Household/Automotive

Plastics lab opens at RIT

The Integrated Plastics Center, a 1걄 sq’ center with $800ꯠ worth of new equipment, has opened at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY.

December 31, 2003

Industries: Page 612

Flexibles

Sleeve labels fly at White Rock

Late last year, Lewiston, ME-based White Rock Distilleries switched to full-body, shrink-sleeve labels for its 50-mL (far right in photo) line of glass-bottled premixed martinis and vodkas sold at retail and to airlines.

December 31, 2003

Bakery/Snack

Baker employs a metal detection manager

Medford, MA-based pâtissier Edelweiss recently achieved HACCP certification thanks in part to a new combination metal detector and checkweigher from Lock Inspection.

December 31, 2003

Beverage

A grateful label design

Wine packager Allied Domecq Wines recently turned to Michael Osborne Design to create new packaging for its J.Garcia Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot wines.

December 31, 2003

Sustainability

Sustainable packaging coalition forms

In November, a group of two dozen packaging professionals from companies such as Coca-Cola, Estée Lauder/Aveda, Masterfoods, Nike, PepsiCo, Starbucks, and Unilever agreed to form the Sustainable Packaging Coalition.

December 31, 2003

Labels

Creating a sparkling holiday design

Welch’s Sparkling Grape Juice Cocktails will be dressed as Nutcrackers this year for the holiday season, thanks to designers at The Bailey Group. The glass bottles are wrapped from head to toe in a “lively and festive” shrink label.

December 31, 2003

Dairy

Web Plus: Timely transactions

For customers, Nordson Corporation’s www.enordson.com Web site offers a lot of convenience, according to Mary Anhalt of Sargento Foods, Plymouth, WI.

December 31, 2003

Feeding/inserting/unscrambling

Companies

Sonoco (Hartsville, SC) completed a 10-year agreement with Pasco Beverage Co.

December 31, 2003

Coding, Printing & Labeling

COOL regs issued

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued its final regulations on country-of-origin labeling scheduled to take effect in September 2004. Included in the 203-page regulation was a cost/benefit analysis that estimated first year compliance costs at up to $3.9 billion for retailers, wholesalers, and producers with no quantifiable benefits.

December 31, 2003

Dairy

New standards for yogurt

FDA is considering a petition from major yogurt manufacturers to revise the standards of identity for yogurt. The proposed change would require that, for the first time, a minimum level of bacteria be added to yogurt products.

December 31, 2003

Containers

Shrink wrapping shines at Platinum Packaging

New automatic feeding and shrink-wrapping equipment at this Gurnee, IL, contract packager adds capacity to collate and wrap gift boxes, calendars, and other specialty items.See video

December 31, 2003

Protective/transport packaging

Void-fill to order

Dart Warehouse’s giant fulfillment operation uses a wide variety of void fillers to match what its customers want.

December 31, 2003

Flexible packaging

Club store packaging and beyond

Written by Jim Peters and published by Packaging Strategies, a recent report analyzes key tactics used by high-volume retailers. Here is the Executive Summary.

December 31, 2003