3-D printed prototypes

The Spectrum Z510 Full Color System from Z Corp. produces high-definition prototypes quickly and affordably. Ink-jet printing technology creates parts with crisply defined features, enhanced accuracy, and precise color for evaluating physical models of design concepts in their nearly finished state.

Oct 31st, 2005

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Rapid 3-D, 24-bit color printing of high-definition models that accurately reflect design data eliminates wait time for prototypes.

Jones Soda has brought its packaging to life with a series of limited-edition augmented reality bottle labels that showcase 15 extreme athletes and edgy artists in action.

Jones Soda Bottles Come to Life with AR Labels

Reflecting on the fact that its labels are the original user-generated content, for its 25th anniversary, Jones Soda relies on content creators to take its labels to the next level with augmented reality.

85% of participants are looking to expand their current portfolio of automation solutions in secondary packaging

Robotics in the Digital Age of Secondary Packaging: Future Trends

Robots and cobots are expected to expand to 95% of all secondary packaging lines within ten years, according to a report by PMMI Business Intelligence.

Included in the line are three clean-ingredient, vegan deodorant varieties—Cucumber Sage, Citrus Vetiver, and Coconut Jasmine—a body balm stick in a Coconut Pineapple scent, and a body lotion stick in Lavender Coconut.

Grove Collaborative is First with Plastic-Free Refillable Deodorant Pack

Company expands its Peach line of clean, vegan personal care products with deodorant and body lotion packaged in a 100% aluminum ‘forever case’ with refills in 100% aluminum cartridges.

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Back to PACK EXPO Las Vegas: Industry Comes Together to Unleash Pent-up Innovation

PMMI’s PACK EXPO Las Vegas comes roaring back in 2021 with new features, exhibits, and programs in a hygienic, safety-minded space.

Aluminum Cans For Coffee Beans

Getting Noticed: Standing Out on Shelf and In-Hand

A package’s first impression can be the difference between success and failure in an ever-increasing competitive marketplace. See a few examples from ThePackHub’s September Packaging Innovation Briefing Report.

Zambelli, simple yet special

Zambelli, simple yet special

A streamlined flow of packaging material and an efficient environment for your operators. Do you want to know how? Read about Zambelli's solution.

Hold on Marty McFly, We’re Going PACK to the Future

The much-anticipated PACK to the Future exhibit tracks the history of packaging from antiquity, through the industrial revolution, to the current Industry 4.0. Learn where we went and where we’re headed on today's Take Five video.

Bart Watson, Chief Economist for the Brewers Association

Live at Craft Brew Conference: Small, Independent Brewers Face Transition

In a maturing market, craft brewers are dealing with change on two fronts: the drastic, immediate impacts of pandemic-related channel shocks; and the slow, imperceptible tectonic landscape shift of generational, demographic change.

State Of Industry 2

Global Economy Passes Pre-COVID GDP as Business Investments Pick Up; Risks Remain

After a 3.5% contraction in 2020, global real GDP is projected to increase 6% in 2021, its strongest advance since 1973, but there are still potential risks.

BIC Transforms its Approach to Plastic Products & Packaging

New sustainability goals around its use of plastic drive BIC to look at new options for products and packaging, including a greater use of recycled materials, a move from plastic to paperboard, and refillable and reusable alternatives.

Reusable Deodorant Packaging Helps Keep Consumers Smelling Nice, More Sustainably

Personal care brands are introducing a range of refillable deodorant systems using a various materials and packaging systems to reduce the use of plastic. Watch this Take Five video to find out more.

PACK EXPO Partner Program

Partners Provide Unmatched Expertise at PACK EXPO Las Vegas

Associations line up to participate at and support PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO.

After a semester of helping students craft packages for design competitions, I ask them to create a budget for their package.

Budgeting Bliss: Package Designs Students Prepare Estimates

A successful package is more than just a snazzy design, a whole lot more, but even the best design won’t make it to the shelf if it costs too much to make.

Secondary packaging trends are being driven by retail demands, e-commerce growth, and direct-to-consumer (DTC)

Three Models of Secondary Packaging Operations

Secondary packaging trends are being driven by retail demands, e-commerce growth, and direct-to-consumer (DTC). See how these three models are impacting end-of-line operations.

The reusable bottles for the refill-on-the-go and return-on-the-go systems are made from stainless steel or aluminum for durability.

Unilever Expands Refill Trials in the U.K.

After a successful trial with Asda last year, Unilever is launching the largest refill trial of its kind in the U.K., offering popular personal and household care products in return-on-the-go and refill-on-the-go formats.

XTS greatly reduces jams and downtime as it moves perfectly stacked pizzas into cases. Shown here is a freshly erected case on the right and two stacks of pizzas about to be pushed into the case on the left.

Flexibility, High Throughput on Pizza Case Packer

The M2000 case packer does the work of three machines, erases downtime and excess mechanical parts, and delivers big on flexibility and throughput.

