Conveying & accumulation

Small package checkweighers

Thompson Scale introduces two types of small-package checkweighers; drag chain for rigid containers, and belt conveyor for flexible and unstable products.

October 31, 2003

Prepared Foods: Page 45

Meat/Poultry/Seafood

Edible packaging?

USDA scientists have created edible food wraps made of vegetables and fruits. The flexible, paper-thin wraps can help preserve food and protect it in freezers.

October 31, 2003

Recycling

Tropicana's juiced about aseptic bottle filling line

New aseptic line opens the door for Tropicana Europe to expand its line of bottled juices and beverages produced at its new plant in Zeebrugge, Belgium.See video

October 31, 2003

Conveying & accumulation

Tropicana's juiced about aseptic bottle filling line (sidebar)

Downstream efficiency

October 31, 2003

Containers

New line looks golden for WeserGold

WeserGold’s new aseptic PET juice bottling line in Rinteln, Germany, increases plant output. Vaporized hydrogen peroxide sterilization nearly eliminates expensive water treatment needs for this European beverage producer.See video

October 31, 2003

Flexibles

Bilingual packaging: ¿Qué pasa? (sidebar)

Especially Kraft-ed for Hispanics

October 31, 2003

Prepared Foods

Web Plus: Reverse auctions: Love 'em or hate 'em

Reverse-auction buying of packaging seems to have a toe-hold among manufacturers. It may even be on the verge of becoming a trend, according to a Web-based survey conducted on Packworld.com earlier this summer.

September 30, 2003

Meat/Poultry/Seafood

No more meat pizza standard

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has eliminated the standards of identity for “pizza with meat” and “pizza with sausage,” effective October 22, 2003.

September 30, 2003

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Blood container labeling

FDA proposed to revise its rule on the labeling and storage requirements for blood and blood components to make it easier for the blood industry to comply with regulations, reduce the costs of compliance, and manage the supply of plasma to enhance the safety of the blood supply.

September 30, 2003

Dairy

Reaching Peak efficiency

First-in, first-out accumulation gives Peak Foods the time it needs to weather temporary packaging disruptions. TE shrink banders dramatically lower rejects to less than 1%.See in-plant video

September 30, 2003

Controls & Machine Components

HMI paints a powerful picture

Raque Foods’ new HMI provides a “wide open canvas” for an innovative robotic tray filler.

September 30, 2003

Beverage

Worldwide Food Expo is three shows in one

Register for the Worldwide Food Expo and your badge will get you into two co-located shows, as well. More than 30ꯠ attendees and 1겨 exhibitors are expected.

September 30, 2003

Labels

Tempers hot over COOL

The United States’ House and Senate are at odds over whether to cancel country-of-origin labeling for red meat. Meanwhile, big packaging changes are in store for produce marketers.

September 30, 2003