Controls & machine components

Machine vision system

The Inspector, IC Vision’s (Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada) new “self-learning” machine vision system, is designed for cap- or container-making companies.

March 31, 2001

Leaders (UNIVERSAL TAXONOMY PW): Page 1736

Converting equipment

Appointments, promotions

—FoxJet (Arlington, TX): Jim Barbone, gen. mgr.

March 31, 2001

Flexibles

Relocations, expansions

—Doyen (Lakeland, FL) has established a holding company known as Doyen Group PLC, the overall holding company for Doyen’s five operations.

March 31, 2001

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Label biotech foods

Virtually all consumers in a series of 12 focus groups organized by FDA in spring 2000 feel bioengineered foods should be labeled so that consumers can decide whether to purchase them or not.

March 31, 2001

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Mexico may require labeling of biotech foods

The Mexican Senate approved an addendum to its General Health Code that would require biotech foods to be labeled as “transgenic” or as containing biotech ingredients.

March 31, 2001

Coding, Printing & Labeling

A heads up to food manufacturers

The proliferation of new food products in which botanicals and other novel ingredients are added to conventional foods prompted the Food and Drug Administration to send a cautionary letter.

March 31, 2001

Secondary Packaging

Splenda's sweet on carton design

In November, McNeil Specialty Products introduced at retail a no-calorie sweetener called Splenda, a granular product packed into folding cartons containing either 1.9 or 3.8 oz, which it says offers the “sweetness equivalent” of 1- or 2-lb of sugar for baking or cooking.

March 31, 2001

Labels

Peaches and lemons pop on this label

Bold, colorful images on a full-body heat-shrink label are helping Essentia Water’s Aquess turn heads. A newly launched beverage containing water-soluble fibers, Essentia comes in a 500-mL (16.9 oz) bottle made of polyethylene terephthalate.

March 31, 2001

Additives, coatings & inks

Dynamic growth for O2 scavengers

Average annual growth of oxygen scavenger packaging products in the United States is forecast at a stunning 215% between now and 2003. That’s according to George O. Schroeder Associates (Appleton, WI), international consultants in flexible and rigid plastic food packaging.

March 31, 2001

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Spalding pumps up b-ball packaging

Packaging for the new “Spalding NBA Infusion” basketball with built-in “Micro Pump” has a lot on the ball. Not only does the box use holography, a thermoform inside the top of the box highlights and protects the pump in its extended state.

March 31, 2001

Coding, Printing & Labeling

SoBe goes plastic for sport drinks

“With this package, we’re marrying functionality of the package with sports nutrition in the product,” says Bill Meissner, director of brand development for South Beach Beverage, Norwalk, CT.

March 31, 2001

Conveying & accumulation

'Gray' workers add black to Bonne Bell's bottom line

As this observer continues to move ever closer to “senior” status (already a veteran of several years with AARP), a talk with Jess Bell, vice chairman of Bonne Bell, Cleveland, OH, helps to energize both body and spirit.

March 31, 2001

Flexible packaging

A different kind of portal (sidebar)

Capsule reviews

March 31, 2001