Closures

Composite canister cuts costs

When a metal can supplier phased out the can sizes used by Beer Nuts, Inc. for its namesake snack, the Bloomington, IL-based snack company turned to composite canisters from Sonoco Products (Hartsville, SC).

June 30, 1996

Materials: Page 832

Secondary Packaging

Easy-open pack for bundles

Bundles of six 2-L water bottles from Perrier/Vittel, Paris, France, get an easy-open feature thanks to a new multilayer shrink film with directional tear resistance.

June 30, 1996

Flexible packaging

From aseptic pouch to aseptic carton

A 500-mL aseptic brick-pack for foodservice customers is helping Tetley® USA, Shelton, CT, cash in on the explosive growth of fruit-flavored iced teas.

June 30, 1996

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Billet thermoforming

The billet forming system from QuesTech Packaging (Newport News, VA) is a scrapless forming system that thermoforms containers in the melt phase. It offers benefits over conventional thermoforming, including uniform distribution of mono- or multi-layer material for consistent wall thicknesses.

May 31, 1996

Containers

Plastic drums for citrus

The N55 is the first nestable plastic drum designed for use in the transport of citrus juices, says manufacturer U.S. Coexcell (Maumee, OH). This 55-gal HDPE drum is conically shaped and has a fully removable plastic cover and metal lockband.

May 31, 1996

Conveying & accumulation

Motorized conveyor pulley

The Sparks/Dura-Drive(TM) 4.5" dia motorized pulley provides a 62% increase in radial load weight for belt conveyor systems, says manufacturer Sparks Belting (Grand Rapids, MI).

May 31, 1996

Controls & Machine Components

LDPE drum liner

ValuLiner® VLN from New England Plastics (Woburn, MA) is a 15-mil, smooth-sided, 55-gal LDPE drum liner that folds flat and nests for easy storage, but shakes open to install inside drums without pushing or tugging.

May 31, 1996

Protective/transport packaging

Polystyrene loosefill

Free-Flow Packaging (Redwood City, CA) has introduced Flo-Pak Super 8(TM), designed for heavy items requiring a sturdier loosefill. It's made of 100% waste PS, including 35% PCR content.

May 31, 1996

Closures

Dispensing closure

Rexam Closures (Evansville, IN) has introduced the CC-6, a one-piece PP dispensing closure suited for food products, such as catsup and salad dressings, and household cleaners.

May 31, 1996

Additives, coatings & inks

Thermoforming resins

Mobil Polymers (Edison, NJ) has introduced two new HDPE resins for extruding or thermoforming that allow up to 20% faster cycle times and downgauging by as much as 10% compared to traditional HDPE resins.

May 31, 1996

Sustainability

Two-piece D&I cans for aerosols

Beverage packers have enjoyed the benefits of lightweight D&I two-piece cans for years. This company is out to prove that aerosol cans can be similarly fashioned.

May 31, 1996

Additives, coatings & inks

Luster pigments for food contact

Mearlin® Micro Pearls from Mearl (Briarcliff Manor, NY) is a new line of luster pigments for food-contact plastic packaging. Pigments consist of titanium and/or iron oxide-coated mica with a very fine particle size of 2 to 24 microns.

May 31, 1996

Protective/transport packaging

Cushioning foam

PolyPlank Ultra® is a high-performance, fine cell extruded PE foam from Astro-Valcour (Glens Falls, NY) that provides good cushioning and surface protection.

May 31, 1996