FUZE non-carbonated functional beverages switch from glass to panel-less PET bottles

Panel-less, 18.5-ounce PowerFlex™ polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle from Amcor PET Packaging, Manchester, MI, replaces iconic 18-ounce glass container for 19 flavors of FUZE noncarbonated functional beverages from FUZE Beverage, LLC, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

Extra 0.5 ounce of product compensates for thinner sidewalls compared to glass, allows PET bottle to maintain desired height. Gently sloping shoulder design requires placement of rib at base, midpoint, just below neck to prevent paneling or ovalization as hot-filled container cools.

PET bottle retains brand’s shrink sleeve label, eye-catching graphics. FUZE already uses 16.9-ounce PowerFlex bottle for multipack, special purpose venues such as concerts, sporting events. Its performance, consumer feedback convince company to convert flagship size. “The signature eye-catching graphics and the aesthetic charm of our glass bottle have been captured in the new PowerFlex version to allow consumers practicality, safety and convenience in today’s ‘grab-and- go’ culture,” explains Bill Meissner, vp of Marketing for FUZE Beverage, LLC, Englewood Cliffs, NJ. PET bottle replicates look, feel of glass container, opens doors to new channels including airlines, military, foodservice.

“The more portable packaging should increase usage occasions for FUZE, as the PET containers are being introduced to areas more suited to the attributes of plastic, such as schools, sporting events, concerts, vending and outdoor venues like beaches,” predicts Meissner. Ad campaign with tag line “FUZE’s new unbreakable glass bottle. It’s plastic.” introduces new PET container. Amcor produces 18.5-ounce PowerFlex bottles at three plants, ships to four filling locations. Follow-up: Katy Bejma, marketing manager, NA Beverage Div., +1 734-428-4537, Kathryn.bejma@amcorpet.com; Link: www.amcor.com.

WPO presents first Sustainability Awards, President’s Awards

High-density polyethylene milk bottle from Dairy Crest Ltd., Esher, UK; assembly packaging for gas meter from Dynapac Co., Ltd., Nagoya, Japan, receive first Sustainability Awards bestowed by World Packaging Organisation (WPO), Stockholm, Sweden.

Packages received recognition in May 2008 at award ceremony in Accra, Ghana, where WPO officials also announced winners of 2007 WorldStar President’s Awards. President’s Award Gold goes to Impress Metal Packaging, Clichy, France, for Heineken 10-litre Beer Keg. Duma Desiccant Cap wins President’s Award Silver for Gerresheimer Plastic Packaging, Vaerloese, Denmark. Usefulmodels, Seville, Spain, takes home President’s Award Bronze for Vaso Desechable con Cuhara Rotatoria disposable cup/lid with integral stirring spoon.

Judges select three President’s Award winners from six finalists, about 160 other WorldStar 2007 winners from 291 entries representing 32 countries. Approximately 200 attend event hosted by Institute of Packaging, Ghana, Tema, Ghana. WPO offers CD of WorldStar 2007 winners, entry form for 2008, sets 10 September 2008 deadline for WorldStar 2008 submissions. Judging occurs 14-16 October 2008 in Cape Town, South Africa, in preparation for awards ceremony, hosted by AMEE (Mexican Packaging Association) in May 2009 in Mexico. Follow-up: At WPO, Barbro Jandér, barbro.jander@stfi.se; Link: www.worldpackaging.org; at Dynapac, Marketing Department, +81 52 971 2651; www.dynapac-gr.co.jp/english/index.html; at Impress, Peter Sauer, beer kegs, +49 2637 601 200 (Germany), kegs@nl.imp-group.com; Link: www.impressgroup.com; at Gerresheimer, Marketing Department, +45 4477 7888, info-plasticpackaging@gerresheimer.com; Link: www.Gerresheimer.com; at Usefulmodels, Alejandro Parias, +34 637 16 90 47, info@usefulmodels.com; www.usefulmodels.com.

Campaign touts environmental advantages of flexible packaging

Flexible Packaging Association, Linthicum, MD, touts environmental advantages of flexible packaging in education/marketing campaign.

According to Sustainability and Flexible Packaging: More Value, Less Waste brochure targeted toward consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, flexible packaging consumes fewer natural resources, weighs less, reduces transportation costs, landfill space requirements, provides high thermal energy content for waste-to-energy programs. In addition, transparent wrap combines shipping/retail packaging, reduces back-of-store waste, eliminates need for, expense of printing secondary packaging.

