Containers

Analyzing Budweiser’s bowtie can

Has Budweiser gotten bent out of shape over nothing, or are contoured cans the shape of things to come?

May 2, 2013

Leaders (UNIVERSAL TAXONOMY PW): Page 893

Controls & Machine Components

Aerotech, Inc: Noncontact direct-drive Z-axis nanopositioners

Offered in two models--ANT95-L-Z and ANT130-L-Z--and two accuracy grades, Aerotech’s ANT-L-Z crossed-roller, Z-axis, nanopositioning stages combine speed, accuracy, resolution, repeatability, reliability, and size, in a large travel format (25 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm travels), for mass production of precision devices.

May 1, 2013

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Microwave-ready rice pudding

Rieber & Son of Norway are such big fans of microwave pasteurization as a means of extending refrigerated shelf life that they recently installed their third line.

May 1, 2013

Secondary Packaging

Machine vision processing made easy

A leading robotic integrator and maker of secondary and end-of-line packaging equipment, Schneider Packaging Equipment makes a line of Robotic Vertical Carton Loaders that are suitable for food, pharmaceutical, personal care, and other industries.

May 1, 2013

Secondary Packaging

Case packer provides 'phenomenal' uptime for biscotti baker

Nonni’s Foods installs a wraparound case packer for its boxed biscotti products, resulting in increased production and flexibility, and consistent product presentation.

May 1, 2013

Operational Excellence

GS1 Healthcare US publishes new serialization guideline

The GS1 Healthcare US Secure Supply Chain Task Force, consisting of more than 50 members from throughout the supply chain, developed a guideline to identify and serialize pharmaceutical products using GS1 identification numbers.

May 1, 2013

Operational Excellence

FDA’s Crowley addresses Unique Device Identification

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has provided a detailed description of proposed effective dates for Unique Device Identification (UDI) requirements on its Web site.

May 1, 2013

Flexibles

Foil-free pouch scores sustainable packaging points

Mars Africa finds a better way to package its line of instant dry soup mixes by replacing foil in its laminated structure with a coextruded barrier polymer.

May 1, 2013

Cartons and boxes

Alleviating case material inventory pressures

Automated fanfold shipping case former saves furniture manufacturer time, labor, money, and storage space.

May 1, 2013

Flow wrapping

Custom-sized envelopes cradle gemstones

Automated packaging systems at Jewelry Television’s fulfillment center create easy-open, custom-size envelopes for each order that securely contain a range of jewelry products.

May 1, 2013

Filling/capping, dry

Bulk liquid storage specialist expands customer services

Drum filling upgrade and turnkey system automation helps cut handling and transportation costs.

May 1, 2013

Sustainable Packaging

Barilla: reduce, reuse, recycle

Guided by the words of its founder, who said, “Feed people as you would feed your own children,” over the last five years, Italian food company Barilla Group has made sustainability an official part of its corporate strategy. Here, Michele Amigoni, Group Supply Chain packaging design and standards director for Barilla, discusses the company’s sustainable packaging efforts.

May 1, 2013

Containers

Energy drink takes flight in slim, aluminium can

New Fuga beverage—a mix of energy and herbal ingredients—launches in a slim, 12-oz aluminium can that provides consumer appeal and recyclability.

May 1, 2013