Bag/pouch fill/seal (pre-made bags)

Resealing in a snap

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO:Easy Snap is a new type of reclosable flexible package introduced by SIG Pack. Unlike a zipper reclosure, Easy Snap consists of two rigid "tracks" that span the width of the bag.

October 31, 2000

Leaders (UNIVERSAL TAXONOMY PW): Page 1678

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Internet-enabled print engines

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO: Thermal-transfer label printers Internet-enabled for remote print management were on display at the booth of Zebra Technologies.

October 31, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling

RFID tags metal beer kegs

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO: Metal-iTag™, a new metal asset tracking solution from Marconi's InfoChain div. (Wood Dale, IL), was displayed on empty beer kegs at its booth. Marconi’s Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology offers real-time product identification. Metal-iTag is currently being beta tested with all major brewers nationwide, according to Marconi.

October 31, 2000

Protective/transport packaging

Molded pulp protective packaging breakthrough

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO: Chalone Vineyard wine bottles will be the first to use Regale’s new protective packaging technology, which reduces costs by 80% and reduces lead time by 90%, according to the supplier. Libbey Glass and Hewlett Packard are currently testing the packaging.

October 31, 2000

Containers

High-speed sleever debut

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO: Running at an unprecedented 800 sleeves/min, Coastal Sleeve Label (Brunswick, GA) is showcasing its Autowrap wrapper from Hauni Richmond (Richmond, VA). Seams are made online, reducing production time 35%.

October 31, 2000

Flexible packaging

Inline-applied slider-closure first

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO: Sargento Foods is the first commercial user of Pactiv's Hefty® Slide-Rite® closure system on a form/fill/seal package.

October 31, 2000

Flexibles

Low-volume pouch filler/sealer for liquids

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO: CA-based Universal Beverage & Packaging is the first North American user of Profile Packaging’s Model PSG NEO-S liquid stand-up pouch fill/seal machine.

October 31, 2000

Flexibles

Retort pouch

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO: Profile Packaging, Sarasota, FL, showcased a PSG Surdry steam retort oven, containing trays of retort pouches at its booth. Foil-based and silica-based laminations from Kapak were among the pouches on display.

October 31, 2000

Flexibles

Honeywell's polymerized nanocomposite nylon resin

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO: As an economical alternative to EVOH, Honeywell Engineered Applications and Solutions (EAS) promotes dramatically improve strength, stiffness, gas oxygen barrier properties and heat resistance with its new polymerized nanocomposite nylon 6 resin.

October 31, 2000

Conveying & accumulation

BluePrint packs cases with vision smarts

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO: A high-speed, vision-guided bag orienter/sorter was on display at the booth of BluePrint Automation.

October 31, 2000

Flexible packaging

Spout pouch takes its stand

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO: Bell, a European food company, is packaging its new chicken and steak barbecue sauce products in an inverted stand-up pouch with a closure that acts as a base. Huhtamaki Van Leer Packaging Worldwide (Germany) converts the pouch material.

October 31, 2000

Contract Packaging

Sonoco adds POP contract packaging

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO: The Packaging Services (SPS) division of Sonoco (Hartsville, SC) now offers contract packaging services of the point-of-purchase displays that it manufactures.

October 31, 2000

Converting equipment

Baking soda shake up

The Arm & Hammer Div. of Church & Dwight now offers its all-natural baking soda in a waterproof “sink-side” container that is an alternative to its venerable 59¢ paperboard “Yellow Box.” The 12-oz white pigmented high-density polyethylene container, which keeps water out, allows consumers to keep baking soda closer to the sink.

October 31, 2000