Flexibles

Graphics inspired by Dutch master

Once San Francisco-based Skyy Vodka founder Maurice Kanbar perfected his decadent Dutch chocolate cream liqueur, it was only a matter of time before he created an appropriate package.

May 31, 2001

Industries: Page 702

Converting equipment

Equipment demand expected to level

The demand for packaging machinery in the United States will essentially be flat this year, according to the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute’s (Arlington, VA) fourth-annual U.S. Packaging Machinery Purchasing Plans Study.

May 31, 2001

Converting equipment

Power: U.S. losing a prime advantage?

For the last 20 years, one of the biggest question marks for manufacturers that wanted to begin production on a global basis has been this: Can we count on consistent, clean power?

May 31, 2001

Labels

100% proof of identity

Ukrainian importers of the Smirnoff brand of vodka overcame counterfeit sales this spring by adding a clear polyvinyl chloride neck shrink sleeve that features an optically variable device (OVD) to ensure product brand identity.

May 31, 2001

Closures

Apple sauce in a bowl

When National Fruit Product Co., Winchester, VA, launched a 16-oz White House Quick & Easy apple sauce in February, it traded in the traditional multiserve apple sauce glass jars for a new barrier bowl thermoformed of polypropylene and ethylene vinyl alcohol.

May 31, 2001

Dairy

All-in-one chips-n-dip pack

Early this year, Frito-Lay, Plano, TX, added Ruffles Potato Chips & French Onion Dip in colorful heat-sealed trays to its snack kits line up. The tray contains a prepackaged 1 7/8-oz bag of chips and a 3 5/8-oz dip cup. According to Frito-Lay, the snack kits are designed to fit into busy families' lifestyles, addressing their needs for convenience and portability.

May 31, 2001

Controls & Machine Components

InduSoft: InduSoft: Product interface

SoftPLC (Austin, TX) and InduSoft (Austin, TX) have interfaced their products, making it possible for a SoftPLC controller to have an HMI, data acquisition system, and connections to both wireless instrumentation and the Internet.

May 31, 2001

Petfood/Pet Care

Amerstar award entries

The entry deadline for AmeriStar Package Awards is June 15. To enter, submit an actual package, written materials, and slides, to: IoPP, 4143 Weeks Drive, Building 107, Warrenton, VA 20187.

April 30, 2001

Converting equipment

Dannon fits Frusion with contoured bottle

An easy-to-grip, contoured bottle with a dazzling shrink-sleeve label is pivotal to The Dannon Company's new Frusion fruit 'n' yogurt smoothie. Tarrytown, NY-based Dannon introduced Frusion nationwide in May after successful testing in 7-Eleven convenience stores in New England and southern California.

April 30, 2001

Conveying & accumulation

SouthPack 2001 wrap

SouthPack ’01 brought packaging manufacturers together from April 24 to 26 at the World Congress Center in Atlanta. The three-day show managed to spark some new technology interests, although many exhibitors were quick to notice the slow pace of attendees throughout the exhibition hall.

April 30, 2001

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Light booth traffic at SouthPack 2001

We observed very light booth traffic in Atlanta at SouthPack on all three days -- the lightest we have ever seen at a regional packaging trade show.

April 30, 2001

Converting equipment

Richards Packaging wins for combo pack

An unusual two-chamber bottle for Diamond Magic Chemical Ltd., Brampton, Ontario, Canada, won Best of Show in the annual packaging competition of the National Assn. of Container Distributors (Philadelphia, PA). Winning distributor is Richards Packaging (Brampton, Ontario, Canada).

April 30, 2001

Sustainable Packaging

Aseptic drink box recyclable in Canada

What was once reviled by environmentalists in the United States and was actually banned in the state of Maine in the early ‘90s is now the recipient of an environmental award in Canada. A new 250-ml recyclable Tetra® Prisma aseptic carton, which holds Oasis Health Break juice cocktails from A. Lassonde, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, received an Envirowise Award for its recyclability from the Packaging Association of Canada in April ’01.

April 30, 2001