Flexible packaging

Competition nurtures flexible packaging innovation

Like many movie, television and music awards programs, packaging competitions tend to be judged by "experts" who try to assess how well entries meet a given set of criteria.

February 29, 1996

Package Printing: Page 77

Flexible packaging

Films let produce breathe comfortably

Passive controlled atmosphere technology that lengthens the shelf life of fresh-cut produce takes many forms, as these three FPA award winners demonstrate.

February 29, 1996

Additives, coatings & inks

Supplier news: Appointments, promotions

ICI Chemicals & Polymers (Wilmington, DE): Donald R. Westerlund, national accounts mgr., PET resins.

February 29, 1996

Flexibles

Nylon resins

AlliedSignal (Morris-town, NJ) details its offerings in nylon resins used in packaging films as well as blow-mold- ed and thermoformed packaging in a four-page color bro-chure.

January 31, 1996

Protective/transport packaging

All fit for shipping

Gym equipment manufacturer Allfitness switches from kraft paper to LDPE-based foam for shipping its products to retailers worldwide. Benefits include fewer returns and an enhanced perceived value.

January 31, 1996

Additives, coatings & inks

Supplier news: Domestic acquisitions, agreements

Wellman Inc. (Shrewsbury, NJ) acquired the PET packaging-resin business of Akzo Nobel NV based in the Netherlands.

January 31, 1996

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

Sterile packaging growth projected

Continued increases in surgical procedures and stringent standards for infection control are two factors that are expected to contribute to an 8.4% annual growth in the demand for sterile packaging over the next five years.

December 31, 1995

Conveying & accumulation

Twin-auger filler is pick of the litter

Automated filling and capping of jugs containing cat litter helps Mid-Florida Mining reduce giveaway by 83% and labor costs by 45%. Increased efficiency helps push new product offerings and increase sales.

December 31, 1995

Additives, coatings & inks

Global thirst for PET

Hoechst Fibers Worldwide (Frankfurt, Germany) estimates current global demand for PET packaging resin is at 3.2 million tons. North America accounts for nearly half of that, but by the year 2005, say Hoechst analysts, demand in the Asian Pacific region will outstrip all other markets.

December 31, 1995

Converting equipment

Mary Kay bottles body care products

Customized extrusion/blow-molded bottles are providing marketing appeal and consumer convenience for personal care products sold by Dallas-based Mary Kay Cosmetics.

December 31, 1995

Additives, coatings & inks

Supplier news: International agreements

Eastman Chemical Co. (Kingsport, TN) will build a PET bottle resin plant near Buenos Aires, Argentina.

December 31, 1995

Additives, coatings & inks

Thermal transfer ribbon

The SuperPrint E40 series resin-based thermal transfer ribbon from the Soabar Systems Div., Avery Dennison (Philadelphia, PA) functions at lower heat settings than convention-al resin-based ribbons for extended print head life.

November 30, 1995

Additives, coatings & inks

Resin delivery program

AlliedSignal Plastics (Morristown, NJ) introduces 48-Hour Resin Delivery, a four-page brochure that details a new delivery program provided by the company.

November 30, 1995