Scoop-storing Similac® formula canister draws BMS patent infringement lawsuit

Designed with input from 1600 moms, one-hand-grippable, high-density polyethylene Similac® SimplePac canister simplifies preparation of infant formula from Abbott Nutrition, Columbus, OH.
Two-piece, hinged lid provides easy access to product, space to store scoop. Projections on underside of color-coded polypropylene lid hold scoop in place. Lid is hinged to 1-inch-tall white collar, which snaps onto tapered top of rectangular canister, holding 22, 23.2 or 34 ounces of dry formula. Elastomeric flange around inner circumference of collar enables lid to seat more tightly to protect product freshness after initial opening.
Foil membrane seal below closure system removes easily with tug on large tab with embossed arrow. On outside, pressure-sensitive silver seal ensures lid stays closed in transit, provides tamper evidence, alerts consumer to Scoop Stored in Lid.
Reclosable, two-ply, pressure-sensitive label wraps around two corners of blowmolded canister to cover entire surface, except gripping area. Lifting bottom edge of label’s top ply reveals product information in Spanish on back, preparation instructions, additional product information on bottom ply.
SimplePac canister introduces immune-system supporting Advance EarlyShield formula, holds six other members of Similac formula family, and arrives on store shelves amidst patent infringement controversy. In lawsuit filed 15 September 2008, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMS), New York, NY, its subsidiary Mead Johnson & Co. (MJ), Evansville, IN, allege canister design willfully infringes US Patent No. 7,040,500 Container and Scoop Arrangement, granted on 9 May 2006. Patent appears to focus on three design features, one-piece closure that holds scoop for easy access; nestable base/closure for stackability; channeled base that aids removal of granular product, matches size of scoop. BMS/MJ wants Abbott to halt filling of SimplePac canisters, destroy remaining stock, recall product from distributors, retailers, pay treble damages as well as attorneys’ fees, requests jury trial before Judge Richard L. Young, US District Court for Southern District of Indiana, Evansville Division.

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Refill system for plant-based cleaners cuts packaging waste

Refill system cuts packaging 80% for Essentials Cleaners from Arm & Hammer, Princeton, NJ, compared to two 32-ounce spray bottles of nonconcentrated cleaner.
Starter kit consists of empty 32-ounce spray bottle, 1.2-ounce of concentrate in high-density polyethylene bottle with scalloped shape, foil seal, continuous-thread closure, and shrink sleeve label.
Spot of removable adhesive plus shrink band keep two containers together. Printed arrow on band shows how concentrate should be poured into bottle.
In use, consumer fills PET bottle with water to embossed fill line, inserts concentrate cartridge with foil seal in place. Fitment in PET bottle pierces membrane, releasing plant-based Essentials Cleaner & Degreaser, MultiSurface Cleaner or Glass Cleaner into bottle. After removing empty cartridge, consumer applies trigger sprayer, gently shakes container to mix fluids.
On PET container, front, back pressure-sensitive labels, which appear to be oriented polypropylene, maintain product’s brand identity, provide instructions. For subsequent refills, consumer purchases concentrate cartridges in blister-packed pairs.
Since traditional household cleaning products contain up to 95% water, refill system represents major weight savings, plus Arm & Hammer estimates, refillable bottles can be reused at least seven times for lifespan of at least 2.5 years. Thus, Essentials refill system consumes 82% fewer trees/ton, 82% less petroleum/ton than traditional cleaners.
Reduction in packaging also saves energy, packing materials. In fact, shipping fewer trigger spray bottles removes approximately 70,000 trucks from road, saves more than 18 million gallons of fuel, eliminates 40 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Consumers save money too since refill costs up to 25% less than traditional formulas.

