January 2020

Looking for some fun packaging designs to inspire you? Come out to Anaheim, CA, the second week of February 2020 when we’ll open the door to The Snack Shack at WestPack interactive exhibit.Brought to you by Packaging Digest and our owner, Informa Markets, the Snack Shack is free to attendees of…

Brand owners and their packaging designers strive for a bull’s-eye with each new creative brief, but the package designs that make it into the marketplace aren’t always on target.The reasons for failure are myriad. The package may be great looking and protective of the product, but it’s tough to open; a…

When a consumer purchases a 500-milliliter bottle of a soft drink, how do they know if they get the amount of product that they paid for? Fortunately, in most—if not all—developed nations, there are legislations that enforce acceptable levels of variation between declared net content and the actual weight or volume…

New trends in pharmaceutical packaging follow developments in emerging markets, demographic changes and new technologies—and that includes holography, says chairman of the International Hologram Manufacturers Assn. Paul Dunn. With predictions that the global market for anti-counterfeiting packaging is set to reach almost US$250 billion by 2026, growth in pharmaceutical packaging authentication and anti-tamper…

For food packagers that require flexible packaging, the Triangle/JDD Rotary Pouch Machine provides an automated method for filling and sealing premade pouches. The filler, from vertical form-fill-seal machinery manufacturer Triangle Package Machinery Co. and JDD Packaging Ltd., features an open machine design for proper sanitation and maintenance.The system is compatible with…

The rotary design of the SP-32-20 Thermoformer from Shawpak, a division of Riverside Medical Packaging Co., enables medical packagers and others to significantly reduce their thermoforming footprint and boost automation efficiencies.The thermoformer can be used to form, fill and seal rigid and flexible blisters and to produce flat, four-side seal sachets…

While not quite controversial, the results of our first poll on the viability of using voice-assistants to help monitor or control packaging machines or a packaging line were surprising.Our 2017 survey results showed that 70% of potential users at brand owner companies were open to it. But only 50% of packaging…

In-depth knowledge of pack-testing standards and packaging materials is essential when developing packaging for medical devices, kits and other products that require sterilization.“SPMC Learning Tools: A Guide to Gels and Sterile Barrier Integrity Measures,” a webinar sponsored by the Sterilization Packaging Manufacturers Council (SPMC), offers packaging engineers a close look at…

With every new year comes a new opportunity to elevate your brand, thinking beyond cool designs and memorable slogans to connect with users in a way that shows you can be trusted. Successful brands in 2020 will be those that find creative ways to express their over-arching brand attributes—delivering clear, unified…