Packaging Digest back issues from March 2008:
Chevon caps off auto lubricants.(design trends)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Chevron Intl. Pte Ltd. now tops its bottles of Caltex and Chevron brands of automotive products for Asian distribution with 40-mm screw caps from Bericap's (www.bericap.com) Asia business. The new angular consumer package contains automotive products ...
AriZona's energy drinks sizzle with street sense.(design trends)
Mar 01, 2008 ... AriZona Beverages hits the streets with All City NRG, a ready-to-drink green tea energy drink, in the urban test markets of New York, Chicago and Florida. While no flavor is indicated on the cans, the product, AriZona reports, is a pomegranate flavored drink with a green-tea base. ...
Fluted can hits the right note for soup.(design trends)
Mar 01, 2008 ... When German soup manufacturer Stockmeyer AG introduced a new premium soup line in the U.K., it used fluted cans from Crown Food Europe (www.crowncork.com), to rise above the cacophony of canned soup products on grocery shelves. Manufactured at Crown Food Europe's plant in Seesen, Germany, ...
Dual-handled bottle offers ergonomics.(design trends)
Mar 01, 2008 ... The advanced engine protection offered by Shell Rotella[R] T motor oil with Triple Protection[TM] technology is now available in a new ergonomic bottle featuring two handles--one on the side and one on the top that make it easier to handle and pour. The top handle makes carrying easier, ...
Heat-shrinkable sleeve debuts for VO5.(design trends)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Alberto Culver USA has introduced its VO5 Extreme Style hairspray in a spray bottle with a polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) heat-shrinkable sleeve from Ameri-Seal, Inc. (www.ameri-seal.com). The product is a styling/conditioning spray that is available in retail grocery, drug and ...
Diesel doesn't always mean motor fuel.(design trends)
Mar 01, 2008 ... In this case, we're talking about Italian fashion house Diesel's introduction of new Fuel For Life fragrance for men and women in stylish glass flacons from Gerresheimer (www.gerresheimer.com). Despite a high level of coordination, two completely individual, gender-specific perfume ...
XX marks the spot on Dos Equis' aluminum bottle.(design trends: beverages)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma, part of the Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V., the leading beverage company in Latin America, is making history. Dos Equis XX Lager has launched its signature brand in a new aluminum bottle produced by CCL Container (www.cclcontainer.com), becoming ...
Overlid keeps cans of sparkling water clean.(design trends: beverages)
Mar 01, 2008 ... It was Leonardo da Vinci who first made the town of Sanpellegrino famous, but it's the delicious, thirst-quenching properties of the area's natural mineral water that made the San Pellegrino name famous worldwide. Sanpelligrino Aranciata, a variant sparkling orange beverage of the natural ...
Impact of Wal-Mart scorecard creates concerns.(comment)
Mar 01, 2008; ... There is always risk when you're an innovator. That's why many persons experienced both excitement and trepidation when Wal-Mart officially implemented its packaging scorecard on Feb. 1. The company is using the scorecard to help achieve its sustainability goals of reducing waste, using ...
Top-loading case packer.(Cartoning, Casing & Sealing)
Mar 01, 2008 ... The SD Series is a case-erecting, robotic top-loading and case-sealing system with a footprint of 14 ft. The packer is equipped with a gantry or an articulated 6-axis robot. At 20 cpm, the system handles cartons, bags and pouches, tier sheets, cans or bottles of all shapes with a ...
Small format blister machinery.(Cartoning, Casing & Sealing)
Mar 01, 2008 ... The KBS-GS small-format, blister-packaging machine is designed to handle rapid-paced, fast changeover demands for moderate production needs. The product is ideal for package development, startup volumes and small-batch production facilities, the co. says. The blister-packaging machine ...
Case/tray packers.(Cartoning, Casing & Sealing)
Mar 01, 2008 ... The Axiom[R] IM Series case/tray packers feature next-generation electronic motion control technology. The product features an open design for convenience when cleaning and accessing machine components. New product sizes are easily added through the HMI and an electronic handwheel provides ...
Communication modules.(Cartoning, Casing & Sealing)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The co. releases PROFIBUS-DP communication modules as the fourth communication option for the SMVector drive. The streamlined pop-in modules can be factory-installed or simply inserted into an already ...
Thermal-transfer printer.(Cartoning, Casing & Sealing)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The S-107 HS high-speed thermal-transfer printer features two printheads, one mounted at the edge of the web and the other in the middle. The printer can operate at speeds up to 500-mm/sec and offers a cost-effective alternative to using preprinted labels ...