Case studies comparing brick packs to steel cans for coffee, flexible pouch to rigid container for cooked chicken, film versus paperboard mailers reveal reductions in solid waste ranging from 66% to about 80%. Association plans to publish companion brochure with additional case study data before end of 2008. Follow-up: Publication Requests, +1 410-694-0800, fpa@flexpack.org; Link: www.flexpack.org (see sustainable packaging section).

Packaging costs continue to rise

With several price hikes scheduled to take effect 1 July 2008, packager’s costs continue to rise.

Rock-Tenn Co., Norcross, GA, plans $55/ton price increase on both linerboard, corrugated medium from its Solvay, St. Paul mills.

Building on increases already put in place for US, UK, M-Real, Metsä, Finland, boosts prices for folding boxboard 10% in Euro markets in attempt to offset 20% rise in production costs experienced since 2005.

Kraton Polymers, Houston, TX, ups North American prices $220/metric ton ($0.10/pound) for styrene-butadiene-styrene polymers, compounds used in pressure-sensitive (P-S) adhesives, thermoformed containers; $330/metric ton ($0.15/pound) for styrene-isoprene-styrene polymers, compounds for P-S, hot-melt adhesives, film.

At Dow Chemical Co., Midland, MI, resin prices jump as much as 20% on 1 June 2008 to offset increases in energy, feedstock, transportation costs. “Our first quarter feedstock and energy bill leapt a staggering 42% year-over-year, and that trajectory has continued, with the cost of oil and natural gas climbing ever higher,” reports Andrew N. Liveris, chairman of Dow, a supplier of numerous products used in packaging including polyethylene, polystyrene, vinyl acetate monomer, emulsion polymers for paper/paperboard.

Deadline approaches for phaseout of CFC albuterol inhalers

With phaseout of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants for albuterol inhalers approaching, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Washington, DC, advises users to switch to inhalers with hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellants.

CFC propellants in metered dose inhalers for treatment of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease had been permitted under “essential use designation” since 1987 when most countries agreed to phase out CFCs under Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. With HFA-propelled inhalers now widely available, exemption no longer applies. FDA Final Rule, issued in April 2005, bans production, marketing, sales of CFC-containing inhalers in US after 31 December 2008 [PMU, 11 April 2005]. Studies show HFA-propelled albuterol inhalers work effectively although spray may feel less forceful, taste different.

Agency also recommends strict adherence to cleaning, priming regimen to prevent blockages, ensure proper operation. Alternatives to CFC albuterol inhalers include Proair HFA Inhalation Aerosol from Ivax Corp., Miami, FL; Proventil HFA Inhalation Aerosol from Schering-Plough Corp., Kenilworth, NJ; Ventolin HFA Inhalation Aerosol from GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC; Xopenex HFA Inhalation Aerosol from Sepracor Inc., Marlborough, MA.

Meat tracking pilot project tests RFID tags on foam trays

As part of its ongoing implementation of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, Metro Group, Düsseldorf, Germany, begins pilot project to track meat.

Test at Metro’s Future Store in Toenisvorst, Germany, applies tags based on AD-222 inlays from Avery Dennison RFID, Flowery Branch, GA, to foam trays. Anticipated results include better management of perishable products, reduction in cost, faster restocking. Design ensures tags read when trays are stacked in freezer, meet Metro’s food labeling safety requirements via use of S-2000N food-contact-compliant adhesive from Fasson Roll Materials Europe, another Avery Dennison business. Follow-up: Link: www.rfid.averydennison.com.

PACK EXPO preview: Multipacker handles pads, trays or film

Multipacking machine integrates product accumulation, tray/pad forming, loading, film overwrapping into single compact system.

Scheduled to be introduced by ARPAC Group, Schiller Park, IL, at PACK EXPO International, 9-13 November 2008, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL, BrandPac® BPTS-5000 Combination Pad, Tray and Unsupported Print-Registered Film Multipacker handles wide range of product configurations, applications at up to 45 bundles/minute. Built-in flexibility permits quick changeover between running unsupported product or product on pad or tray. Follow-up: Marketing Department, +1 847-678-4034, info@arpac.com; Link: www.arpac.com.

