column: 100% packaging
page 5
Packaging nominated for the WorldStar for Packaging 2007 competition organised by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) was assessed in Athens last October. A commission consisting of WPO representatives and a delegated representative of the International Packaging Press Organisation selected exhibits from a total of 291 from 32 countries.
WorldStar for Packaging for the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic
Eleven representatives of packaging companies participated from the Czech Republic and 1 from Slovakia. Six Czech exhibits and 1 Slovak exhibit were awarded the world packaging title.
These are: the La Vache qui rit (The Laughing Cow) cup and lid for cream cheeses and the Bonté tub and lid by the company greiner packaging, s. r. o. Slušovice, the display for Opavia – Horalky wafers by the company Thimm Obaly, k. s., the display for the Vlnky wafers by the company Smurfit Kappa Olomouc, s. r. o., the returnable transport packaging for moulded glass by the company První obalové společnosti s r. o., 3D 9mm setting by the company DROPAX, s. r. o. and the wine label for Tokaj 2006, Lipovina, Bobuľový zber (grape wine harvest) by the company Purgina, s. r. o., SK.
column: Market analysis
Packaging market in central and east Europe is in motion
page 10
Central and east Europe is an appropriate base for large multinational companies producing food and products for daily consumption, which requires specific and constantly more sophisticated packaging thereby creating an enormous demand in the region for high quality packaging.
West European manufacturers export packaging to markets of east Europe. However the reason for being more flexible in deliveries and services convinces them of the effective investment on this market and of establishing new companies. Being there where the customers are is becoming more worthwhile. The costs of qualified workforce, energy and raw materials are lower here, and the conditions for joint ventures, investments, a rapidly growing economy and consumer market are beneficial.
column: Main topic-food packaging
Technology
Active packaging not in a hurry to be put into practice
page 14
Active packaging systems represent an attractive area for packaging technology. Although their history is older, the concept of active packaging was used for the first time in 1989. Since then and to date it has been the most studied subject of packaging technology. In 2002 the situation was first described in this magazine in the development of active packaging systems appropriate for food production. This article comments on the changes that have occurred in the sphere of development and utilisation of active food packaging and whether the progress has been apparent.
Food packaging requirements are quickly increasing
page 18
Since its appearance to this day foldable packaging has become a true evergreen in food. The fact that this packaging is among the most popular particularly for food is due not only to its largely attractive design whether graphic or constructive, but also its economic demands with regard to logistic flow. Its indisputable merit is that it is delivered to manufacturers of goods that need to be packaged in the folded, i.e. flat form. This article examines its construction possibilities, and the materials and printing techniques applied.
Decoration to dress up plastic packaging
page 24
Just as clothes maketh the man so good packaging makes a product successful. Packaging decoration is supposed to attract the eyes of the consumer by its attractiveness and draw attention to the added value of this or that product. It would appear that currently there is no place elsewhere in Europe and the world that uses any other technology for producing and decorating plastic packaging that is not already used by the company greiner packaging Slušovice. The following words speak of individual alternative ways of decorating and of the type of production technologies and materials used.
Interview
IMA machines for filling teabags
page 28
One of the biggest world producers of packaging machines is the Italian company IMA S. p. A. based in Bologna. The food sector and corresponding spectrum of packaging machines are represented on the Czech and Slovak market through the company PTY, spol. s r. o. Besides sales support this company also provides technical and advisory services and other services for these machines. We talked to Jiří Richter, the company’s executive officer about the trends and prospects of filling bags with tea.
Case study
Multiform-Line not only for muffins
page 32
The new highly stretchable packaging made of specially layered carton called Multiform-Line offers simple handling and several methods of use. It can be used as a bowl for ready-made food or semi-finished food products as a baking mould for pastry or as multi-pack cups. This product by the company STI Group was presented with the iF Design Award 2008.
Depending on the coating (PE, PP, PET or PBT) the packaging possesses an oily barrier preventing penetration of water steam or oxygen. Moreover it is waterproof and fireproof so it can be used in microwave and baking ovens.
The properties of this material were utilised by the Swiss company Jowa which uses it to pack muffin dough designed for home baking.
Legislation
page 34
One of the basic requirements as well as the obligations of food producers with regard to the protection of consumer interests is the labelling of food products. This obligation applies to foodstuffs regardless of whether this concerns the labelling of packaged food designed for the end consumer packaged or non-packaged food that is stored in external packaging, or food offered for direct sale to the end consumer and visibly marked on hanging boards, signs or other appropriate method of marked non-packaged food. Specific legislative requirements for labelling food is found in the Food Act No.
110/1997 Coll., or its amendment no. 456/2004 Coll., as amended and in its implementing decrees no. 324/1997 Coll., on food labelling, or no. 113/2005 Coll., or no. 101/2007 Coll. Apart from this last amended decree there are a whole series of other specific requirements for food labelling that are found in individual commodity decrees.
Logistic column
A warehouse needs to be utilised effectively
page 40
Warehouses for Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) always appear at the customer’s wishes. If we put aside the traditional cross docking point for forwarding services, an example of fast moving consumer goods storage may be a fresh goods warehouse where the durability of products plays a crucial role. In such cases the goods in the warehouse need to be quickly “moved over”.
The storage period for fresh products is a maximum of 6 days, but some types of goods are dispatched very quickly – within one or two days. During the acceptance of goods information about the durability of individual products is normally entered in the information system – today usually by the scanning of the EAN code with a reader. Goods are often stored in traditional palletised shelves while the FI-FO (first in – first out) storage system needs to be observed.
Logistic label a necessity for now
page 41
Today the packaging and attachment of logistic units, most often of pallets, is almost exclusively carried out with the use of various types of plastic film, palletised sacks and other attaching materials. The resulting packaging usually does not contain any graphic and promotional features and is not even equipped with the necessary information data about the unit. Business practice shows the increasing importance of quick and accurate link in the flow of information that accompanies the actual physical flow of goods.
These requirements are fully complied with automatic identification using barcodes accompanied by electronic data interchange – EDI. However, at the present time the still relatively low level of the use of EDI communication requires the scanning of the necessary data for the receipt of goods, traceability etc. from barcodes on a standardised logistic label.
Technology column
Heidelberg machines also for packers
page 44
The company Heidelberg, which is known as the biggest world producer of sheet-fed printing machines, is also the supplier of an extensive portfolio of end processing equipment. During the corporate presentation of its new machine carton-gluing machine called the Easygluer, last summer our editorial office had the opportunity of also becoming acquainted with further machines for the production of packaging.
News report
The first at OTK in the Czech Republic
page 46
The print works Obchodní tiskárny, a.s., Kolín (OTK) put the multi-purpose digital HP Indigo press ws4500, the first of its type in the Czech Republic, into operation on 23 January 2008. This equipment can carry out special orders at high speed and quality that exceeds the possibilities of conventional printing technologies. Representatives of OTK’s clients, the professional public and professional press attended the official presentation of the new printing machine. Our photo news story documents the entire event.
Packaging and SW column
One of the leaders in the field of prepress preparation on the Czech market, the company Macron Systems organised a seminar with a workshop at its seat in Prague at the end of last year designed for existing and future clients. Some new SW items and innovations offered by the company EskoArtwork, represented by Macron Systems on the Czech market, were presented at this event. EskoArtwork is one of the leading producers of prepress technology in the world. The company offers various unique solutions which includes prepress and preproduction preparation of packaging.