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

OMAC group tackles packaging motion standards

OMAC (Open Modular Architecture Controls) Motion for Packaging Working Group hammers out a specific mission and four key areas to simplify motion controls for packaging machinery. Areas include: defining business benefits of open controls; standardize on programming languages; standardize on network protocols; foster education in motion control technologies in tech schools and colleges.

February 29, 2000

Leaders (UNIVERSAL TAXONOMY PW): Page 1720

Additives, coatings & inks

Chevron licenses BP Amoco/Dow metallocene resin technology

On March 15, Chevron Chemical Company (Houston, TX) announced it has purchased the first license to manufacture polyethylene metallocene resin using BP Amoco's Innovene® process technology and new catalysts developed by BPA and Dow Chemical, and based upon Dow's Insite® metallocene catalyst technology.

February 29, 2000

Flexible packaging

Clever packages take flexibles to a new level

Sleeves for propane cylinders win Flexible Packaging Assn.'s President's award. Other FPA winners include pouches of grease for fifth wheels, recyclable ream paper wraps and protective air cushion packs.

February 29, 2000

Flexible packaging

Flexibles feed on innovation

Keebler’s contour pouch for cookies doubles as a hand puppet, while a wrap for frozen, microwavable sandwiches provides source reduction, and an all-plastic bag offers oxygen and moisture barrier for dry pet foods.

February 29, 2000

Converting equipment

French brewers say oui to plastic

Web exclusive: Brasseries Heineken puts another brand in 1/2-L plastic and introduces a 1-L plastic beer bottle, consisting of three materials in five layers and coinjection stretch/blow-molded by Continental PET Technologies (Florence, KY). Separately, Strasbourg, France-based Kronenbourg commits not only to the unusal step of self-manufacturing its own PET bottles, but to Actis (Amorphous Carbon Treatment on Internal Surface) coating process from Sidel (Norcross, GA).

February 29, 2000

Containers

Appointments, promotions

The Frain Group (Addison, IL): David Eggleston, COO.—LPK (Cincinnati, OH): Jerry Kathman, president, CEO.—Terco (Bloomingdale, IL): Dennis Ahrens, president, replacing David Cull who has resigned.—Alvey Systems, Inc.

February 29, 2000

Feeding/inserting/unscrambling

International agreements

Pro Mach, Inc. (Atlanta, GA) has acquired Belcor Industries Inc. (Richmond, British Columbia, Canada).—Honeywell Engineered Applications & Solutions (Freeport, IL) has acquired the assets of Kohap Engineering Plastics Ltd.

February 29, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

Relocations, expansions

Mitsubishi Polyester Film (Greer, SC) will increase its capacity by more than 20ꯠ tons at the Greer facility by 2003.—Pester USA (Allendale, NJ) has doubled the size of its facility and staff by relocating to 7 Pearl Ct., Allendale, NJ 07401; phone: 201/327-7009, fax: 201/327-7824.—Spear Inc.

February 29, 2000

Contract packaging

Flask lends flair

A blue-tinted, flask-shaped bottle and low-profile pump closure system lend distinction to the new Jordan by Michael cologne. The men’s fragrance, introduced last November, is marketed in 50- and 100-mL (1.7- and 3.38-oz) sizes by Beverly Hills, CA-based Bijan Fragrances, Inc.

February 29, 2000

Converting equipment

Welch Foods launches coated PET bottle

Coated monolayer PET bottles are replacing glass for 16-juice drinks, juice cocktails and 100% juices. FDA-approved coating is said to cost less than multilayer barrier bottles. The heat-set PET bottles will be sold in vending and C-store channels nationwide.

February 29, 2000

Labels

Perrier gets a grip

Better ergonomics and lighter weight are benefits of Perrier’s new 5-gal water bottle with integral handle. Plus, a new rack system for transport reduces bottle breakage.

February 29, 2000

Flexible packaging

Dairy coop decides on dual bag

California Dairies Inc. reportedly will be the first commercial user of a dual film bag system. CDI plans to offer the plastic bag as an alternative to multiwall paper bags for milk powders sold to confectioners, bakeries and cheese manufacturers.

February 29, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling

FDA packaging guidance gets bad 'wrap' (sidebar)

Safer institutional drug packaging?

February 29, 2000