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Use the links below to jump to headlines in this week's update.

O-I debuts PET/COC/PET Rx vials as Type 1 glass alternative

Sun opens RFID test center for Wal-Mart

Thin wall tube gets patent as container for flowable products

Barrier bottle extends shelf life of PET-packed vodka drink

MeadWestvaco launches $500 million productivity initiative

Tanning foam debuts in dual-chamber pump dispenser

Consumer groups petition for ‘alcohol facts’ labeling

Shaped beer cans promote cricket tournament

Low shoulder angle differentiates bottle silhouette

McDonald’s debuts global packaging graphics

ShortRuns: Elopak… Pliant…

Changeover: Pechiney… Orion… Crown…

Packaging Management Update®

i	Read the latest issue below. You may also search the PMU archive to find articles dating back to 1998.

Ben Miyares' Packaging Management Update®
Monday, December 22, 2003
A weekly summary of packaging business & technology developments

O-I debuts PET/COC/PET Rx vials as Type 1 glass alternative

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New line of multilayer, injection-blow-molded bottles/vials from Owens-Illinois Plastics Group, Toledo, OH, incorporates moisture barrier layer of Topas® cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) from Ticona (business unit of Celanese AG), Summit, NJ/Kelsterbach, Germany, to protect sensitive pharmaceutical products. Sandwiched between layers of polycarbonate or polyethylene terephthalate, Topas COC offers low permeability to water vapor, high transparency/clarity, chemical resistance, and ease of processing. “As the only clear, multilayer plastic alternative to Type 1 pharmaceutical glass, these containers give drug companies the flexibility to utilize plastic packaging, while offering tailored levels of barrier, strength and other properties,” says Bill Negrini, vp/business manager, Health Care, O-I Plastics Group, Plastic Containers. Shatter-resistant containers are available in wall thicknesses from 0.020-0.060 inch (0.5-1.5 millimetre), volume capacities from 3-250 cubic centimetres. O-I’s “SurShot” multilayer injection technology precisely controls barrier content to 2% of total package weight. For ultra-sensitive injectables, diluents, structure puts oxygen barrier such as nylon between COC layers. Anticounterfeiting features debut in 2004.Follow-up: At O-I, Bill Negrini, +1 800-537-0178; Link: www.o-i.com; at Ticona, Paul Reichenbacher, +1 507-457-4069; paul.reichenbacher@celanese.com; Link: www.ticona.com. Top of Page

Sun opens RFID test center for Wal-Mart

Sun Microsystems, Inc., Santa Clara, CA, opens Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Test Center in Dallas, TX to help Wal-Mart suppliers determine compliance with retailer’s new RFID standards taking effect 1 January 2005. Jonathan Schwartz, evp of Sun software, says: “The impact of Wal-Mart’s RFID mandate to its suppliers is enormous and will change the way manufacturers and suppliers track inventory.”Follow-up: Sales Department, +1 800-786-0404; Link: www.sun.com/software/solutions/auto_id/. Top of Page

Thin wall tube gets patent as container for flowable products

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Packaging concept similar to disposable baby bottle liner receives US Patent 6,651,845. Not-A-Bottle container system from Rocky Mountain Business Solutions, Inc., Estes Park, CO, consists of flat-topped pouch (A) with pierceable or pull tab opening, rigid, reusable container (B) supporting the flexible pouch and a dispenser cap (C) appropriate to product. Package, which is available for licensing, accommodates “beverages and other flowable materials” including baby formula, condiments, salad dressing, motor oil/lubricants, laundry/household cleaners and personal-care products.Follow-up: Charles Schroeder, inventor, +1 970-577-7627, info@rockybusiness.com; Link: www.rockybusiness.com. Top of Page

Barrier bottle extends shelf life of PET-packed vodka drink

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Diageo, London, England, works with Philadelphia, PA-based Constar International Inc., to develop/launch 330-millilitre Starshield® polyethylene terephthalate (PET) barrier bottle of Smirnoff Ice in Europe. Multilayer structure of bottle extends product shelf life up to nine months compared to standard, visually identical PET container. Starshield structure allows Diageo to broaden marketing of PET-packed Smirnoff Ice beverages beyond traditional selling venues such as sporting events, concerts, and other locales where glass packaging is prohibited. Metal crown closure completes package.Follow-up: Paul Prinko, manager of marketing, +1 215-552-3726; Fax: +1 215-552-3707; Link: www.constar.net. Top of Page

MeadWestvaco launches $500 million productivity initiative

MeadWestvaco Corp., Stamford, CT, launches productivity initiative to improve both earnings, cash flow – generating additional $250 million in annual earnings by end of 2005, plus one-time working capital improvement of $250 million. Plan is to boost earnings through cost cutting, product mix enhancement, and volume growth.Follow-up: Donna Owens Cox, +1 203-461-7634; Link: www.meadwestvaco.com. Top of Page

Tanning foam debuts in dual-chamber pump dispenser

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Kenilworth, NJ-based Schering-Plough chooses customized instant-foam dispensing technology from Airspray NV, Alkmaar, Netherlands, for its new Coppertone® brand Endless Summer Sunless Tanning Foam. Dual-chambered bottle contains DHA (dihydroxyacetone) in one chamber, Coppertone’s proprietary color activator in other. One-finger dispensing pump delivers foam mixture of both ingredients.Follow-up: Marketing Department, +31 72-541-4666; Fax: +31 72-547-0055; Link: www.airsprayintl.com. Top of Page

