In the new South Africa, sales of plastic packaging materials are experiencing double-digit growth (reaching $700 million in '94), and thirst for plastics technology know-how is great.

In a product category where package decoration is typically printed on a flexo press in one color and rarely conveys anything beyond the most rudimentary product information, the 8- and 20-lb bags of Ice Rounds from City Ice really stand out.

Where the markets are

"One of the most ambitious undertakings in our company's history" is the phrase used to describe the rollout of 12 new gourmet products under the Grey Poupon brand name.

Attendees of MAPack '95 learned, among other things, that "oxygen shock" treatment may be the next trend in modified atmosphere packaging of fresh produce.

On November 2, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a final ruling requiring packagers of hot dogs, bologna, and sausage to be more forthcoming in the ingredients statement if their products contain chicken or turkey meat.

While twin-lane metal detection equipment and pipeline detectors are not uncommon, it is unusual to find them both on the same packaging line. Kraft Jacobs Suchard wanted two systems in its Liverpool, England facility for a new high-speed filling line for Vitalite margarine.