Beverage

In Europe, packaging take-backs are hot

Environmental regulation of packaging has become a hot item outside the U.S. this year. More than 20 countries worldwide now have some form of "producer responsibility" law on the books or in the works.

October 31, 1996

Beverage: Page 308

Conveying & Product Handling

Packagers still seeking help on electronic components

Understanding electronics is critical to maintenance engineers, but it's also important to packaging engineers and more important than ever to machine operators, say our readers in PW's exclusive survey. Logic and software programming are also studied.

October 31, 1996

Bakery & Snack

R&D managers urged to see the global picture

Packaging research and development managers will need to expand their view beyond the four walls of the corporate fortress. That means paying closer attention to the economics of R&D decisions, and understanding the company's international role.

October 31, 1996

Conveying & Product Handling

Del Monte marries aseptic filling to sterile blow molding

By integrating sterile bottle making with aseptic filling, Del Monte Foods eliminates chemical sterilization of PET bottles prior to aseptic filling. New in-line bottle blowing and filling system permits replacement of costly heat-set PET bottles purchase

October 31, 1996

Confection & Candy

Vendor training important to Pack Expo purchases

Training of operators and mechanics will play a big role in purchasing decisions, say attendees for Pack Expo 96 in Part Two of our exclusive survey.

October 31, 1996

Beverage

Slaying the technology beast

Packaging engineers must grapple with increasingly complex packaging technologies while simultaneously mastering the science of line efficiency to squeeze out costs in an ultra-competitive future.

October 31, 1996

Beverage

Shrinking U.S. glass container industry will likely raise prices next year

Paper. Metal. Plastic. Glass. In roughly that order, those are the materials from which packages have been made in the United States for the last half of the 20th century.

October 31, 1996

Inspection, Sorting & Weighing

'In-sourcing' revitalizes Gumtech

By thermoforming, filling and sealing blister packs of nutraceutical gums in-house, Gumtech can package products as needed, replacing the two- or three-week advance notice necessary for a contract packager. Payback in 18 months justifies the equipment purchase.

October 31, 1996

Beverage

R&D managers urged to see the global picture (sidebar)

The perils of international sourcing

October 31, 1996

Dairy

Milk gets 'in your face'

Cow-spotted milk cartons invaded the province of Ontario for an eight-week period beginning Sept. 30 as the Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Canada, launched a special promotion to boost milk sales.

October 31, 1996

Beverage

Bottle shape builds brand

Bottled water producer Avalon Beverage Company, Glen Allen, VA, is attempting to differentiate its imported spring water by switching from a stock to a custom proprietary PET bottle.

October 31, 1996

Beverage

3M honors paper packaging innovations

"Last year, for the first time, consumers spent more money on food at foodservice outlets than at retail grocery stores, a trend that presents significant future opportunities for the packaging community." These comments from Robert Esse of Esse Technologies, (Monticello, MN) were made at 3M's (St.

October 31, 1996

Beverage

PET soda bottle recycling rate drops

Figures from the American Plastics Council show that 41% of polyethylene terephthalate soda bottles were reycled in 1995. That ends four successive years in which the percentage increased, says the Container Recycling Institute (Washington, DC), a proponent of refillables and deposit laws.

October 31, 1996