Packaging Digest - January 1, 2009

The Flexible Packaging Association (www.flexpack.org) pegs the annual sales of the U.S. flexible packaging industry at $25.6 billion. As the second-largest packaging segment in the U.S., flexible packaging and its disposal are an important part of any discussion about eco-friendly packaging. The increasing interest in sustainable packaging may, in fact, drive up demand for flexible packaging, a...

• Cover Story
• Portion-control packages offer sweet solution

• Departments
• Comment
• Despite downturn, these trends will affect packaging
• Design Trends
• Hot-fillable bottle quenches a thirst for Hispanic tea
• Sea salt chips pucker up in new bags
• V8 goes to vending
• Monochromatic fragrance sample kit dispenses multi-element appeal
• Canister puffs up ARGO corn starch
• Jolly-good rum bottle
• Dan Aykroyd Wines pour into the U.S.
• Grolsch's brews up tapper bottle for draft beer experience at home
• Ready meals, from the microwave to your desk
• New Products
• Pouch packaging
• Foam plank
• Elastomers and resins
• Format-adjustment drives
• Surface-treating press
• Oxygen analyzer
• Packer/unpacker
• Right-angle transfer system
• Reclosable medication wallet
• Checkweigher
• Solvent-free overwrap
• PET cosmetic jars
• In-line printer
• Biodegradable resin
• Wrapping films
• Tube, applicator
• Bar-code printer
• Labeling system
• Multi-packing erector
• Hot-fill lines
• Open-mouth bagger
• Heat-transfer fluid system
• Lenticular flexographic printing
• PP film
• Soft-placement module
• Sustainability
• Sustainability prospects in trying times

• Features
• In-Case Filling/Capping
• In-case bottle filling keeps Dial's detergents sudsing
• Retortable Cartons
• IPM introduces retortable cartons
• www.westpackshow.com
• WestPack is back

• New Technology
• Automation and Control
• Modular machine automation
• Sustainable Package
• 'Green' meal packs are top pick