IN THE NEWS:

Alcoa Begins Commercial Production Of Award-Winning Glass Wine Closure

Alcoa announced today that its Alcoa Closure Systems International business has begun commercial production of Vino-Lok, its “glass on glass” closure system for wine bottles that it developed as an alternative to corks and synthetic stoppers. Alcoa will supply the new glass closures from its Worms, Germany, facility to several wineries in Europe that provide wines to Lufthansa, one of the world’s leading airlines.

“The Vino-Lok closure system fills a need in the wine industry, which has sought alternatives to natural cork that meets both the quality and aesthetic demands of connoisseurs,” said Siegfried Landskrone, general manager, Alcoa Metal Closures, Europe. The Vino-Lok closure looks like a decorative decanter stopper, and it is recyclable. Made with rubberized O-rings, the glass stopper provides a sterile seal, preventing contamination or oxidation.

An aluminum cap over the bottle will ensure mechanical protection and tamper evidence. A one-year independent test recently conducted by scientists and wine experts indicates that Alcoa CSI’s Vino-Lok closure system meets parameters for technical as well as taste performance compared to traditional wine closures.

Blue Diamond Growers Selects Paxonix For Packaging Design Software Toolset Management

Blue Diamond® Growers signed on to use Paxonix Packaging Professional Suite/PaxPro™ for complete management of Blue Diamond’s packaging graphics, workflow, and approval processes. Blue Diamond is using the PaxPro toolset for a major line redesign effort. Paxonix has provided the quick-start system configuration and initial user setup, training, and access to the Paxonix Customer Service Center for technical support.

“We spent a great deal of time evaluating all players in the collaborative workflow and design software space,” says Jennifer Pfanner, marketing manager, Blue Diamond Growers. “We see the Paxonix system as an essential part of the design process.” Blue Diamond Growers plans to fully utilize the Paxonix PaxPro toolset for on-line proofing, annotation, and review, design project management from start to finish, and management of assets to provide visibility at previously unreachable stages of the supply chain.

The Packaging Professional Suite is the first integrated software to bring the benefits of product life cycle management to package design and development. It streamlines and manages processes, automates and tracks workflow and approvals, delivers up-to-date content, and supports communication and collaboration across both local and remote groups.

Package Design Goes On-Line at Ontario’s Durham College

Durham College is now pleased to offer half the courses for its one-year Package Design post-diploma certificate through distance learning. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply as soon as possible through the OCAS website. “I believe that by offering an on-line component to prospective students it will allow those individuals who are currently working in the industry to upgrade their education without leaving their place of employment,” said Reid Anderson, program coordinator, Package Design.

The graduates of this unique program will design graphics and containers for packaging using conceptual and strategic thinking to position their ideas for the marketplace. The program will focus on two- and three-dimensional design, brand development, marketing and research, production methods, printing processes and substrates, as well as government regulations. The program will also place strong emphasis on the development of entrepreneurship and practices for small business startup. Visit www.durhamcollege.ca.

Acquiring Seven Worldwide Extends the Global Capability Of Digital Provider Schawk, Inc.

Schawk, Inc., a leading provider of digital imaging graphics services to the consumer products and brand imaging markets, will acquire Seven Worldwide, Inc., formerly known as Applied Graphics Technologies, Inc. (AGT). Headquartered in New York City, Seven Worldwide provides marketing execution and publishing solutions to the packaging, consumer goods, retail, advertising, entertainment and publishing markets around the world.

Seven Worldwide grew significantly over its 40-year history, particularly in the late 1990s through consolidation with digital imaging service providers AGT and the Black Dot Group. “With a shared vision of providing end-to-end solutions to industry-leading clients, Schawk and Seven Worldwide are creating an enterprise that will become the industry standard,” says David A. Schawk, president and CEO. “The acquisition enables the combined companies to significantly broaden global coverage and increase market leadership in the creation and production of packaging, advertising, and in-store marketing and signage.”

John R. Harris, CEO of Seven Worldwide, commented: “This acquisition is particularly powerful because our companies are so complementary, serving global, blue-chip clients and employing a tremendous array of talented people and leading technology.”

CCL Container Debuts Body Shapes™ Full-Body Shaping

CCL adds another shape option to its award-winning line of technologies.

Body Shapes™ is CCL Container’s new shaping technology for rigid aluminum packaging that features dramatic curves and contours the full length of the container. The new variety of contours, combined with the natural richness of aluminum, makes Body Shapes™ a solid match with the high-end spectrum of consumer products.

