Flexibles

The clear choice in jerky packaging

Phoenix-based Sun Valley Natural Products released its Jerqué line of gourmet beef and turkey jerky in October. The antibiotic-free, hormone-free meat product is packaged in a clear film pouch from Lithografix, a subsidiary of Lithotype (South San Francisco, CA), and is decorated with an award-winning label designed by Estudio Ray (Phoenix, AZ).

December 31, 2001

Leaders (UNIVERSAL TAXONOMY PW): Page 1662

Flexibles

Marks & Spencer 'bites' on lined container

In October, renowned U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer launched QuickBite foods in an “insulated” package that keeps food hot without burning consumer hands as they eat the food directly from the container.

December 31, 2001

Flexibles

Suspension pack wins H-P an award

Packaging of computer monitors has changed dramatically at Palo Alto, CA-based Hewlett-Packard. By replacing expanded polystyrene end caps with suspension packaging made of kraft paper and plastic film, H-P has reduced material costs by 15.5%.

December 31, 2001

Protective/transport packaging

Xbox box has 'game'

The graphics design for the much anticipated mid-November debut of Microsoft’s Xbox game console strikes a balance for hard-core gamers and mainstream consumers.

December 31, 2001

Contract Packaging

Laser coding excels at Excelda

Excelda Mfg., a contract packager of lubricants and other products sold in the automotive aftermarket, has turned to laser coding to improve legibility of the single-line date code it uses on the plastic bottles it fills.

December 31, 2001

Tamper-evident machinery

Q&A

Brad Rostowfske, director of new product development at Sargento Foods Inc., a leading marketer of cheese products based in Plymouth, WI.

December 31, 2001

Labels

Design: Redesigned label is rosier

In September 2001, Four Roses Distilling Co., Lawrenceburg, KY, a Seagram’s company, unveiled a bold new label for its Four Roses Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

December 31, 2001

Conveying & accumulation

Web plus: A dot-com looks for packaging solutions

Overstock.com offers a variety of name-brand surplus merchandise, such as toys, diamond rings, and TVs, for up to 70% off the retail price. Just like a catalog retailer, this Internet retailer must invest in quality packaging to ship products to consumers.

December 31, 2001

Labeling

WebPlus: Sites

New or enhanced Web sites

December 31, 2001

Sustainability

Industry watch: Companies

—BluePrint Automation B.V. (Woerden, the Netherlands), with U.S. operations headquartered in Colonial Heights, VA, held an open house at its Woerden facility as a way to introduce its latest innovations in end-of-line packaging automation.

December 31, 2001

Sustainability

Rules & Regs: Canadian regs not likely to affect packaging

Packaging is likely to get a pass on a new requirement for environmental assessment of products regulated under Canadian Food and Drugs Act. According to the New Substances Notification program under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, as of September 13, 2001, products regulated by F&DA (biologics, food additives, novel foods, personal care products, and cosmetics) must meet environmental assessment standards, as well as health and safety criteria.

December 31, 2001

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Rules & Regs: Country-of-origin labeling1;again

The Senate Agriculture Committee, by a one vote margin, accepted an amendment to the Farm Bill that included mandatory country-of-origin labeling for fresh red meats, farm-raised catfish, produce, and peanuts.

December 31, 2001

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Rules & Regs: GE labeling proposal criticized

Responding to a request from FDA for its views on Codex Alimentarius’s proposed draft recommendations for labeling of some genetically modified/genetically engineered foods (GM/GE), Grocery Manufacturers of America said it continues to urge the U.S. government to categorically oppose any Codex draft that is not wholly consistent with FDA’s science-based labeling policy.

December 31, 2001