Horizontal motion conveyor.(Cartoning, Casing & Sealing)
Mar 01, 2008 ... The co. releases the FastBack 260E horizontal-motion conveyor, with no operator adjustments, flexure or variable speed tuning required. The full washdown drive handles conveyor pans up to 35-ft long and can be used with different pan sizes and configurations for economical changes in ...
Flow controller.(Cartoning, Casing & Sealing)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The co. announces the Kaeser Flow Controller, which is available for system capacities from 250 to 6,200 scfm. The flow controller creates more effective storage by accumulating compressed air in the receivers and only delivering air that is needed for ...
Photoelectric sensors.(Cartoning, Casing & Sealing)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Series 31 Opti-Vue photoelectric sensors have a compact 35x62-mm footprint. These small sensors offer a built-in SPDT relay with AC/DC models and 4-in-1[TM] output with DC models. The relay eliminates the need for a separately mounted and wired relay, and the 4-in-1 technology allows a ...
Pouchmaker.(Cartoning, Casing & Sealing)
Mar 01, 2008 ... The installation of the new Mamata Vega 610 at the co.'s Cary, IL, facility aims to increase the range of pouches from 3-side-seal flat styles to unlimited sizes that do not without requiring new tooling for the machine. The pouchmaker also produces Doyen-style, stand-up pouches with ...
Barrier bags.(Film & Foil)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Flavorseal[TM] Barrier I restaurant chub cooking bags are made with sturdy handles. Debuting in pt, qt, gal and custom sizes for high-volume institutional applications, the bags have a durable, 3-mil, layered construction with 2-in.-thick bottom seals. The center handles make lifting safe, ...
Polyester lidding films.(Film & Foil)
Mar 01, 2008 ... LumiLid[R] makes its bow as a line of heat-sealable, solvent-free polyester lidding films that are environment-friendly and FDA-compliant. The co. says the films for frozen and refrigerated food applications are made using its proprietary extrusion coating technology, eliminating ...
Shrink films.(Film & Foil)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Form-Tite[TM] films are said to be engineered for optimum performance on high-speed Multivac FormShrink machines, reportedly maximizing the equipment's potential to triple productivity and lower total costs, compared ...
Reflective films.(Film & Foil)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FMG (field marking grade) glass bead-coated reflective cast vinyl film and PG (promotional grade) glass bead-coated reflective polyester film join the co.'s REFLECTamark[R] Series. The former is said to offer 7-year outdoor durability; the latter 2-year ....
Thermoplastic elastomer.(Film & Foil)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A phthalate-free thermoplastic elastomer is introduced as Versaflex[TM] CL E95, part of the co.'s TPE line. Said to address recent regulations limiting phthalate-based plasticizers as well as market demands for low extractable TPEs, the ...
PET wine bottle.(Film & Foil)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With the cylindrical silhouette, pronounced shoulder and concave bottom of the traditional Bordeaux bottle, made of PET, is introduced. Closed with an aluminum closure having a finish like those used for threaded caps, the new 50-g bottle grows out of the ...
Freeze-tolerant resin.(Film & Foil)
Mar 01, 2008 ... What's called the first-ever freeze-tolerant resin, CP-INJ-13, reportedly retains rigidity in freezing temperatures, so is suitable for frozen food applications including ice cream containers ....
Protective film.(Film & Foil)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Said to be designed on the basis of polyolefins, NOVAGUARD[R] 9377 is introduced as an opaque white surface protection film to guard parts against external aggression, including acid rain and marks during assembly, transport and storage. The 2.4-mil film, with a ...
PLA sheet.(Film & Foil)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rejuven8[TM] and Rejuven8 Plus PLA sheet are introduced as the first in a line of environmentally responsible plastics that are designed to help significantly reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions. Said to be made with NatureWorks[R] PLA, both ...
Machine films.(Film & Foil)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Stratos[TM] soars to the top as a family of what the co. calls ultra-high-yield machine films for automated pallet-wrapping applications. The co. says its latest stretch film innovation provides significantly lower costs per pallet, and can be used in many ...
Eco-friendly sheet.(Film & Foil)
Mar 01, 2008 ... EcoStar[TM] HS 1000 is offered as a PET-based eco-friendly material, reportedly comparable in cost to PVC but with better clarity, that can be sealed with existing machinery and tooling using a broad variety of substrates. The co. says that the material's sealing efficiency offers ...
PET lidding.(Film & Foil)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Rocklid GP PET debuts as a peelable, dual-ovenable lidding for foil containers. The co. says the lidding allows the end user to keep the film on a foil tray during cooking in a conventional oven. The film, the co. adds, acts as a slow-release steamer film and self-vents in the oven, with ...
Self-contained pallet box.(Film & Foil)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New StepPak[TM] is designed as a self-contained pallet/sleeve/lid combination with an aim of reducing loss and damage as well as human wear and tear. Foot latches on the pallet deck handle locking/unlocking are made of ABS, while the pallet base and ...
