Industry Watch—January 2017

A quick look on the latest supplier news, mergers, expansions, and people as listed in the January 2017 issue of Packaging World.

Jan 4th, 2017

Companies

Sleeve Seal and G.C. Evans Sales & Mfg. moved to an upgraded, larger facility in Little Rock, AR.

Cognex acquired two 3D vision companies, Germany-based EnShape GmbH and Spain-based AQSense.

The patented Micvac process for in-pack cooking and pasteurization is now being used within the foodservice area.

Synerlink S.A. acquired France-based Sogameca, manufacturer of precision machines and cutting tool technology.

Spee-Dee launched a customer-centric manufacturing strategy, Listen, SET, Go, to speed delivery, strengthen quality control, and expand employee accountability.

Display Pack moved into its new 370,000 sq-ft manufacturing facility.

Amcor Rigid Plastics completed the acquisition of Sonoco’s Global Plastics blow-molding business.

Berry Plastics is upgrading its Phillipsburg, N.J. facility to better accommodate its Healthcare packaging portfolio. The project includes three key components: expansion of the facility by more than 150,000 sqft, creation of a new on-site quality lab, and streamlining of equipment.

American Packaging Corp., a flexible packaging converter, will build a 350,000 sq-ft manufacturing facility in Chili, NY.

O.Berk Co., LLC acquired the assets of VPI Packaging.

People

Nick White was appointed National Sales Manger for Shibuya Hoppmann.

Michael Rogers was promoted to Customer Service Manager for Ossid, powered by Pro Mach.

Shinichi Takagi was appointed Head of Investor Relations for Sato.

Dennis M. Love will retire as Chairman of the Board of Printpack effective December 31, 2016. James E. Love, III was elected by the board to fill that position.

Graeme Hartley was appointed Business Development Manager covering the North of England and Scotland for AutoCoding Systems.

Alan Traylor was promoted to Director of Product Management at Mocon, Inc.

World Wide Packaging hired Kevin Jean, Creative Lead of Innovation and Ed Quinn, Senior Sales Representative.

Dennis Gagan joined Toray Plastics (America), Inc. as Business Manager, Torayfan® Div.

Simon Howes was appointed Product Manager for Domino’s Digital Printing Solutions Div.

William Sharpless was hired as Director of Business Development for Bilcare Research Inc.

Dr. Stefan König was named President of Bosch Packaging Technology.

Achievements

Fanuc America Corp. was named one of Michigan’s top 100 workplaces by the Detroit Free Press.

