Packaging Digest

The Hershey Co. is using food packaging to encourage chocolate lovers to share their candy bars, with the launch of the limited-edition Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Emoji Bar. The product’s packaging design features oversized emojis, and the chocolate bars are stamped with emojis.The limited edition will launch nationwide in early July 2019…

Date code labeling, a new sustainable packaging material and continuing concern about chemicals in packaging were hot topics in the month of May 2019. Based on total number of page views from our global packaging community, the three best-read articles on PackagingDigest.com last month all happened to be food-packaging related.Our concise…

When EastPack lands in New York City June 11-13, the powerhouse packaging event will showcase emerging packaging equipment, smart technology, automation systems and other up-to-the-minute solutions.Taking place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, EastPack is expected to welcome 8,000 attendees eager to get up close and personal with the latest…

The 2019 PackEx exposition—scheduled for June 4-6 at the Toronto Congress Centre—showcases the latest packaging technologies. Visitors will get a chance to peruse “smart” machines, emerging materials, packaging automation solutions, digital printers and more.Attendees can connect with suppliers representing an array of product categories. After collecting feedback from past attendees, show…

With the first quarter of the year now behind us, one of the hottest topics in packaging continues to be sustainability, based on high readership of articles about Amazon and Nestlé posted last month on PackagingDigest.com. But we also saw keen interest in packaging for digital healthcare, as well as in…

New event-based machine vision technology offers increased productivity and equipment monitoring in industrial uses. Enhancements in the product line include ultra-high-speed counting, real-time tracking, man/machine teaming and vibration monitoring for predictive maintenance.From Prophesee SA, the products include the Onboard reference system, which provides guidance for developers to implement the manufacturer’s neuromorphic…

The Herma 500 label applicator is an internet of things (IoT)-enabled system that achieves labeling speeds up to 200 meters per minute, handles label widths from 80 to 320 millimeters, and works with roll diameters from 300 to 600mm. From Herma US, the unit uses real-time metrics to optimize production efficiency…

Detect-Plus, an add-on module for SmartDate thermal transfer overprinter coders, verifies the presence, position and quality of codes printed directly on film packaging. From Markem-Imaje, it can be purchased new with or retrofitted to SmartDate X40 or X60 coders.By checking codes on the flexible film packaging itself, the technology helps users…

A new additive masterbatch that aids the mobility of injection stretch blow-molded (ISBM) polyethylene terephthalate bottles allows manufacturers and brand owners to run conveyor belts and production robots without needing a spray coating. The material helps users maintain PET recyclability and adhere to European PET Bottle Platform guidelines.The capability enables operators…

The new Flex E Pack all-in-one case packaging system combines an automatic case former and an automatic case sealer to create a single integrated system for operators looking to move beyond semi-automatic machinery with a compact, ergonomic setup.Jointly created by Wexxar Bel and Matrix, the integrated design of the Flex E…