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Retailer adopts compostable film for salad bag

NaturePlus film from Amcor Flexibles, Barnwood, UK, provides compostable packaging for SO organic Wild Rocket salad greens from Sainsbury’s, London, UK. Film, which represents joint effort with Flextrus AB, Lund, Sweden, helps UK retailer meet its goal of cutting customer’s household waste 50% by composting.
“Sainsbury’s challenged us to deliver a non-genetically modified, compostable film for prepared produce,” recalls Peter Ettridge, sustainable product development manager at Amcor Flexibles. “We created a revolutionary new concept which maximizes both seal integrity and barrier properties. The new film is water resistant and can run in a wet environment at standard speeds,” he reports.
Follow-up: Peter Ettridge, +44 1531 638 742, peter.ettridge@amcor-flexibles.com; Link: www.amcor.com; Marketing Department, +46 46 18 30 30, info@flextrus.com; Link: www.flextrus.com.


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PACK EXPO preview: Digital design shrinks sealer footprint

Digital design reduces number of internal components, footprint, and weight of I-Foiler induction sealer from ITW’s Pillar Technologies, Hartland, WI.
Scheduled to be introduced at PACK EXPO International, 9-13 November 2008 at McCormick Place, Chicago, IL, unit minimizes energy consumption, maintenance, and cost of ownership. Other features include user-friendly touch screen control, no-tools coil changeover to eliminate exposure to high-voltage connections.
Follow-up: Marketing Department, +1 262-912-7200, capsealers@pillartech.com; Link: www.pillartech.com.

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PACK EXPO preview: Vision guides robotic case packer

Schneider Packaging Equipment Co., Inc., Brewerton, NY, demonstrates traditional as well as vision-guided robotic case packers at PACK EXPO International.
Robox Vi compact, portable robotic cell relies on machine vision to receive randomly oriented product from conveyor. Traditional HCP-10 side-load case packer addresses applications needing smaller footprint, gentle product handling. Capable of speeds of up to 10 cases/minute, HCP-10 case packer assembles product in pack pattern as it selects, erects cases. After loading collated product into case, unit folds, seals flaps with tape or hot melt.
Follow-up: Sales Engineering Department, +1 315-676-3035; Link: www.schneiderequip.com.

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Draft ordinance prohibits ‘excessive’ packaging in China

To cut excessive packaging, China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision issues draft ordinance governing size, volume, materials, and cost of all packaging made in China.
Scheduled to take effect 1 January 2009, Limit Excessive Packaging of Goods Regulations require package producers/designers consider lifecycle assessment when selecting packaging materials/processes, impose stiff penalties for non-compliance. More significantly, rules permit multilayer packaging only when it can be separated easily for recycling. “In beverage packaging it will encourage the use of shrink sleeves at the expense of the pressure-sensitive label,” notes Stuart Hoggard, author of China’s Restriction on Excessive Packaging – Commentary and Analysis, report published by PackWebasia.com owner, EP Resources Pte Ltd., Singapore. “The implications of this one clause will be tremendous. Between 2003 and 2005 China’s PS label market grew at rates of more than 35%. Much of that sector will be required to re-tool,” he explains.
Packagers also must follow Mandatory Specifications and Standards. All but one are still being drafted. First standard covers food, tea, cosmetics, certain beverages, limits free or void space between product, outer packaging layer to less than 55%, sets maximum number of packaging layers at three, excluding initial packaging, requires packaging cost to be less than 15% of product’s sale value. “This law will have an immediate impact on the food, beverage and cosmetic sector, but as more Mandatory Standards are issued, it will affect the entire packaging supply chain,” says Hoggard.
Report contains full text of regulations in original Chinese, English translation, supporting legislation, in-depth impact analysis, costs €120 (US$176).
Follow-up: Stuart Hoggard, editor/publisher, ThePublisher@packwebasia.com; Link: www.PackWebasia.com.

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Pork processor meets COOL requirements

Vertically integrated Smithfield Foods, Smithfield, VA, begins labeling most of its fresh pork products as born, raised, processed in USA.
Label change for US retail products meets requirements of country-of-origin labeling (COOL) regulation taking effect 30 September 2008. Pork processor works with suppliers to implement documentation system to ensure all hogs purchased after 1 April 2009 are born, raised domestically.

