Flexibles

Marks & Spencer 'bites' on lined container

In October, renowned U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer launched QuickBite foods in an “insulated” package that keeps food hot without burning consumer hands as they eat the food directly from the container.

December 31, 2001

Industries: Page 681

Flexibles

Detergent tabs 'heat' up packaging

In Britain, premeasured tablets are the fastest-growing way to use laundry detergents, and Robert McBride, plc, Cumbria, England, is packing them 70% faster with an economical film from UCB Films (Smyrna, GA).

December 31, 2001

Protective/transport packaging

Xbox box has 'game'

The graphics design for the much anticipated mid-November debut of Microsoft’s Xbox game console strikes a balance for hard-core gamers and mainstream consumers.

December 31, 2001

Contract Packaging

Laser coding excels at Excelda

Excelda Mfg., a contract packager of lubricants and other products sold in the automotive aftermarket, has turned to laser coding to improve legibility of the single-line date code it uses on the plastic bottles it fills.

December 31, 2001

Tamper-evident machinery

Q&A

Brad Rostowfske, director of new product development at Sargento Foods Inc., a leading marketer of cheese products based in Plymouth, WI.

December 31, 2001

Labels

Design: Redesigned label is rosier

In September 2001, Four Roses Distilling Co., Lawrenceburg, KY, a Seagram’s company, unveiled a bold new label for its Four Roses Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

December 31, 2001

Bakery/Snack

Design: Play-Doh's reformed look

In the spring of 2001, Hasbro released to the market a new look for one of its most established brands. The redesign for Play-Doh carried out by Marketing by Design (Beverly, MA) had three simple goals: reinforce the Play-Doh identity, establish Play-Doh as the brand that offers the best selection of vibrant colors, and provide a model of what kids can create with the colored dough.

December 31, 2001

Conveying & accumulation

Web plus: A dot-com looks for packaging solutions

Overstock.com offers a variety of name-brand surplus merchandise, such as toys, diamond rings, and TVs, for up to 70% off the retail price. Just like a catalog retailer, this Internet retailer must invest in quality packaging to ship products to consumers.

December 31, 2001

Consumer packaged goods

Industry watch: Achievements

Tetra Pak (Vernon Hills, IL) was honored with the Association of Post Consumer Plastics Recyclers’ Partners for Change Award. —Meyers Label (Minneapolis, MN) is the 2001 recipient of ¶Hormel Foods Corp.’s Hormel #1 Award.

December 31, 2001

Sustainability

Industry watch: Companies

—BluePrint Automation B.V. (Woerden, the Netherlands), with U.S. operations headquartered in Colonial Heights, VA, held an open house at its Woerden facility as a way to introduce its latest innovations in end-of-line packaging automation.

December 31, 2001

Sustainability

Rules & Regs: Canadian regs not likely to affect packaging

Packaging is likely to get a pass on a new requirement for environmental assessment of products regulated under Canadian Food and Drugs Act. According to the New Substances Notification program under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, as of September 13, 2001, products regulated by F&DA (biologics, food additives, novel foods, personal care products, and cosmetics) must meet environmental assessment standards, as well as health and safety criteria.

December 31, 2001

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Rules & Regs: Country-of-origin labeling1;again

The Senate Agriculture Committee, by a one vote margin, accepted an amendment to the Farm Bill that included mandatory country-of-origin labeling for fresh red meats, farm-raised catfish, produce, and peanuts.

December 31, 2001

Coding, Printing & Labeling

PipeLine: Size does matter

With apologies to Dr. Ruth, I think you’ll agree that, in many areas, size can be an important advantage.

December 31, 2001