October 2009 Equipment Round Up - Packaging Materials

Oct. 7, 2009

Extra oxygen protection
Freshness Plus line of active packaging materials protects food products from oxygen thanks to a scavenging material built into the barrier layer of film. The scavenging components trap oxygen that can slowly migrate into the film from the package headspace or from the environment. This enables a focus on product quality life through active packaging, not food formulation. This includes inhibiting mold growth, color degradation, nutrient loss and flavor and odor changes. The technologies help to deliver food with better flavor, aroma and appearance, and are adaptable to a wide range of applications including fresh red meat, processed meats, cheeses, bakery products and fresh pasta.
Cryovac div. of Sealed Air Corp.; Duncan, S.C.
800-845-3456;
www.sealedair.com

Fit to be tried
Fitmented stand-up pouches (SUPs) offer food processors an alternative to rigid packaging. They minimize their carbon footprint by using less energy and material in production and by lowering shipping and storage costs. They also provide appealing consumer convenience benefits, including portability; easy open, close and store; and less mess and waste. Fitmented SUPs also provide next-generation brand packaging functionality and come in a variety of sizes and shapes, as pre-mades or in rollstock for form/fill/seal applications. Packaging can be filled through the fitment or an open seal, using ambient, hot fill or aseptic processes.
Alcan Packaging Food Americas; Chicago
773-399-8583;
www.alcanpackagingfood.com

Sustainable printed sleeves
Earthfirst PLA allows environmentally friendly shrink sleeves. PLA is an alternative to traditional petroleum-based shrink films and is compostable, shelf stable at higher storage temperatures and has excellent printability. Shrink- and roll-fed labels, tamper evident bands and heat shrinkable sleeves for multipacks are printed in up to 10 colors using flexographic and rotogravure printing on a variety of shrink films and laminations.
Printpack; Atlanta
404-460-7000;
www.printpack.com

Takes the weight off
PrimaPak is a stackable, flexible package with a reclosable lid produced from a single roll of printed film. The technology delivers significant weight savings over traditional packaging such as heavy glass bottles, aluminum cans and plastic jars. The environmentally friendly packaging is available for a variety of applications, such as coffee, nuts, beef jerky, various liquid products, condiments, produce, infant formula, cereal and grated cheese. The product combines the sturdiness of traditional, vertical packaging structures with the flexibility of a resealable package.
Clear Lam Packaging; Elk Grove Village, Ill.
847-439-8570;
www.earthclearpkg.com

Compostable snack bag
The SunChips brand has taken a step toward the world’s first compostable snack chip bag by making the outer layer of packaging on the 10.5-oz. size bags with Ingeo bioplastic film. Frito-Lay plans to introduce the multilayer, fully compostable bag by Earth Day 2010. Not only will the bag be compostable to ASTM 6400-99 standards, the Ingeo film made from plants emits less CO2 and consumes less energy during manufacture than comparable petroleum-based films.
NatureWorks LLC; Minnetonka, Minn.
952-742-0400;
www.natureworksllc.com

Teacher’s rPET
Recycled polyethylene terephthalate line (rPET) was introduced as a response to demand for post-consumer, food grade rPET for a variety of blow molding, injection molding and thermoforming applications. Built using the vendor’s LNOc processing equipment, the system requires a small footprint (less than 2,500 sq. ft.) and can easily be taken apart and transported to a new location. The LNOC equipment includes a grinder that converts rPET flake into extra small particle-size powder, a compactor to compress the powder in pellets and a standard resin dryer.
Phoenix Technologies; Bowling Green, Ohio
419-353-7738;
www.phoenixtechnologies.net

Full bodied shrink label
Embrace full-body shrink labels allow food processors to maximize marketing messages at the point-of-purchase. The labels use the entire surface area of the package to promote the benefits of a product and enhance shelf-impact with 360-degree graphics. The copolyesters used in the materials provide numerous design options as they can be printed with thermochromatic, metallic and glow-in-the-dark inks and used with spot varnishing, OPV for a frosty-cold look.
Eastman Chemical Co.; Kingsport, Tenn.
423-229-2000;
www.eastmaninnovationlab.com

Peel and reseal, rinse and repeat
Peel and reseal polyester lidstock for semi-rigid or rigid trays offers “tack” for multiple closures while providing sustainability, barrier, shelf appeal and line speeds. The resealable system can be used for multi-serving foods such as sliced meats and cheeses. The lidstock features a proprietary, resealable, pressure-sensitive adhesive layer engineered within the film. This allows the film to be fusion sealed to the tray, creating a hermetic package with superior barrier properties. The pressure-sensitive layer is then exposed when the lidstock is peeled back, creating resealability for multiple re-tacks with only fingertip pressure.
Curwood; Oshkosh, Wis.
800-544-4672;
www.curwood.com

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