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Miller Lite adds 16-ounce aluminum bottle

Aluminum bottle joins Miller Lite® packaging lineup. Reclosable 16-ounce Alumi-Tek® bottle from Ball Corp., Broomfield, CO, features 38-millimetre neck finish for smooth flow.
Recyclable aluminum container, produced at Ball plant in Monticello, IN, also chills quickly.
“The great taste of Miller Lite gets even better when it’s enjoyed from our new aluminum pint,” says Grant Leech, vp of Marketing for Miller Lite, product of MillerCoors, Milwaukee, WI. “This package drinks like a bottle and cools like a can to deliver an invigorating taste experience.” Test marketing of aluminum pint concludes at end of 2008.
Container sells in nine-pack primarily from convenience stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, parts of Texas.
Follow-up: Jennifer Hoover, +1 303-460-5541, jhoover@ball.com; Link: www.ball.com.

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Glass pillar displays upscale vodka

Foot-high, rectangular, 750-millilitre glass container evokes upscale look for Double Cross Luxury vodka from Old Nassau Imports, New York, NY.
Made in Stara Lubovna, Slovakia, Double Cross ranks as only Solvakian vodka available in US. Container features silk-screened verses of old-world poetry, metal closure, individually numbered tamper-evident seal. Embedded metal logo represents Slovakian flag, coat of arms. Double Cross wins Gold Medal for Packaging/Design at San Francisco (CA) World Spirits Competition, becomes first vodka to capture Gold Medals for both packaging, taste. Diamond dust filtration process results in exceptional level of purity for vodka, which is made from spring water, organic winter wheat, retails for $49.99.


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Hot-filled PET bottle brings RTD tea to Hispanic market

Stock, hot-fillable, long-neck polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle from Amcor PET Packaging, Manchester, MI, enables quick launch of Tomandote™ tea.
Panel-free 16-ounce PowerFlex™ bottle with 38-millimetre neck finish provides easy-to-label smooth-wall design for Hispanic-inspired, ready-to-drink (RTD) tea from Let’s Mongo, Inc., Moorpark, CA. Patented design withstands185 Fahrenheit fills without ribs or panels because inverted cone-shaped diaphragm in base draws upward to compensate for vacuum created as liquid cools. Tomandote, which means “drinking tea” in Spanish, sells in California, Washington, Texas in three traditional formulas — Lemongrass (Te de Limon), Mint (Hierbabuena), Cinnamon (Canela).
Follow-up: Katy Bejma, marketing manager, +1 586-468-3837, Kathryn.bejma@amcorpet.com; Link: www.amcorpet.com.

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Huhtämaki reorganizes business segments

Multi-product packaging manufacturer, Huhtämaki Oyj, Helsinki, Finland reorganizes from five to six reporting divisions.
New segments include: Flexibles Global for food, pet food, nonfood consumer packaging; Films Global for technical applications in label, adhesive tape, packaging industries; North America for rigid, molded fiber, plus rigid paper, plastic packaging for ice cream, consumer goods, foodservice; Rough Molded Fiber Global for fresh product (egg, fruit) packaging in Europe, Oceania, Africa, South America; Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania for paper, plastic disposable tableware; Rigid Consumer Goods Plastics for fresh food, dairy, ice cream, edible fats packaging in Europe, Oceania, South America. Interim Report 1 January-31 March 2009 follows new structure.
Follow-up: Timo Salonen, corporate financial officer, +358 10 686 7880; Link: www.huhtamaki.com.

