August’s top stories: Coca-Cola’s eco-water plan, Uflex’s $86m for aseptic plant
The Coca-Cola Company and its global bottling partners plan to achieve 100% replenishment of the water used by them by the end of the year, Uflex plans to invest $86.2m on aseptic packaging plant in Sanand, India. Packaging-gateway.com wraps up the key headlines from August 2015.
Coca-Cola and bottling partners to replenish 100% water used by end of 2015
The Coca-Cola Company and its global bottling partners announced that they will achieve their goal of 100% replenishment of the water used by them by the end of the year, five years ahead of the previously set deadline.
The project is aimed at ensuring that the company has sufficient water to fulfill its needs and reassure its customers concerned about drought in California, US, and elsewhere.
The company announced that it had been able to return around 94% of the water used in its finished beverages to local communities last year.
Uflex to invest $86.2m in new aseptic packaging plant in India
Indian flexible packaging company Uflex is planning to invest Rs5.5bn ($86.2m) to set up a new aseptic packaging plant in Sanand, in the state of Gujarat.
The move is in line with the company’s strategy to set up new plants for developing and manufacturing new and innovative packaging products for its clients at the most competitive price points.
The proposed plant will be established in a phased approach to produce liquid packaging.
Walki develops new packaging material to prevent mineral oil migration into foods
Protective packaging materials specialist Walki developed an extrusion coating known as mineral oil safe technology (MOST) to prevent mineral oil migration into foods.
The Walki Pack MOST is a polymer-laminate packaging product that acts a barrier to mineral-oil contamination, besides keeping away grease and water.
This glueable, sealable and recyclable packaging material acts as a barrier to Benzophenone, Bisphenol A, DIPN and softeners, which could be found in recycled fibres.
Tech-Long USA to expand operations in Georgia, US
High-technology packaging systems specialist Tech-Long USA is planning to expand its operations in Gwinnett County, Georgia, US, which will create 130 new jobs over a period of ten years.
The $5m expansion at the 25,000ft² facility in the city of Duluth includes manufacturing components and replacement parts for its machinery and possibly manufacturing consumable beverage products.
The facility is said to become the company’s centre of parts and service excellence for the Americas.
GE to establish power electronics packaging facility in New York
GE Global Research is to set up a power electronics packaging facility on the campus of SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering in the town of Utica, New York, US.
The proposed facility, which serves as the anchor tenant of the Computer Chip Commercialization Center (QUAD C) at the institute, will create 850 jobs in the Mohawk Valley over the next ten years.
It will employ GE’s silicon carbide technology to manufacture power devices that connect the circuits, provide power, and discharge heat to keep the chips functional.
Treofan develops new film to enable in-mould labelling in thermoforming
Biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) specialist Treofan developed a new film known as Treofan EPT for in-mould labelling in deep drawing or thermoforming.
The new film with a special surface that attaches perfectly to deep-drawn films, enabling stable fusing of thermoforming and label film at low temperatures and pressures, while delivering look and feel as good as injection-moulded products, the company said.
This addresses the challenge of attaching BOPP labels to thermoformed products, which required a separate process step until now.
Verso to reduce coated paper and pulp production capacity in US
Coated papers producer Verso announced plans to shut down a pulp dryer and paper machine at its Androscoggin Mill in Jay, Maine, US, putting close to 300 jobs at risk.
The closure will reduce the company’s coated paper and dried market pulp production capacity by 150,000t and 100,000t, respectively.
The plans to reduce coated paper and pulp production capacity come in response to decline in coated paper demand in North America.
Ardagh creates new beer bottle for O’Fallon Brewery
Glass and metal packaging solutions company Ardagh designed a new beer bottle for O’Fallon Brewery.
The company’s North American glass division created the traditional-style, classic, long-neck bottle at its manufacturing facility in Pevely, Missouri.
O’Fallon Brewery will use the bottle with O’Fallon’s signature ‘O’ and ‘We Love Beer’ slogan to package its ‘Everyday Beers’ and ‘Seasonal Beers’.