Wrapped in novelty

1 February 2012



This year’s Packaging Innovations event, organised by easyFairs, takes place on Wednesday 29 February and Thursday 1 March , in halls 9 and 10 at the NEC, Birmingham, UK. Felicity Murray gives a flavour of what visitors can expect to find around the stands


With more than 170 exhibitors from across the globe, the 2012 Packaging Innovations exhibition – co-located with Contract Pack (see our Contract Packing website for more information on these exhibitors), EcoPack, PackTech and the new Print Innovations show – is set to showcase all that is new in packaging, from the very latest designs, product developments and materials, to future trends.

It’s a diary date must for brand managers, marketers, manufacturers, retailers, engineers and technologists seeking the ultimate packaging solutions.

New products

Among the many new products at the shows, M&H Plastics (stand A18) will be showcasing two new packaging concepts: Toni & Guy’s fashion-inspired packaging, featuring new technology with high-build varnish printed onto the text to give a high gloss premium embossed effect, which contrasts with the co-ex matt finish of the HDPE bottles; and its portfolio of 30ml PET tubulars for sample packs and hotel amenities ranges.

The full range of Fix-a-Forms will be showcased by Denny Bros (stand D57) along with the new Bookmaxx PLUS multipage label,. This latest credit card-sized booklet opens to reveal up to 16 pages of neatly packaged print – ideal for coupons, fixture lists, timetables and advertising local attractions. And, as it is a folded, staple-free product, it is suitable for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Thistle Marketing (stand F53) will launch its new range of dispensing devices for the packaging market. The “innovative and cost-effective” foamers form part of the range, which includes lotion dispensers and spray pumps. MD Murdoch Crawford says: “We believe the four-piece foamer will offer many new market opportunities to our clients who have previously found them cost prohibitive.”

SK Direct (stand K37) will be introducing two new tamper-evident seals: tamper-evident packaging tape SK76, a security carton sealing tape to keep content safe in transit or storage; and clear tamper-evident retail packaging seals with UV void messages. Sander Greving, sales director says: “The retail packaging labels indicate any unauthorised entry, without interfering with the original packaging design. The void message left after removal is very clearly visible under UV-light. Labels are printable by hotfoil printing, including sequential numbering and barcodes.”

Scatolificio Cristina (stand D29), which specialises in luxury packaging, produces printed PET cartons for the confectionery, toiletries, fine fragrance and general gift markets. The company will be showcasing its new Smartline crease technology that creates the same, easy-to-handle crease as the traditional soft-crease, but is said to be more efficient to produce and, therefore, comes at a reduced cost. Suitable for both hand-erect and machine-erect cartons, it increases packing speeds and, therefore, reduces packing costs.

Southern Cross Packaging (stand C13) will be demonstrating OvenPack, a “safe and functional” hot meal delivery system. Simon Haarburger, co-owner and sales director at Southern Cross, says: “The OvenPack provides a unique solution that not only results in a simple cook and opening experience for the consumer, but also enables food processors to fill and seal without major capital investment. Furthermore, the Widely Recycled status means that the OvenPack can be rinsed and deposited in the recycling stream.”

Cosmetic packaging company Lumson (stand B17) will be demonstrating its “revolutionary” TAG-System, said to be the first and only airless system in a glass bottle.

Stefano Focolari, chief marketing officer at Lumson, remarks: “The system is designed, patented and manufactured exclusively by Lumson. TAG, which stands for Techno Airless Glass, is the ultimate packaging innovation. A system that combines the beauty, the preciousness and the luxury of a glass bottle with the technical and functional advantages of an airless dispensing system.”

A star attraction on the STO stand (stand C21) will be the faceted bottle Austria-based Stölzle Flaconnage has Marcel Eau de Parfum has been custom designed by Oriflame in collaboration with Franco-Swedish designer, Marcel Marongiu. The intricate, multi-faceted square 50ml bottle is a “triumph of glass moulding”. The base, complete with more facets, is de-bossed with the initial ‘M’, the designer’s emblem.

“With this bottle, the distribution of glass in the mould is critical,” said Mark Devonald Smith, STO sales director of perfumery and personal care. “The shallowness of the bottle intensifies the difficulty provided by the facets, and base moulding adds another tricky feature.”

Rexam supplied the square cap in metallic bronze. It features a central panel engraved with another ‘M’ that activates a spray through one side.

Sustainable solutions

One of the exhibtors demonstrating the advantages of low carbon footprint will be Easibind International (stand E26) which was one of the first companies to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard. The company will be demonstrating the advantages of low carbon footprint and added value print media.

Harry Skidmore MBE, CEO Easibind International, explains: “We’ll be offering two services, Less Is More and Seeing is Believing. Less Is More will promote a range of visual display packaging, small format POS and signage and 3D visual active promotions. This will include the use of printable electronics and interactive technologies to link with consumer electronics to support brands and retailers in providing consumer information at the point of purchase. Seeing is Believing will demonstrate the key benefits of smart packaging and point of sale and display. This includes long life, closed loop reusable, recycling and recyclable materials and processes.”