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Expansion adds two bulk packaging lines for dried cranberries

To meet rising demand for Craisins® sweetened dried cranberries from ingredient customers, Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., Lakeville-Middleboro, MA, adds two bulk packaging lines in Wisconsin Rapids, WI.
Lines, one already in operation, other scheduled to start up in March 2009, fill 25-pound shippers, which consist of polyethylene bag inside corrugated case. Expansion involves freezer, warehouse, processing space, 100 new jobs, investment of $75 million. With completion of project, 440,000-square-foot plant increases capacity of sweetened dried cranberries to 40 million pounds/year, overtakes Ocean Spray’s Lakeville-Middleboro operation as world’s largest cranberry processing facility. Wisconsin Rapids location also produces cranberry juice, juice concentrate boasts energy-efficient lighting, meets some energy needs with methane from Veolia Cranberry Creek Landfill.

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Appeal of nontraditional packaging grows in wine industry

Nontraditional wine packaging continues to gain ground with consumers, wine growers, producers, distributors.
Virtually all producers/distributors rely on package redesign as way to improve environmental friendliness of their business, according to surveys conducted by Robert Smiley, professor/director of wine studies in Graduate School of Management at University of California, Davis. In fact for first time in survey’s history, participants from winery side of industry report their firms plan to introduce lighter packaging. In fact, executives from key wine operations predict major changes in wine packaging with conversion from corks to screw caps, transition to flexible packaging for less expensive wines by 2018. Respondents also note today’s consumers are more receptive to alternative packaging.
Follow-up: Link: www.gsm.ucdavis.edu/2008winestudy.

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Consumers embrace products in steam-cook packaging

Steam Cooker™ packaging helps boost Healthy Choice Café Steamers from ConAgra Foods, Inc., Omaha, NE, to best seller list.
Steam Cooker package consists of two nested polypropylene bowls, one solid, one vented, sealed with clear lidstock. Bottom bowl holds sauce, vented basket holds entrée. When placed in microwave oven, sauce liquefies, steams contents of vented bowl, film self-vents.
After brief holding time, consumer removes film, empties contents of steamer basket into sauce bowl for serving. Octagonal paperboard sleeve serves as secondary packaging, presents brand identity in freezer case, as well as product information, cooking instructions. Rated by Information Resources, Inc., Chicago, IL, as best-selling new food or beverage product as of mid-2008, Healthy Choice Café Steamers, including new Asian-Inspired Steamers, rank in top 2% of successful product introductions in past five years.

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Fiber-based ‘blister pack’ offers three levels of tear resistance

Three levels of tear resistance allow users of Natralock® Security Packaging from MWV Corp., Richmond, VA, to match degree of product protection to needs.
Options include Natralock NTR with Easy-Seal technology, Natralock ETR, Natralock GTR. Natralock NTR with Easy Seal technology relies on substrate’s inherent tear properties, provides most economical solution for non-secure products. Natralock ETR addresses applications requiring Elmendorf tear test specification:
Tear strength remains constant even after tear has been initiated. Natralock GTR meets specifications of Graves tear test: Special construction of paperboard makes it extremely difficult to tear without nick with sharp object. Designed to replace clamshell packaging, Natralock fold-over or two-piece trap seal blister pack combines recyclable laminated paperboard card with clear amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (APET) or recycled PET thermoform to create package that uses 50%-60% less plastic than traditional clamshell.
Although nearly impossible to tear apart, Natralock opens easily with scissors. Natralock packaging also offers choice of substrates including MWV Printkote® solid bleached sulfate, Printkote Eagle® or Custom Kote® coated natural kraft, or Kraftpak®.
Follow-up: Link: www.natralock.com.

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Study examines active, intelligent packaging

Review of Active and Intelligent Packaging report describes applications, identifies suppliers. Study published by Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA), Chipping Campden, UK, defines active packaging as material that interacts with food to extend shelf life, protect product quality, while “intelligent” packaging monitors product quality, safety, alerts consumer to problems.
Examples of active packaging include desiccants, antimicrobials, susceptors, self-venting devices, widgets, scavengers for oxygen, carbon dioxide, ethylene. Intelligent packaging components include sensors, radio frequency identification tags, time-temperature indicators. Review also examines equipment considerations, legislation, future developments. Study costs £50 (US$92) for CCFRA members, £75 (US$138) for nonmembers.
Follow-up: Order Department, +44 1386 842000, pubs@campden.co.uk; Link: www.campden.co.uk/publ/pubfiles/r62.htm.

