Closures

The problem with patented packaging

The U.S. Supreme Court rules that patents almost always mean ‘functional.’ Does this mean trade-dress protection disappears after the patent runs out?

July 31, 2001

Materials: Page 686

Conveying & accumulation

Case coders sparkle at Blue Diamond

New equipment delivers three lines of type for bulk boxes of nuts. The case coders reduce labor costs, downtime, and ink loss associated with previous units.

July 31, 2001

Flexibles

Wet wipe packaging

Optima (Green Bay, WI) offers the Wet Wipe II, a machine designed to package premoistened wipes into premade bags. Machine is outfitted with a designated wet cleaning area for sanitation and cleaning of the product-touching components.

July 31, 2001

Controls & Machine Components

TechnaSeal: Automated control system

The Series V automated control system on all lines of pneumatically powered thermal impulse heat sealers from TechnaSeal (Livermore, CA) is designed to increase safety, operating efficiency, and control/validation.

July 31, 2001

Additives, coatings & inks

Materials Marketplaces

PolymerTrack (www.polymertrack.com) details the most competitive HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, polypropylene, PVC, and PET contract prices for large customers.

July 31, 2001

Flexibles

E-commerce-enabled Suppliers

ElectroStatics(www.electrostatics.com) offers online purchasing of its static control equipment. The Static Store accepts Visa, MasterCard, and purchase orders.

July 31, 2001

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Club store packaging

PPi (Union Gap, WA) has released its new Club Store Packaging. The 20-mil recycled PVC thermoforms are ideal for larger and bulk-style products. PPi will supply the thermoformed blisters, clamshells and trays, printed blister cards, insert cards, and skin-pack board.

July 31, 2001

Flexibles

Mac software unboxed

The Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, leverages the Mac difference in award-winning software packaging that’s a dramatic departure from traditional paperboard cartons used for software. Replacing prior boxed versions, Office 2001 for Macintosh was introduced in October of 2000 in a plastic "clamshell."

July 31, 2001

Flexibles

StarKist 3-oz pouch is a smaller 'hook'

StarKist Foods Div. of Pittsburgh-based Heinz North America hopes to hook consumers with a smaller, single-serve pouch of StarKist tuna. Introduced in April, the 3-oz Flavor Fresh Pouch is a line extension of the company’s 7.06-oz pouch introduced last fall. The new, smaller pouch is expected to be available nationally by August.

July 31, 2001

Closures

Plastic innovation

In May, Glendale, CA-based Nestlé USA introduced Nestea iced tea concentrate in a striking custom-molded bottle supplied by Continental Plastics Container (Elk Grove Village, IL).

July 31, 2001

Flexibles

Cameras hit the vending circuit

Want to buy a one-time-use camera or a roll of film from a vending machine? Now you can, thanks to e-Vend.net of Kennett Square, PA. Packaging plays a key role.

July 31, 2001

Additives, coatings & inks

Group opposes California plastic packaging tax bill

The California Packaging Alliance, a coalition of state and national organizations supporting a comprehensive, integrated approach to solid waste management, strongly opposes legislation in the California Senate that includes a packaging tax to support plastic recycling requirements.

July 31, 2001

Additives, coatings & inks

FDA reorganizes food additive functions

FDA replaced its Office of Premarket Approval with a new Office of Food Additive Safety (OFAS) in an effort to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of its reviews.

July 31, 2001