Printer News - August 2012

Ampac Wins Innovation Award

CINCINNATI—Ampac has won an award for the recyclable No.2 Pouch™ from the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) for Innovations in packaging. The 2012 IFT Food Expo Innovation Awards program is designed to honor outstanding innovation in products, ingredients, applications, instruments, equipment, technology, and services. The judging criteria includes degree of innovation, solving a problem relevant to food science and technology, technical advancement, benefits to food manufacturers, and benefits to consumers and scientific merit.

Ampac's No.2 Pouch is made from a co-extruded HDPE blend that yields a pouch with excellent stiffness and strength, and can be produced with a clear, opaque, or matte finish. It is also approved for post-consumer recycling with plastic retail shopping bags, and is resealable.

This is the first recyclable stand-up pouch produced by Ampac, and with it, the company also joined several large brands and retailers to include the No. 2 Pouch with in-store recycling using the How2Recycle "Store Drop-off" recycling label, developed by GreenBlue's Sustainable Packaging Coalition.

Sal Pellingra, director of innovation at Ampac said, "The IFT Innovation Award shows Ampac's dedication to sustainability in packaging. The No.2 Pouch provides a simple, easy-to-understand message—'clean, dry, and recycle on your next trip to the store'. In the maze of sustainable solutions, this simple message rings loud. We're pleased with the initial interest in this innovation and thankful for the award."

Innovative Bacardi Labels

MASON, Ohio—Spear has collaborated with Bacardi to develop an interactive label that is paired with its introduction of two new rum flavors: Bacardi Wolf Berry and Bacardi Black Razz. Continuing with a long-standing relationship between the two companies, Spear provided innovative label ideas that are focused on assisting Bacardi with gaining a competitive-edge in the marketplace.

Spear's Toy BOX innovations introduced thermochromic inks on the new Bacardi rum labels that reveal wolf-claw marks on the Wolf Berry flavor and flames on Black Razz in response to temperature change. The label graphics contain bold images that pair well with the adventurous flavors of the new rums, and the interactive, revealing colors are a way to let consumers know the rum is chilled and ready to be served. Using various colors of rotary screen, hot stamp, and flexographic printing, Spear is able to produce the multiple colors of the Wolf Berry and Black Razz labels at its Mason, Ohio facility.

These products will be offered in the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican markets and could launch in Europe in the near future. With these new flavors, Bacardi is targeting younger customers by opening up the chilled-flavored rum category.

WS Packaging Expands Portfolio

GREEN BAY, Wis.—WS Packaging Group has added flexible packaging to its broad portfolio of packaging products. From easy-to-convert paper-faced pouching materials for dry foods and powdered ingredients, to film-faced pouching products with optimal barrier and sealability characteristics for snacks, coffee, wipes, lotions, liquids, and pet food, the new flexible packaging line offers a wide range of products for a variety of markets and end-use applications.

"Flexible packaging allows us to further leverage packaging as a primary point of differentiation for our customers' brands, and to accomplish such with speed and versatility," says Mark Moorhead, director of marketing for WS Packaging. "Brand managers can use flexible packaging to revitalize their product image with longer shelf life, better taste, product safety, convenience, and portability. These materials enable our customers to leverage speed-to-market strategies tied to line extensions, allowing them to stay ahead of their competition."

The wide range of available substrates will enable WS Packaging to build customized flexible packaging constructions for its customers. "Innovative package design is increasingly influencing consumers when it comes to in-store purchasing decisions," Moorhead continues. "Flexible packaging delivers the convenience needed by today's grab-n-go lifestyles."

CCL Expands in Australian Pharmaceuticals

TORONTO—CCL Industries has acquired the assets of the Pharmaceutical Division of Graphitype Printing Services, a privately owned printing company located near Sydney. The acquired business produces labels and instructional leaflets for pharmaceutical customers in Australia and will compliment the existing CCL Label Healthcare operation in Melbourne.

Dave and Kath Morris, the founders of Graphitype Printing Services, will continue to operate their commercial printing business as an independent company. Steve Morris, the business leader of the Pharmaceutical Division, has signed an employment agreement as part of the transaction and will join the Healthcare and Specialty group of CCL Label North America and Australia led by Jim Sellors, group vice president. The acquired business will immediately change its trading name to CCL Label.

Geoffrey Martin, president and CEO of CCL Industries said, "The healthcare sector continues to be attractive for us and we have been very successful with similar acquisitions in this product space in the recent past. The excellent facility in Sydney and the great team assembled by the Morris family while building the business will strengthen our position in Australia with sites now located in both of the key pharmaceutical manufacturing centers in the country."

Nordenia Invests for Growth

JACKSON, Mo.—Nordenia USA has nearly doubled its floor space with the opening of its new Hubble Creek plant. The manufacturer of high-quality films and packaging designed the new 17,000-square-meter building to function as a Center of Competence for pre-made packaging. In the medium term, the expansion is expected to create more than 50 new positions. Nordenia USA Jackson now operates two plants, Hubble Creek and Indian Creek, both located in Missouri.

"By building the plant, we are creating the vital basis for future growth," says Reinhold Franke, managing director at Nordenia USA Jackson. "At the same time, we will be centralizing pre-made packaging, which is a very important branch of our business."

"The expansion of our American site is a central element of our Group strategy," highlights Ralph Landwehr, chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Nordenia International AG. "The new North American plant will enable us to increase our flexibility with regard to our customers and will strengthen our competitive position." pP