Protective/transport packaging

Reusable PVC clamshells short-circuit waste for Lucent

Telecommunications component supplier slashes materials and labor costs by shifting to vinyl clamshell packs for printed circuit boards. Now Lucent asks some customers to return them for reuse.

January 31, 1998

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials: Page 105

Protective/transport packaging

Reusable PVC clamshells short-circuit waste for Lucent (sidebar)

Bellcore rules: Setting the spec

January 31, 1998

Cartoning

Eclectic 'sticks' with sealers

A brand new blister packager tied into an automatic collating and case packing system lets this adhesives manufacturer keep up with fast-growing sales.

January 31, 1998

Additives, coatings & inks

Danone launches biodegradable 'Eco Cup'

A biodegradable single-serve yogurt cup with heat-sealed foil lid appeared on store shelves in Germany last month as Munich-based Danone GmbH Deutschland relaunched its nine-flavor Jahreszeit line in a cup thermoformed from polylactic acid (PLA) resin.

January 31, 1998

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

Romaco, Inc: Vision system for blisters

The Visycam 1010 Intelligent Camera from Romaco (Morris Plains, NJ) detects for presence and product fragmentation by analyzing shape, area and perimeter in blisters.

December 31, 1997

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

Thermoform/fill/seal system

Hassia's (Morganville, NJ) new THM 16/28 is a low-cost tf/f/s system. It's capable of a depth of draw of 4" and operates at speeds to 200 cups/min, depending on material and product.

December 31, 1997

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Combo checkweigher/metal detectors save space for Keebler

Compact and highly accurate, combo checkweighers and metal detectors at Keebler's Macon, GA, bakery are meeting special needs.

December 31, 1997

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

A Star coding system

Dental tool maker Star Dental switches from manual label application to preprinting with a thermal-transfer system to comply with industry bar-code guidelines. Savings are the major benefit.

December 31, 1997

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

Blister packaging machines

Key Intl. (Englishtown, NJ) has developed the Ministar(TM) thermoforming/cold forming blister packaging machines. They handle a variety of materials, including PVC, PVDC, PET and aluminum.

November 30, 1997

Flexibles

Vittel taps foodservice markets in Europe, U.S.

French mineral water bottler fills unusual in-mold-labeled thermoformed cup and lid for McDonald's outlets. Vittel also fills PET and glass bottles that are exported to the U.S. foodservice market.

November 30, 1997

Flexibles

3M saves bundles with new bundle

The Audio and Video Products Div. of St. Paul, MN-based 3M Co. has scored an impressive victory in packaging source reduction. This leading producer of bulk videotape for the film duplication industry designed a returnable and reusable package for its products that: * eliminates 1.4 million cu' of waste annually, * reduces the number of packaging components from 11 to three, * reduces the variety of packaging materials from five to two, * reduces labor costs not only in 3M's Hutchinson, MN, plant but at its customers' plants, too, and, * saves $4 million annually in packaging costs.

November 30, 1997

Sustainability

Treated paper focuses on foodservice

Treated paperboard containers provide grease resistance and reduce material use and costs for pizza and breadsticks.

November 30, 1997

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Supplier news: Relocations, expansions

W.D. Adam Co., Inc. (Costa Mesa, CA) expanded its plant in Costa Mesa to 26귔 sq' and purchased what is believed to be the largest vacuum thermoforming machine on the West Coast.

November 30, 1997