Packaging Strategies articles from September 2002

Packaging Strategies archives from September 2002

Turning up the heat: can Amcor take pet bottles into the retort realm?(Amcor Ltd. acquires Schmalbach-Lubeca Plastic Containers USA)
September 30, 2002... Amcor is proving its market-savvy by making immediate and significant use of the intellectual and technology assets it netted when it acquired Schmalbach-Lubeca's (S-L) PET and closure assets this past spring. Using S-L's True Heat Set...

Amid deteriorating market conditions Crown boldly ups the ante for constar IPO.(Crown Cork and Seal Inc. plans for initial public offering)
September 30, 2002... At a time when the Dow is hovering just south of the 8,000 mark and conditions appear ever more bleak for floating initial public offerings, Crown Cork & Seal has raised the stakes of its intended IPO for its wholly-owned subsidiary Constar...

After studying the marketplace, Constar hopes 'vended' pet water bottle will satiate students' thirst.(product development at Crown Cork and Seal Inc.)
September 30, 2002... Hoping to open up new distribution avenues for bottled water, Crown Cork & Seal plastic packaging division Constar International, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, has developed what it claims is the first PET water bottle capable of being dispensed...

Australian start-up aims to dissolve the problem of packaging waste.(Plantic Technologies Ltd. product development)
September 30, 2002... In the latest development of biodegradable packaging, Plantic Technologies Ltd., Melbourne, Australia, is trying to commercialize a "plastic" packaging derived from corn starch that is said to completely dissolve in as little as an hour in...

Turning milk protein into packaging coatings, films.
September 30, 2002... A chemical engineer from the Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) Eastern Regional Research Center (ERRC), Wyndmoor, PA, has received a patent for her method to turn the milk protein casein into water-resistant films that could be used to...

Steel packaging recycling hits new high in Europe; Japan far outpaces rest of the world.(Brief Article)
September 30, 2002... Data compiled by the Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging (APEAL) showed that approximately 55% of the steel packaging entering the European Union. (EU) market had been recycled in 2001, with individual national results...

Tetra briks go small and reclosable.(Tetra Pak International AB product introduction)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2002... Following the trend of smaller, singlesize packs and convenience features such as reclosability, Tetra Pak, Lund, Sweden, has launched its first resealable portion-size carton -- its Tetra Brik Aseptic 200m1 Square package that features a...

Reclosable 'Cap Can' offers aluminum beverage cans a fighting chance vs. PET containers.(product introduction by Dayton Systems Group)
September 30, 2002... As a way to help give aluminum cans a competitive shot against the influx of PET containers into the beverage market, Dayton Systems Group, Inc. (DSG), Dayton, OH, has developed the Cap Can -- a reclosable can closure designed especially for...

Portable packaging provides a boost to convenience store sales.(Southland Corp. financial report)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2002... Convenience retailing giant 7-Eleven, Inc., Dallas, TX, reported a 10% incremental sales increase to its portable snack subcategories due to the popularity of portable snacks and candies in cup-holder size, disposable cups. This summer,...

Pactiv Corporation. (Acquisitions, Transactions).(Pactiv Corp. acquires Jaguar Corp.)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2002... Pactiv Corporation, Lake Forest, IL, announced an agreement to purchase 70% of Mexico-based Jaguar Corporation, a thermoformer of high impact polystyrene for cold cups and plates and polystyrene foam for foodservice/food packaging, for $66mn....

Cordova Industries. (Acquisitions, Transactions).(Cordova Industries Inc. acquires Ameriplas International Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2002... Cordova Industries, St. Jean, QC, Canada, has agreed to purchase PET preform supplier Ameriplas International for $3.5mn. Ameriplas supplies performs to U.S. and Canadian water and soft drink bottle makers.

Sonoco. (People).(executive appointments)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2002... Sonoco, Hartsville, SC, has made a number of appointments which include Patrick B. Keese, director, Global Marketing, Consumer Products, who has been named division vice president, Consumer Products Division--Europe. Thomas L. Coker, division...

