Beverage

Switch to PET brings icy look

United Distillers & Vintners recently replaced glass with polyethylene terephthalate for 200-mL (6.76-oz) bottles of its TGI Friday’s® On the Rocks line of ready-to-drink cocktails. The custom bottles are injection/stretch blow molded by Schmalbach-Lubeca.

December 31, 2000

Beverage: Page 260

Conveying & Product Handling

Integrator specs laser sensor for aerosol can line

Systems integrator adapts special laser to sense defects in cases of aerosol cans for cleaning products maker. Error detection improves to 99%.

December 31, 2000

Beverage

Over-the-top effort solves TE challenges

Arm & Hammer’s p-s TE label for its new HDPE shaker bottle of baking soda uses two types of adhesives. The duo performs tamper-evidence while it meets regulatory requirements for foods.

December 31, 2000

Fruits & Vegetables

What's in a name?

European vintners have been protesting the use by their American counterparts of overseas place names, such as Burgundy, in France, or the name of European-grown grapes on their wine labels.

November 30, 2000

Beverage

Sporty pouch will be a U.S. first

from InterBev 2000: Following more than two years of development, Hydrade Beverage Co., Dallas, TX, unveiled in New Orleans its 500-mL stand-up pouch for the sports drink category. Intended for on-the-go use, the pouch has a laminated PET/foil/PET/PE structure and a resealable fitment for convenience. Sourced and contract filled overseas, it will debut in four varieties in the U.S. in early 2001.

November 30, 2000

Beverage

Molded pulp benefits beer, motorcycle parts shipments

Harley-Davidson and Merchant Direct discussed how they ride the advantages of molded pulp at IMPEPA’s late-September seminar.

November 30, 2000

Beverage

Vodka served at this art gallery

In the premium spirits category, Luctor shows Dutch heritage through extravagant decorating of Vincent Van Gogh vodkas, gin and a liqueur. Gallery graphics require 16 colors involving suppliers in five European countries.

November 30, 2000

Bakery & Snack

Paired vf/f/s equipment 'brews' foodservice packs (sidebar)

New Texas plant turns to vf/f/s machines

November 30, 2000

Beverage

Carnation relaunches Coffee-mate

A new curvy-shaped, high-density polyethylene jar, decorated by a heat-shrunk roll-on label, is carrying Carnation Coffee-mate® to the marketplace.

November 30, 2000

Beverage

Laser-guided vehicles at Latrobe

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO: Rolling Rock beer brewer Latrobe Brewery, Latrobe, PA, bought three Elettric 80 laser-guided vehicles in early 2000 to move pallets of finished product throughout its warehouse. The same model was running non-stop at the Sasib booth.

October 31, 2000

Beverage

RFID tags metal beer kegs

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO: Metal-iTag™, a new metal asset tracking solution from Marconi's InfoChain div. (Wood Dale, IL), was displayed on empty beer kegs at its booth. Marconi’s Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology offers real-time product identification. Metal-iTag is currently being beta tested with all major brewers nationwide, according to Marconi.

October 31, 2000

Beverage

Molded pulp protective packaging breakthrough

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO: Chalone Vineyard wine bottles will be the first to use Regale’s new protective packaging technology, which reduces costs by 80% and reduces lead time by 90%, according to the supplier. Libbey Glass and Hewlett Packard are currently testing the packaging.

October 31, 2000

Beverage

High-speed sleever debut

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO: Running at an unprecedented 800 sleeves/min, Coastal Sleeve Label (Brunswick, GA) is showcasing its Autowrap wrapper from Hauni Richmond (Richmond, VA). Seams are made online, reducing production time 35%.

October 31, 2000