Materials: Page 548

Coding, Printing & Labeling

2006: an exciting milestone and a new outlook for packaging

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Pack Expo, being held October 29 - November 2 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. We spoke with Chuck Yuska, president of the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI), sponsor and producer of the show, about this special anniversary and what the new year has in store for packaging professionals.

December 31, 2005

Protective/transport packaging

People

Andrew MacLeod was appointed divisional vice president of sales and marketing for SCA Packaging North America.

December 31, 2005

Secondary Packaging

Companies

Leister Process Technologies, Sarnen, Switzerland, formed a new master distribution network for the United States. The U.S. market will be serviced by the following factory-trained sales and service centers: Assembly Supplies Co., western region; Heely-Brown Co., southeast region; Hy-Tech Products, midwest; and Malcom Co., northeast region.

December 31, 2005

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Trans-fat labeling and Katrina

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are now being blamed for limiting the availability of resin used to make plastic bread bags, prompting the American Bakers Association to request either a six-month extension of the January 1, 2006, trans fat labeling deadline or a six-month “enforcement discretion.” The storms also created obstacles for distribution of imported trans fat substitutes.

December 31, 2005

Coding, Printing & Labeling

High-volume retailers pile demands on packaging

Retailers expect a lot from packaging, and few require more than club stores and other high-volume outlets.

December 31, 2005

Coding, Printing & Labeling

High-volume retailers pile demands on packaging (sidebar)

Data says RFID helps Wal-Mart cut out-of-stocks by 16%

December 31, 2005

Flexible packaging

Healthcare packaging pros discuss critical issues

Healthcare packaging experts discuss counterfeiting, packaging and personalized medicine, oil/resin pricing concerns, and material and machinery advances.

December 31, 2005

Flexibles

Second cartoner speeds hurricane relief efforts

Machine allows Innotech to double the production and shipment of its self-heating meals to assist displaced victims and relief workers during last year’s disastrous hurricane season.

December 31, 2005

Flexibles

Candy company sweetens packaging efficiencies

Farley’s and Sathers adds versatile vertical cartoning line to keep pace with growing product demand.

December 31, 2005

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

Drug companies on different frequencies on RFID

Package tagging for pharmaceuticals is moving forward, but slowly. Meanwhile, FDA grows impatient.

December 31, 2005

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Winning with subtlety and sophistication--sometimes less is more

As a designer working exclusively in brands and packaging, I am getting close to the saturation level when it comes to passing judgment on good or bad design.

November 30, 2005

Coding, Printing & Labeling

REWE pilots RFID with Gen 2 inlays

The German retailer REWE has started an extensive pallet-level RFID pilot at its Norderstedt distribution center in Germany.

November 30, 2005