The event (plus co-located shows Packtech, Contract Pack, Ecopack, Print Innovations, Labelling Innovations and Converting Innovations) offered a huge variety of activities and learning opportunities. More than 50 free-to-attend seminars focused on pertinent issues within the packaging industry, such as the significance of eco packaging. This took place at the exhibition through the learnShops scheme, and insightful analysis was available at the show’s Big Packaging and Big Print debates.
We began our journey through Packaging Innovations 2014 by visiting the CS Labels stand and chatting to the brand’s sales manager, Nathan Daniel, who explained the company’s innovative augmented reality labels. By downloading a free app, which the brand designed alongside augmented reality specialist ooh-AR, consumers can bring labels to life and access bonus content such as videos and photographs.
Silgan sales and marketing director Nick Brewin was also on hand to discuss his company’s latest microwaveable plastic can food container. Featuring a high barrier layer, the container is made from polypropylene and is suitable for a variety of soups and ready meals.
A quick stroll around the exhibition hall led us to Denmark-based injection-moulded plastic packaging firm RPC Superfos, which was displaying its award-winning SuperLock system. The SuperLock device can double, and even triple, shelf life for convenience food with its unique membrane seal and oxygen barrier combination.
This container is freezer-, microwave- and dishwasher-safe and offers excellent clarity and transparency, as well as extremely low oxygen transmission rates.
After a hearty lunch break, we ventured over to Label Apeel’s booth to check out the company’s elaborate laboratory themed stand and discuss some of the brand’s latest inventions with MD Stuart Kellock. We discovered a wacky array of label samples highlighting the production capability of the company, including scratch and sniff, scratch-off and heat-sensitive products.
We also visited the Aptar stand and caught a glimpse of the new Robinsons Squash’d water enhancer container, which is available in a 66ml dispenser format and offers enough product to make 20 drinks. The Global Closure Systems team were kind enough to guide us through a few of the company’s food and beverage applications.
Bericap was also exhibiting a variety of new closures at the 2014 Packaging Innovations show, including its 1881 Eco SuperShorty bottle top for carbonated and still beverages, which is suitable for single-serve and large bottles, and provides improved performance in hot climate conditions. Also, its Thumb Up and Hexalite Tall closures, which are primarily used in the water packaging industry.
Other notable features included interviews with BASF’s Lars Liebscher and Vegware’s Lucy Frankel. The former discussed BASF’s innovative biodegradable and certified compostable polymer, which has been used by coffee brand Beanarella to create the world’s first compostable coffee capsule, and the latter delved into the intricacies of the compostable food packaging industry.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024