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OnTheDrawingBoard: Ultra-thin membrane blocks gas

One-atom-thick graphene membrane created by researchers at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, contains gases under several atmospheres of pressure.
Ultra-strong, leakproof membrane consists of carbon atoms derived from pure graphite. Barrier properties are so high, membrane prevents transmission of gases, including tiny atoms of helium.
“When you work the numbers, you would expect that nothing would go through, so it’s not a scientific surprise,” says Paul McEuen, PhD, professor of physics at Cornell, who was part of research team. “But it does tell you that the membrane is perfect” – since even atom-sized hole would allow helium to escape easily.
Tight covalent bonds in two dimensions make graphene strongest material in world. As semimetallic, it conducts electricity, but changes conductivity with changes in its electrostatic environment. Study titled, Impermeable Atomic Membranes from Graphene Sheets, appears in August 2008 issue (Vol. 8, No. 8) of Nano Letters, monthly journal published by American Chemical Society, Washington, DC.
Follow-up: Link: http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/nalefd/2008/8/i08/abs/nl801457b.html.

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Changeover: MOD-PAC…CPSC…Alcoa…

At MOD-PAC Corp., Buffalo, NY, David B. Lupp adds coo role to duties as cfo; Daniel J. Geary, CPA moves from controller to vp of Finance; Philip C. Rechin, vp of Sales for custom folding cartons, begins overseeing commercial print, mailing services stock box sales…Joseph Martyak assumes chief of staff position at US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Washington, DC, replacing Quin Dodd, who leaves agency on 1 October 2008 to join consumer product safety practice group at Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, PC, Washington, DC; Martyak previously served as counsel to Nancy A. Nord, acting chairman of CPSC…Three employees earn promotions at aluminum cansheet manufacturer, Alcoa, Pittsburgh, PA: 28-year veteran Kurt Waldo becomes vp/general counsel; Jake Siewert, new vp of Business Development, Public Strategy also continues to handle Alcoa’s worldwide government affairs, serve on company’s senior leadership council; William J. (Bill) O’Rourke steps into role of vp for Sustainability, Environment, Health, Safety after serving as global business services vp/cio…

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Upstream: Emballage…Pharmapack…

Emballage World Packaging Exhibition (www.emballageweb.com), 17-21 November 2008 at Parc des Expositions, Paris-Nord Villepinte, France, draws 2,200 exhibitors, devotes area to biomaterials, includes free International Package Design Symposium…Pharmapack: How Innovations in Packaging and Drug Delivery Packaging Enhance Health Product Safety kicks off eighth edition, 21-22 January 2009 at Grande Halle de la Villette, Paris, France; seminar’s producer, Canon Communications France Inc., Paris, focuses sessions on innovations in packaging for injection delivery devices for diabetes, clinical trials, solid dosage forms…

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ShortRuns: Constar…Graham…Ocean Spray…

Constar International Inc., Philadelphia, PA, receives warning from Listing Qualifications Department of NASDAQ Stock Market, New York, NY, that value of company’s publicly held shares have fallen below market’s $15 million minimum for 30 consecutive days, faces delisting if it does not regain compliance by 10 December 2008 (achieve market value above $15 million for at least 10 consecutive trading days)…To match shift in customer volume, Graham Packaging Co., LP, York, PA, closes container plant in Montgomery, AL, as well as McCue Road plant in Lakeland, FL; transfers some McCue Road employees to County Line Road plant in Lakeland…

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Copyright 2006 Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI), 4350 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 600, Arlington, Virginia (USA) 22203.

Editorial offices: 31408 Narrangansett Lane, Bay Village, Ohio (USA) 44140-1068; Tel: +1 440-892-0998; Fax: +1 440-892-0208; Email: bmiyares@packmgmt.com. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be redistributed or reproduced in any form without the written authorization of the publisher.