Controls & Machine Components

PMMI strengthens relationship with OMAC

PMMI has announced that it will provide staff support to further the mission of OMAC, the Organization for Machine Automation and Control.

March 3, 2011

Consumer packaged goods: Page 46

Sustainability

P&G's new compacted detergents to save 22M pounds of packaging annually

Procter & Gamble compacts its powder laundry detergents to one-third the size, debuting new Tide and Gain products in Target stores.

March 2, 2011

Beverage

ARC Forum points to the need for packaging machinery standards

A scheduling conflict kept me from attending this year's ARC Forum in Orlando. But Keith Campbell—esteemed colleague, automation expert, and author of OnTheEdge blog—made it to the event, so I bring you his observations.

March 2, 2011

Coding, Printing & Labeling

White paper discusses advances in roll-fed extended content labeling

White paper from Quality Assured Label explains the recent development of roll-fed extended content labels (ECLs), also called booklet labels. Covers benefits such as the ability to increase content area by up to 200%, utilize existing materials and labeling equipment, and maintain current production line speeds.

March 1, 2011

Sustainability

U.K. bottler expands use of dry lubrication

Aston Manor Brewery, the UK's largest independent cider producer, has signed a four-year deal with a supplier of dry lubrication service for three bottling lines at Aston Manor's plant in Birmingham, England.

February 24, 2011

Flexibles

Xpedx launches new North American network of package design centers

Xpedx has announced a new network of 7 Package Design Centers with the opening of centers in the San Francisco Bay Area and Rochester, NY, and the expansion of existing design centers in Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Juarez, Mexico, metropolitan areas.

February 22, 2011

Additives, coatings & inks

Recycling of nonbottle rigid plastics jumps nearly 50% in two years

Growth attributed to reclaimers’ increased willingness to accept mixed plastics, greater access by households to collection of these plastics, and industry collaboration.

February 22, 2011

Flexible packaging

Toward improved heat-seal performance

If you've signed on to a solid approach, your packages are being sealed and delivered with good consistency.

February 15, 2011

Flexibles

McDowell Label celebrates 30 years of innovation & manufacturing in the US

The Honorable Sam Johnson, member of Congress, presented a flag of the United States of America, which was flown over the US Capitol in recognition of McDowell Label for 30 years of innovation and manufacturing in the USA.

February 10, 2011

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Focusing on food safety

Wynn Wiksell, manager of packaging QRO at General Mills, and chairman of the Food Safety Alliance for Packaging (FSAP), offers an update on the HACCP models for packaging materials.

February 10, 2011

Sustainable Packaging

LCA in transport packaging

Today the pressure is on to utilize materials that are as environmentally friendly as possible. One of the key methods used by packaging providers to "prove" the superiority of their solutions is to conduct a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

February 10, 2011

Sustainable Packaging

Plan to attend Sustainable Packaging Symposium 2011

Greener Package and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers' (AIChE) Institute for Sustainability have combined resources to produce a new conference, Sustainable Packaging Symposium 2011—Advancing the Greener Supply Chain, which will focus on the technical foundations of successful sustainability programs.

February 9, 2011

Consumer packaged goods

LIVE FROM MD&M WEST: Minntech employs Eastman Tritan in renal market

The first acute renal care market manufacturer to utilize Eastman Chemical Co.’s (www.eastman.com/tritan) Tritan™ copolyester, the Therapeutic Technologies Group of Minntech Corp., a Cantel Medical company, is developing the first renal system applications made with Tritan--Hemocor HPH® Hemoconcentrators and Renaflo® II Hemofilters.

February 8, 2011