More than 2,000 packaging companies from every corner of the world showcased their products and technologies at Emballage 2006 in Paris in November in what was clearly one of the world’s largest expos of its kind.

More than 108,000 visitors showed up at the event, some 35 per cent of whom were from outside France. Significant new products such as containers, machines, software or accessories were featured in the Trends Area, described as “a summary of the industry’s state of the art in a single place.”
The Services Area featured a range of services encompassing contract packaging, logistics services, consultancy and other services. In the Smart Packaging area, the display included all the new product identification and tracing solutions such as radio frequency identification, nanotechnologies, microencapsulation and DNA tracers.
The following is a rundown of the new trends, technologies and products featured at Emballage 2006.
Iggesund Paperboard presented a new grade of metaphoriser-based paperboard called Invercote Duo. The new line is said to be stiffer than other products within the same family and is also triple coated on both the print and reverse sides.
New plastic tubes developed by M&H Plastics (UK) in collaboration with DuPont Packaging combine crystal clear transparency and high flexibility with a pleasantly soft grip. Surlyn TF provides a high quality priny-table layer, clarity that allows visibility of the product. This resin can be used as a monolayer or as part of a multi-layer structure.
Airless System (Aptar Group) has designed an airless applicator Digital to improve local application of creams. Its flexible nozzle is rounded for comfortable use with circular movement.
Specialised in extrusion manufactured plastic packaging, Marketube is planning the introduction of a new range of 100 per cent biodegradable tubes. They are made of polylactic acid material, which allows roto printing, or dry offset and silkscreen printing up to four colours with varnish.
Bayer has set up a partnership with major packaging manufacturers on the Asian market in order to develop nanocoatings aimed at enhancing the barrier properties of cheap basic films for food packaging.
Scottish Long Life Solutions has developed the Smartbag and the Smartpunnet, two breathable packages that can extend tomato shelflife to 40 days. They use modified interactive packaging (MIP) technology that allows the packaging to control the product’s breath rate and the delivery of an anti-microbial agent.
Ciba and FreshPoint presented the product OnVu TTI. Supplied either as printing inks or labels, OnVu is a time-temperature indicator that shows accumulated chill-chain history of perishables and can, in principle, be used for any product that is sensitive to temperature. This technology relies on the properties of pigments that change colour over time and when temperatures fluctuate. Its first applications have been designed for the meat and dairy industries.
Stora Enso has introduced new technology for opening packages. The CDM (controlled delamination materials) developed by the company allows easy separation of two attached packages or parts of packages using electricity. Using CDM in packaging opens a number of opportunities for the creation of new distribution solutions, which could save packaging materials and improve convenience, safety and in-store logistics, the company claims. “We foresee that CDM will provide significant savings in material and distribution costs,” says Lars Sandberg, manager of package design at Stora Enso Consumer Boards.
Sweden-based company MicVac has designed a range of ready-meals steam packs that whistle when the food is hot enough.
Researchers at a university in Denmark plan to seek approval from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration for an anti-microbial preservative derived from mustard oil to be used in flexible packaging. Established preservation systems such as modified atmosphere packaging seem to be no longer sufficient to provide an adequate shelf life for the exportation of foodstuffs. The natural preservative is already used in a preservation context in Japan where it is released into packages through stickers that are applied to the outside. It also has FDA approval in the US, and it is currently used for flavoring in the European food market, but has not yet been approved as a preservative.
The German Federal Institute of Risk Management has commissioned the University of Stuttgart to conduct a survey on the risks of nanotechnological applications in food. Nanotechnology has made minor inroads in the food and drink industry, mainly due to consumers’ fears about the unknown risks the technology poses to their health. The outcome of this survey performed by ZIRN (Centre of Interdisciplinary Risk-Science and Sustainable Development of Technology) could also be new regulations for the food sector relating to the use of nanotechnology.
For its single serve range of soups, Caffe Nero has opted for the new microwaveable pot manufactured by RPC Containers. This packaging allows ‘on the go’ consumption and on-the-spot preparation. In addition it is rigid enough to cope with the hot-fill, blast chill filling technique without paneling, the manufacturer says.
Leading supplier of ingredients for pastries, bakeries and ice cream manufacturers, Grados has launched a new range of concentrate pastes which add taste, colour and aroma to ice creams. With their natural fruit and alcoholised ingredients, the Torrini products are sensitive to oxygen. Grados required a jar that would maintain the quality of the paste whilst enhancing the brand. It chose RPC Containers’ Sapphire multiplayer jar in the 1.2 litre size. Blow-moulded in a PP/EVOH/PP construction for excellent barrier protection, it is capable of withstanding the filling temperature needed by the product. In addition, the contact-clear container enables the distinctive colours of the concentrates to be visible.
Nordson displayed the expanded ProBlue, DuraVlue and VersaBlue series, the DuraPail and DuraDrum bulk melters and many other packaging solutions for case sealing, wraparound, siftproof wrapping of small products in foil, cartonning, marking such as Braille, pharmaceutical packaging, palletising, coating, labeling and paper and paper-converting applications. The new pneumatic and electric guns series and the SureBead reduced cavity guns and modules were displayed. Also on view were integrated pattern control and product verification systems and many accessories as well as Filleasy and Filmmaster adhesive feed systems. Nordson also presented its new Partenaire +PlusSMProgram.
Ocme has introduced as a ‘world premiere’ its new labeler Sagitta (equipment for one body wraparound label from a reel using hot-melt). This machine expands the offer and allows Ocme to supply a complete bottling line. The ergonomic study and the modular sub-assembly conception ensure easy operation or maintenance and allow fast changeovers. The packing activity was also represented by an Altair wraparound packer. Equipment-wide spreading of up-to-date servo-drive technology warrants adaptability, speediness and accuracy, which are essential for production lines when performing changeovers. This machine includes a new automatic device for dispensing partition, which largely reduces the operator’s workload.
PDG Plastiques, which has specialised in the development and production of PET preforms, bottles and flasks, introduced new models of preforms including light and ultra-light preforms to decrease packaging costs and fulfil environmental norms. The company has designed preforms with UV-light barrier for milk and dairy products and PP preforms for specific food applications such as energy drinks, sauces and chemical products. PDG also introduced new caps in model 028 with liner for chemical products.
Gerhard Schubert GmbH showcased a TLM-T400 thermoform, fill and seal machine for packaging traditional German heart-shaped gingerbread biscuits. The special feature of the line is a continuously running film web, a closing process making use of ultrasound technology, as well as sealing and punching in a single work cycle. Three picker stations (six robot arms) fill the trays with gingerbread hearts. The film webs can be swivelled +/-30 degrees parallel to the direction of movement. The trade fair line is capable of packaging 300 gingerbread biscuits a minute.
Seaquist Closures presented their latest new closure developments for both the personal care and household sector and the food and beverage sector. Amongst the new products presented were a new beverage sport cap and a new line of tube tops with integrated tamper evidence, appropriately named Integrity. Both these products are available with the SimpliSqueeze valve for optimal flow control.