SIG Combibloc Inc. (People).(executive appointment)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2002... International supplier of aseptic carton filling and packaging systems SIG Combibloc Inc., Columbus, OH, announced that Ben Hamer was named as the company's new president and ceo. Hamer was previously managing director of Stork Mexico.

Applied Extrusion Technologies, Inc. (People).(top executive retires)
September 30, 2002... Producer of specialized oriented polypropylene films Applied Extrusion Technologies, Inc., Boston, MA, announced that Thomas E. Williams, president and ceo, will retire effective Sept. 30, 2002. Amin J. Khoury, company founder and chairman of...

Longview Fibre Co. (People).(executive appointment)
September 30, 2002... Richard H. Wollenberg was elected chief executive officer of Longview Fibre Co., Longview, WA, effective Nov. 1. Wollenberg will continue as president of the company.

Pechiney Plastic Packaging. (Capacity, Supply Announcements).(company to modernize facilities in WI)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2002... Pechiney Plastic Packaging announced plans to modernize and expand its flexible packaging facility in Menasha, WI. The project is scheduled to begin in November and should be completed by the end of 2003.

Plastipak Packaging, Inc. (Capacity, Supply Announcements).(company opens new facilities in other states)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2002... Plastipak Packaging, Inc., Plymouth, MI, announced the addition of two new sites located in Birmingham, AL, and Plant City, FL, to serve the southeastern U.S. container market. The Alabama site will include facilities totaling more than...

Georgia-Pacific Corp. (Other Business News).(company annouces delay of seperation of business divisions)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2002... Georgia-Pacific Corp., Atlanta, GA, announced it is delaying the separation of its consumer products and packaging business due to current financial conditions, the continued weak business environment in its building products segment, and its...

Oriented films for flexible packaging 2002 - 2006: an assessment of the technologies and markets for oriented films and sheet.(survay by Allied Development Corp.)
September 30, 2002... Globally, packaging companies and end-users bought more than 4.8 million metric tons of oriented film and sheet, of which 3.1 million metric tons was used in the manufacture of packaging. Oriented film is the primary building block of the...

Strengths in European Bevcan segment prompt Ball to move on Schmalbach.(Schmalbach-Lubeca)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 15, 2002... In an expected move, the No. 1 North American beverage can maker Ball Corp., Broomfield, CO, has agreed to acquire the second largest beverage can manufacturer in Europe, Schmalbach-Lubeca (S-L), Ratingen, Germany, for approximately 900mn...

Sliding recycling rates belie boost in number of PET bottles collected.(polyethylene terephthalate)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 15, 2002... While the amount of PET bottles collected for recycling in 2001 increased 65mn lbs over 2000 volumes, the recycling rate for post-consumer PET in 2001 was 22.1%, down just slightly from 22.3% in 2000, according to the 2001 Report on Post...

European recycling objectives increased, timeline shortened.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 15, 2002... The European Union (EU) Parliament approved by an overwhelming majority to raise the minimum recycling target for packaging waste from 55% to 65%. The Parliament also voted to bump up the target date for making EU member states comply...

Watchdog group study aims to clear legislative hurdles for active packaging use in Europe.(food contact materials)(Brief Article)
September 15, 2002... European regulations for food contact materials may present an obstacle to the application of active packaging systems in European Union (EU) countries. In 1999, TNO Nutrition and Food Research, Zeist, the Netherlands, developed a European...

A conversation with Kodak: 2002 Packaging Leader of the Year.(Interview)
September 15, 2002... September 15, 2002 Packaging Strategies: What singled out Kodak and its packaging program that perhaps led to its being named Packaging Leader of the Year? Jim Scott: The PEF bases the award both on packaging innovation and on...

Rock-Tenn secures patent for its 'DuraFresh' tray technology.(Rock-Tenn Company)(Brief Article)
September 15, 2002... Rock-Tenn Company, Norcross, GA, announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted the company a patent relating to its DuraFresh tray technology used in case-ready meat packaging. Rock-Tenn estimates that the domestic...

