Conveying & accumulation

Shrink bander sets a quicker pace

Replacing a p-s labeler with a shrink bander nearly triples production speeds for vials of "super glue" used to attach artificial fingernails. Additional benefits include longer shelf life and stronger sales appeal.

December 31, 1996

Labeling: Page 206

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

No clear 'vision' from FDA on label inspection

Agency hopes to give additional detailed directions to drug manufacturers on the requirements for verifying cut labels and other components.

December 31, 1996

Filling/capping, liquid & viscous

Easy PC controlfor machine vision

Upsher-Smith Laboratories uses off-the-shelf PC hardware for an all-in-one video capture/bar-code scanning inspection system to satisfy FDA labeling regs while keeping false rejects low.

December 31, 1996

Sustainability

Thinking small pays off big

High-accuracy monobloc filler/dropper tip inserter/capper at CP Packaging handles thin, softwall bottles and lightweight tips at 60/min for 3-mL containers of diagnostic reagents.

December 31, 1996

Flexible packaging

Header labels applied automatically

Three years in the making, a machine that automatically applies header labels to pouches produced on vertical form/fill/seal machines is ready for the packaging marketplace.

December 31, 1996

Coding, Printing & Labeling

FDA taking new look at medical foods

FDA is re-evaluating its regulation of "medical foods" and is seeking comments on the criteria used to determine if a product meets the definition of a medical food, appropriate safety standards, claim substantiation, labeling, quality control procedures and postmarketing surveillance requirements.

December 31, 1996

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Skimming fat, not nutrients

FDA has issued new rules on milk labeling designed to eliminate consumer confusion about the fat content of milk and milk products. Until now, milk was not held to the same nutrition labeling standards as other products on the use of terms like "low fat." As a result, many consumers believed skim milk contained fewer nutrients than other types, and that 2% milk was low fat.

December 31, 1996

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Replacing Kessler at FDA

The man who changed the face of food package labels is leaving the Food and Drug Administration, and Congress and industry are waiting to see who is named to succeed Dr.

December 31, 1996

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Shrink label gives this mule a kick

From Russia by way of the U.K. comes a vodka-based drink called the Smirnoff Mule in a glass bottle with a label that's nearly as exotic as the beverage itself.

December 31, 1996

Feeding/inserting/unscrambling

Supplier news: Domestic acquisitions, agreements

Hoppmann Corp. (Chantilly, VA) acquired certain business interests of Feeder Systems (Vista, CA). Hoppmann also acquired exclusive rights to a labeler line from Applied Technologies, Inc.

December 31, 1996

Filling/capping, liquid & viscous

New bottle packers help Modelo deal with refillables

Southern Mexican brewery installs high-speed rotary bottle packers that are now used throughout Modelo's system. Efficency soars even with returnable cases of marginal quality.

November 30, 1996

Conveying & accumulation

McKesson brings PET packing in-house

Fast-growing California water bottler is learning to appreciate the advantages of in-house filling, after long relying on contract bottlers for its half-, 1- and 1.5-L PET bottles.

November 30, 1996

Bag/pouch fill/seal (pre-made bags)

Dairy makes markets abroad

German dairy starts up two aseptic thermoform/fill/seal lines that produce yogurt and pudding with a 130-day unrefrigerated shelf life.

November 30, 1996