Cartoning

Passing data horizontally from processing to packaging

Treating processing and packaging as disjointed tasks hurts efficiency and retards speed to market. New views of controls and integration could bring the two closer together.

August 31, 2004

Materials: Page 602

Flexible packaging

Productive pouching

Rotary servo gear motor boosts productivity of hf/f/s pouch machines.

August 31, 2004

Coding, Printing & Labeling

RFID tags becoming easier to read

On the other hand, return on investment for packagers will remain invisible for the near term. Now Wal-Mart softens stance on deadlines.

August 31, 2004

Coding, Printing & Labeling

RFID tags becoming easier to read

On the other hand, return on investment for packagers will remain invisible for the near term. Now Wal-Mart softens stance on deadlines.

August 31, 2004

Controls & Machine Components

Non-metallic enclosures

Several non-metallic enclosure models have been added to AutomationDirect’s line of enclosures. The new Premier Series line enclosures are constructed of fiberglass and feature poured PU seamless gaskets for watertight and dustproof seals.

August 31, 2004

Converting equipment

Gatorade de Mexico's innovative PET bottles

In February, Gatorade de Mexico introduced its 20-oz Gatorade and Fierce sports beverages in PET bottles from Amcor PET Packaging.

July 31, 2004

Closures

New PEN bottles in Denmark

Danish Brewery Group (DBG) has launched its Royal Pilsner and Royal Classic beers in new refillable 38-cL bottles of polyethylene napthalate (PEN), made by Rexam Petainer in Lidköping, Sweden.

July 31, 2004

Closures

Closure energizes Olay vitamins

Consumer convenience is behind Pharmavite LLC’s use of Weatherchem’s NutraFlapper® closure for an Olay-brand vitamin supplement line introduced in August ’03.

July 31, 2004

Containers

Table-top bag maker brings savings

A tabletop bag maker installed in late 2002 at Arkwright, Inc., was so effective in reducing wasted packaging materials and wasted time that it paid for itself in two months.

July 31, 2004

Flexibles

Slick pouch for a grate product

Introduced in 2003, Grill Wipes from Grate Chef, Dacula, GA, have been repackaged in shiny new pouches for 2004 for improved functionality and aesthetics.

July 31, 2004

Labels

Svelte bottle gets skin-fit labeling

Skin care products specialist Raymond Anthony Intl. (RAI), Costa Mesa, CA, recently upgraded the packaging for its Tanology line of premium indoor tanning lotions in 8-oz high-density polyethylene bottles.

July 31, 2004

Flexibles

Adding eye and opening appeal

Harris Ranch’s Cookhouse Classics precooked beef entrees are now generating more eye- and easy-opening-appeal, thanks to new graphics in its new lidding film.

July 31, 2004

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Companies

Rockwell Automation opened a new radio-frequency identification (RFID) test lab at its global headquarters in Milwaukee. The lab is designed to help manufacturers facing production and inventory mandates from retailers understand how they can make RFID part of their distribution operations.

July 31, 2004