Noice natural gel toothpaste comes in an amber glass bottle with reusable pump dispenser. Refills use a screw-top closure.

Reusable, Recyclable Glass Toothpaste Bottle is ‘Noice’

Noice Care offers its natural toothpaste in an amber glass bottle with a reusable pump dispenser for D2C; a reusable, refillable glass bottle is available through the Loop shopping platform.

There are seven areas currently trending in the U.S. packaging machinery market.

Top Seven U.S. Packaging Machinery Trends in 2021

According to a new report by PMMI Business Intelligence, there are seven areas currently trending in the U.S. packaging machinery market.

CPG manufacturers need to work with retailers, distributors, and supply chain partners to share sales information through the supply chain, from the farmer to the checkout line.

CPGs to Spend $23.8 Billion on Digital Transformation by 2030

As the sharing of information along the supply chain becomes more critical, CPGs are increasingly creating digital threads to inform their production plans with relevant data.

Either carbonated or still water can be filled on the glass line.

Hi-tech Bottling Comes to Remote Armenian Mountains

A&M Rare’s new, ultramodern bottling plant seems almost surreal in a place where unspoiled scenery and mountain grandeur are on full display.

More in Home

Market Trend Snapshots: Personal Care, Dairy, Meat, and Frozen Foods

Today’s Take Five video quickly covers a few of the market trends that were discussed at Natural Products Expo West conference including personal care trends, a market that was drastically affected by the pandemic.

Digital Commerce 360

U.S. E-Commerce Sales Rise 9.3% in 2021 Second Quarter

Digital sales hit $211.70 billion in the second quarter, up a modest 9.3% from $193.62 billion for the same period the prior year.

Margaret Knight’s flat-bottomed bag machine patent model. Courtesy of the Smithsonian, National Museum of American History.

PACK to the Future: The Story Behind the Historical Exhibit at PACK EXPO Las Vegas

Take a journey through the history of packaging, explore milestones that shaped the present, and learn more about industry trends influencing the future.

Torn Apron’s chef-prepared, restaurant-quality grab-and-go meals are packaged in vacuum skin packs that let the bright colors of the fresh ingredients shine through.

Tray Sealer Helps Startup Brand Become a Savory Success

Using a combination of vacuum skin packaging and High Pressure Processing, grab-and-go meal startup Torn Apron is producing 4,000 tray packs/week of restaurant-quality meals that have a shelf life from 50 to 60 days.

The new 100% recycled-content lid now had a longer front flap, providing more billboard space.

‘Cluckin’ Great’ Egg Carton Redesign

Vital Farms increases the sustainability of its shell-egg packaging, with a new carton that uses 100% recycled content for both the molded pulp base and the paperboard lid.

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PMMI CEO Reinforces Assurance on PACK EXPO

PMMI President and CEO Jim Pittas emphasizes that PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO will open on Sept. 27 at the Las Vegas Convention Center as long as state and local authorities continue to permit trade shows.

In the area of robotics, 2020 was the first time yearly orders of robots coming from the non-automotive sector surpassed orders for automotive applications in North America.

New Advances in Robotics for Packaging

Despite a turbulent 18 months, robot suppliers continue to introduce advancements in robotics technology that include innovations in payload and reach, end-of-arm tooling, software, and applications.

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The Connected Package: Consumers Want to Know Your Story | Technical Workforce Development Trends Within Manufacturing

Consumers want more from their brands and no package can hold the entirety of your brand's story. QR codes can unlock your brand experience. Also on Take Five: NAM initiatives reach out to minority communities to fill the demand for a quality workforce.

The robot places lids on the containers of preforms at a speed of 45/hr.

Robot Accurately Places Bin Lids at 45/min

A supplier of PET preforms for Coca-Cola, Western Container installs a lid-placing cell that features a six-axis robot that reliably and accurately picks and places lids onto reusable totes.

After quality control, the Danish are individually inserted into the clamshells by F4 robots.

Robots Handle Packaging of Pastries at 160 cakes/min

A modular packaging line at J. Skinner Baking Co. uses a number of robots to pack Danish pastries in clamshells and then into cases of various formats.

MHS’s multi-pick robotic end effector can pick up and hold up to 36 items simultaneously and pack four orders at a time into four shipping boxes.

E-commerce Poses New Automation Challenges

Two new robotic technologies help address e-commerce related packaging issues, including a reduced labor pool, the need for speed, and sorting of intermixed products.

Vital Farms’ Egg Bites use a unique packaging and processing approach, baking the product in-pack prior to MAP sealing.

As Café-Hatched Egg Bites Hit Retail Shelves, Vital Farms Reimagines Pack Design, Function

The foodservice channel gave us the egg bites trend with sous vide, but Vital Farms advanced it with a new retail pack format allowing for in-pack baking in CPET trays at the production facility. Consumers simply microwave the MAP trays at home.