The Body Shapes™ line offers limitless package shapes, with contours and curves extending from the base of the container to the top. Shapes range from soft, subtle contours to more dramatic cut angles. “We view full-body container shaping as the next natural evolution of aluminum packaging design,” commented Ed Martin, vice president of sales and marketing for CCL Container.

CCL’s R&D lab has already been the source of many new aluminum container shapes that have won fast commercial acceptance. Over the past three years, the company introduced Trimline™ and Trimwave™, two sleek bullet-shape designs. Most recently, CCL launched Comfort Hold™ a more dramatic silhouette with ergonomic contours. Visit www.cclcontainer.com.

Lyons Media and Summit Launch New Shelf Impact! Web-Zine

The publishers of two independently-owned packaging business monthlies, Package Design Magazine and Packaging World, have recently agreed to a strategic relationship to further their new and existing media properties, launching two new web-based periodicals.

The innovative web-zine Shelf Impact! launched in January by alerting its subscribers by email. This new monthly electronic magazine, edited for brand owners in packaging development, package design, and marketing, will carry Lyons Media’s Package Design Magazine branding; together the co-branded titles will offer the benefits of integrated media for their readers and advertisers.

Similarly, Lyons Media’s new print publication, RFID Product News, will be co-branded with Packaging World’s RFID Antenna e-newsletter. Both of these properties will address radio frequency identification as it relates to packaging issues. The Summit-Lyons agreement also includes the firms’ respective Web sites, Packworld.com and Packagedesignmag.com.

Chris Lyons, president of Malvern, PA-based Lyons Media Inc. explains the benefits of the joint efforts: “Readers and advertisers will benefit from expanded, in-depth, and multi-channel coverage of the packaging function. Together we’re offering a powerful print and Web combination that will offer readers the best solutions to their packaging needs.”

Printex Packaging Corp. To Produce Conformer® Expansion Envelopes

Conformer Expansion Products announced that Printex Packaging Corp., Islandia, NY, has become the latest licensed manufacturer of Conformer® Expansion Envelopes. Printex Packaging, the originator of the clear plastic folding carton, will manufacture Conformer Expansion Envelopes in all sizes using a variety of clear plastic materials.

The agreement with Conformer Expansion Products represents the first time that Printex Packaging has licensed a method of package construction from an outside source, said David Heller, president of Printex Packaging. Conformer Expansion Envelopes employ a patented process that enables them to expand to fit their contents and create an attention-getting appearance.

Printex Packaging’s primary markets are the cosmetics, health and beauty aids, pharmaceuticals, and entertainment industries, all of which have high standards for the performance and appearance of their packaging. Mr. Heller said that Printex Packaging would promote Conformer Expansion Envelopes to these customers and to prospects in new markets as well. Visit www.conformerexpansionproducts.com.

Creo ThermoFlex® Sleeve Imaging Wins 2004 Flexotech Innovation Award

Creo’s ThermoFlex® Sleeve Imaging device won the annual Flexotech Innovation Award awards, which are judged by an international panel of leading flexo authorities from the U.K., the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Italy and Germany.

The ThermoFlex Sleeve Imaging device allows flexographic printers to implement a digital plate-on-sleeve manufacturing process. The first complete ThermoFlex digital plate-on-sleeve solution was installed at Cyber Graphics in Memphis, TN in September 2003. Cyber Graphics is the prepress division of Bryce Corporation, a successful flexible packaging converter serving several of the world's largest consumer product companies.

The Creo-designed solution provides Bryce Corporation and their customers with significant economic benefits both in prepress and the pressroom. It minimizes sleeve manufacturing costs and cycle times, while increasing flexibility to address the needs of different substrates. This solution has set the standard for flexible packaging converters looking to take the next step in improving print quality and consistency, while at the same time reducing operating costs. Visit www.creo.com.

Appleton’s C&H Packaging Div. Can Reproduce 40,000 Colors With Its 6/C Separation Process

Appleton’s C&H Packaging operation has added the capability to print graphics with a new six-color separation process that can produce more than 40,000 special colors. This new flexographic printing capability produces more accurate color matching of spot colors, which pushes package graphics and visuals to a dynamic new level of visual presentation.

“More than ever, packaging today has to do more than just contain and protect. It must perform as an enticing sales tool in branded and private label applications,” said Justin Latham, marketing manager, Appleton’s performance packaging group. “Effective packaging also has to satisfy retailers who want packaging that’s easier to stock, handle and display.”