WRAP studies mixed plastic recycling, recycling behavior

Research shows feasibility of recycling mixed plastic waste, pinpoints packaging that households tend to forget to recycle.

Studies released by nonprofit Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), Banbury, UK, in conjunction with Recycling Week, 2-6 June 2008, reveals plastic packaging waste other than bottles can be cost-effectively recycled. Each year UK households generate about 1.4 million tons of mixed plastic packaging waste, including yogurt cups, salad bags, ready meal trays, a figure that is growing 2%-5%/year. Examination of several end-use scenarios shows landfill as least desirable disposal option, combination of recycling, production of solid recovered fuel as most favorable.

“This is the first time that we have been able to prove that recycling mixed plastics is not only possible, but cost-effective and makes good environmental sense,” says Liz Goodwin, ceo of WRAP. At household level, 62% of consumers recycle items from kitchen, but only about one-third remember to recycle items from bathroom, bedroom.

Study shows recyclables least likely to be tossed into recycling bin include aerosol containers for deodorant, air freshener, polish, etc.; tins for confectionery/snacks; plastic bottles for shampoo, toiletries; plastic bottles for cleaning products; glass jars for cooking sauces. However, if every household in England recycled “one more thing” each week for one year, recycling would increase by nearly 1 million tons, potentially raising national household recycling rate 3%. Effort also would save nearly 850,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, the same as parking 250,000 cars for one year.

“Sometimes we don’t realize how much of our household waste can be easily recycled, or we think that recycling one more thing won’t make a real difference,” says Fridey Cordingley, head of Recycle Now campaign, adding, “Recycle Week aims to inspire us all to try and recycle a bit more and highlight that there is a real benefit in doing so. If everyone in England recycled one more plastic shampoo bottle, the energy saved would be enough for 46,000 households to watch a 32-inch plasma TV six hours a day for a whole year.”

Exopack spins off Canadian film business

Dynamic Solutions Unlimited, LLC, Media, PA, buys film business from Exopack Holding Corp., Spartanburg, SC, for undisclosed sum. Divestiture of 50-year-old producer of single-, multilayer polyethylene film in Newmarket, ON, Canada, fits with reorganization prompted by recent purchase of former DuPont LiquiBox facility, Whitby, ON, Canada. At Dynamic Solutions, acquisition enhances company’s portfolio of packaging materials, services. According to Dynamic Solutions’ owner Rosie Jaipaul, “This business opportunity complements our other packaging offerings very well.” Follow-up: Rosie Jaipaul, +1 610-627-9904.

Recycling on the Go pilot project launches in UK

Initiative to put collection bins in parks, other public places begins in London’s Hyde Park to make it easier to recycle containers emptied away from home.

Recycle on the Go drive organized by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), London, UK, begins with three-month Royal Parks pilot project. Trash bins display familiar Recycle Now signage so visitors can easily identify where to deposit cans, bottles, paper. DEFRA’s Joan Ruddock, Environment Minister, pledges, “People will soon find it easier to recycle when they’re out and about….It’s especially fitting that Recycle on the Go is being launched during Recycle Week, when the spotlight is on giving an extra push to our recycling efforts.” Follow-up: Link: www.defra.gov.uk.

High-speed twin-tube bagger fills two bags simultaneously

Single drive operating two parallel forming tubes allows machine to run two different reels of film to simultaneously form, fill, seal bags with different widths, weights or graphics.

SmartPacker TwinTube C bagging system from CFS Aquarius BV, Weert, The Netherlands, achieves speeds of up to 400 bags/minute for 10- to 18-gram (g) packs, more than three times faster than conventional lines. Typical capacity ranges from 10- to 60g bags for party mixes Machine also handles widths as narrow as 40 millimetres (mm) for “mini treat” bags, larger bags up to 145mm wide. “Many confectionery manufacturers still have conventional lines running at 100 to 120 bags/minute,” says Stan van Vegchel, director Sales & Customer Support at CFS, adding, “In this case, they could replace three machines with a single SmartPacker TwinTube C.”

Initial investment is lower, he adds, due to reduced operator, maintenance costs, compact size of unit. “As the industry consolidates, manufacturers are tending to move production to fewer sites, so productivity/square metre is becoming more important,” he concludes. Follow-up: Stan van Vegchel, director Sales & Customer Support, +31 495 457 738, Stan.van.Vegchel@CFS.com; Link: www.cfsaquarius.com.

