1995.

Throughout his career he has had material achievements in developing businesses, restructuring, turn around, and exiting European VC backed or listed multi site B2B manufacturing businesses. Stephen qualified as a chartered accountant at Ernst & Young in 1989.

Stephen Wilkins, CEO, Child-Safe Packaging Group (CSPG)

Stephen Wilkins was educated at Blackrock College, Dublin and The University of Durham Business School where he obtained a Masters Degree in Business Administration. He is a Chartered Scientist, a Chartered Environmentalist and a Fellow of both the Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining and the Royal Society of Arts.

He was appointed chief executive of the Child-Safe Packaging Group upon its formation in 1995 and has driven its activities since then. The Child-Safe Packaging Group has been responsible for the design and development of numerous new child resistant packaging designs, in both flexible and rigid packs. Stephen Wilkins advises manufacturers on the development of CR packaging, on the need for that packaging and, in more general terms, he advises clients on strategic marketing issues, usually associated with packaging and its semiotics.

In addition he is a director of Davies Development and Testing Limited, a laboratory, accredited by UKAS,  to undertake testing of child resistant packaging under various European and International standards. He also sits on a number of BSI and ISO committees concerned with developing standards for packaging, and he chairs two of these. He is also a coordinator with the BSI Consumer and Public interest division.

Barry Armstrong, Managing Director, Embankment Plastics Ltd

Barry graduated 1991 with Bachelor Degree Manufacturing Engineering. From there he joined Embankment Plastics on a full time basis as a fitter and tool setter. Since then he has held the positions of Production Manager, General Manager, and C.E.O. In 2003 Barry led the expansion of the company into a purpose built factory from the company’s original site, trebling the floor space available to the company. The new facility gave room for greater efficiencies, allowed the company to take advantage of growth opportunities that otherwise would not have been open to the company and allowed the company to take full advantage of the latest technologies.

In 2004 Barry returned to the class room for two years. He graduated in 2006 with a Masters Degree in Management Practice from Trinity College Dublin. In 2007 he led the MBO of the company after its founder retired. Barry is now the co-owner and its Managing Director responsible for Sales and Strategic Growth. The company has been involved in the manufacture of closures since the early eighties and now manufactures approximately 1 billion closures per annum exporting to South America, South Africa, China, main land Europe and domestic markets. The sectors supplied are the petro chemical, pharmaceutical and food sectors. The has company expanded over the years and its activities not only include injection moulding, but also blow moulding, printing, sub assembly, ultrasonic welding, and cap lining. A fully equipped tool room compliments the production operation.

Dr Michael Krüger, CTO, Corvaglia Group

Michael Krueger studied Chemistry at Stuttgart University and received his Ph.D. as a fellow of the International-Max-Planck-Research-School for Advanced Materials. He has gained experience in managing innovation and development in leading positions in the protective equipment industry.

Michael joined Corvaglia Mould AG in March 2012 as Chief Technology Officer where he is now responsible for research, development and engineering. 

Christian Kapsamer, General Manager, Central and Eastern Europe, Husky Injection Molding Systems

Christian Kapsamer is Director, Closure Solutions EMEA at Husky Injection Molding Systems. Most recently, Christian oversaw the integration of the newly acquired KTW business as Global Sales Support Leader for Beverage Closures.

Christian joined Husky in 2004 as Hot Runner Area Manager and since that time has held a series of progressively senior positions in a variety of markets throughout EMEA, Central and Eastern Europe. Christian has an apprenticeship in tool making, a Masters in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering from Paul-Hahn School in Linz and has studied Export and International Marketing from the Kepler-University-Linz. He also received additional commercial education from St.Gallen Business School. 

Dominic Cakebread, Director of Packaging Services, Canadean Limited

Following the completion of a degree in German & Dutch from the University of London in 1982, Dominic began his professional career with ERC Statistics International where he established, developed and managed the company’s European packaging research division.  At this time Dominic also obtained the technical Diploma of the Institute of Packaging, winning the Tudor Press trophy for the best essay submitted in that year’s examinations. 

In 1987 Dominic joined Marketpower Limited as European Business Director, where he was responsible for the development of the company’s international research, managing a wide range of single and multi-client projects in the food and packaging sectors.     

In 1991 Dominic established his own market research consultancy, carrying out over 150 international projects for companies in packaging and related markets in the subsequent 9 years. 

In November 1999 Dominic joined Landell Mills Limited.  Following the acquisition of Marketpower Limited and subsequent reorganisation, he took over as Managing Director of Landell Mills Consulting in 2003, managing all aspects of the company’s international food and packaging consulting operations until its own acquisition by Canadean Limited in April 2008. 

During nearly 30 years in marketing research, Dominic has carried out over 500 international projects in the food and packaging sectors and has worked with most of the leading international packaging groups. He is also a full and qualified member of the Market Research Society. 

Dominic is currently Director of Packaging Services at Canadean Limited, which is now part of the Progressive Media Group.

Jeremy Opperer, European Technical Operations Manager, Intertek

Jeremy Opperer is the Technical Operations Manager for Intertek Risk Assessment and Management’s European Office, where he has worked since 2004.  He helps his clients to develop, manufacture, and distribute safe products in the consumer goods market by investigating potential safety risk issues.  Jeremy’s work ranges from assessments on individual products to the strategic development of corporate safety processes.

