Protective/transport packaging

PEN polymers lure beverage marketers

Superior thermal properties, chemical resistance, and high barrier to oxygen transmission have made PEN and other naphthalate-based materials irresistable for a hot-filled isotonic drink and for citrus juices.

May 31, 1997

Additives, coatings & inks: Page 68

Additives, coatings & inks

New News

The food industry got half a loaf when Congress passed the Food Quality Protection Act last year. The act required the Food & Drug Administration to establish national uniform tolerance standards for pesticides as a residual additive in processed foods.

May 31, 1997

Conveying & accumulation

Bottle drinks from the stream of technology

American Beverage Marketers warm-fills its Finest Call cocktail mixes into new PET bottles, then injects liquid nitrogen. The LN2 prevents bottle paneling and helps to extend shelf life. The PET bottle replaces PP, providing greater clarity and appeal for the product's introduction to the retail market.

May 31, 1997

Additives, coatings & inks

Supplier news: Domestic acquisitions, agreements

Dock Resins Corp. (Linden, NJ) has been acquired by Landec Corp. (Menlo Park, CA).

May 31, 1997

Sustainability

Plastics' broken loop

Recycled-content legislation has receded, environmentalists have been quiet and virgin PET is plentiful and cheap. Packagers are divided on whether to continue their commitments to use post-consumer resin in the U.S. market.

May 31, 1997

Converting equipment

Pepsi tells Detroit shoppers to get a grip

In early May, Pepsi-Cola Co., Somers, NY, began testing its Quick Grip PET bottle in four Detroit area supermarkets. "Ease of handling and pouring, that's what's being tested here," says Pepsi spokesperson Larry Jabbonsky.

May 31, 1997

Feeding/inserting/unscrambling

Matrix finds 'suede' takes special handling

The use of a new copolymer for its 'soft feel' requires special care in container handling to preserve its appearance for men's haircare line. That risk wins a Best of Show in the National Assn. of Container Distributors competition.

April 30, 1997

Additives, coatings & inks

HDPE resin

Bottles made from Petrothene® LS 9020-46 HDPE resin from Millennium Petrochemicals Inc. (Cincinnati, OH) are said to have about three times the gloss and better crack resistance compared to bottles made with standard HDPE.

April 30, 1997

Flexibles

Plastics under seige in Massachusetts

A plastics recycling bill has been introduced in the Massachusetts state Senate that would, if passed, doom the sale of most plastic packaging. The bill bans plastic packaging for consumer products unless at least 80% of Massachusetts residents have access to plastics recycling facilities by December 31, 2000.

April 30, 1997

Additives, coatings & inks

Setting up shop (sidebar)

Invisible bar codes

March 31, 1997

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Conflicting standards

A proposed effort to develop an international labeling system for all chemicals and mixtures could result in mandatory relabeling of U.S. food products containing safe levels of pesticide residues or food additives.

March 31, 1997

Sustainability

Setting up shop

Merck, Revlon and Clorox developed unique packaging technology for their own use. Now those developments are generating revenue through licensing to other firms.

March 31, 1997

Sustainability

Bottles grow 'greener' with PCR

It took three years of development work, HDPE bottles produced for Clorox household cleaners by Owens-Brockway now incorporate 25% PCR material.

March 31, 1997