technology

The investment, which includes a digital printer and die cutter, provides rapid prototyping for pilot production, industry-leading packaging performance analysis and field lab facilities under one roof. 

The Design2Market Factory is well placed to cater to two of the biggest trends within the packaging industry, sustainability and eCommerce, with customer data, cutting-edge machinery and long-term expertise being utilised to enhance customers’ competitive advantage. 

The new Cascades Enviropac – Tacoma production site marks the start of this expansion in the United States with a first start-up in the America West. It includes a new automated line for manufacturing isothermal packaging under the northbox brand. Its state-of-the-art automation systems make operations more labour efficient. This new site will allow Cascades to increase its production capacity and expand its geographic coverage in the growing isothermal distribution market for ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook meals delivered at home, as well as fresh fish and seafood.

EMD Serono, the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in the U.S. and Canada, announced the launch of its new Slim Pack fertility medication packaging, reduced in size for convenience and environmental impact.

Currently, the coatings are focused on flowers and fruits with inedible skins, however, the companies are investigating opportunities for edible coatings on other fruits and vegetables.

Consumers today expect retailers to minimize food waste by exploring alternatives to plastic packaging which is what inspired the two companies to devise an environmentally-friendly coating. 

The coating sets an alternative in motion that could improve on waste volumes in the value chain.

According to BASF, the new adhesives, Acronal RCF 3705 and Acronal RCF 3706, are designed to be easily removed early in the recycling process for paperboard and cardboard streams. Both adhesives have been certified by the German research and service institute, Papiertechnische Stiftung (PTS), as not interfering with the recycling of transport boxes. 

Uwe Düsterwald, project manager of sustainability in adhesives at BASF, comments: “As we work to achieve worldwide climate neutrality, greater circularity and more effective recycling are a must.

The approach was invented by Dr Bushra Al-Duri, from the University’s School of Chemical Engineering and further developed during a collaborative project with Stopford.