While higher education may not be the first thing to come to mind when Las Vegas is mentioned, this year's Pack Expo West and International Exposition for Food Processors have added that attraction to lure attendees. Developed by Packaging World columnist and Packaging Management newsletter publisher Ben Miyares, Solutions 97 is a conference of 21 individual sessions for packagers and food processors that will be held at the Sands Convention Center, also the site for the shows. Solutions 97 will be held Monday through Wednesday mornings, Oct. 13 to 15. Monday 8 a.m., General Session: Beverage packaging and design challenges for the 21st century will be the topic of Mary Ellen Reis, Triarc Beverage Group, new owner of Snapple beverages. Her comments will focus on production and marketing issues for noncarbonated beverages like teas. 9:15 a.m., Session A1: Closures and sealing systems, moderated by Robert Heitzman, vp/editor, Packaging Digest. Topics include Zipper options for flexible packaging by Robert Hogan, Minigrip/Zip-Pak, and Closure consideration in converting from glass to plastic containers from Mark Leiden, White Cap. 9:15 a.m., Session B1: Packaging and supply chain management, moderated by Ben Miyares, publisher of Packaging Management. A joint presentation on Designing primary and secondary packages for today's market will be offered by Lejo Brana of Riviana Foods, and John Voll of Stone Container's Packaging Solution Center. 9:15 a.m., Session C1: Packaging and handling proprietary-shaped containers will be moderated by consultant Wayne Dahlgren. Louis Rupp, FruCon Eng., will explain how to get Versatility and speed: You can have both! Adapting lines to handle unusual glass shapes is the topic of Bob Pease, Krones, Inc. 10:30 a.m., Session B2: Value-added labeling technologies is the subject of a panel discussion led by Bill Carley, CCL Label. His panelists include Dennis Tursso, Tursso Companies; David Shoemaker, Checkpoint Systems; Andrew Schlossman, RevTech; and Lyn Bright, B&H Labeling Systems. 10:30 a.m., Session C2: Managing packaging with today's tight budgets will be moderated by Mary Ann Falkman, executive editor, Packaging Digest. William Haughey, Nabisco, Inc., will explore Shifting responsibilities to suppliers: Great expectations, great disappointments. The value of a systems integrator will be explained by George Kaufman, Pacific Scientific. 11:30 a.m., Session A2: How computer simulation can improve line dynamics will be moderated by David Newcorn, senior editor, Packaging World. A joint presentation by Bill Lilegdon, Pritsker Corp., and Stuart Gittlitz, Kraft Foods, will show how to Maximize line efficiences with virtual packaging lines. Tuesday 8 a.m., General Session: New metal cans, plastic containers for food is the topic of D. Greg Horrigan, Silgan Holdings. 9:15 a.m., Session A1: Training and retaining line operators moderated by Arnie Orloski, vp/editor, Packaging World. Speakers include Dominick Celentano, Jr., Celentano's, explaining How to qualify and keep operators for new clean-room line, and systems integrator Douglas Hartel, Hartel Corp., will describe his experiences with Three training options for an overseas workforce. 9:15 a.m., Session B1 Production challenges of barrier food packaging moderated by Bob Swientek, editor-in-chief, Prepared Foods. Jim Belcher, Cryovac, will look at How extended-shelf-life refrigerated food packaging affects packaging systems. How teamwork works is the topic for Ori Cohen, Orics Industries, explaining how suppliers and users can maximize productivity by working together. 9:15 a.m., Session C1: Juice and drink processing alternatives will be moderated by Chuck Haberstroh, editorial director, Food Engineering. Pulsed light technologies for aseptic and other juice packaging will be described by Tom Ott, Pure Pulse Technologies. Tom Szemplenski, Aseptic Resources, will compare Hot-fill vs cold-fill vs aseptic processing for juices. Marc Isaacs, American Fresh Juice Council, will discuss how his group can help packers Improve Good Manufacturing Practices and HACCP procedures. 10:30 a.m., Session A2: Gaining efficiency in flexible manufacturing will be led by Lisa McTigue Pierce, editor-in- chief, Food & Drug Packaging. Miguel Barrios, Jr., Riba Foods, will talk on how his company Handles changeover to accommodate private-label business. Charlie Duncheon, Adept Technology, will cover Greater robot flexibility to handle shorter product lifecycles. 10:30 a.m., Session B2: Bar codes for efficient distribution is the general topic for two presentations. New guidelines for bar codes will be described by Scott Gray of the Uniform Code Council. Dorothy Brandes of Kmart and Susan Evins, Bar Code Systems, will present a joint presentation on How to avoid common bar code 'crimes.' 10:30 a.m., Session C2: Technical advances in tomato processing will be moderated by Pan Demetrakakes, senior editor, Food Processing. Dr. John Flores, Purdue University, will describe joint industry/academia pursuits of Improving quality, shelf life and diversity of tomato products. The University of Georgia's Dr. Romeo Toledo will reveal Trends and predictions for future tomato processing and packaging. Hunt-Wesson's Ash Husain will predict What's needed to remain a world-class processor in the 21st century. Wednesday 8 a.m., General Session: Dr. Richard Oblath, Shell Chemical, will discuss The new generation of polymers for food and beverage packaging. 9:15 a.m., Session A1: Advances in non-thermal food processing will be led by Chuck Morris, Midwest editor, Food Processing. Dr. Richard Meyer, Washington Farms, will cover High-pressure processing for fruit products, and Dr. Dallas Hoover, University of Delaware, will discuss Non-thermal sterilization technologies. 9:15 a.m., Session B1: How pharmaceutical packagers can stay FDA-compliant will be moderated by Jim Wagner, editor, Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News. Dr. Suzanne Barone, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, will explain New child-resistant, senior-friendly packaging protocols. How FDA's new SUPAC guidelines will affect packaging is the topic of Michael Williams, Merck & Co. 9:15 a.m., Session C1: Efficient handling of lightweight beverage containers will be moderated by Bill Noone, senior editor, Packaging Technology & Engineering. Non-contact techniques for metal and plastic containers will be jointly covered by Greg LaCava, Pepsi-Cola Bottling, and Jerry L. East, Crown-Simplimatic. 10:30 a.m., Session A2: New features for stand-up pouch systems will be moderated by Robert Heitzman, vp/editor, Packaging Digest. How stand-up pouching moves into the mainstream is the topic of a joint presentation of William Hare, Curwood, Inc., and Dennis Calamusa, Profile Packaging. 10:30 a.m., Session B2: Secondary packaging responds to new distribution patterns is the subject of a panel to be led by Brad Leonard, Cape Systems. Other panelists include Steve Stegora, RAM Center; Ginnell Schiller, Buckhorn; and Hans de Koning, Flexicell. 10:30 a.m., Session C2: Packaging advances in fresh-cut produce will be led by Ken Hodge, editor, Fresh Cut. How packaging transforms produce into home meal replacements is the topic for both Leonard Batti, Tanimura & Antle, and David Fischer, Cypress Packaging Div., Cryovac.
