Dairy

Weight-loss shake embodies the 'new natural'

Valerie Jacobs makes her living by helping consumer product companies identify and capitalize on consumer trends, and the director of trend analysis at LPK notes a rise in the number of “natural” products. Not in the sense of natural versus organic, but natural as a barometer of aesthetic enjoyment.

November 7, 2007

Confection/Candy: Page 20

Confection/Candy

Self-lube bearings bring smooth motion to vf/f/s machines

A special polymer injection-molded with dry lubricants blended in is at the heart of the self-lubricating bearings used on these machines.

November 7, 2007

Confection/Candy

Fiber laser system

The new e-SolarMark FL fiber laser marking system from Matthews provides on-the-fly or stationary permanent high-quality small-character marking/coding of metallized or plastic materials, such as packaging foils.

October 4, 2007

Conveying & accumulation

Picking, packing, and palletizing with robots

Robotics—a flexible automation system that improves productivity, quality, and workforce capabilities—continues making inroads into packaging.

August 9, 2007

Cartoning

Automation initiative brings sweet results

A robotic solution lets Necco put its popular Sweethearts Conversation Hearts on a fast track to greater throughput at higher speeds with reduced labor costs.

August 8, 2007

Confection/Candy

Top load packaging machine video

Top load packaging machine from Shubert Packaging Systems erects cartons from a flat blank via hot-melt glue applied online.

July 18, 2007

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

Upskilling: Is your workforce packaging technology savvy?

As packaging machinery becomes more sophisticated, training and education, or ‘upskilling,’ becomes a growing concern for managers at Pepperidge Farm and elsewhere.

June 11, 2007

Flexibles

A global perspective on sustainable packaging from kraft foods

The recently redesigned PET-based bottles for Kraft’s Crystal Light and Fruit2O brands (pictured) are 18 percent lighter than the bottles they are replacing. Following the completion of the phased introduction of the new bottles in the U.S., Kraft will reduce its PET usage by 8.7 million pounds per year.

June 11, 2007

Beverage

The outlook for aseptically processed low acid beverages in pet bottles

After many years the flood gates are about ready to be opened: Aseptically processed low-acid beverages in PET bottles produced in the U.S. will finally be a reality. Look out America! Anyone who has followed the saga of aseptically processed low-acid beverages in PET bottles knows that this is a story that would be challenging to describe in a just a 750-word column. Consider this the abridged version.

June 11, 2007

Flexibles

Better pack for Betta Foods

Betta Foods, Australia’s largest manufacturer of ice-cream cones and specialty confectionery products, is introducing a resealable feature on its Natural Real Fruit Flavored Liquorice AllSorts and Liquorice Bullets candy packages.

June 11, 2007

Flexibles

Better pack for Betta Foods

Australia's Betta Foods introduces a resealable feature on its candy packages.

June 7, 2007

Flexibles

New package shapes, new markets, new products

Whether you’re in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and/or nutraceutical business, it’s always wise to pay attention not only to competitive product packaging, but also to products sold in other segments.

May 31, 2007

Confection/Candy

The Color Purple

Global chocolate-maker Cadbury Schweppes has appealed an Australian court ruling denying intellectual copyright over the color purple for its packaging and advertising.

May 31, 2007