Recycling plant receives kudos for community service

Smurfit-Stone Container Corp., Creve Coeur, MO/Chicago, IL, wins 2007 Board of Directors’ Award from Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling (ALPAR), Anchorage, AK.

Recycling plant in Anchorage receives recognition for its outstanding community service, efforts as key partner in ALPAR’s Flying Cans program, which works with regional airlines to help rural Alaskan communities recycle aluminum cans. Smurfit-Stone's Anchorage Recycling Center, largest full-service facility of its kind in Alaska, processes approximately 2,000 tons of recyclables/month, earned honors from company as 2007 Recycling Plant of the Year.

Acquisition boosts beverage label capacity

Pressure-sensitive label specialist Spear USA, Mason, OH, augments its beverage label capacity with purchase of Precision Printing and Packaging unit, Clarksville, TN, from Anheuser-Busch Packaging Group, St. Louis, MO. Unit prints 28 billion labels each year for Anheuser-Busch Cos., St. Louis, MO, other consumer packaged goods companies, generates $70 million in annual sales in 2007. Clarksville location joins label production facilities in Mason, OH; Fulton, NY; Milford, NH, continues to supply labels to A-B. Terms of deal remain undisclosed. Follow-up: Marketing Department, +1 513-459-1100, info@spearsystem.com; Link: www.spearinc.com.

On the drawing board: Films for produce, medical packaging emit antimicrobial gas

Packaging films made with moisture-activated MicroGarde™ or ultraviolet (UV) light-activated MicroLite™ technology emit controlled quantity of chlorine dioxide to inhibit pathogens like Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli, spoilage organisms, odors.

MicroActive, LLC subsidiary of BarrierSafe Solutions International Inc. (BSSI), Reno, NV, holds 19 patents, claims technology is more effective, less expensive than alternatives. MicroGarde masterbatch chlorine dioxide generator/polyolefin blend works with virtually any melt-processable packaging resin, production technology, including extrusion, cast, blown. Resulting film exhibits look, feel, physical properties of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) with enhanced stiffness.

Converted as food-contact layer or one of interior layers in multilayer film, MicroGarde resin absorbs moisture, which provides protons that react with encapsulated sodium chloride to produce chlorine dioxide, a gas widely used for water treatment, long known for its odor control, antimicrobial properties, but previously only available via large generators using hazardous chemicals in complex acid-based reaction. MicroGarde reaction produces micro atmosphere inside pack for up to 10 days, helps maintain produce freshness, safety from first to last day of sale/use. Chlorine dioxide also breaks down ethylene gas, preventing buildup in package, untimely ripening.

MicroLite product consists of inorganic powder, which is added to polyolefin resin to produce medical packaging film, gloves, other products. Exposure to light immediately floods surface with chlorine dioxide, but reaction halts when light is removed.

Food and Drug Administration, Washington, DC, classifies chlorine dioxide as GRAS (generally recognized as safe) for contact with foods, which will be subsequently processed – washed, rinsed, cooked – such as raw meat, seafood. Ready-to-eat food applications await FDA clearance, mostly likely undertaken as joint effort by MicroActive, film converter.

BarrierSafe plans to license rights or sell MicroActive. “We are actively negotiating opportunities with interested parties,” reports Mike Mattos, ceo of BSSI. “We believe this is a technology that holds multi-billion dollar opportunities in healthcare, food packaging and consumer goods applications,” he adds. Derek Warneke, MicroActive gm, agrees, noting MicroLite gloves application is nearly market ready. Follow-up: Victoria Erickson, project manger for Flexible Packaging, +1 775-746-6600, ext. 1729, verickson@barriersafe.com; Link: www.mac.barriersafe.com.