The six-color separation process delivers amazingly accurate color reproduction. Image detail, crispness and brilliance are far superior to the traditional four-color process. It also simplifies each print job because fewer line colors means less make-ready, fewer plates and wash-ups, thereby shortening production schedules. Visit www.appletonideas.com.

Starbucks Says It Will Convert To Cups with Recycled Content

In an important step to further integrate leading environmental practices into its business, Starbucks Coffee Company has announced that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has granted Starbucks supply chain member, Mississippi River Corporation, the first-ever approval to use recycled content in food packaging, specifically Starbucks hot beverage cups.

Following successful testing, Starbucks expects to convert its hot beverage cups to 10 percent recycled material, an industry first. “Beginning to use post-consumer recycled content hot beverage cups is an important milestone for Starbucks in addressing the environmental impact associated with our paper-buying practices,” said Jim Donald, Starbucks CEO designate. “Starbucks goal is to convert hot cups in our U.S. company-operated retail stores by the end of calendar 2005. We will continue to explore ways to include recycled content in all Starbucks-branded paper goods in our stores.”

Starbucks collaborated for more than two years with its suppliers Solo Cup Company, MeadWestvaco, and Mississippi River Corporation to obtain approval from the FDA for this historic innovation in food packaging. The FDA granted this first-ever approval in September of 2004.

Sustainable Packaging Coalition Plans March Meeting in Charleston

The next meeting of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) is scheduled for March 2-4, 2005 in Charleston, SC, and will be hosted by MeadWestvaco, a founding member of the Coalition. Coalition members will share best practices and discuss emerging issues in packaging sustainability.

The SPC is a working group of packaging professionals ranging from paper and resin manufacturers to consumer product companies. The organization’s dual mission is to: 1) advocate and communicate a positive, robust environmental vision for packaging; and 2) leverage innovative, functional packaging materials and systems that support economic and environmental health. The Coalition’s activities are managed by GreenBlue, a non-profit, 501c3 tax-exempt organization created to provide the theoretical, technical, and information tools required to transform industry into an economically profitable, ecologically regenerative, and socially empowering activity through intelligent design.

SPC members include Biocorp, Cargill Dow, Design & Source Productions, Dow Chemical, Environmental Packaging International, Dupont Soy Polymers, Estee Lauder/Aveda, EvCo Research, Johnson & Johnson, MeadWestvaco, Nike, PepsiCo, Priority Metrics Group, RSVP Packaging, Starbucks, and Unilever. Non-member organizations potentially interested in joining the SPC are invited to attend the meeting. Visit www.sustainablepackaging.org.

Interpack 2005 in Düsseldorf, April 21-27, Expects to Draw More than 170,000 Attendees

Over 2,200 exhibitors from 56 countries have already reserved 1.7 million square feet of net exhibit space in 18 halls for interpack 2005, the 17th International Trade Fair for Packaging Machinery, Packaging and Confectionery Machinery. Already the biggest interpack ever, attendees will flock to the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany, during the week of April 21–27, 2005.

To date, 65% of the interpack 2005 exhibitors are from countries other than Germany. Leading foreign exhibitor nations are Italy, Great Britain, France and the Netherlands. Some 170,000 visitors—processors, wholesalers and distributors of products as well as packaging designers and developers—are expected to take part in interpack 2005.

As one of the most successful capital goods fairs in the world, interpack 2005 will present visitors from key user industries with new products for the food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics segments as well as with innovative solutions and all-inclusive services for all packaging consumer sectors. The spectrum of exhibits at interpack 2005 will provide a comprehensive overview of new technologies and products—from manufacturing processes to packaged end products. Visit www.mdna.com.

IANPP Opens Doors for General Members

The International Association of Natural Product Producers (IANPP), based in Nederland, CO, has announced that general member applications are now being accepted, having closed its campaign for charter members. The organization was very recently formed to develop specific criteria for using the word “natural” in product positioning, labeling, and other marketing communications.

“We are currently working on a draft guidelines sheet, garnering information from dozens of sources in both industry and government,” says IANPP executive director Darrin C. Duber-Smith. “I think we have a group of charter members that is very representative of the various supply chain participants in the Natural Products Industry, and it will be up to these 20 organizations to refine, finalize, and approve these draft guidelines, as well as steer the group in whatever future direction it deems most appropriate.” Visit www.IANPP.org.