Bakery/Snack

Machines to fuel the future

New exhibit space at McCormick Place in Chicago lets Pack Expo 96 grow by over 21%, compared to '94. Greater international emphasis truly helps create a world show.

September 30, 1996

Meat/Poultry/Seafood: Page 103

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

Vacuum skin packaging

Cryovac, a div. of W.R. Grace & Co. (Duncan, SC), has released a brochure on the company's vacuum skin packaging system. VSP allows shoppers to see the natural shape, color and texture of ready-to-prepare foods, cheeses, deli meats and other items.

September 30, 1996

Sustainable Packaging

Gut check on recycling

Since the appearance of a cover story in the magazine section of the New York Times, June 30, "Recycling Is Garbage," virtually all industry people have been doing some re-evaluating of the subject.

August 31, 1996

Palletizing/depalletizing

Load 'roping' helps Callery Judge quality

Florida fruit grower produces top quality pallet loads that reflect its computerized state-of-the-art packinghouse technology.

August 31, 1996

Conveying & accumulation

Skin packs serve up Swift's pork chops

A multilayer film coextrusion combined with vacuum skin packaging machines help Swift gain a stronger presence in supermarkets with newer varieties of marinated pork chops.

August 31, 1996

Closures

Casual tamperers tempted no more

An unlikely "marketer"--the State of Maryland--has taken steps to discourage casual tampering of crab meat packed in containers with snap-on lids. Seems that even the best-behaved supermarket shopper will occasionally sneek a peek, whiff or even a bite of that luscious but expensive fresh crab meat.

August 31, 1996

Flexibles

Resins OK'd for fatty food packaging

In June the Food and Drug Administration approved Exxon Chemical's (Houston, TX) Oppera® modified polypropylene film resins for use in direct contact with fatty foods such as salty snacks, processed meats and cheeses, and confectionery items.

August 31, 1996

Flexibles

Heat-resistant resin

Capron® PA 6 and PA 6.6 homopolymer resins from AlliedSignal Plastics (Morristown, NJ) are heat-resistant and have a high barrier against oxygen, flavor and aroma permeation.

July 31, 1996

Flexibles

New thermoform makes tuna salad easier

After a '90s makeover, Charlie the StarKist Tuna resurfaces on packages of a new product, Ready Mixed Tuna Salad & Crackers. The product is a more convenient form of the Lunch Kit that StarKist Seafoods, Newport, KY, has been marketing for about four years.

July 31, 1996

Bag/pouch fill/seal (pre-made bags)

Coffee packer finds Virtues in thin film

By downgauging the film by half for foodservice coffee packs, Virtues of Coffee reduces material, energy consumption and labor costs. Structure improves machinability and even puncture-resistance, while maintaining shelf life.

June 30, 1996

Flexible packaging

Preventive medicine for pharmaceutical producer

CPSC regulations caused pharmaceutical manufacturer Chattem, Inc., to update packaging for its menstrual pain relief products. Line changes included a rebuild-instead of a purchase-of a cartoner to help expedite the switch.

June 30, 1996

Flexibles

Bowling them over in the produce aisle

The latest innovation from Tanimura & Antle is a line of single-serve fresh-cut salads packed in a thermoformed bowl. Refrigerated shelf life is two weeks.

June 30, 1996

Flexible packaging

Testing the power of PEN

Tests of hot-filled jam in a jar and pasteurized beer in bottles are among the latest signs that PEN's packaging potential may soon be realized.

June 30, 1996