FKuR (stand E33), a company that develops biodegradable plastics, has become Europe’s exclusive distributor of Braskem’s Green-PE, and these will be on display. The ethanol used to make Green-PE is made from sugarcane produced in Brazil. The renewable resource ratio per product can, the company says, reach up to 100%, depending on the application. Each tonne produced captures up to 2.5 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Edmund Dolfen, CEO, adds: “Our Green-PE has the same technical properties as regular PE made from crude oil, but this unique and ground-breaking product is made from natural resources.”

Manuplastics (stand D28) will be displaying its two new single-walled PP 15ml and 30ml edge jars to complement its standard edge range. Developed with an Italian toolmaker to mould constant wall section small diameter jars, these are the first in the market of this size. They are said to be the ideal size for lip products, eye gels, gift sets, postal promotions, travel products and hotel amenities.

The Notbox Company (stand E29) is aiming to take the traditional ‘one use’ cardboard box out of the global supply chain, with its Notbox – “a unique, costeffective and environmentally-responsible alternative”. Notbox can be used in exactly the same way as a standard cardboard box, but will last for up to three years, the company claims. Notbox will also be showcasing its most recent products: an insulated cold chain Notbox, and NotPod, a supply chain distribution pod.

Nicholl Food Packaging (stand G31) offers a wide range of trays for all types of food applications, including ready meals, convenience foods and fresh and frozen products. As well as its established expertise in aluminium foil trays, the company’s widened portfolio now includes fibre pulp trays, paperboard trays enhanced with a plastics coating and rim, thermoformed trays, dual-ovenable board trays, ovenable greaseproof paper bakery trays and film lidding, to meet an even wider range of customer requirements.

New products include the TO109R paper round ovenable bakery tray made from wood pulp, offering excellent barrier properties and the ability to be used in both convection and microwave ovens; and DeLight, an ovenable paperboard tray suitable for MAP applications.

Technology

Packtech is the place to find the latest technology that can turn your packaging idea into a final product. It will showcase machinery, printing systems and converting technology.

Linear motion specialist, HepcoMotion (stand D16) will be demonstrating its strength in providing reliable components, sub-assemblies and turnkey systems for easy integration into the automated production environment. In particular, it will focus on driven systems and continuous and circular motion, fields in which this British manufacturer has considerable expertise.

Atwell Self Adhesive Labellers (stand F13) will demonstrate its next generation high speed linerless labellers, which are said to have environmental benefits, as well as the ability to reduce labelling costs and increase production efficiencies. In addition, the compact design of the latest linerless labelling heads means they can be integrated into most production lines.

Advanced Dynamics (stand F4) has launched a low cost range of versatile labelling equipment that it believes will revolutionise bottle labelling and open up new markets. Aimed at a variety of price-competitive sectors, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, homewares and food and drink, these “exceptionally accurate and robust” fully automated label applicators can be bespoke or integrated into a line for a variety of container sizes, cartons and bottle shapes, whether glass or plastics, and are said to be “extremely affordable”, with prices starting from as little as £6,000.

UPM Conveyors (stand E2) will be highlighting its all-plastics 90 degree radiusswan neck belt conveyor, produced in FDA approved high molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE), suitable for food contact applications and for which the company won the Queens Award for Innovation.

Abco Kovex (stand G4) will display its full range of Veeboard edge and corner protection. The range is primarily paper based but also includes plastics injectionmoulded strap protectors, corners and buckles. These products will be exhibited alongside Stratos 11.4 micron stretch film, which has the capability of stretching 300%. By introducing a new blend of polymers, Abco Kovex says it has created “an incredibility unique film”.

John Rollason, area sales manager, explains: “This film enables us to extrude down to just 11.4 micron in thickness with no compromise on strength, puncture resistance or load retention.”

Fortress Technology (stand G1) will be showing its latest Vector integrated conveyor and metal detector system, which has been enhanced recently to meet new supermarket retailer standards. It now comprises an audible or visual alarm to indicate when there have been metal rejects, to help early identification of potential issues. The unit on display will feature a Stealth control panel specially designed for use in a range of production environments and incorporating a USB port for data capture.

Learnshops

While exhibitors are the main attraction, there are also 50 free-to-attend Learnshops, delivered by industry experts, that span every aspect of packaging. Among the lineup will be Nick Brown, associate director for Great Britain at Coca-Cola; Doug James, CEO of Honey; and Stuart Foster, director at RECOUP. Also, returning by popular demand, is The BIG Packaging Debate and Lion’s Lair, where six exhibitors will pitch their latest products to a panel of brand, retail and packaging experts.

At a glance

Dates & Times

Wednesday, 29 February 2012, 10.00–17.00

Thursday, 1 March 2012, 10.00–16.00

Venue

Halls 9 & 10,

National Exhibition Centre,

Birmingham, B40 1NT


Nicholl’s Micro-Rib tray offers a number of resource efficiencies, thanks to its lightweight properties Micro-Rib Fortress Vector conveyor with Stealth control panel Fortress Vector Denny Bros ‘info on the go' Denny Bros The faceted bottle Stölzle Flaconnage has produced for Marcel by Oriflame Oriflame Manuplastics two new single-walled PP 15ml and 30ml edge jars Manuplastics

Denny Bros Denny Bros
Manuplastics Manuplastics
Oriflame Oriflame
Fortress Vector Fortress Vector
Micro-Rib Micro-Rib


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