Conveying & accumulation

Economical molded pulp manufacturing

Molded Pulp Products produces Peerless trays at its 120ꯠ-sq-ft plant in Cincinnati. Post-consumer newspapers are mixed with water within a hydropulper from Emery Intl.

January 31, 1996

Materials: Page 843

Closures

Aluminum "bottle" a first for vodka

While the cool, sleek appearance of brushed aluminum is not uncommon for health & beauty aids, it is unusual to see it in the spirits category. Hertford, U.K.-based MDT Wines & Spirits believes it is the first to use such a container for vodka.

January 31, 1996

Additives, coatings & inks

Supplier news: Domestic acquisitions, agreements

Wellman Inc. (Shrewsbury, NJ) acquired the PET packaging-resin business of Akzo Nobel NV based in the Netherlands.

January 31, 1996

Flexibles

LPK makes packaging predictions

Package design firm Libby Perszyk Kathman (Cincinnati, OH) has probed its crystal ball to make public its "Packaging Predictions for 1996." "As baby boomers age, items we used to hide, like adult incontinence products, laxatives and dental adhesives, will be out in the open and packaging will be bolder to reflect this new, open attitude driven by the Woodstock generation turning 50," says Jerry Kathman, vp of client services.

January 31, 1996

Flexibles

Supplier news: Achievements

ISO 9001 registration: Georgia Pacific Corp.'s (Atlanta, GA) Technology & Development Center for its quality systems; Cincinnati Milacron Marketing Co's.

January 31, 1996

Flexibles

TE design relies on perfs, not force

When medical device maker Boeringer Mannheim chose to use a thermoformed clamshell to show off its second-generation Soft Touch II lancet blood sampling device, the Indianapolis-based company wanted the package to be easy to open.

January 31, 1996

Containers

Supplier news: Domestic acquisitions, agreements

Jefferson Smurfit Corp. (St. Louis, MO) acquired Michigan Can and Tube.

January 31, 1996

Closures

U.S. Food, Beverage Closure Market

Researchers at White Cap, Inc. (Downers Grove, IL) estimate that by the year 2000, closure use in the U.S. food and beverage sectors will approach 74 billion units/year divided among seven sectors (right).

January 31, 1996

Converting equipment

PET bottles make their mark

Direct sales company Watkins Inc. says it was the first in the U.S. to offer a money-back guarantee: if customers weren't satisfied with their bottle of vanilla extract, they could get a refund--provided the amount in the bottle didn't fall under the "trial mark" line molded into the glass.

January 31, 1996

Controls & Machine Components

Valve/liner system

Inliners Unlimited (Monroe, LA) has introduced a valve to be used with barrier liners as a low-cost way to control gases in drums, pails, boxes or IBCs.

December 31, 1995

Flexibles

Shrink wrap easy-open tab

Latter Packaging Equipment (Los Angeles, CA) has developed The Latter Tab, a patented easy-open tab for shrink-wrapped packages. The tab can be manufactured from a variety of shrink films, including polyolefins, PE and food-grade films, using the company's special add-on option, which is mounted to the Latter sealer.

December 31, 1995

Closures

TE push-pull cap

The SCII Push-Pull from Cap Snap (San Jose, CA) combines dual tamper-evidence, patented snap-cap technology and a push-pull closure. The LDPE cap has a TE band around the button, as well as a TE tear-strip around the base of the cap.

December 31, 1995

Filling/capping, dry

High-speed capper

PMC Industries' (Hackensack, NJ) new high-speed capper applies pump caps at speeds to 300/min. A programmable controller governs machine operations, including the flow of caps from the sorter and automatic shutdown in case of overloads at transfer points.

December 31, 1995