Sustainability

Plastic's beckoning to beer

Two European brewers are pushing ahead with barrier coatings on PET bottles while a third is expanding its use of coinjected multilayer technology.

March 31, 2000

Containers: Page 220

Converting equipment

Blow molder comes to Pennzoil's 'Rescue' (sidebar 2)

The art and the angles

March 31, 2000

Converting equipment

Blow molder comes to Pennzoil's 'Rescue' (sidebar 1)

Tough to find suppliers

March 31, 2000

Sustainability

Euro brewer debuts 'glass' inner-coated PET bottle

New technologies for beer in plastic are moving forward. Among the newsiest launches is in Sweden, where Spendrups Brewery of Stockholm in March introduced its Norrlands Guld beer in 500-mL (16.9 oz) high-barrier Glaskin bottles. Developed by Tetra Pak (Geneva, Switzerland), the proprietary Glaskin technology relies on a vacuum deposition process to coat the inside of blown PET bottles with a clear layer of silicon oxide.Spendrups is the first to use the technology on a commercial basis.

February 29, 2000

Flexible packaging

Clever packages take flexibles to a new level

Sleeves for propane cylinders win Flexible Packaging Assn.'s President's award. Other FPA winners include pouches of grease for fifth wheels, recyclable ream paper wraps and protective air cushion packs.

February 29, 2000

Flexible packaging

Flexibles feed on innovation

Keebler’s contour pouch for cookies doubles as a hand puppet, while a wrap for frozen, microwavable sandwiches provides source reduction, and an all-plastic bag offers oxygen and moisture barrier for dry pet foods.

February 29, 2000

Converting equipment

French brewers say oui to plastic

Web exclusive: Brasseries Heineken puts another brand in 1/2-L plastic and introduces a 1-L plastic beer bottle, consisting of three materials in five layers and coinjection stretch/blow-molded by Continental PET Technologies (Florence, KY). Separately, Strasbourg, France-based Kronenbourg commits not only to the unusal step of self-manufacturing its own PET bottles, but to Actis (Amorphous Carbon Treatment on Internal Surface) coating process from Sidel (Norcross, GA).

February 29, 2000

Containers

Appointments, promotions

The Frain Group (Addison, IL): David Eggleston, COO.—LPK (Cincinnati, OH): Jerry Kathman, president, CEO.—Terco (Bloomingdale, IL): Dennis Ahrens, president, replacing David Cull who has resigned.—Alvey Systems, Inc.

February 29, 2000

Converting equipment

Welch Foods launches coated PET bottle

Coated monolayer PET bottles are replacing glass for 16-juice drinks, juice cocktails and 100% juices. FDA-approved coating is said to cost less than multilayer barrier bottles. The heat-set PET bottles will be sold in vending and C-store channels nationwide.

February 29, 2000

Labels

Perrier gets a grip

Better ergonomics and lighter weight are benefits of Perrier’s new 5-gal water bottle with integral handle. Plus, a new rack system for transport reduces bottle breakage.

February 29, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling

FDA packaging guidance gets bad 'wrap' (sidebar)

Safer institutional drug packaging?

February 29, 2000

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

FDA packaging guidance gets bad 'wrap'

Brand-name pharmaceutical manufacturers and OTC companies want more freedom to make packaging changes without major petitioning.

February 29, 2000

Containers

Look Ma, no hands!

Automation, custom molding and a packaging partnership allow an inventor to bring a hands-free tube applicator to the marketplace.

February 29, 2000