PMT Current Issue Contents

Mike Haldane of 3M has helped the company leverage next-generation packaging applications.

In early 2001, when Mike Haldane went to work at 3M, he brought a wealth of experience from the information technology sector. Early in his career he ran an IT services firm and later joined Intel Corporation as a product manager, concentrating on new product development.

Since joining the St. Paul, Minnesota-based company, Haldane, who is the business manager for 3M's Integrated Packaging Management business within the Industrial Services and Solutions division, has been instrumental on a number of fronts.

He co-authored the functional specifications for the 3M Integrated Packaging Tool, a suite of software solutions for 3M and other large packagers. Within 3M, the Integrated Packaging Tool is expected to lead to multimillion-dollar savings in the next three to five years, by significantly reducing the number of packaging specs used by the company and by stimulating other global process improvements related to packaging.

PMT recently spoke with Haldane about his role at 3M, how the Internet is impacting the packaging process and what lies ahead for the industry.

And how to keep them from happening to you.

In a recent study by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute, 41 percent of more than 1,000 respondents said addressing performance issues for machinery and equipment was key to increasing productivity.

Within that 41 percent, the most often-cited method of addressing those issues was "improving maintenance."

Packaging Professionals gave PMT a general list of issues the industry as a whole must deal with on a daily basis.

Do you want to know how to implement RFID in packaging?

The Department of Defense (DOD) has used RFID tags for some time. The REG was formed by the DOD to speed implementation of RFID and develop guidelines that could be incorporated into military standards (MILSTD). However, since Wal-Mart, Target and others got onto the RFID wagon the REG sponsorship was transferred to AIM Global. The standards work of AIM Global is done under the banner of www.autoid.org.

The REG subgroups have developed various guidelines published under the name Terms of Reference (ToR). The leadership of ToR13 dealing with “packaging” is under PMMI. ToR13 titled, Proposed Guidelines for the Use of passive RFID Transponders on Transport units and Pallets for commercial uses, is available for use and comment. Click here to download the document,

PMT's 2005 Packaging Line of the Year

PMT is searching for the Packaging Line of the Year.

Entries for the competition are due May 1, 2005.

Any packaging line in the U.S. or Canada that became fully operational in 2004 is eligible to enter. This contest is not limited to new line installations - major expansions or renovations can and should enter the competition.

The winning packaging line – and all companies associated with the line - will receive unparalleled recognition and publicity through high profile attention and media coverage from PMT magazine, PMMI and PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2005.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Providing an opportunity to display design models within a showcase area at PACK EXPO Las Vegas
• Being recognized at an awards presentation at PACK EXPO Las Vegas
• Taking part in a special session of the Conference at PACK EXPO detailing the success of the project
• Being the focus of a cover story and feature article in PMT magazine’s September/October issue which will be distributed at PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2005
• Paying airfare, hotel and show registration costs to bring two representatives from the end user company to PACK EXPO Las Vegas.

Look for more information on entering this competition in the March/April issue of PMT and online at www.PMTdirect.com/PackLine05.