EarningsUpdate: Greif…

With contributions from Industrial Packaging, Paper Packaging, Timber segments, Greif Inc., Delaware, OH, records 13% increase in net sales to $918 million for fiscal 2Q09, ended 30 April 2008, compared to $815 million for fiscal 2Q08, while net income rises to $48.7 million in fiscal 2Q09 versus $18.6 million in fiscal 2Q08…

Upstream: KUKA, Thiele open houses… MW Steam-Pack…

KUKA Robotics Corp., Clinton Township, MI, celebrates 35th anniversary with open house on 5 June 2008; demonstrates high-speed packaging, palletizing cells as well as dual robot injection mold machine extraction cell… Thiele Technologies (openhouse@thieletech.com), Minneapolis, MN, hosts open house 23-27 June 2008, schedules tours of its “lean” packaging equipment manufacturing process, demos of UltraStar, OmniStar bagging systems, SWF tray former, Streamfeeder denesting placer, Nigrelli tray former/packer… Microwave Steam-Pack 2008 conference takes place 23-24 September 2008 at Crown Plaza, Jamesburg, NJ; event organized by The Packaging Group (univpac@aol.com), Milltown, NJ, includes two half-day courses on microwave packaging, speakers on emerging field of microwave cooking by steam… ASEPTIPAK 2008, Global Forum on Aseptic Processing, Filling & Packaging takes place 29 September-1 October 2008 at Ritz-Carlton Buckhead, Atlanta, GA; long-standing forum on aseptics, presented by Schotland Business Research, Inc., Skillman, NJ, addresses burgeoning interest in aseptic packaging due to technology advances, sustainability concerns; includes tabletop exhibit…

ShortRuns: Heineken… OKAB/Stora Enso… Zeon…

During next three years Heineken NV, Amsterdam, plans to invest €124 million (US$192.7 million) to upgrade breweries in France (at Mons-en-Baroeul in north, Schiltigheim in Alsace, Marseille on southeast coast); company also plans to close Brasserie Fischer in Schiltigheim by end of 2009, transfer its production to l’Espérance brewery in Schiltigheim; sell brewery in Saint Omer, France, which produces nonbranded beer… OKAB Group, Oskarshamn, Sweden, relocates, updates converting plant in Lübeck, Germany, purchased in 2006 from Stora Enso, Helsinki, Finland; new factory includes refurbished sheeter, two new sheeters with polyethylene shrink line, ream wrapper equipped with automatic infeed, 2,700-square-metre warehouse… New website, www.zeonex.com, established by Zeon Chemicals LP, Louisville, KY; details its family of ultra-clear, pure cyclo olefin polymer thermoplastic resins, film marketed under Zeonex, Zeonor, ZeonorFilm brand names, includes application-specific technical information, data sheets, graphs, charts… Potsdam Specialty Paper Inc., Potsdam, NY, acquires MWV Specialty Papers Cedar mill in Potsdam, NY, from MeadWestvaco Corp., Richmond, VA; participants expect deal to close in 3Q08, decline to disclose terms; new company, which is part of international investment holding company specializing in paper/coatings distribution businesses plans to retain plant’s management team, employees… Global label solutions provider, Multi-Color Corp., Sharonville, OH, wins Freddie Award as 2007 Supplier of the Year from Miller Brewing Co., Milwaukee, WI; fourth annual win honors Multi-Color for creativity, innovation, responsiveness to Miller’s supply needs, ability to improve business performance… At Partnership for Food Safety Education, Washington, DC, two leading food industry organizations come aboard as contributing partners, Grocery Manufacturers Association, Washington, DC; American Frozen Food Institute, McLean, VA…

Changeover: PlasticsEurope… Exopack… Summit…

At pan-European industry association, PlasticsEurope, Brussels, Belgium, Jacques van Rijckevorsel succeeds John Taylor as president; Rijckevorsel serves as member of Executive Committee, gm for Plastics Sector/group innovation sponsor at Solvay SA, Brussels, Belgium, group’s general assembly also elects three vps, Günter Hilken of Bayer MaterialScience, Martin Pugh of Ineos Nova, Anton de Vries of LyondellBasell… Gary McDaniel joins Exopack, Spartanburg, SC, as Chicago, IL-based svp/gm of Plastics Business; background includes serving as chairman of Flexible Packaging Association, Linthicum, MD; vp/gm of Flexible Packaging Division of Altivity Packaging LLC, Elk Grove Village, IL… Summit Publishing Co., Chicago, IL, welcomes Russell Brody as sales manager for Shelf Impact! e-newsletter focused on package design/development, as well as new quarterly print edition, which will be distributed as supplement to Packaging World magazine; Brody, who is principal of ProMedia Services LLC, Middletown, NJ, an independent advertising sales firm, is no stranger to packaging, having worked for Flexible Packaging, Food & Drug Packaging (now Food & Beverage Packaging) early in his career…

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