Orbis Corp., Oconomowoc, Wis., acquired Linpac Group Ltd., a material handling business with facilities in Georgetown and Bardstown, Ky., and sales, engineering and testing capabilities in Shanghai, China.

Hammer Packaging, Rochester, N.Y., was named the Best Workplace in the Americas 2006 by Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation for exemplary human resources practices in the graphic communications industry.

General Motors’ commercial van division, based in Detroit, announced Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana are now included in the 100,000-mile/five-year powertrain warranty.

Sidel Group, Norcross, Ga., extended its 24/7 technical assistance hotline to include service to Europe, Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Trimble Navigation Ltd., Sunnyvale, Calif., agreed to acquire @Road Inc., Fremont, Calif.

Flowserve Corp., Dallas, opened new administrative headquarters in Essen, Germany. The headquarters will serve its Flow Solutions Europe, Middle East and Africa operations.

The merger between Thermo Electron Corp. and Fisher Scientific International Inc. has been completed and the company will be known as Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., based in Waltham, Mass.

3M, St. Paul, Minn., acquired Biotrace International, Bridgend, England, a manufacturer and supplier of industrial microbiology products used in food processing safety.

Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Inc.’s plant in Columbus, Ind., received the Indiana Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in the Five Years Continuous Improvement category for its leadership in using environmental strategies in its production and decision-making processes.

Georgia-Pacific Corp., Atlanta, introduced the Packaging Systems Optimization Program to help companies reduce packaging costs and achieve sustainability.

Quality Packaging Specialists International LLC, Winston-Salem, N.C., is a new joint enterprise formed by the Alliance Division of Rock-Tenn Co., Ozburn-Hessey Logistics and Quality Packaging Specialists Inc. to provide consumer packaged goods and retail customers with solutions for merchandising displays, contract packaging, logistics and distribution services.

Eaton Corp., Eden Prairie, Minn., announced the formation of Application & Commercial Engineering teams to augment sales channel and customer application expertise.

Pacific Ozone Technology, Benicia, Calif., formed Element Ozone, a sister company supplying ozone technology for light commercial and consumer applications.

Hayssen Packaging Technologies Inc., Duncan, S.C., and Barry-Wehmiller Cos. Inc., St. Louis, Mo., purchased the assets of Sandiacre Rose Forgrove, Nottingham, England. The agreement will form one of the largest flexible packaging equipment providers and will be known as HayssenSandiacre.

The Institute of Packaging Professionals, Naperville, Ill., has formed the Sustainable Packaging Task Group, which will hold its first meeting in January.