Containers

Saving for Another Day

Automated induction sealing, tape dispensing, and twist-tying machinery help this cleaning products company save money by reducing labor costs and moving short-run jobs in-house.

October 31, 2002

Industries: Page 649

Detergents/cleaners

Printing pays back Duckback

Flat-case printer earns eight-month payback for Duckback Products, a maker of stains, coatings, and cleaners for external wood and concrete surfaces.

October 31, 2002

Bakery/Snack

Mindflow Technologies announces the Mindflow Sourcing Ste. 4.0

Sets the industry standard for breadth of solution for strategic sourcing professionals to deliver unequaled cost reductions.

October 31, 2002

Containers

Custom line lets Gatorade sprint to market

Effective use of resources gives Gatorade Canada a new product just in time for the summer selling season.

October 31, 2002

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

'Cordial' robots hit savings sweet spot

Twenty-four robotic arms place Queen Anne brand cordials at rate of 90/min/arm into six-count plastic trays.See in-plant video

October 31, 2002

Confection/Candy

Supply chain experts see change a comin' (sidebar)

In the warehouse

October 31, 2002

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Supply chain experts see change a comin'

In a future marked by price-sensitive consumers and fierce competition, companies will fail or flourish according to the efficiencies of their supply chains.

October 31, 2002

Flexibles

Reclosable holo bag stands out

An ice melter is repackaged in reclosable, premade stand-up bags featuring an attention-getting, full-coverage, laminated holographic substrate.

October 31, 2002

Fruits/Vegetables

Fruit-packing line learns to count

Hand-stamping of variable information has been replaced by automatic ink-jet printing. A machine vision system counts fruit pieces and relays totals for each box to the printer.

October 31, 2002

Flexible packaging

Does packaging need more machinery education?

Some in packaging feel that packaging universities shortchange students on machinery. Can it—or should it—be learned in college?

October 31, 2002

Beverage

How the recession affected packaging professionals

Since mid-2001, packagers report heavier workload and fewer company perks such as travel and attendance at shows. Some took pay and benefits cuts, too.

October 31, 2002

Protective/transport packaging

Less time + less labor and materials = savings

Sensor maker Sensotec employs retention packaging that saves in labor and material costs, while delivering consistent protection.

October 31, 2002

Flexibles

Australian canmaker tests polymer-coated steel

Amcor, the largest supplier of beverage and aerosol cans in Australia, has begun tests of a new polymer-coated tin-free steel for beverage cans, says Walter Gross, a spokesman for Amcor Australasia, Camberwell, Victoria.

October 31, 2002