Food containers.(Film & Foil)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Reportedly lined with a corn-based plastic barrier, ecotainer[TM] food containers are available in 8- and 16-oz sizes. The use of this kind of liner rather than a petroleum-based moisture barrier means, the co ....
APET sheet.(Film & Foil)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] APET sheet Setting its sights on the grocery and food packaging industries, the co. says it is investing in APET sheet production capacity of 300,000 tons, targeted to support brands and grocers seeking to boost their sales. The co. says ...
Fascination with flexibles: the 2008 Flexible Packaging Achievement Award winners focus on looks, convenience features, high performance, cost, advanced materials and print technologies.(flexible awards)(Cover story)
Mar 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] If the winners of the Flexible Packaging Assn.'s (www.flexpack.org) 2008 Packaging Achievement Awards competition are any indication, flexible packaging continues to flourish, as the FPA's 52nd packaging competition underscores plenty of innovation taking ...
Cartoner runs standup pouches: a new first-of-its-kind cartoner at Faribault Foods runs 600 cartons/min and uses half the material of a standard B-flute corrugated carton.(Cartoning)
Mar 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Advanced Nutritionals Corp. started in 1992 as a manufacturer of sport drinks. In 2001, the company changed its name to SoftPac Industries, Inc., and built a $12-million plant in Elk River, MN to produce juice drinks in standup pouches to compete with ...
Olive oil revisited: Speiron launches Lambda, a pricey, hand-extracted, extra-virgin olive oil from Greece in an upscale glass bottle, available by direct mail to individuals around the world.(glass packaging)
Mar 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In 2007, Speiron Co. launched Lambda, an upscale extra-virgin olive oil from Greece, sold by direct mail. "The package targets carefully selected individuals around the world who represent the upscale audience that we're interested in," remarks Speiron's ...
Cheese bagging with a twist: an automatic cheese block turner/orienter/bag-loading system replaces manual packing at family-owned Mullins Cheese Co., saving labor and time. The six systems handle 40-lb blocks of cheese with substantially less waste.(cheese packing)
Mar 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A family-owned operation in business since 1970, Mullins Cheese, Mosinee, WI, is producing blockbuster results with its new cheese block-packaging/handling equipment from Sealed Airs Cryovac Food Packaging Div. (www.cryovac.com). A commercial cheesemaker ...
Case coding is on a roll: The Original Philadelphia Cheesesteak Co. eliminates downtime and trims the fat from material costs with four large-character ink-jet printers for cases of its thin slices of beef.(case coding, labeling)
Mar 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] To some, especially those in the Eastern part of the U.S., a Philly cheesesteak sandwich is a real culinary treat Originating in Philadelphia, the sandwich includes savory, thin slices of beef, chicken or pork, usually piled high on a roll with onions and ...
Packaging protein powders: new packaging line at Lake Country Foods runs paperboard canisters of powdered milk products at speeds to 180 canisters/min.(powder packaging)
Mar 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Founded in 1920 as part of the Carnation Co. to produce malted milk powder and other dry mixes, the Lake Country Foods facility went through several ownership changes in the past 20 years. The last one in 1993 resulted in the formation of Lake Country ...
Printers signal benefits for bags: Whelen Eng., a manufacturer of lights, beacons, sirens and other warning equipment, adopts large-format thermal-transfer coding for its bagging operation. The results increase throughput.(bag coding)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Whelen Eng., Chester, CT, designs and manufactures lights, beacons, sirens and other warning equipment for emergency vehicles such as police cars, ambulances and fire trucks. Dedicated to manufacturing in the U.S., Whelen stays competitive in the world ...
Green sales for green bottles: shrink-sleeve converter Packstar shines when it comes to creating sustainable labels.(PLA labels)
Mar 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] It's only fitting that Garnier Fructis haircare products from from Maybelline are in bright green bottles, given its campaign to use sustainable packaging. The cosmetics giant teamed up with flex-pack converter Packstar Flexible Packaging ...
A changing world change packaging.(sustainability)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Recently, I participated in a panel discussion on sustainable packaging at the first Environmental Sustainability Summit, hosted by the Grocery Manufacturers Association. During the week of the meeting, I scanned the New York Times and found several articles that reflect how profoundly ...
Sustainability conference: emphasizes action items: sessions offer a comprehensive agenda for packagers interested in implementation.(conference preview)(Conference news)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Most businesses now recognize the need for sustainability in packaging but question exactly how to successfully build it into their processes. That's the goal of "Sustainability in Packaging 2008," to be held March 12 through March 13 at the Royal Plaza Hotel in Orlando. The ...