6:18 Pw
Nestlé and Mars Wrigley Roll Out Paper-Based Confectionery Packs Replacing Plastic Predecessors
Take Five Video: Transitioning from plastic to paper for Nestlé’s Smarties brand candies required extensive R&D in new materials, new package designs, equipment compatibility, and recycling potential. Meanwhile Mars Wrigley is piloting its own project.
Jun 18th, 2021
Kellogg's
Kellogg Says Embracing E-Commerce Helped it Weather the Pandemic
Kellogg says its ecommerce investments over the past two years helped it respond quickly and seize opportunities when lockdowns related to COVID-19 sent online grocery sales to record levels.
Jun 18th, 2021
RRD launched Care Kits for patients and to help healthcare companies adapt to industry changes and demonstrate their commitment to member and patient wellness.
Care Kits Supplement Telehealth for Medicare Patients and More
57% of Americans with chronic conditions delayed healthcare and experienced a gap in care due to COVID-19, per a recent study. Aetna and other companies are shipping kits with specially curated products to offer self-care or supplement telehealth visits.
Jun 17th, 2021
Both the shampoo and the conditioner in this P&G line have tactile notching to help the visually impaired.
P&G Designs Packaging for the Visually Impaired
Tactile notching on PET bottles of Procter & Gamble’s bio:renew shampoos and conditioners goes a long way toward helping consumers with impaired vision differentiate one product from another.
Jun 17th, 2021
The most important strategy to make packaging more sustainable is to reduce the amount of plastic.
Beverage Manufacturers Respond to Consumer Trends on Plastic Packaging
Plastic has become an issue for consumers, particularly related to plastic waste in the environment. This directly impacts the beverage industry, which is made up of 45% rigid plastic packaging, only 25% of which ends up being recycled in the US.
Jun 17th, 2021
Check out The Cobot Spot from Universal Robots
Sponsored
Check out The Cobot Spot from Universal Robots
Looking for automation solutions for packaging and palletizing? This is your destination for all things cobot. Whether it’s webinars, video case studies or product information, you’ll find it all in this one spot.
Aug 31st, 2020
Amazon Logo
Amazon Expands Frustration-Free Packaging Programs to Include Smaller Eligible Product Sizes
The Frustration-Free Packaging Programs Incentive Expansion, announced June 1, 2021 for North America and following later this year in Europe, has expanded its product size range downward, to include ASINs starting as small as 6 x 4 x 0.375 ins.
Jun 16th, 2021
Love Beauty and Planet launched 16-oz reusable aluminum bottles and 32.3-oz 100% rPET refill bottles for two formulas of its shampoo and conditioner at Target in April 2021.
Love Beauty and Planet Debuts Reusable Aluminum Bottle
Unilever hair and skincare brand Love Beauty and Planet is the first major beauty brand to launch a reusable aluminum bottle for shampoo and conditioner for mass market.
Jun 16th, 2021
The Steeped Coffee Method requires only hot water to prepare a single serving of coffee.
Tea Bag-Style Coffee Pack is ‘Steeped’ in Sustainability
Premium coffee producer Mr. Espresso enters the single-serve market with a tea bag-style product from Steeped that uses plant-based, compostable materials for the bag and outer film sachet.
Jun 15th, 2021
Dr. R. Andrew Hurley
Taking the Fifth (Panel): Create an Invitation to Engage
Using a fifth-panel carton allows for more space to educate consumers on your product and provides an interactive, sensory experience that can send a powerful message about your brand.
Jun 15th, 2021
Matt 6:11 Pw Title
Cybersecurity Risks Mount While Bag-in-Box Gives Brewers “Cider Security”
In this two-part Take Five, we first take a look at mounting risks around cybersecurity, then switch gears to look at a rising bag-in-box trend among intentionally flat beers and ciders.
Jun 11th, 2021
Ball Aluminum Cup™ Expands Rollout to Retailers in 50 States
Ball Aluminum Cup™ Expands Rollout to Retailers in 50 States
After debuting the first-of-its-kind aluminum cup at major sports and entertainment venues, Ball recently expanded availability of the 100% recyclable product nationwide.
Jun 11th, 2021
Wyld Cannabis-Infused Gummies feature a clean botanical look with bright inner carton and child-resistant jar.
2021 Healthcare Packaging Design Gallery
This year’s gallery featured many calming and minimalist aesthetics, signifying a consumer looking for relief at home and work—outside of the clinical setting.
Jun 11th, 2021
Anne Maire 2
unPACKED with Packaging World Podcast: 10 Billion Reasons to Embrace Reusable Packaging
Listen to the unPACKed with Packaging World podcast as Anne Marie Mohan outlines emerging frameworks to make implementing reusable packaging easier for OEMs, CPGs and consumers.
Jun 10th, 2021
PepsiCo develops ecommerce-only packages, such as this Doritos 3D variety pack, for some products.
PepsiCo's E-commerce Investments Pay Off in Wake of COVID-19
PepsiCo’s head of global ecommerce shares how its earlier investments in ecommerce helped the CPG giant handle a surge in orders across online channels as consumers shifted to online shopping because of the pandemic.
Jun 10th, 2021
Getty Images 1129642246
Beverage Suppliers Facing Post-COVID Challenges and Opportunities
Consumer demand is pushing SKU expansion and innovative new product opportunities for beverage manufacturers, but supply chain disruption has also created challenges.
Jun 9th, 2021
At MWC, Fanuc robots are used to place the packaged 40-lb blocks of cheese onto pallets before they go through a stretch wrapper and are taken to the warehouse.
MWC’s Robot Configurations Provide Flexibility
