PDC Europe, PDC-Latin America, and Sleeve Labeling Systems in the News

February 2003, Packaging World Magazine

Candles' sleever makes scents for S.C. Johnson

Sleeving of the upright candles is then done in two stages by a Model 75 EMC machine.

Racine, WI-based S.C. Johnson & Son has gone one better-make that two better-than the competition with its Glade "3 in 1" candle. Introduced in September and available nationally in December, SCJ's first pillar candle offers three colors and three fragrances. Its main competition, also shelved in the air care section, is a two-color pillar candle with only a single fragrance, points out SCJ packaging research engineer Rodney Prater.

Sold in three varieties priced around $4.49, the candles receive an interactive marketing boost on the packaging side from specialized sleeving equipment from PDC-Europe (Austin, TX). Before the candle is sleeved, the PDC equipment die-cuts three holes aligned vertically on two sides of the tube of the film. The holes are in register with a different fragrance layer and permit consumers to sample the trio of fragrances individually.
"We required that the PDC-Europe equipment register the 'scent holes' precisely during every index, appropriately punch and remove the punched material, and apply and shrink beyond current line speeds to ensure future capacity on one sleeve applicator," Prater says.
(...)

“We sought a film with reverse-printed inks that would withstand fragrance attack,” Prater says, “and would provide an excellent appearance when shrunk over the candle.”

A top and bottom labeler ahead of the sleever applies a circular pressure-sensitive bottom label and a preperforated clear plastic disk that protects the candle.

Sleeving of the upright candles is then done in two stages by a LP Model 75 EMC machine at an undisclosed SCJ location. Maximum rates are said to be 180 candles/min, although SCJ declines to confirm that. The heart of S.C. Johnson's Equipment is a rotary perforation system fully synchronized with the sleeve application. This patented design allows for multiple types of perforations to be made: from round holes (as with S.C. Johnson) to vertical, horizontal, angled perforations, and to other shapes as well.

January 2002, Packaging World Magazine

Sleeving is done by Consolidated using three
customized 10-head rotary sleeve applicators (Model HC-10) from PDC-Europe (Austin, TX).

Procter & Gamble has unveiled another intriguing new plastic package. Just months ago, the Cincinnati-based company began test-marketing 0.81 oz of Pringles in a single-serve cup injection-molded of polypropylene. This time it’s Torengos Tortilla Chips in an 8 ½’’ tall white triangular container with 2 ¾’’ sides.

It’s extrusion blow-molded of high-density polyethylene by Consolidated Container (Atlanta, GA). High-impact graphics are provided by a reverse-printed stretch-sleeve film label from MRI (Newtown, PA). Sleeving is done by Consolidated using three customized 10-head rotary sleeve applicators from PDC-Europe (Austin, TX).

Containers are shipped to P&G’s plant in Jackson, TN, where they are filled and heat-sealed with a triangular foil lidstock. A thermoformed overcap from Ivex (Wheaton, IL) provides recloseability. P&G likes the recycleable triangular canister because it protects against breakage.

Available in a 5.6-oz single can, an 11.2-oz twin-pack, and a 28-oz five-can pack, P&G anticipates pricing of $1.69, $2.99, and $5.99, respectively. P&G expects most grocery stores, mass merchandisers, and convenience stores nationwide to carry Torengos, which began shipping in December, by the end of this month.

December 2001, Packaging World Magazine

Sleeve labeling is done by a six-station rotary system (HC-6G) from PDC-Europe.

While gallon jugs of bottled water are traditionally made of high-density polyethylene, Perrier Group of America, Greenwich, CT, distinguishes its water by using clear jugs of polyethylene terephthalate adorned with stretch sleeve labels.

Introduced in midsummer, the jugs are filled with three of Perrier’s regional domestic brands of Deer Park, Zephyrhills, and Poland Spring. The new jugs are in addition to HDPE 1-gal jugs. “The new package has a great shelf presence,” asserts John Gruver, Perrier’s national manager of package development. “It’s a clear container that pops out on the shelf. And we feel it does a better job of preserving the water.” The company codes the filled PET jugs for the same two-year shelf life as its HDPE jugs.

Perrier blowmolds and fills the 75-g bottles at plants in Zephyrhills, FL, and Hollis, ME. In Hollis, a new Husky (Bolton, Ontario, Canada) machine injection molds the preforms that are then blow molded on new equipment from Sidel (Norcross, GA) installed at both plant locations. The bottles feature a teardrop and circular wave pattern in the front and back shoulders. Filling is done on the same equipment used for HDPE jugs, and at the same 130-140 jugs/min speed.