'La Carafe' pushes PET container blowmolding to the limit.(polyethylene terephthalate; ADS company)(Brief Article)
September 15, 2002... In pushing the design limits of PET bottles to produce a mineral water bottle that has the elegant design attributes of a glass carafe, blowmolding machinery manufacturer ADS, Sanit-Ouen-L' Aumone, France, in conjunction with Evian/Danone,...

Crown Cork & Seal hopes to make opening food cans more 'apeeling' with its 'Peel Seam' peelable lids.(Brief Article)
September 15, 2002... As a way to add value and spice up food cans, Crown Cork & Seal, Philadelphia, PA, is offering its Peel Seam peelable lids in new 73mm, 83mm, and 99mm sizes throughout Europe. Crown says its Peel Seams are quickly, easily, and safely removed...

Amcor puts polymer-coated steel to the test, trials Corus' 'Protact' technology.(canning technology)(Brief Article)
September 15, 2002... Melbourne-based Amcor, the largest supplier of beverage and aerosol cans in Australia, with customers including Coca-Cola, Canton United Breweries, Cadbury Schweppes, and Unilever, has joined with Corus Packaging Plus, Ijmuiden, the...

Tuscarora Inc., New Brighton, PA, a division of SCA North America. (Acquistions, Transactions).(Brief Article)
September 15, 2002... Tuscarora Inc., New Brighton, PA, a division of SCA North America, has reached a definitive agreement to purchase the assets of protective packaging producer Packaging Resources Group, Longmont, CO, including two manufacturing facilities...

Alcan Inc., Montreal, QC, Canada, has signed a letter of intent to sell its molded glass operations in Park Hills, MO. (Acquistions, Transactions).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 15, 2002... Alcan Inc., Montreal, QC, Canada, has signed a letter of intent to sell its molded glass operations in Park Hills, MO; Mays Landing, W and MuMile, NJ; as well as the company's 46%-owned joint venture in Beijing, China to Glass Group Inc.

MeadWestvaco Corp. (People).(Brief Article)
September 15, 2002... MeadWestvaco Corp., Stamford, CT, announced that Jerome F. Tatar will retire as chairman of the board in late December 2002. John A. Luke, Jr., currently president and ceo, will then also assume the role of chairman.

Riverwood International Corp. (People).(Brief Article)
September 15, 2002... Paperboard packaging supplier Riverwood International Corp., Atlanta, GA, announced that its chief operating officer Thomas M. Gannon has resigned. President and ceo Stephen M. Humphrey will assume Gannon's responsibilities.

As a result of a long-term supply agreement with Abbott Laboratories' Ross Products Division, Ball Corp. (Capacity, Supply Announcements).(factory upgrade)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 15, 2002... As a result of a long-term supply agreement with Abbott Laboratories' Ross Products Division, Ball Corp., Broomfield, Ca, announced plans to invest approximately $43mn to expand its existing Milwaukee, WI, metal beverage container plant to...

Sealed Air Corp. (Capacity, Supply Announcements).(Brief Article)
September 15, 2002... In order to support growth of its medical packaging product line, Sealed Air Corp., Saddle Brook, NJ, announced plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Duncan, SC, on the site of the company's Cryovac operations. The new facility will...

Pliant Corp. (Capacity, Supply Announcements).(Brief Article)
September 15, 2002... Flexible film producer Pliant Corp., Schaumburg, IL, is expanding its Odon, IN, facility to accommodate a new three-layer highvolume line that was recently put into production. The Odon facility manufactures co-extruded barrier packaging film...

The Packaging Education Forum. (Other Business News).(Brief Article)
September 15, 2002... The Packaging Education Forum (PEF) announced its 2002 Packaging Hall of Fame inductees which include Richard C. Botsch (posthumously), Kenneth J. Gollmann, Thomas E. Hogue, Norman Nieder, and Charles E. Perrin, CPP. The 2002 inductees will...

Stand-up pouches; continuing global markets, economics, and technologies: 2001-2006.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 15, 2002... An up-to-date assessment of the stand-up pouch market including volumes, trends, emerging competitive products and technologies, and economics * Learn why the Doyen-style pouch is rapidly being joined by a host of new stand-up pouch...