Biodegradable void fill

  Pregis’ EP-Flex™ Renew™ is a high-performance low-density polyethylene air pillow film that is made with up to 50% less resin, 10% recycled content, and contains a proprietary organic additive that accelerates microbial biodegradation, without compromising recyclability.

Panel-less hot-fill PET

 Constar's Vertical Compensation Technology™ (VCT™) produces PET containers using an innovative, panel-less hot-fill technology.

Oxygen-barrier films

 From Honeywell Specialty Films comes new OxyShield® Plus, a mid-level oxygen-barrier nylon/EVOH/nylon biaxially oriented film that offers good resistance to solvents, oils, and greases, as well as good transparency and gloss, easy printing and lamination, and resistance to flex cracking.

Rotogravure printing paper

 M-Real has introduced Simcastor Flex, a versatile paper for flexible packaging, specially developed for demanding rotogravure packaging.

Moisture-barrier film

 Honeywell has launched Aclar® Flex moisture barrier film, specially designed for flexible medical packaging applications, including overwraps, pouches, and lidding.

Heat-set PET

 Ball Corp. has expanded its line of recyclable Heat-Tek™ PET plastic bottles for hot-filled beverages to include sizes from 8 to 64 oz. Ideal for juices, teas, sports drinks, vitamin-enhanced water, and other beverages filled at temperatures to 185°F.

Drum label material

 Weber Marking Systems introduces its Flex-Pack 475 drum label, a pressure-sensitive material that was engineered for petrochemical labeling, and for labeling products that are transported in demanding environments.

Pizza film

 Pechiney Plastic Packaging (Chicago, IL) introduces a downgauged version of its pizza film. With an approximate 10% top web reduction and 20% bottom reduction, film is said to provide customers greater cost advantages while retaining performance.

Thermal-transfer ribbons

 Signet Marking Devices (Costa Mesa, CA) introduces on-demand printing with its new line of Flex-temp thermal-transfer ribbons for use on paper, films, and other substrates.

Materials: Anti-counterfeiting pigments

 Flex Products (Santa Roas, CA) has introduced SecureShift™ pigments. Capable of being incorporated in inks, films, coatings, plastics, or fabrics, these pigments serve as an effective anti-counterfeiting measure for major brands because they’re believed to be impossible to copy and are easy to identify.

Metallized OPP film

 MPF from AET Films (New Castle, DE) is a metallized OPP film designed for high-barrier food packaging. The nonsealable biaxially oriented film comprises an aluminum-coated surface with a bonding layer, an OPP core, and a treated bonding layer.

Wood fiber composite

 Teel Plastics (Baraboo, WI) extrudes a wood fiber polymer composite for the cosmetics industry. It is said to provide material characteristics that cannot be attained using a traditional wood product.