Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

Now beverage cans will open wide-- really, really wide

Suddenly, it seems, U.S. brewers are looking to change one of the most popular and endearing features of their cans--the easy-opening features. Last month (See PW, August '96, page 8), we reported on the conversion by Miller Brewing Co., Milwaukee, WI, from its standard, easy-opening stay-on tab (SOT) end to a large opening end (LOE) developed for Miller by Reynolds Metals Co.

August 31, 1996

Machinery: Page 1186

Conveying & accumulation

Robotics automate portion packing

Robotic packing cell case-packs delicate portion cups at speeds of 500 cups/min. Integrated system incorporates a stand-alone case erector and automatic tier sheet placer.

August 31, 1996

Conveying & accumulation

Bar-code labels drive automated warehouse

In 1992, Herr's built a 40ꯠ sq' automated warehouse that makes use of bar-coded labels on cases of finished goods to automatically sort and stack cases.

August 31, 1996

Conveying & accumulation

X-ray provides total inspection

A metal detector at the end of each packaging line may be fairly typical for any type of food packaging operation. Herr's tried that route a few years ago, only to experience many false rejects.

August 31, 1996

Conveying & accumulation

Sugar producer sweetens bundling methods

When Savannah Foods switched from a paper bundler to a shrink film bundler for 4- and 5-lb retail bags, downtime was reduced sharply. Costs are down, too.

August 31, 1996

Palletizing/depalletizing

Load 'roping' helps Callery Judge quality

Florida fruit grower produces top quality pallet loads that reflect its computerized state-of-the-art packinghouse technology.

August 31, 1996

Conveying & accumulation

Skin packs serve up Swift's pork chops

A multilayer film coextrusion combined with vacuum skin packaging machines help Swift gain a stronger presence in supermarkets with newer varieties of marinated pork chops.

August 31, 1996

Filling/capping, liquid & viscous

Supplier news: Achievements

Advanced Monobloc (Chappaqua, NY) also was a recipient of Gillette's Omnimark.

August 31, 1996

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Trans-fat label flap

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a Washington, DC-based consumer group, believes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should require food nutrition labels on packages to list the amount of trans-fat as well as saturated fat.

August 31, 1996

Converting equipment

Supplier news: Relocations, expansions

York Tape and Label Co. (York, PA) has opened a 153ꯠ sq' p-s label converting facility.

August 31, 1996

Coding, Printing & Labeling

New grips and a Clear Choice Award

Neither a sports drink nor an iced tea, Talking Rain Beverage Co.'s new Ice(TM) Flavored Water began appearing on store shelves this June in a custom-designed 24-oz bottle known as "The Grip." "It took two years to design this bottle," says John Stevens, founder of the Preston, WA-based company.

August 31, 1996

Controls & machine components

Supplier news: Domestic acquisitions, agreements

Key Technology (Walla Walla, WA) acquired a machine vision pharmaceutical inspection product line from Oncoor, Inc. (Gaithersburg, MD).

August 31, 1996

Converting equipment

Supplier news: Appointments, promotions

Converting Equipment Mfrs. Assn. (Springfield, NJ): Blenheim Group USA's (Fort Lee, NJ) Leo Nadolske, board of trustees member.

August 31, 1996