Consumer groups petition for ‘alcohol facts’ labeling

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Petition from Washington, DC-based National Consumers League (NCL), Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), related groups urges US Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau to require alcoholic beverage labeling with clear information about alcohol content, serving sizes, calories, ingredients. According to petition, current labeling rules suffer from jurisdictional gaps, inconsistent standards, causing consumer confusion. George Hacker, director of CSPI’s Alcohol Policies Project, comments, “It seems silly that a bottle of lemonade has to list its ingredients, but a bottle of hard lemonade doesn’t. Our proposed label would let consumers see exactly what’s in various brands of beers, wine, and hard liquors.” Distilled Spirits Council, Washington, DC, supports labeling concept. Diageo, which owns brands such as Tanqueray, Smirnoff, opposes mandatory labeling requirements, but intends to make information about alcohol content, serving size, macronutrients, carbohydrates, calories available. “Starting in 2004…this consumer data will be included on our websites, in printed promotional materials, and ultimately on packaging materials,” says Guy L. Smith, evp at Diageo.Follow-up: At CSPI, Jeff Cronin, +1 202-777-8370; At NCL: Carol McKay, +1 202-835-3323, ext. 114; Link: www.nclnet.org. Top of Page

Shaped beer cans promote cricket tournament

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Carlton United Breweries (CUB), Southbank, Victoria, Australia, serves up its VB (Victoria Bitter) brand beer in 375-millilitre custom-shaped cans as special promotion for 2003-04 VB Series One Day Cricket International competition among Australia, India, Zimbabwe. New shaping equipment installed at Amcor Australasia plant in Rocklea, Queensland, embosses can sidewall with VB logo, cricket shirt graphics, including numbers of 12 players. CUB markets 12-packs containing mix of different player numbers.Follow-up: David Brookes, Amcor Australasia gm for public affairs, +61 3 98117 150; Link: www.amcor.com/australasia. Top of Page

Low shoulder angle differentiates bottle silhouette

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Low shoulder angle of lightweight 16-, 20-ounce polyethylene terephthalate containers from Owens-Illinois (O-I) Plastics Group, Plastics Containers, Toledo, OH, creates instantly recognizable silhouette VeryFine Products, Westford, MA, wanted for redesign of its cold-filled Fruit2O spring water beverage. Distinctive container’s angled pillars refract light so “When you turn it to drink, it gives the appearance of ice,” says Sam Rowse, owner/president of VeryFine. Nitrogen flush imparts strength, rigidity, provides adequate top-load, stacking strength without adding weight to monolayer container. Clear, 28-millimetre Pol-E-Loc® polyethylene closure, also from O-I, compliments container’s icy look, utilizes Linerless III technology, wing design, provides tamper evidence.Follow-up: Marketing Department, +1 800-537-0178; Link: www.o-i.com. Top of Page

McDonald’s debuts global packaging graphics

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McDonald’s fast food restaurant chain, headquartered in Oak Brook, IL, debuts packaging graphics based on company’s “I’m lovin’ it” theme – featuring state-of-art photography of real people enjoying activities such as playing soccer, listening to music, reading to children. Birmingham, England-based designer Boxer develops designs, which will appear on carryout bags, cold cups in all 30,000 restaurants worldwide before end of 2004.Follow-up: Paul Thwaites, +44 1675-467-050; paul@boxer.uk.com. Top of Page

ShortRuns: Elopak… Pliant…

In joint venture with Japan-based Nippon Paper-Pak Co., Elopak, Spikkestad, Norway, plans to build state-of-art manufacturing/converting/printing plant for Pure-Pak brand carton materials in China… Pliant Corp., Schaumburg, IL, expands production capacity for high-integrity, down-gauged Revolution™ stretch film in Toronto, ON… Brick Brewing Co., Ltd., Waterloo, ON, adds clear stubby glass bottle to its packaging lineup, fills it with Brick (yellow label) Lager, continues to use amber stubby for its Red Cap, Waterloo Dark, Brick Amber beers… Value-added flexible packaging producer Pechiney Plastic Packaging, Inc. (PPPI), Chicago, IL, adds four blown film lines at Neenah, WI, plant to keep up with growing demand for multilayer high-barrier films… Top of Page

Changeover: Pechiney… Orion… Crown…

Following acquisition of Paris, France-based Pechiney by Alcan Inc., Montreal, QE, Pechiney’s board of directors adds six new members to six existing members with Travis Engen, Alcan president/ceo, as chairman/ceo of Pechiney… Stretch wrapping machinery manufacturer Orion Packaging Systems Inc., Collierville, TN, appoints Jean Belair to position of eastern Canada regional sales manager… Crown Holdings, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, appoints Thierry Lainez sales and business development manager for Crown Closures Europe, responsible for sales/marketing of metal closures in France, European marketing/communications, product development… Top of Page

*-- Ben Miyares, editor/publisher*
*-- Hallie Forcinio, contributing editor*
*-- Judy Rice, contributing editor*
*Copyright 2003 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.