Arlington, VA, November 9, 2006 – Packaging professionals attending last week’s PACK EXPO International voted the sleek package developed for Beneful® Prepared Meals™ as the winner of the inaugural PACK EXPO Selects™ awards program. PACK EXPO Selects™ was the newest addition to The Showcase of Packaging Innovations™, a special pavilion sponsored by The Dow Chemical Company. PACK EXPO was held from October 29 – November 2, 2006 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. The PACK EXPO Selects™ program was comprised of a special display and electronic voting system that allowed tradeshow attendees to recognize the year’s most innovative packaging designs by voting for their favorite nominee. Each of the fifteen finalist packages were developed, designed, converted or produced by one or more PACK EXPO International 2006 exhibitors. PACK EXPO International is sponsored and produced by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI). “This was a great chance to highlight the innovative designs our exhibitors offer to the consumer market,” noted Charles D. Yuska, president and CEO, PMMI. “We are very pleased with the voting turnout this new program received. PACK EXPO attendees could vote for their two favorite products, and when the final tallies were counted, it was a close race. Every vote counted. Congratulations to Beneful® Prepared Meals™ and all of the PACK EXPO Selects™ finalists for their ground-breaking contributions. We look forward to another spirited competition at PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2007.” PACK EXPO Selects™ 2006 Winner: Beneful® Prepared Meals™ Dog Food
The Beneful® Prepared Meals™ dog food package was designed to create a distinctive product that would appeal to pet owners, incorporate barriers needed for extended shelf stability and provide the performance needed to withstand the high temperatures and pressure of the retort process. The final product is thermoformed of a proprietary, clear, seven-layer polypropylene/ ethylene vinyl alcohol coextrusion designed to achieve specific barrier and performance requirements. The innerseal locks out air and other elements to protect nutrients while the container’s full body, heat-shrinkable sleeve label includes product viewing windows. If contents are left over, consumers can easily snap on the lid to reseal the container and refrigerate for future use. Contributing exhibitors to the Beneful® Prepared Meals™ product include Alcoa Packaging, Hans Rychiger AG, Orics Industries, Inc., PDC International Corporation and Printpack, Inc. The following five PACK EXPO Selects™ finalists were selected as the top innovative products during the show: - Beneful® Prepared Meals™
- Meow Mix Select Cup
Meow Mix’s Market Select wet cat food cup is a custom thermoformed rigid container utilizing a proprietary high barrier multi-layer structure with design characteristics specifically implemented for retort processing performance. The multi-layer, high barrier foil based peelable retort lid showcases graphics without wrinkles or distortion. The container has been designed to physically withstand the high temperature and pressure it undergoes in the retort process.
Contributing exhibitor: Printpack, Inc. - Lipton Green Tea to Go
To meet consumer demand for convenient ways to eat and live healthier without giving up great taste, Unilever Foods North America introduced Lipton powdered tea products in single-serve stick packets for on-the-go consumption. Consumers add the contents to bottled water, shake and drink. The mini packets are formed from a polyester/foil/polyester laminate supplied as rollstock. The structure is reverse-printed in seven colors by offset lithography.
Contributing exhibitor: Sonoco Products Company - Simpads
Constructed from 100% recycled EPS foam, patented Simpad cushions offer shippers a simple to use, low-cost, reusable protective packaging solution. Simpads contour to the shape of the object it is wrapped around. The Simpad can then be straightened out and reused to protect a different object. Applications include computer products, electronics, automotive parts, electric motors, pumps and valves, castings and more.
Contributing exhibitor: Simpak International LLC - Cool Java
Designed to protect beverages from oxygen, the bottles stand up to the rigorous retort sterilization process without the internal panels or ribs found in other retort bottles and keep contents shelf-stable. Produced using a value-added multi-layer process, the bottle’s curved structure eliminates wrinkled shrink sleeve labels while its induction seal closure is easy to open and reclose.
Contributing exhibitor: Sonoco Products Company
Other packages selected as finalists for the awards program include: BENJAMIN Bag
The BENJAMIN is an automatic form-fill-seal system suitable for medium capacity filling of powder products into plastic bags. Offering dust-free filling and a securely sealed plastic bag, product cleanliness and moisture protection is ensured and storage life is increased.
Contributing exhibitor: Haver Filling Systems, Inc. BottleMaster® Three-Pack
This stylish, functional carrier uniquely positions three glass bottles ensuring no glass-to-glass contact and providing excellent protection. Constructed from .018 Coated Natural Kraft Carrier Kote with aqueous gloss coating, the BottleMaster® carrier offers an ideal vehicle for promotions and new product launches.
Contributing exhibitor: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems Corby’s Minuit Cream
The package for Corby’s Minuit Cream liquor features a unique shrink sleeve label with UV blocking film and inks to protect the cream-based product.
Contributing exhibitors: Enocapsule Inc. and Gilbreth Packaging Duodozen® Ice-Pak
Designed to replace a conventional cooler, this unique carton offers consumers a “chimney” addition that allows the container to nearly double its height once opened, creating plenty of room for ice. Created for Tecate in Mexico, the carton is constructed from .018 Coated Natural Kraft Carrier Kote with aqueous gloss coating.
Contributing exhibitor: MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems Kleenex® Tissue Cup
Both practical and ergonomic, the Kleenex tissue cup measures 7 x 17 centimeters and holds 50 tissues. The thermoformed top end with an opening in the center gives the consumers easy access to the tissues.
Contributing exhibitor: Sonoco Products Company Kleenex® Ultra Soft
Structural uniqueness of this canister is achieved by pressure fitting a composite lid under the folded top edge of the container. The center paperboard piece is removed by the consumer to facilitate access to the tissues. The injection molded frame remains, adding structural strength to the overall container.
Contributing exhibitors: Focke & Co. and Paper Machinery Corporation Ocean Spray Club Store Bliss Box Display Case
This corrugated shipping container has high top to bottom stacking strength, maximum rigidity to accommodate large product sizes, high product visibility, a smooth surface for optimum printability and an open design for maximum shop-ability.
Contributing exhibitors: CIVision and Moen Industries Readifoods’ Tesco Temptations Fruit & Snack Mixes
This single-wrap rigid container has the barrier properties of a composite can. Designed to be portable and durable, the small oval-shaped canister features a clear, heat-sealed, anti-mist membrane to ensure a long shelf life while its opaque cap keeps product fresh but also allows for easy opening. The label is printed using six-color lithography with a varnish.
Contributing exhibitor: Sonoco Products Company Vino-Seal™
The Vino-Seal™ is a glass stopper with an inert o-ring to provide a hermetic seal. The patented design prevents oxidation and contaminates from entering the bottle. No corkscrew is needed for opening the bottle and the wine can be resealed with the closure.
Contributing exhibitor: Alcoa Closure Systems International Wasatch’s Park City IceWater™
This proprietary pouch film structure combines PET, biaxially oriented nylon with a coextruded organoleptic inner sealant layer to protect taste, odor, color of water and pouch integrity. The cap’s enlarged, ergonomic design makes it easy to grasp, turn and access the liquid. The package’s valve prevents pouch from spilling, leaking or dripping if tipped and keeps out air and other contaminants.
Contributing exhibitor: Ampac Flexibles
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