Flexible packaging

HDPE-bottled dairy beverages 'milk' 90-day shelf life

Canadian dairy products marketer Natrel is the first North American user of an ultra-high-temperature processing/aseptic filling line. The process permits Natrel to launch single-serve milks and shakes with a 90-day refrigerated shelf life.

January 31, 1999

Sustainable Packaging: Page 583

Sustainability

3Com adds thermoformed plastic tray to its 'network'

Computer communications gear maker 3Com replaces a variety of materials with a plastic thermoformed tray that protects shipments of its network adapter cards and cuts manual packing time by half.

January 31, 1999

Flexibles

Packaging's synergistic era will push professionals in new century (whenever it arrives)

Have you noticed?

January 31, 1999

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Size does matter for 72

A 72" clear polyvinyl chloride clamshell for Kirsch curtain rod and accessory sets may set the record for one of the longest such packages around. Spotted at the recent Pack Expo '98 show in Chicago at the booth of thermoformer Innovative Plastech (Batavia, IL), the pack debuted about a year ago in upscale department stores.

January 31, 1999

Flexibles

Spuds bud in barrier trays

Potatoes are breaking into a new market with Purely Idaho brand potatoes from Burley, ID-based Redi Foods. Packed in a tray with clear film lidding and sleeved in colorful paperboard, this modified-atmosphere package has a 21-day shelf life.

January 31, 1999

Sustainability

German medical products maker bags new IV material

Serum-Werk Bernburg introduces IV bags for hospital use in a new structure that eliminates the need for an overwrap. New hf/f/s machines at a new plant fill medical solutions into the bags.

December 31, 1998

Sustainability

Meadow Gold milks coding machinery

It wasn't too long ago that a one-line, 12-digit code was all that Southern Foods was able to hot-stamp onto its one-gal, high-density polyethylene jugs of Meadow Gold-brand milk.

December 31, 1998

Sustainability

EPA caps VOCs in products

Manufacturers will be required to reformulate, repackage or retire some products. However, most national brands already comply.

December 31, 1998

Sustainable Packaging

Supplier news: Achievements

Beck Carton (Milwaukee, WI) received the Environmental Protection Award at the 1998 Mayor's Awards for Business Excellence.

December 31, 1998

Secondary Packaging

New press gains prove more than cosmetic

A new sheet-fed press at All Packaging boosts the converter's efficiency, speed, uptime and print quality. Neoteric Cosmetics is the first to benefit, obtaining vibrant folding cartons for its retail cosmetics.

December 31, 1998

Converting equipment

Tropicana twists again

In April Tropicana Products of Bradenton, FL, will launch Tropicana Twister in a new 20-oz five-layer bottle made by Continental PET Technologies (Florence, KY).

December 31, 1998

Additives, coatings & inks

Supplier news: Relocations, expansions

Wellman, Inc. (Shrewsbury, NJ) will relocate the U.S. production of its EcoClear(TM) recycled-content PET resin for packaging applications from its Day Products facility in Bridgeport, NJ, to its Johnsonville, SC, recycling operation.

December 31, 1998

Protective/transport packaging

Pet treats maker chooses 'greener' void fill

The folks at Bone Appetit, maker of gourmet pet treats, have revised their thinking about foam peanuts as void fill. They now prefer Sylvacurl, recyclable, biodegradable and reusable wood shavings from Eastview Enterprises (East Hardwick, VT).

December 31, 1998