Sleeve labeling is done by a six-station rotary system from Protection Decoration Conditionnement (PDC-Europe)
(Austin, TX). The HC-6G machine die cuts a sleeve from a rollstock tube of polyethylene film, and mechanically applies it over the jug using four grippers. A sensor reads the clear band between print impressions to prompt the die cutter and application. The bottles are oriented so that the sleeve seam is unobtrusively located in a corner of the jug.

Atypically thick sleeve
The polyethylene sleeve label is reverse printed flexographically in eight colors by MRI Flexible Packaging (Newtown, PA). Although the label thickness is proprietary, Packaging World is told that it is heavier than the typical 2 mil. The thicker material helps the label to provide a smoother, uniform look so the jug’s central ribs don’t show through as much. MRI notes that the film separation is direct-to-plate, which decreased the turnaround time.

The container’s attributes are emphasized on the printed sleeve labels. On the label front a violator declares “New! Clear Bottle Crisp Taste.” Side panel copy states “Taste the Clear Difference,” along with the following text (for Poland Spring):
1. New clear bottle locks-in and protects the natural freshness of Poland Spring Water.
2. Clear package retains crisp, clean, refreshing taste.
3. Contoured handle means it’s comfortable to hold and easy to pour.

The jugs are topped with a color-coordinated 43-mm linerless polypropylene closure with a breakaway
tamper-evident band from Kerr Plastics (Lancaster, PA). Just beneath the closure is a bail-style UniPak® handle injection molded of HDPE by PakTech-OPI Inc. (Eugene, OR) with finger-fitting scallops.

“The handle provides an ergonomically comfortable grip for carrying,” Gruver points out. “The jug weighs more than eight pounds filled, so the finger grips make it a little more comfortable to carry. Versus our competitors’ molded-in handle jugs, your fingers are going to be less sore with ours.” Gruver says the PET jug was designed with consumers in mind: “A large population of water drinkers prefer PET, especially people on the go. And they’re accustomed to drinking water in PET already, in ½- and 1-L sizes. There’s also a segment that wants to have larger sizes available. We’re constantly receiving feedback from consumers wanting a larger PET container.”
Gallon HDPE bottles, however, will remain part of the mix.
Gruver says the capital equipment costs for a full conversion to PET, involving injection molders, blow molders, handling, and application equipment, would be too steep to justify at this time, especially when so much of the water market is so price driven. (...)

July 2001, Planet Pet Insider

For the first time the Perrier premium brand mineral water is being marketed in a PET bottle. The 0.5 litre, green bottle is supplied by Schmalbach-Lubeca. Bottled Perrier has the highest C0₂ content of any mineral water and a special PET/ nylon/PET multilayer bottle has been developed to ensure a minimum 12 month shelf life. The new bottle, which has the typical Perrier shape, will initially be on sale in France, the UK, Benelux, and Switzerland. Launches are planned for the USA and Canada, which according to figures from Schmalbach-Lubeca should result in total world sales of 150 million units per annum.
Labeled by PDC-Europe's HC-16 (400 bpm) using a Real Dual-Zone Steam Tunnel.

March 2001 - Packaging World

S.A. Evian Co., Evian, France, introduced its "Nomad" bottled water last summer, first in Europe and then in the United States. The polyethylene terephthalate-bottled water (below left) is topped with an unusual hinged closure molded with a loop. The loop allows the 750mL bottle to be conveniently clipped to something such as a backpack, allowing the consumer to tote it along.

The loop portion of a hinged protective "overcap" is the key part of the custom one-piece closure (inset). The hinge, which is locked, must be released to access the product. That’s done through a three-step process printed on the label: Press on the [molded] arrow; pull ring; remove foil seal.

A tiny induction-sealed liner covers the bottle’s 5/16" opening and adheres to the inside of the hinged portion.

Evian’s brand-identifying mountains are molded in 3-D relief around the closure. The closure is oriented to the front face of the label so that the loop can be seen in full view. Further distinguishing the package is the curvy, custom PET bottle, which is reportedly filled at 300 bpm in Evian.

After the label is applied, it is shrunk in two 9’–long steam tunnels from PDC-Europe (Austin, TX). Packaging World is told that the steam tunnel tandem was selected by Evian to ensure a smooth label surface free of bubbles or wrinkles. The polymeric label is printed in at least four colors. Inexplicably, there’s a circular pressure sensitive blue label located beneath the primary label. We suspect that it performs some tamper-evident or orientation function.

When asked about the bottle status, an Evian spokesperson stated that it is "currently a promotional package." Although Evian says that Nomad is sold primarily at convenient stores, a PW editor purchased it at a Chicagoland grocery store for 1.99. (RL)