Conveying & accumulation

Clever layout enhances bottling efficiency

At the San Manuel Bottled Water Group’s new plant, one automated line requires just five operators for 350 bpm output. See in-plant video

June 30, 2002

Containers: Page 207

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

Superior Dairy: Blow molding of plastic milk bottles

At this Ohio dairy manufacturer, one floor above the filling line, HDPE bottles are blown and flash is trimmed. Then bottles are transported through a pneumatic tube to a bagging machine.

May 31, 2002

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Temporary relief for OTC convenience packs

FDA postpones May deadline for putting Drug Facts label on convenience-size OTC packages.

May 31, 2002

Containers

Medical transport packaging

Medicor® is a packaging system for the safe transport of diagnostic and infectious medical samples. It’s offered by Sonoco Absorbent Technologies, a joint venture between Sonoco (Hartsville, SC) and England’s Dyecor Ltd.

May 31, 2002

Closures

Nestea's new look

Nestle replaces canister with shaped HDPE plastic with dosing cap.

May 31, 2002

Flexibles

Apple sauce tubes rocket into new markets

Launched into California in mid-2001, Selah, WA-based Tree Top’s Fruit Rocketz distribution expanded earlier this year to include the Pacific Northwest and Texas.

May 31, 2002

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

FDA prescription for drug errors reads 'bar code'

Drug manufacturers will have to increase use of unit-of-use package sizes, plus add new scanning and printing equipment.

May 31, 2002

Containers

Superior likes caseless shipping

This Ohio dairy manufacturer is rewriting the rules that govern distribution in the dairy industry. Caseless shipping is key. See in-plant video

May 31, 2002

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Addition by subtraction

Golden Flake doubles speeds and reduces labor costs for potato chip packaging by replacing 21 outdated lines with eight new vf/f/s machines. See in-plant video

May 31, 2002

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

Diamond of California: Scale systems for shelled nuts

Computerized scales from Hayssen deliver accurate amounts of nuts on this 16-head system that includes an upper scale with a booster hopper directly beneath. Nuts released from the scales fall through stainless-steel tubes into vf/f/s equipment.

April 30, 2002

Containers

New bottle line brewing at Molson

In February, Molson announced plans to invest $34.8 million in upgrades at its Toronto brewery as the first installment in a $100 million plan to increase the facility’s production and efficiency.

April 30, 2002

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

New twist on graphics

For Lip Twirls lip protectant recently introduced by The Mentholatum Co. of Orchard Park, NY, Fisher Design (Cincinnati, OH) created a brand identity that is meant to contribute to a strong brand equity over time.

April 30, 2002

Containers

Equipment sparkles at Diamond of California

New vf/f/s machines and computerized scales increase speeds, reduce downtime, and lessen giveaway of Diamond of California shelled nuts. See in-plant video

April 30, 2002