Conveying & accumulation

National Manufacturing Week: Notes from the field

Special Projects Editor Dave Newcorn spotted many interesting new technologies, including machine vision, at National Manufacturing Week in early March. Here are some of them.

February 28, 2003

Containers: Page 200

Flexibles

Flexible packaging tube/pouch

Softube from Switzerland’s Obrinova AG Packaging, a subsidiary of H. Obrist, is available from Construct Packaging Associates (Manchester, MO).

February 28, 2003

Flexibles

Candy and coffee team up

If Seattle-based Starbucks is synonymous with fine coffee, Brown & Haley, Tacoma, WA, has a similar cachet with its Almond Roca candy. Beginning this year, the two organizations are teaming up as B&H produces Mocha Roca Coffee Buttercrunch in distinctive packaging for exclusive sale at Starbucks outlets.

February 28, 2003

Flexibles

Thermoforming proves swell for Jo-El

“Hardware manufacturers were not known for offering consumer-friendly packaging in the past,” admits Benny Vestergaard, logistics manager of Jo-El Electric A/S, Odense, Denmark.

February 28, 2003

Flexibles

PLASTIC AND PAPER MARKET TRENDS

In its new study Paper versus Plastics in Packaging, Cleveland-based Freedonia Group reports that total demand for paper and plastic in competitive packaging markets is projected to increase 1.6% annually to 21 billion lb in 2006.

February 28, 2003

Containers

Web Plus: Online purchasing of corrugated to grow

Representatives of three major manufacturers say that corrugated box makers need to aggressively cut costs because of pressure from the major consumer-packaged-goods companies and the ongoing evolution of online bidding for box business.

February 28, 2003

Sustainability

Technical Innovation shines (sidebar)

Highest Achievements

February 28, 2003

Flexible packaging

Technical Innovation shines

Food packaging was well represented among the winners in the Technical Innovation category of this year’s FPA awards competition.

February 28, 2003

Flexible packaging

Printing packs a punch

Winners of FPA’s Printing Achievement awards were noted for advances in CTP technology, VOC-free inks, display impact, ‘nuanced color tones’ via gravure printing, and complex distortion printing capabilities.

February 28, 2003

Flexible packaging

FPA honors innovation

Hershey’s pudding packs and technology for self-venting trayed entrees, first commercialized by Smithfield Packing, earn Highest Achievement honors from The Flexible Packaging Assn.’s 2003 Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards competition.

February 28, 2003

Closures

Capri Sun launches 'bottle can'

In February, Tarrytown, NY-based Kraft Foods Beverages Division introduced Capri Sun Island Refreshers in a 16.5-oz aluminum “bottle can.”

January 31, 2003

Additives, coatings & inks

PLASTIC TO DOMINATE CONTAINER DEMAND

Plastic Containers, a new 265-page study from Cleveland-based industrial research firm The Freedonia Group, forecasts United States plastic container production to rise more than 4% annually to 13.7 billion lb by 2006.

January 31, 2003

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

HCPC presses to review CR test protocols

In an effort to fill what it feels is a loophole in provisions, the Healthcare Compliance Packaging Council has “invited” the new chairman of the U.S.

January 31, 2003