Secondary Packaging

PBI-Dansensor Americ: Networked analyzer

PBI-Dansensor’s (Ringsted, Denmark) in-line oxygen and O2-carbon dioxide gas analyzer has built-in wireless networking capability. Designed for gas or vacuum modified atmosphere thermoforming and tray sealing machines, the unit allows troubleshooting and data transfer via “Blue Tooth”—a wireless networking standard—or standard LAN connections.

May 31, 2002

Leaders (UNIVERSAL TAXONOMY PW): Page 1599

Controls & Machine Components

OMAC gains in Europe

OMAC (Open Modular Architecture Controls) Packaging Workgroup, which is trying to simplify the development, installation, and operation of packaging equipment, reported significant progress at its April meeting at interpack 2002 in Germany.

May 31, 2002

Containers

Medical transport packaging

Medicor® is a packaging system for the safe transport of diagnostic and infectious medical samples. It’s offered by Sonoco Absorbent Technologies, a joint venture between Sonoco (Hartsville, SC) and England’s Dyecor Ltd.

May 31, 2002

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Food labeling scandal rocks Japan

A series of food scandals, many of which involved misbranded or mislabeled products, has shaken the confidence of Japanese consumers.

May 31, 2002

Coding, Printing & Labeling

FDA updates voluntary nutrition labeling

FDA is required to update its voluntary nutrition labeling regulations at least every four years. The agency recently proposed updating the list of the 20 most frequently consumed raw fruits, vegetables, and fish and their nutrition labeling values based on new data.

May 31, 2002

Coding, Printing & Labeling

GMA nixes quantitative ingredient labeling

GMA tells FDA quantitative labeling is a bad idea for proposed change to Codex regs.

May 31, 2002

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Achievements

–ExxonMobil Chemical’s (Houston, TX) Packaging Program graduated its 8000th student from its University of Oriented Polypropylene, a flexible packaging and labeling education program hosted by the Films Business of ExxonMobil Chemical.

May 31, 2002

Flexibles

Companies

–Lansmont Corp. (Monterey, CA) opened its new Lansmont Technical Services Center in Irvine, CA, for product and package testing, field measurements, consulting, and education.

May 31, 2002

Secondary Packaging

Web Plus: Sites

New or enhanced Web sites

May 31, 2002

Conveying & accumulation

Online calculator conveys throughput gains

Web site uses mathematical algorithms to determine the most efficient place to install buffering conveyors.

May 31, 2002

Flexibles

Packaging with the force

In order to appeal to kids of all ages, Star War’s collectable toy action figures from Pawtucket, RI-based Hasbro needed packaging that hit on themes from all five of the popular movies.

May 31, 2002

Controls & Machine Components

Q&A: Desperately seeking 'plug-and-pack'

An interview with Andrew McDonald, global automation and control manager for Unilever, maker of food and personal care brands such as Dove®, Suave®, Vaseline®, Lipton®, Skippy® and SlimFast®. McDonald is also the chief architect of an industry-wide “state model,” a term used to describe whether a packaging machine is running, down, on standby, etc.

May 31, 2002

Closures

Nestea's new look

Nestle replaces canister with shaped HDPE plastic with dosing cap.

May 31, 2002