Jeremy received his Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University. As a Research Assistant at the Center for Intelligent Processing of Composites, he contributed to the advancement of statistically based quality control. His previous work has provided valuable insight into the product development process. He has successfully written and collaborated on several publications regarding quality control and processing, and has presented at various international conferences. In addition, his experience designing toys in the past for a major manufacturer has supported his knowledge and understanding of consumer concern and adherence to safety standards.

Dr Peter Oldring, Head of Regulatory Affairs, Valspar Europe

Peter graduated from York University with a BA in Chemistry and from University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology with a PhD in polymer science. He has worked in the resins and coatings industries in various roles. He is currently Regulatory Affairs Manager (in Europe) for The Valspar Corporation and is actively involved in activities to support the can coating business and food contact, some of which are chairing the industry consortium involved in the 7th Framework Programme for developing a risk management tool to assess exposure to migrants from food packaging (FACET) and the Coatings Code of Practice group in addition to supporting other trade association initiatives. Peter has also been actively involved in the REACH activities of CEPE, particularly the development of generic exposure scenarios for coating manufacture and application. He is acting in a REACH advisory role for The Valspar Corporation.

Peter has published widely, authoring and co-editing 18 text books, book chapters, peer reviewed and journal articles.

Luigi Rossi, Independent Strategic Advisor, Keller and Heckman

Dr. Rossi acted as responsible for Food Contact Materials in EU from 1973 until his retirement in 2006. He participated as speaker in hundreds Conferences in all world. Now he is engaged as a "Strategic Advisor" in Keller and Heckman a law company, which delivers opinion letters on the legal status of a food contact material in the world.

Bruce Catoen, Vice President Business Development, Chief Technology Officer, Mold-Masters Europa GmbH

Bruce Catoen has been with Mold-Masters for 4 years and is currently the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), responsible for global product development, new business startup, acquisitions and intellectual property. Prior to joining Mold-Masters, Bruce was employed at Husky Injection Molding Systems for 19 years. At Husky, Bruce was part of the executive leadership team and held various roles such as Molds Engineering Manager, GM Advanced Manufacturing Center, GM Robotics, VP Packaging and VP Automated Systems. Bruce is the named inventor on 32 patents, pending and granted. He co-authored the book "Selecting Injection Molds" which was released in 2007, and has published numerous papers in trade journals and technical symposiums. Bruce holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo and attended the Leadership program at the Richard Ivey School of Business.

Xavi Cros, Polymers Business manager, Ineos

With Engineering and Master in Business and Administration as base, Xavi started his career background in the Textile and Automotive industries.

In 2001, Xavi moved to the Polymers industry, on BP Chemicals at this time. With experience in all different areas of Sales and  Business Xavi  has developed a successful track record allowing him to cover a wide range of markets, applications and materials. He is currently responsible for the management of the Polymers Business at  INEOS OP Europe of which Caps and Closures is a cornerstone business. He is now living in Switzerland, where INEOS global headquarters are.

Outside of business Xavi enjoys any kind of sport , specially skiing and cycling.

Christophe Bricaud, Key Account Manager, Ineos

Marina P. Hornasek-Metzl, Application Marketing Manager, Borealis AG

MARINA P. HORNASEK-METZL studied International Economics and Business Administration with a major in International Marketing and Financial Management at the University of Vienna.

Before her engagement at Borealis AG, she has been holding various management roles in Communications thereby consulting major global brand owners such as Henkel CEE, Nestlé and She joined Borealis AG in 2007 as Marketing Communications Manager, responsible for the Business Units Film & Fibre and Moulding as well as Innovation & Technology and Healthcare.

In her present role as Application Marketing Manager, Business Unit Moulding at Borealis AG, she drives the business activities for the whole value chain for the product segments Caps & Closures and Bottles, including innovation projects and new product launches. She thereby leads two Application Marketing Teams consisting of Sales Managers, Product Developers, Technical Service Engineers and R&D members.

Between 2005 and 2012 she was University Lecturer for Marketing Management at the University of Applied Sciences in Vienna.

Luc Monnissen, Technical Development Engineer, Borealis AG

After the graduation in chemistry at the KHL (Catholic High school Limburg, Belgium), LUC MONNISSEN started to work as Process Assistant Engineer at Henkel-Ecolab.

In 1993, he moved to the polymer department at the Shell Co-ordination Centre in Louvain-la-Neuve.  There, Luc focused on application development projects for film (BOPP) and moulding applications. In 2000, he came to ICI Uniquema to take up the role as Technical Service Manager for surfactants in the cosmetic industry.
His career at Borealis started in 2006, where he has been working as Application Development Engineer for injection moulded Caps & Closures applications at Borealis Polymers.

Then he continued taking up positions at Distripol as Technical Commercial Engineer and at Basell as Technical Service Engineer Moulding. He then returned to  Borealis as Technical Service and Development Engineer, having now more than 15 years of experience in the polyolefins industry with a strong focus on PP and PE.