Cartoning

Filler meets tough standards at Stonyfield

Stonyfield Farm is so confident about the potential sales of its Yo Squeeze organic yogurt for kids that it’s purchased a second vf/f/s machine. Each machine produces 200 tubes/min, with an unusual ‘butt seal.’

October 31, 2000

Prepared Foods: Page 60

Cartoning

Suiza dairy touts 'squishy' bottle

A soft LDPE bottle and ‘sipper protrusion’ make it easy for kids to hold and drink single-serve milks. Suiza’s Country Fresh dairy introduces two distinct brands of milk in the containers.

October 31, 2000

Feeding/inserting/unscrambling

Printed films seal meat trays

Leak-proof films, featuring flexo-printed designs, seal both fresh chicken and frozen meat products for two companies at stores nationwide. Pilgrim’s Pride repositions its full line of fresh chicken and Carlson of Albert Lea debuts Crossroad Farms fully cooked frozen meats.

September 30, 2000

Flexibles

Munching at market share

In the U.K.’s highly competitive children’s fromage frais market, Munch Bunch Squeezy Pot Shots use packaging to stand out among the hand-held offerings of these creamy, yogurt-like cultured milk products. Three 40-g (1.41-oz) varieties of the Pot Shots were sold in oval-shaped containers with turn-and-tear openings.

September 30, 2000

Flexibles

Stand-up pouch soars

A resealable, stand-up pouch for 4 lb of frozen chicken wings sold at club stores won the Golden Cylinder award for top-quality gravure printing.

September 30, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Perrier debuts gulpable water

The Perrier Group of America introduces its first ever PET water bottle with a 43-mm, wide-mouth opening.

September 30, 2000

Contract Packaging

Supplier partnerships encouraged in purchasing

Most companies that participated in Packaging World’s vendor consolidation survey encouraged partnership arrangements with suppliers. All respondents expect better price and service, but others seek on-site technical help, supply guarantees and materials price hedging opportunities.

September 30, 2000

Prepared Foods

How OEMs can improve training

Respondents to Packaging World’s online training survey have a long list of changes they’d like equipment builders to make in their training programs.

September 30, 2000

Prepared Foods

Packagers eager for more training

More than ever before, training on equipment and components is seen as a vital need to companies that make all types of products. However, the lack of time and lukewarm company commitments are major obstacles, and the quality of training is also criticized.

September 30, 2000

Flexibles

Purchasing moves 'slow speed ahead'

Pharmaceutical/medical and beverage markets will drive packaging machinery spending this year, says a PMMI study. U.S. domestic equipment sales are expected to rise 2% to 3% in 2000 to $4.9 billion.

September 30, 2000

Flexible packaging

Stand-up pouches push the retail envelope

Nabisco rolls out Mini Chips Ahoy! cookies in a resealable stand-up pouch while Patrick Cudahy uses a pouch for frozen, precooked meats. And in Ecuador, an integral straw helps kids sip fruit drinks from a stand-up pouch.

September 30, 2000

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

Packs sport Olympic mascots

In the spirit of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, Melbourne, Australia-based Bonlac Foods introduced bags of portion-packed processed cheddar cheese sporting Aussie characters Syd, Millie and Olly playing Olympic sports.

August 31, 2000

Flexibles

General Mills 'Exprésses' itself

Two new product/package combinations from retail giant General Mills are just now reaching store shelves.

August 31, 2000