Winning one competition, then another, then another ...: the New Jersey Packaging Executives Club's Package of Year is a 'toothed' wheel displaying art to merchandise a soft drink.(competition winners)
Mar 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Spinning your wheels often means getting nowhere. For Integrated Display Co. (www.idcdisplay.com), it becomes a matter of winning one competition and then capturing a top spot in another competition. And the rationale for the first competition ...
... Then another taking the air out of micro dosing: AGI Dermatics 'pens' a new way to dispense a microcirculation skin cream in metered quantities.
Mar 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's getting pointless to be upright, especially since AGI Dermatics of Freeport, NY, is discovering the benefits of all-position micro dosing for its newest microcirculation, or skin-stimulating, cream. Fred Carr, president of Remergent ...
Ask many questions of potential system integrators: here are a few examples.(system integration)
Mar 01, 2008; ... The Control System Integrator Association (CSIA at www.controlsys.org) has announced that its membership has reached 300 companies, one-third of which have achieved certified member status. The CSIA's certification audit looks at an integrator's business procedures to assure an end user ...
Motion-control modules.(new products: equipment)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The SPiiPlus Econo is described as an economical family of motion-control modules that provide multi-axis motion control for a variety of applications with requirements that range from simple to demanding. The modules are available in both the SPiiPlus ...
Parts feeder.(new products: equipment)
Mar 01, 2008 ... The DS1100 eliminates hand loading of injection-molding equipment and helps reduce repetitive motion. A seven-axis articulating robotic arm provides greater dexterity for unloading parts from trays to conveyors and reloading them. The product improves the over/under conveyor design that ...
Vertical feeder.(new products: equipment)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The co. announces the introduction of the Model NEVF vertical feeder. This design is ideal for feeding containers directly into a puck or a starwheel; if supplied with its own starwheel, the feeder will discharge onto the customer's conveyor. The vertical ...
Print controller.(new products: equipment)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Print controller The I-Mark[TM] V84 prints four to five lines of text, graphics/logos and bar codes for packaging and industrial applications. Features an easy-to-use 10.4-in. color touchscreen interface. Instead of global settings, it provides independent ...
Solenoid valve.(new products: equipment)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Solenoid valve The CPE solenoid valve offers aluminum manifolds and M8 solenoid connections. The CPE can be used as an individual valve or can be mounted on a sturdy aluminum manifold to simplify installation. The valve features flow rates of 350-, 800- ...
Sanitary conveyor.(new products: equipment)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sanitary conveyor The co. announces that its flexible screw conveyor for bulk foods, pharmaceuticals, dairy products and other contamination-sensitive materials meets 3-A sanitary standards. A coupling design specific to the 3-A unit, positioned beyond the ...
Packaging system.(new products: equipment)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The co. releases the PACK 100 packaging system, which has been designed and developed especially for users who require high-level outputs. The system has a maximum speed of 78 bags/min and is able to pack two bags at the same time, which increases the ...
Electromechanical cylinders.(new products: equipment)
Mar 01, 2008 ... The co. releases a new series of electromechanical (EMC) cylinders to provide high thrust and high speed capabilities with greater flexibility and control for applications traditionally using hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders. The cylinders' combination of power, speed and their ...
Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp.(MOVERS & SHAKERS)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Windmoeller & Hoelscher ...
Bemis Co., Inc.(MOVERS & SHAKERS)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Bemis Co., Inc. elects Henry J. Theisen president and CEO to succeed Jeffrey H. Curler, ...
ABB.(MOVERS & SHAKERS)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ABB appoints Greg Scheu, currently senior vp of ABB's Automation Products Div. in North America, as head of ABB's Power Products Div. in North ...
Crown Holdings, Inc.(MOVERS & SHAKERS)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Crown Holdings, Inc. names Brian Rogers vp of its CROWN Bevcan Europe and Middle East business unit ....
Package Development Co., Inc.(MOVERS & SHAKERS)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Package Development Co., Inc ....
Prism North America.(MOVERS & SHAKERS)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Prism North America appoints ...
Screen (USA).(MOVERS & SHAKERS)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Screen (USA) appoints Jeff Skolnik ...
Unisource Worldwide, Inc.(MOVERS & SHAKERS)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Unisource Worldwide, Inc. appoints Jeff Small to oversee sales and business development operations in Atlanta; Jeff Hoeppner to direct packaging and facility-supplies sales and business ...
Westfalia Technologies.(MOVERS & SHAKERS)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Westfalia Technologies, Inc. names James Miller to business development and ...
The Visual Pak Companies.(MOVERS & SHAKERS)
Mar 01, 2008 ... The Visual Pak Companies ...
Sonoco.(MOVERS & SHAKERS)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Sonoco elects M. Jack ...