Conveying & accumulation

Fit for filling 'round the clock

Aberfoyle Springs fills 500-mL PET bottles at a rate of 630/min seven days a week, in two 11-hour shifts each day. ‘We train our people like there’s no tomorrow.’

February 29, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling: Page 260

Closures

Label copy a charged issue for irradiated beef

Beef processors and food companies can be excused for thinking the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s final approval of irradiation on raw red meat products is a bit undercooked.

February 29, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Artistry adorns luxury liquor package

Limited-edition premium bourbon from Jim Beam looks regal in a package loaded with special touches, including the most delicate of hand-applied decals.

February 29, 2000

Flexibles

Packaging economics' pendulum swinging back

Not long after listening to (at least part of) President Clinton’s State of the Union address and my own governor’s State of the State speech in January, I was reminded just how pervasive is the role of economics.

February 29, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Trans fat labeling proposal

The National Food Processors Assn. wants to extend the comment period for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s proposed trans fat labeling rule by 90 days, to May 15, 2000.

February 29, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling

A step toward biotech labeling

A new international trade agreement on bioengineered foods puts pressure on U.S. farmers and processors to segregate these products and could speed their labeling in the global marketplace.

February 29, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Label's a page torn from history

A label that looks like it’s been torn out of a history book is perfectly appropriate for Buffalo Trace Kentucky Bourbon. Because the labels are applied from the same web, and because of the front label’s unique angle, positioning the label on the release liner was a challenge. Bottles are filled and sealed with a wood-stop cork and a tin capsule.

February 29, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling

PDC International Corp.: Shrink labeler for irregular-shaped products

Recommended for labeling irregular or awkwardly shaped products such as tape rolls, the PDC R-300 shrink labeler from PDC (South Norwalk, CT) applies sleeves at speeds to 350 pieces/min.

February 29, 2000

Cartoning

Schneider Electric ELAU Packaging Solutions: PC-based controller

Suitable for use in form/fill/seal, flow wrapping, cartoning, labeling and blister forming machinery, the PacDrive™ PC-based controller/servo drive system from Elau (Chicago, IL) is a fully digital system that replaces mechanical main shafts.

February 29, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Exact Equipment Corp.: Bottom labeler

Exact’s (Morrisville, PA) SHL-100 labeler applies labels to the bottom of meat packages at speeds to 50 packs/min. Combines industrial robot technology and stepper motor drive.

February 29, 2000

Sustainability

Food packs sparkle in DuPont Awards

From an Ocean Spray package that won the Diamond Award to a vacuum-insulated container for foods and other temperature-sensitive products, this year’s DuPont Award winners are an eclectic and innovative bunch.

January 31, 2000

Flexibles

Supplier news: International agreements

Sidel (La Havre, France) has acquired Norden Pac (Kalmar, Sweden).—Pinnacle Automation (St. Louis, MO) has been acquired by FKI plc (Loughborough, U.K.).—Amcor Twinpak North America (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) has reached an agreement to acquire a majority interest in Stevens Flexible Packaging, Inc.

January 31, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling

What's in a name?

Does “dried plums” sound more appealing than “prunes”?

January 31, 2000