Containers

On the road again

Covering the world of packaging necessitates traveling to plants and functions beyond the borders of the United States. During the last week of August, this editor enjoyed the opportunity to visit packaging facilities in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

August 31, 2003

Other Packaged Goods: Page 211

Closures

Schneider Electric ELAU Packaging Solutions: Servo motor/drive for liquid packaging

Elau introduces the PacDrive™ SCL-055 integral servo motor/drive in a form factor designed to overcome the physical constraints of beverage, pharmaceutical, food, and other liquid packaging applications.

August 31, 2003

Controls & Machine Components

Leeson Electric: Lightweight gear reducer

Leeson Electric’s aluminum gear reducers offer a lightweight alternative to cast-iron worm and coaxial (in-line) helical gear reducers. Reducers are said to offer compact construction, lower purchase and shipping costs, and mounting flexibility.

August 31, 2003

Consumer packaged goods

Phoenix Contact Inc: Ethernet connectors

Phoenix Contact’s Variosub RJ-45/IP67 connector withstands adverse conditions associated with use directly on machinery and in industrial installations to protect the RJ-45 contact insert.

August 31, 2003

Flexibles

Stabilized films

New England Extrusion trademarked Rayflex®, a family of white films engineered to withstand prolonged periods of exposure to the sun. Applications include agricultural/chemical packages, lawn and garden bags and pouches, and any other packaged product that might be subject to extended exposure to UV light.

August 31, 2003

Cosmetics/Personal care

Business conditions improving in packaging

The business climate in packaging appears to be improving. So says new research from Trend Watch Graphic Arts, which conducted two surveys this year, one of consumer products companies (CPGs) and one of packaging printers and converters.

August 31, 2003

Flexibles

Sealed without a kiss?

When Hamburg, Germany-based Beiersdorf wanted to improve the packaging for its Nivea Visage facial cleansing tissues, a Holland-based injection-molder developed a container using some sophisticated plastics.

August 31, 2003

Detergents/cleaners

Recycled paperboard packages awarded

The 100% Recycled Paperboard Alliance announced that the Paperboard Packaging Council has awarded 13 consumer goods packages that use 100% recycled paperboard in PPC’s 60th Annual National Paperboard Packaging Competition (see packworld.com/go/c085).

August 31, 2003

Consumer packaged goods

Clear codes on chemicals

General Chemical Canada has greatly improved the way it imprints lot numbers on 50- and 100-lb high-density polyethylene bags of calcium chloride it produces by installing new ink-jet coding equipment from Matthews Intl.

August 31, 2003

Cosmetics/Personal care

Q&A: Marketing is the customer

Roger Caracappa, senior vice president global packaging at New York-based Estée Lauder, talks about how his background in marketing made him a suitable candidate for head of packaging at the $4.7 billion cosmetics firm.

August 31, 2003

Closures

Twist & Pour for quarts, too

For 2003, Sherwin-Williams has begun to move several of its paint brands into new square quart high-density polyethylene containers that are similar to the gallon Twist & Pour jugs introduced last year.

August 31, 2003

Sustainable Packaging

Pipeline: Boon or bane for recycling?

We recently read about some communities that are shifting the way they or their contracted companies handle curbside recyclables. Skokie, IL, has joined a number of other communities in the Chicago area—and I’m sure elsewhere—that are no longer requiring consumers to separate materials they put out for recycling.

August 31, 2003

Flexibles

Injecting an innovative packaging solution

Syringe maker Safety 1st Medical relied heavily on suppliers for help in designing an automated packaging solution for its unique syringes.

August 31, 2003