featured in this issue - NZIFST - The New Zealand Institute of Food ...

Overview
Marrying design to content, a fruit juice bottle from
Krones design team
tions properly and looks appealing. The container’s shape has
to satisfy the requirements of a high-speed line in all respects,
a stipulation that is met (always in close consultation with the
client) by the team at Krones Container Design. The experts at
Krones Plastics Technology marry machinery know-how and
process engineering expertise to creative bottle design ideas.
Because Krones’ principle of always thinking holistically also
covers the handling qualities of a container in a complete bottling
and packaging line, and all the way to consumers’ refrigerators.
The entire process demands a lot of experience and
intuitive know-how from everyone involved.
The product development work carried out at Krones is tasked
with combining client’s ideas with technically feasible possibilities
in order to create a viable product. Sample bottles are
subjected to a meticulous programme of testing in the Krones
laboratory which is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments.
Only when all the stipulations involved have been met can an
approval be issued. Only then is the new container ready for
the bottling line and the supermarket. Mission accomplished.
http://www.krones.com/en/service/asia_pacific.htm
Sherpac for flexible liquid
packaging
Have you reviewed your structure
This seems a strange question but the answer in too many cases
is “no!” With the widespread move to flexible packaging for
liquids to take advantage of its many advantages, there is a
general lack of understanding of the structures that are used in
this packaging. From the outside, one flexible pack looks like
another, however the performance, product protection, usage
applications, and environmental impacts vary considerably.
Modern flexible packaging is made up of multi layer laminates:
the materials used, thicknesses, extrusion or bonding methods
and treatments combine to make materials that perform very
differently.
Grant Faber, managing director of Sherpac, says, “Our team is
constantly surprised at the gains companies can make by reviewing
their packaging options. Too many companies continue
to order packaging without reviewing what could be achieved
by alternative structures.
Packaging technology is advancing all the time, so ordering
what you ordered twelve months ago without review is missing
the opportunity for significant gains. Our approach is to
review all the options and present these so that the customer
can understand what can be achieved with the various structure
options available. This is a straightforward process and we help
many companies with their reviews.”
“We can often reconfigure structures, for no additional cost, to
give a customer wider product application, for example allow a
product to be in-pack microwaved where it was not previously
possible, or to extend product shelf life through improved barrier
performance.”
Manufacturers are also urged to use the environmental gains
available with newer flexible packaging structures. Existing materials
may contain chlorides which mean the materials should
not be incinerated. Newer, chloride-free materials are now
available.
So the clear message is, “review your structure”. There is much
to be gained. Michelle Lamberton is ready to answer your questions.
www.Sherpac.co.nz
April/May 2011
17