Flexible packaging

Flexibles feed on innovation

Keebler’s contour pouch for cookies doubles as a hand puppet, while a wrap for frozen, microwavable sandwiches provides source reduction, and an all-plastic bag offers oxygen and moisture barrier for dry pet foods.

February 29, 2000

Spirits/liquors: Page 90

Beverage

Higher pay, heavier workload

Our second exclusive salary survey finds most readers satisfied with their pay. However, concerns exist about advancement potential and the lack of time to plan strategies or satisfactorily train personnel.

February 29, 2000

Beverage

A true designer's portfolio

Even though it’s not the first book to be reviewed in the new century, it’s especially stunning to see “Copyright 2000” on a book’s copyright page.

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

Converting equipment

Chemical maker's new IBC closes the loop

A durable container’s recycling program prompts a chemical manufacturer to invest in new IBCs to transport its chemicals across the country.

February 29, 2000

Flexibles

Chemicals take to water-soluble film

Water-soluble film played a key role in a recent packaging innovation at Chemenergy of Albany, NY.

February 29, 2000

Beverage

Imperfect Solutions Order: Why organized standards are better than none

A colleague of mine wondered aloud recently whether ISO quality standards are really meaningful or useful in purchasing products or services. My sense, from talking with package purchasing executives, is that the answer is yes, that ISO certification is a real tool in the craft of selecting vendors.

January 31, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Drumming up e-business (sidebar)

Capsule reviews

January 31, 2000

Containers

Drumming up e-business

Making it easier for packagers to re-order packaging materials is an obvious way for suppliers and buyers to take advantage of the Internet. One supplier that’s doing just that is Myers Container (www.myerscontainer.com), a steel drum manufacturer.

January 31, 2000

Secondary Packaging

Retorted food pouches ready for market push

Knauss and Esskay introduce foods in retorted pouches without foil for retail. StarKist Seafood sells a foil-based pouch of tuna to foodservice accounts. Will others follow suit?

January 31, 2000

Feeding/inserting/unscrambling

Vac-U-Max: Powder conveying system

Vac-U-Max (Belleville, NJ) introduces the Model PB pneumatic conveying system for dry powders. Through a 48”-L wand and vacuum hoses, product is vacuumed from drums into feeders equipped with a discharge spout positioned above either a primary package or a tank on a filling machine.

December 31, 1999

Spirits/liquors

Robotics is hot

Third-quarter statistics show that the North American robotics industry is having its best year ever, says the Robotics Industries Assn. (Ann Arbor, MI).

December 31, 1999

Beverage

PEF now managed by PMMI

“To more efficiently raise and distribute funds for worthy university packaging programs,” is one reason cited by Jim Scott, president of the Packaging Education Forum, as the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute assumes management of PEF.

December 31, 1999