Robotics come into play in the cheesemaker's palletizing operations. But for the most part, that level of complexity isn't needed in a facility producing such consistent product types and sizes. What's needed more is simplified automation.
Jun 7th, 2021
There are some common challenges when launching a new food or beverage product.
Accelerating Speed to Market for New Food and Beverage Product Ideas
There are some common challenges when moving a new food or beverage product from idea to reality, and some considerations such as packaging and sustainability that are an integral part of the process.
Jun 7th, 2021
6:4 Pw Title
Branding Lessons from Vital Farms’ Fantastic Egg Carton
Packaging is your product’s greatest salesperson. On today's Take Five video, see how ethical food company Vital Farms uses attention-grabbing graphics, sustainable packaging materials, and clever consumer communication tools to elevate its egg packaging.
Jun 4th, 2021
Schematic for a iPhone starter kit, as imagined by middle schoolers and presented to a packaging professional from Apple.
Middle Schoolers Take on Big Brand Packaging Projects
Challenged to invent packaging systems for the likes of Apple and Ford, these middle schoolers impressed both in the pack designs themselves, and their ability to communicate their reasoning.
Jun 4th, 2021
More in Home
Most beverage sales are coming from Asia Pacific, North America, and Western Europe.
Beverage Trends Driving Change in 2021
Changing consumer demands mean beverage manufacturers have to adjust their offerings to satisfy the desire for functional, healthy beverages, while also offering sustainable or convenience packaging.
Jun 3rd, 2021
The Honey Almond bar hits shelves in a paper-based flow wrap packaged on Syntegon’s HRM horizontal form-fill-seal machine.
Mars Wrigley Develops, Tests Paper-based Packaging for Balisto Chocolate Bar
As brands eye fast-approaching, self-imposed sustainability deadlines, watch for interesting pilot projects to roll out. This European paper-based flow pack from Mars Wrigley's Balisto brand of snacks was developed with Syntegon.
Jun 2nd, 2021
Budweiser’s three new limited-edition cans celebrate American freedom, featuring a red, white, and blue design emblazoned with stars and stripes.
Budweiser Busts out Patriotic Cans for ‘Historic Summer’
Beer giant kicks off the summer season with three limited-edition can designs that celebrate American freedom, with a portion of sales being donated to non-profit Folds of Honor.
Jun 2nd, 2021
The Massman Automation compact cheese block case packer packages 40-lb. blocks in protective cases for safe shipment and handling.
New Case Packer, Robotic Palletizer, Let Wisconsin Cheesemaker Efficiently Offer Multiple Output Options
With a new automated case packer and palletizer, Wisconsin Whey Protein’s cheesemaking operation can now offer its customers bulk cheese in barrels or in blocks.
Jun 1st, 2021
Getty Images 1194791465
Is Your Supply Chain a Key Part of Your Brand Sustainability Plan?
According to speakers at Natural Products Expo West, one of the most powerful tools a company has to reduce their climate impact is to engage their supply chain.
Jun 1st, 2021
The new lid has a snap feature that holds it tightly in place because a robotic arm grabs the tubs by the lid at the vaccine filling plant.
Rapid-Response Packaging Development Aids Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines and Test Kits
Trays, inserts, tubs, and lids were developed in mere days, compared to the traditional weeks or months. The companies had to navigate shortages in resin supply due to COVID-19 and Texas storms.
Jun 1st, 2021
5:28 Pw Title
Pharma Packaging Spotlight: Mechanical Testing for Passive Thermal Coolers
In this Take Five report on ISTA’s TempPack, Healthcare Packaging editor Keren Sookne discusses damage and acceptance criteria guidance, payload selection, actual product versus placebo, testing multiple product configurations, and more.
May 28th, 2021
Beginning in June, Beiersdorf’s Nivea Naturally Good face care product range will be on the shelves in about 30 countries around the world in packaging made from this renewable polypropylene.
New Nivea Jars are Made from Bio-based Forestry Byproduct
Beiersdorf debuts polypropylene jars for its Nivea face cream that are made from tall oil—a byproduct of the forestry industry—to create petroleum-free, certified renewable plastic packaging.
May 26th, 2021
The electron beam coating and laminating system is one of several strategic investments in machines, methods, and materials that AccuFlex opted for as a way of scoring sustainable packaging points.
Digital Printing, E-beam Coating, and More
Now nearing the end of its first year in business, AccuFlex is leveraging digital printing, e-beam coating, Color-Logic software, and both films and zippers that are compostable
May 25th, 2021
Jason Blake, Chief Sustainability Officer for PepsiCo Beverages North America
PepsiCo’s Jason Blake Drives Sustainability Agenda
Jason Blake, Chief Sustainability Officer for PepsiCo Beverages North America, shares how the company is incorporating sustainability in every area, with a focus on innovations in packaging that will help the company reach its carbon reduction goals.
May 24th, 2021
Iopp Press Release Logo
IoPP Announces Winners of the 2021 Packaging Education Scholarship Fund
Each year, the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) awards over $10,000 in scholarships to students studying packaging or a related field.
May 24th, 2021
5 21 Pw Title
E-comm Brands Adopt Durable Bottles with Subscription-Based Refill Format
In effort to improve sustainability profiles and avoid the no-no of ‘shipping water,’ many new D2C brands are adopting a durable pack starter kit format that is then replenished by light or concentrated replenishment. Learn more in this Take Five video.
May 21st, 2021