Additives, coatings & inks

Polypropylene shows growth potential

Foodservice and retail applications will help drive growth in thermoformed packaging at an annual rate of 5.6%, with polypropylene leading the way with an estimated annual growth of nearly 20%.

June 30, 2000

Industries: Page 730

Converting equipment

Fruit basket in relief adorns PET bottle

A polyethylene terephthalate bottle with a uniquely sculpted fruit-basket image on its shoulder is now reaching supermarkets in 17 eastern states. The 64-oz, heat-set, hot-fill, grip bottle, supplied by Graham Packaging (York, PA), contains 100% juice products from Apple & Eve.

June 30, 2000

Flexibles

Pudding in paperboard

In the U.S., ready-to-eat refrigerated pudding is often sold in multipacked plastic cups with flexible lidding. But in Helsinki, Finland, dairy giant Valio Ltd.

June 30, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling

The legend of Jimmi; an ode to cosmetics

Last month in this space, you learned a bit about how some of us view package design, another way of saying, the “cosmetics” of packaging: how great printing or decorating of a container can attract customers.

June 30, 2000

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Kringle tray's a sweet success (sidebar)

Corrugated thermoforming goes commercial

June 30, 2000

Secondary Packaging

Kringle tray's a sweet success

Racine Danish Kringles is first to use a thermoformed, E-flute corrugated tray for its baked pastries. Tray delivers strength and environmental and marketing advantages.

June 30, 2000

Containers

Fruit flourishes with first-class accommodations

Florida grapefruit buyer switches to new fiber partition system to ship fragile grapefruit to Japan, dramatically reducing complaints of damaged fruit.

June 30, 2000

Conveying & accumulation

Beauty in the 'mouse' of the beholder

San Francisco-based reflect.com allows cyber shoppers to select closures and container graphics for custom beauty products sold exclusively on its Web site. The unusual concept requires a packaging and shipping strategy to handle individual orders.

June 30, 2000

Conveying & accumulation

Case taper fills tall order

E-Z Mix replaced a manual operation with a first-of-its-kind taping machine that top- and bottom-seals tall cases. Change to longer tape rolls also saves money.

June 30, 2000

Cartoning

Planters picks a packing line

Consumers are clearly fond of single-serve “tubes” of Planters nuts. An automated packaging line helps keep the nationwide pipeline full.

June 30, 2000

Protective/transport packaging

Practice makes perfect

With the help of a low-cost prototype tool, ink-jet printer manufacturer Lexmark was able to successfully test mold fiber cushions as a means of protective packaging. As a result, the company enjoys both cost savings and environmental benefits.

June 30, 2000

Flexible packaging

Super marketing through packaging

Products at the Food Marketing Institute trade show in Chicago illustrate how grocery marketers rely heavily on packaging to add convenience and sales appeal.

June 30, 2000

Flexibles

Irradiated burgers warmly welcomed

Introduced just in time for the grilling season, frozen hamburger patties from Huisken Meats, Chandler, MN, are a hit in the Upper Midwest.

May 31, 2000