"The low weight and slim size of DBS bring savings in transportation costs and shelf-space at the retail outlet," says Peter Klinckenberg, EMEA product marketing manager at Imation Europe BV. "Consumers like the innovative design of DBS and having two discs packed in one case. They also appreciate its environmentally friendly 100 percent paperboard material."

The world market volume for DVD-Rs is increasing rapidly, from 2.5 billion units in 2004 to a predicted 3.8 billion units in 2005. The volume for CD-Rs is leveling off at eight billion per year. Imation holds a 12 percent market share and is one of the top five brands in the DVD R market. Stora Enso's and Imation's joint aim is to establish DBS as a new standard for packaging CD-Rs and DVD Rs.

For more information, visit http://www.storaenso.com/.

Plant ExpansionITC to Double Paper Capacity in Five Years Calcutta, India—ITC has embarked upon an ambitious expansion plan to double paper-making capacity in the next five years. This could cost the company approximately Rs 3,000 crore ($687 million-U.S.) going by the present benchmark valuation.

The company, the largest player in the paperboard business, has a manufacturing capacity of 400,000 metric tons anually. ITC is planning to enter the writing and printing paper segment, which is 2.5 times bigger than the paperboard market. It will consider both acquisitions and a greenfield facility for this.

Pradeep Dhobale, chief executive of the paperboards and speciality paper division, said the company was open to buying out existing units.

"There are units that can be taken over. We are always looking at new opportunities," Dhobale adds.

ITC acquired the paperboard division of Ballarpur Industries a year ago.

Dhobale said the company could add approximately 100,000 metric tons at its existing facilities. This would leave about a 300,000-metric-ton-facility either to be acquired or set up afresh, at a cost of $1500 per metric ton. Dhobale, however, clarified that the board was yet to take a final call on the expansion project.

Why Icelanders Like Chocolate Packaging Makes Harry Potter A Good Egg FROVI, SWEDEN—Iceland is said to be the leading chocolate eating nation in Europe. The country has only 290,000 inhabitants. Nói-Sirius, one of three chocolate makers, produces 300,000 Easter eggs for the home market every year.

Easter eggs represent 15 percent of their total production, while Christmas promotional packs represent 25 percent. The major part of their production is sold in Iceland.

Harry Potter is a favorite of kids year-round. What better way to combine Harry's popularity with the output of the Easter Bunny than to package them together?

Production of the Harry Potter box shown here started in 2004 as a "trial year," and Nói-Síríus is optimistic about this year's offering.

"Packaging's impact is crucial for sales and we are constantly developing their products through packaging," says Árni Bjorn Skaptason at the converter Prentmet ehf. "In this case, as in so many others, AssiDomän Frövi board provided the best solution."

Sensitive to The Senses The box has an open window, which puts high demands on the strength of the board material.

"We chose Frövi because we consider it to be cost efficient board, as we can use a low grammage because of its strength," says Runar Ingibjartsson, R&D manager at Nói-Sirius. "But the most important criterion for us is the well-known taint and odor neutrality of the material. We've had good experience with Frövi board. Chocolate can benefit from mixing with other tastes like chocolate/marzipan and chocolate/liqueur, but board-flavored chocolate is never a success."

For more information, visit http://www.frovi.com/.