The following show briefs were compiled by Plastics News staff reporter Steve Toloken from Pack Expo International 2002, held Nov. 3-7 in Chicago.
Toray offering films to compete with foil
Toray Plastics (America) Inc. introduced several new films and is spending about $2 million to upgrade equipment at its plant in North Kingston, R.I.
Company officials said the investment, which will include a coextruder on its oriented polypropylene line, will offer improved properties to compete against aluminum foil, such as allowing the film to be used in metal-detection equipment that checks for product security.
The company's Torayfan PC-2 film is designed to eliminate delamination when a package is opened and to provide better barrier protection, while its Lumbrite line is designed for the holographic market and its thin-gauge, 45-mil, metalized OPP film is targeted at dry pouch mixes.
Kraton Polymers unveils copolymers
Kraton Polymers introduced three styrene block copolymers that replace one of its resins and help it target packaging, cosmetic and medical markets.
Houston-based Kraton's D-1403P series is aimed at injection molding and thin film applications, and includes a wax slip agent; the D-1431P is designed for thermoforming and sheet applications; and the D-1493P is an unwaxed version of D-1403P.
Kraton introduced its first high-styrene products into the United States four years ago.
Briefly ...
* Molder Comar Inc. of Buena, N.J., has developed a two-piece, oral-dosage dispenser that is easier to assemble than traditional, three-piece models. ... VPI Mirrex Corp. of Salisbury, Md., and New Castle, Del.-based AET Films formed a marketing alliance for AET to sell VPI's PVC machine-direction-oriented shrink film.