Retort Pouch Causes a Stir

Published: April 30, 2005

Widely hailed as flexible packaging’s "greatest innovation," the retort pouch finally is shedding its exotic image and rapidly becoming a mainline package on the supermarket shelf.

Communication from the PLACE div. of TAPPI

Published: March 31, 2005

Providing practical information to the converting and packaging industries.

Why the Rush to BOPA?

Published: March 31, 2005

In the past five years, the world bi-oriented polyamide (BOPA) film market has grown faster than any other oriented speciality film, but volumes are still small when compared to its leading competitors. With average growth rates of 8%/yr, world BOPA film demand is expected to reach an estimated 126,000 tons in 2004, compared to world markets for packaging grades of BOPP film of 2.5 million tons and BOPET film of 600,000 tons.

A King of Shrink Contender

Published: March 31, 2005

Decades ago, Elvis firmly established Memphis, TN, as home to where records and kings are made. David Seuss, VP of sales for fourth-generation-owned Color Craft Label Co. (a dynasty in its own right) also in Memphis, has his own hopes and dreams. No more-pleasing music to the ear could be heard than for Color Craft some day to be crowned king of shrink-sleeve labels.

Mondi Inaugurates Flex-Pack Line in Poland

Published: March 02, 2005

Mondi Packaging Solec (formerly Frantschach Flexible Packaging Poland) added a new flexible packaging line at its Solec facilities.

Materials

Published: February 28, 2005

New products from:INX Intl., Sony Chemicals, Rock-Tenn, Lamart Corp., ANI Printing Inks, ADM Tronics, D&K Group, Coburn Graphic Films, Ciba Specialty Chemicals, and Scapa North America.

Notable & Flexible

Published: February 28, 2005

For 55 years, the Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards, sponsored by the Flexible Packaging Assn., have honored packaging and converting excellence across a broad range of the flex-pack industry. This year’s contest saw a record 89 entries, 28 of which earn a total of 33 awards. Here’s a look at some of the top winners.

Communication from the PLACE div. of TAPPI

Published: February 28, 2005

Providing practical information to the converting and packaging industries.

Is a Packaging Makeover Ahead?

Published: February 28, 2005

Two recent initiatives, a proposed tax measure in San Francisco and a voluntary industry commitment on biodegradable polymers in the European Union (EU), are of interest to the converting industry, not only because of the proposals themselves, but because they reflect different policy approaches to addressing packaging wastes.

Film Opens New Markets

Published: February 28, 2005

Since pressure-sensitive labels and tapes—and other materials such as stamps—have become more sophisticated, the market for these materials has been expanding rapidly. In such product constructions, it has been common practice to apply a release coating, typically a silicone-based material, to the paper liner from which the materials are peeled or dispensed.

A Communication from the PLACE div. of TAPPI

Published: January 31, 2005

Providing practical information to the converting and packaging industries.

Complex & Capable

Published: January 31, 2005

Located almost midway between Madrid and Barcelona in Zaragoza, Spain, Polibol is one of the "jewels" in the expanded Alcan family of flexible packaging converters.

Film Trends Focus of of Plastic Packaging Conference

Published: January 24, 2005

InnoPlast Solutions and Gehrke, Kaas, & Assoc. announce the second annual conference on "Global Trends in Plastic Packaging Films," scheduled for February 28–March 3 at the Hilton Hotel-Airport, New Orleans, LA. The conference will be preceded by an optional course on the "Fundamentals of Flexible Packaging."

Bemis Acquires Majority Ownership of Dixie Toga

Published: January 19, 2005

Bemis Co. has acquired majority ownership of Dixie Toga, San Paulo, Brazil, one of the largest packaging companies in South America. Bemis acquired the voting common stock and 43% of the outstanding, non-voting preferred stock of Dixie Toga for approximately $250 million, financed with commercial paper.

Ampac Packaging Acquires Flexicon

Published: January 17, 2005

Ampac Packaging, a producer of high-performance film structures for bags and food packaging—ranging from monolayers to nine-layer coextruded barrier films—has acquired Flexicon, a manufacturer of high-performance, flexible packaging materials for the pharmaceutical, medial, healthcare, chemical, food, and industrial markets. The amount was undisclosed.