Oliver Winery adds a 250-mL aluminum can to its Hard Cider brand, known for its humorous and lively artwork, brightly illustrating fictional tales of Americana.

Miller Lite and Miller Genuine Draft cans are scored with a secondary tab that invites beer drinkers to have fun opening it, then enjoy a smoother pour.

American craft beer brewer Churchkey Can Co. is bringing back a package long associated with Americana with the launch of Churchkey’s handcrafted Pilsner-style beer in a three-piece, flat top steel can.

German grocery chain Edeka Hessenring launches its own-brand cola in a novel six-pack carton, along with augmented reality that lets the ‘Sprudeltier’ out of the can.

What is said to be the first commercial application of digital electrostatic drop-on-demand printing technology from U.K.-based Tonejet was pioneered last May by Ball Packaging Europe at its Hassloch, Germany, beverage can manufacturing plant.

ABB (American Body Building) has introduced Pure Pro® 50 ready-to-drink shakes in recloseable, lightweight, 16-oz Alumi-Tek aluminum bottles from Ball Corporation.

Miller Brewing Co., Milwaukee, WI, is serving up Miller Lite Beer in 16-oz Alumi-Tek® aluminum pint bottles supplied by Ball Corp. (www.ball.com).

Maui Brewing views 'extremely successful' dust covers as a must for consumers.

Exhibitors' most innovative commercial packages will be on display.

Redesign adds personality; can graphics enhanced with high-res printing.

There’s a new option in resealability for beverage containers.

A special polymer injection-molded with dry lubricants blended in is at the heart of the self-lubricating bearings used on these machines.

As the baseball season winds down in October in the United States, it’s on the upswing in the Caribbean. During this past season that ended in January, Presidente brand in the Dominican Republic conducted a Viva la Pelota! or Hurrah Baseball! campaign for its beer in 12-oz glass bottles with promotional sleeve labels. Presidente regular featured sleeves printed with a ball and bat, and Light featured sleeves showing a jersey and hat.

Organic cereal processor carefully selects bag f/f/s, cup-filling, and case-packing equipment to optimize new plant efficiencies.

Thirteen gantry robots increase throughput and greatly improve ergonomics at Pfizer's logistics center.

The Fusion-Tek™ steel can for use in microwave ovens was designed with aerospace guidance.

BooKoo Beverages, Inc., Addison, TX, has added four new nutrient-enhanced waters—Rebound, MMMMulti, Bookoo C, and Inner G—to its product line.

More than 300 Wal-Mart stores in the West are recycling shopping and apparel bags, thanks to a special ‘sandwich’ bale.

As I wrote last month, I’m still trying to clean 2003 out of my office, and there were a few other packages that bear examination, although with relatively modest detail.

New packaging equipment and puck handling system help Diversified Brands launch Scratch Fix 2in1 automotive touch-up paint in a new plastic ‘tube’.

This spring, don’t look for windowed paperboard sleeves of Top Flite XL or XL-2000 golf balls in telescoping paperboard cartons. In an effort to reduce solid waste and cut packaging material costs, Spalding of Chicopee, MA, is now using a metallized film to unitize three-ball sleeves of both popular brands.

Regional beverage bottler adds a p-s labeler that increases packaging speeds compared to its former paper label applicator.See in-plant video

Manufacturer of PET containers uses new dome-and flange-trimming machine to cut scrap rate and increase throughput by 20%.

In September, Ferolito Vultaggio & Sons, Lake Success, NY, “launched” its AriZona Rx Extreme Energy Shot drink in a package that resembles a rocket. The drink uses an 8-oz aluminum can topped with a polypropylene cap that doubles as a “shot cup.” According to Ferolito Vultaggio & Sons, creators of the AriZona Beverage brand, the “shot cup” provides an industry-first sanitary cap.

Sony debuts computer discs in an overwrap made from biodegradable, compostable resin. Swedish dairy tries 2-L bottle for milk and juice made from a resin blended with calcium carbonate.

XFL footballs from Spalding Sports Worldwide, Inc., kick up a notch the on-shelf presence of pigskin packaging. The Chicopee, MA, sporting goods company introduced a seven-item line of XFL footballs in late ’00, ahead of the league’s February debut.

Beginning Feb. 26, 2001, St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch made Michelob and Michelob Light available nationwide in new 12-oz aluminum cans with a golf ball decoration embossed onto can fronts and backs.