Closures

P&G gets a handle on fabric softener packs

Last summer, when Procter & Gamble began to sell its premium Downy Simple Pleasures liquid fabric softener to club stores, it made a decision to market twin packs of its 52-oz retail bottles rather than create a larger container size.

May 31, 2005

Materials: Page 571

Adhesives/tape

Oven box displays cool 'smarts'

One of the coolest “smart packaging” efforts comes from appliance marketer Euro-Pro, Plattsburgh, NY, for its convection toaster oven packed in a corrugated box whose technology hits several smart packaging hot buttons.

May 31, 2005

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Ross Labs speaker provides an RFID update

In his HealthPack 2005 presentation, Mike Wallace of Abbott Laboratories’ Ross Laboratories Division noted that Ross’s Isomil infant formula ranks as the fourth most frequently stolen product from its top customer, Wal-Mart.

May 31, 2005

Coding, Printing & Labeling

What does the price of gasoline have to do with healthcare packaging?

Gas prices continue to climb. Airlines and trucking companies are the hardest hit.

May 31, 2005

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

Mechatronics looms large

Jerry Butler, production manager at food manufacturer ARC-diversified of Cookeville, TN, says a new skill set is required to deal effectively with today’s packaging machinery.

May 31, 2005

Coding, Printing & Labeling

IBM's RFID RPCs

RFID-enabled reusable plastic containers (RPCs) will be used to shore up the 1귔-mile supply chain between IBM’s Integrated Supply Chain (ISC) operations in Montpellier, France, and Dublin, Ireland.

May 31, 2005

Secondary Packaging

Companies

R.A. Jones & Co. Inc.

May 31, 2005

Coding, Printing & Labeling

California coalition targets packaging labeling

The California Packaging Alliance is opposing a bill introduced in the California State Assembly that would require a blanket, statewide label on packaging to distinguish between what is “recyclable,” “compostable,” and “trash.”

May 31, 2005

Coding, Printing & Labeling

An RFID tug-of-war

These days, RFID tagging for many manufacturers is a given. Whether to do it is no longer the issue—even how to do it isn’t as important as it once was.

May 31, 2005

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

CP's custom cartoner handles challenging carton

New equipment helps pharmaceutical contract packager meet its customer demands and stay within its budget.

May 31, 2005

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

Package security--action replaces talk

Drug firms start RFID tagging, and anti-counterfeiting tactics expand as packagers get more aggressive to protect brands.

May 31, 2005

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

Achieving value by anticipating needs (sidebar)

One successful tactic for paperboard manufacturers in developing value-based packaging is knowing what consumers want and then taking the initiative to anticipate CPG companies’ needs by designing the right packaging and marketing it to them.

May 31, 2005

Containers

Software solutions save the day

Cheesemaker Tillamook of Oregon wanted to avoid product recall problems. Fruit packer Pri-Psagot of Israel needed accurate data tracking. Both devised software solutions.

May 31, 2005