WASHINGTON - The Flexible Packaging Association has honored a dozen packaging manufacturers with awards for addressing packaging problems. FPA is a Washington-based group representing manufacturers. A panel of seven judges representing industry, consumers, government, academia, the environmental community and the packaging trade press considered 33 entries in five categories for its annual Top Packaging Awards, which were announced March 7.
The winners in the food and drink category were:
*Andy Boy Broccoli Florets and San Francisco Stir Fry - James River Corp. of Milford, Ohio.
A special microperforated polyethylene film allows the high-respiring vegetables to ``breathe,'' extending freshness up to a week.
Armour Big Ones Meat Sticks - American National Can Co. of Chicago and Kapak Corp. of Minneapolis.
Ultrahigh barrier, nonfoil film from ANC maximizes protection and allows the buyer to see the smoked meat product, while the reclosable zipper pouch precludes individual wrapping.
PD-900 Family of Produce Packaging - Cryovac Division of W.R. Grace & Co. in Duncan, S.C.
Cryovac addressed the problem of produce respiration by developing an entire line of films that have variable permeabilities. Available as either film or bags, the PD-900 materials can be matched to the respiration rates of the produce being packaged to extend life, flavor and appearance.
Sunmet Fresh Sliced Apples - Maine Poly Inc. of Greene, Maine.
In combination with a natural citric acid solution to reduce browning, the oxygen-permeable bag allows the fruit to stay fresh up to two weeks, and permits five-color printing and decorating.
Tropical Freezes - Lawson Mardon Flexible Inc. in Arlington Heights, Ill.
Custom designed for a new line of pre-mixed frozen alcoholic drinks, the pouch structure preserves the slushy consistency, while the multi-ply laminated materials allows processing on machinery that heats, forms, fills and seals the package with full printing capability.
In the pet food @@Category:
Kaytee Forti-Diet Ferret Food - Duralam Inc. of Appleton, Wis.
The package reduces package volume by 95 percent, and provides improved moisture barrier and puncture and cracking resistance in an eight-color, flexographic, reverse-printed form, with a reclosable zipper.
Meaty Bone Easy Carry, Reclosable, Stand-Up Bag - James River and ANC.
The bag offers a weight reduction of 40 percent over a 6-pound folding carton, and has superior moisture and oxygen barriers, reclosable zipper and full printability.
In the medical packaging @@Category:
Avitene MCH - Rollprint Packaging Products Inc. of Addison, Ill., and Kapak.
The need for an easy-opening laminate of reverse-printed polyester, foil and a proprietary sealant led to the development of the film material by Rollprint, and the pouch by Kapak. The pouch offers moisture, oxygen and light-barrier qualities and withstands dry-heat sterilization. It replaces the jar-inside-a-can design for the sterile powder product.
Ethicon Peelable Suture Package - ANC.
This peelable, easy-open construction replaces a two-part system, reduces package weight by 25 percent, can be sterilized in one pass through a sterilizer instead of two, and gives better access to surgical theater personnel.
In the consumer goods @@Category:
Spiderwire Fusion Fishing Line Pouch - James River.
The multilayer PET/PE package allows testing of the fishing line without compromising the package, reduces pilferage, carries a hologram and is fully printable.
SumPak Smart Glue Package - Polymeric Systems Inc. of Phoenixville, Pa.
Rolling a pencil up from the bottom of this small package ruptures a burstable seal and allows two adhesive components to mix thoroughly before dispensing. The continuous feed manufacturing process heat seals three film layers, and fills and seals the special pouches, while offering 35 percent weight reduction.
ElectroPak System - James Dawson Enterprises Ltd. of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Georgia Packaging Inc. based in Danbury, Conn.
A heat-sealed, vacuum-packed barrier package to protect welding electrodes from moisture during shipment, this package replaces metal canisters and allows shipment of smaller quantities. The cross-laminated PET/PE structure reduces shipping weight, and is resistant to puncture.
The LockPak - Guilford Packaging & Fiber Inc. of Highpoint, N.C.
Furniture is placed on a corrugated tray and covered with a composite bag made of PE film and foam. A corrugated end cap is placed on the end of the furniture. The whole package is then wrapped in a PE shrink film bag. The piece is passed through a heat tunnel to shrink the outer bag. It reduces package volume and weight from traditional corrugated packages. The packaging prevents damage and permits nesting for easier storage and shipping.
