Coding, Printing & Labeling

Gillette bets on pressurized plastic bottle

The initial mass-market application of an innovative pressurized dispensing system permits Gillette to offer a shave gel in a plastic container for the first time.

December 31, 1997

Containers & Closures: Page 240

Conveying & accumulation

Putting the pressure on faster filling

A unique feeding system on Sweet Ripe Drinks' new pressure filler permits 750-bpm speeds with less glass breakage, higher accuracy and 15-minute changeover.

December 31, 1997

Conveying & accumulation

Grace-and speed-under pressure

Amway's new pressure-netweigh filler increases speed and accuracy for viscous personal care products. Unscrambler offers gentle handling, cuts down on jams and provides 15-minute changeover.

December 31, 1997

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

A Star coding system

Dental tool maker Star Dental switches from manual label application to preprinting with a thermal-transfer system to comply with industry bar-code guidelines. Savings are the major benefit.

December 31, 1997

Additives, coatings & inks

Mobile receives PE in bulk trucks

At press time, Edison, NJ-based Mobil Polymers was minimizing the impact of December's rail congestion by transporting more of its polyethylene resin via bulk trucks instead of railcars.

December 31, 1997

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Medical device labeling proposal assailed

The Health Industry Manufacturers Assn. (HIMA) doesn't support the draft guidance on medical device labeling developed by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH).

December 31, 1997

Containers

Supplier news: International agreements

Russell-Stanley Holdings, Inc. (Red Bank, NJ) has merged with Hunter Drums Ltd. (Burlington, Ontario, Canada).

December 31, 1997

Containers

Intermediate bulk container

The Sonobulk® SL7 is an IBC from Sonoco Industrial Container Div. (Marietta, GA) for transporting liquid products. A series of reinforcing ribs are designed to ensure extra strength for racking and to minimize cage bulging.

November 30, 1997

Flexibles

3M saves bundles with new bundle

The Audio and Video Products Div. of St. Paul, MN-based 3M Co. has scored an impressive victory in packaging source reduction. This leading producer of bulk videotape for the film duplication industry designed a returnable and reusable package for its products that: * eliminates 1.4 million cu' of waste annually, * reduces the number of packaging components from 11 to three, * reduces the variety of packaging materials from five to two, * reduces labor costs not only in 3M's Hutchinson, MN, plant but at its customers' plants, too, and, * saves $4 million annually in packaging costs.

November 30, 1997

Converting equipment

HDPE-based Tropicana bottles project fresh, 'local dairy' image

In the first stage of a national roll-out, coextrusion blow-molded bottles for Tropicana FruitWise smoothies are finding a place in the refrigerated cases of supermarkets in Cleveland and several other markets.

November 30, 1997

Filling/capping, liquid & viscous

Peristaltic pump filler

ELF Machines (LaPorte, IN) has developed a two-head metered dispensing system suitable for laboratory or pharmaceutical applications. It fills thin and slightly viscous liquids into containers ranging from 0.25 mL to 500 mL.

October 31, 1997

Conveying & accumulation

Shaped 'can' rewrites packaging line rules (sidebar)

Shrink labelers make their North American debut

October 31, 1997

Flexible packaging

'Alternative' packs milk sales

In an effort to recapture market share lost to rival beverages, milk processors are turning to more contemporary containers-with strong sales results.

October 31, 1997