Packing them in

On 24 and 25 February, Easyfairs’ Packtech exhibition will open its doors to visitors. It will be co-located with Ecopack, the event for environmentally responsible packaging, Packaging Innovations, which showcases primary packaging, and Contract Pack, ‘the place to find a professional outsourcing partner’. Packaging Today will be previewing Packaging Innovations and Ecopack in the February issue, and sister magazine Contract Packing, will provide a taste of the Contract Pack exhibition in the December/January issue.

Packtech will focus on packaging technology and machinery, and is aimed at packaging production directors, technologists, buyers, print managers, distribution & logistics managers, and senior managers and directors. Technology will be on show for all product sectors, from food and beverages to pharmaceuticals; and from industrial products to cosmetics.

Goplasticpallets.com will be introducing its new two-colour pallet concept at the show this year. Jim Hardisty, managing director of the company, says: “We have introduced the concept of two-coloured pallets to help our customers more easily identify their pallets and prevent them from getting lost in the supply chain.”

The medium weight plastics pallets are produced by Belgian manufacturer IPS using a two-part mound. Companies are offered the opportunity to colour pallets according to their corporate colour scheme. A variety of different colour combinations are available. Also on show on Goplasticpallets.com’s stand will be a variety of different coloured hygienic pallets, the company’s APB 1210 pool pallet and a selection of plastics boxes from the GoBox range.

More pallets will be on show from Kayserberg Plastics. The company will be exhibiting the Ducaplast range of washable modular returnable containers, comprising the washable Uni-Pak 800 x 600, the 1,200 x 800 and Euro wooden pallets. The company says that the containers are very light – 12kg and 24kg, respectively - due to twin-sheet technology. Each container folds flat in a complete unit: pallet + sleeve + lid, for optimised return of the empty packs. Lightweight integrated handles make the containers easy to handle, and the containers can be washed in automated washing machines. They are said to last over 10 years in normal use.

Labels

Abbey Labels will be showing its new range of Peel and Reveal labels, along with scratch-off labels and ‘eye catching’ promotional labels. Fully accredited to BRC/IoP (food labelling accreditation in accordance with supermarket requirements), Abbey Labels’ representatives will be on hand to discuss any food labelling requirements, whether it is for a large run or a small run.

Also on display will be a range of household goods labels, which have been over laminated for added protection; and a range of labels from recycled sources.

Atwell will be launching its environmentally friendly ‘linerless’ print & apply label applications systems at the exhibition. These units have been designed to provide an alternative to standard self-adhesive labelling systems. Some of the advantages claimed are: zero wastage of paper; no backing paper and ribbons to dispose of in landfill sites; 60% more labels on a reel; increased print head life on print & apply models; and fewer change-overs and need to carry specific sized labelstocks.

Solutions

IDi Pac will be demonstrating its Late Stage Customisation skills at the Easyfairs show. Late Stage Customisation is becoming ever more capable of meeting the needs of de-stocking, flexible supply, small orders and rapid response, according to the company, which has recently completed a challenging project with a major international pharmaceutical company. Coupled with the benefits of high throughput digital print media, Late Stage Customisation delivers cost effective, flexible short run production, says the company.

Travelling from Germany to exhibit this year is Köra-Packmat, which manufactures a range of friction feeders for both its own wrapping machines and also for other companies’ machines. The BasicFeeder and AdvancedFeeder are part of the latest generation of friction feeders on offer; while the EasyFeeder EF-235 is a ‘cost-effective’ entry model for separation of flat products. The choice of friction feeder depends on the type of products to be separated, and the capacity, according to Kora-Packmat. Printed atter, ISO-plastic-cards, pill blisters, and samples are all examples of the types of applications the feeders are used for.

Shopping for knowledge

Featured during the four exhibitions will be 50 free-to-attend learnShops. A number of issues will be discussed, including openability; the latest in labelling; consumer behaviour at point of sale; and eco-friendliness. Some of the world’s leading authorities are taking part. Among them will be Stephen Pizer, Tesco’s packaging technical manager, who has changed Tesco’s approach to packaging and the environment.