The corrugated container industry has, for many years, been trying to develop the technology and the processes to successfully address market demands for cost-appropriate, recyclable water-based alternatives to traditional wax treatments.

The push back to wax continues as retailers are increasing their demands that alternatives to waxed corrugated be found, with that focus shifting through the distribution chain from customers to converter.

Landfill or small niche recycling currently remains the only disposable option available for retailers of non-recyclable wax-treated corrugated.

In response, varying solutions with varying degrees of success have been evolving.

But, even if alternatives are utilized, will it be accepted?

Speakers at the 2013 seminar were:
•    Tauni Molder, manager – water-based coatings at The International Group, Inc. discussing the evolution of water-based recyclable treatments;
•    Technical Adhesives Ltd. national sales manger Brian St. Germaine and technical adhesives director Vidor Lowy discussing the impact of gluing challenges at both the box plant and at the customer’s facility when wax alternatives are selected;
•    Norampac‘s technical services for corrugated products Brett Kendall covered critical control points for the successful implementation at your manufacturing site and further developments of his company’s Norshield corrugated product;
•    and Fibre Box Association vice-president Brian O’Banion, who came up from Chicago to discuss the FBA’s new Packaging Protocol covering wax alternatives and its’ purpose and impact on customers, recyclers and containerboard mills.

Perhaps the most tongue wagging elicited amongst the 65+ industry professionals attending the event occurred the speakers pointed that a significant impediment to finding wax alternatives being implemented came from the grassroots of where the cartons are first being used.

According to O’Banion: “We’re not selling (our concepts and technologies) to the right people.

“Understanding and marketing the Packaging Protocol for wax alternatives goes a long way to ensure that the box maker, the customer, the retailer and the recycler all successfully participate in corugated’s closed-loop recycling opportunity,” O’Banion says.

The speakers all agreed that while environmental factors were a focal point amongst retailers, it was not as important for the farmers who are picking and packing fruits and vegetables.

For the farmer, a corrugated carton needs to perform, to be able to safely get produce to a distributor and it needs to be inexpensive. New technologies, are at the moment, more expensive than the wax-based technologies they purport to replace.

Utilizing reusable plastic bins, while an alternative, has two main disadvantages that limit its effectiveness, namely: having to ensure the bins are properly cleaned to avoid bacteria transfer and potentially deadly illnesses; and major change in the way farmers operate.

As strange as it may seem, broccoli plays a huge role in how the corrugated industry is progressing—or not—with wax-replacement technologies.

Acknowledging current agriculture infrastructure, Kendall states, “if you, as a corrugater, can do broccoli, you can do all the other products.”

Kendall explains that in order to keep vegetables fresh until they hit the retail shelves, a complex cooling system is required at the farm-level before it can even be transported to produce distribution and packaging companies.

Essentially, wax-coated corrugated holds the vegetable, which is then loaded with a liquid ice mix to ensure the product remains cool for shipping. The coolness is required to dissipate heat given off by the broccoli – and as the ice melts, it turns the corrugated carton into a soggy mess.

Despite various wax technology options and alternatives to wax available, Kendall and the other speakers at the event note that the farm operators don’t really care for change, because any new technology means capital expenditure costs, and, hold to the old axiom of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’

Colloquialisms aside, farm operators who purchase the wax cartons aren’t looking for alternatives to wax cartons because they already have a packing system in place.

Regardless, if a corrugator offers cascading wax or curtain-coated application options, for the farm operator, it still boils down to which carton will get product safely to its customer for the least amount of money.

Is the corrugated industry doing a good job in looking to provide alternatives to wax-based products? Sure. There are examples of conversion to packaging protocol-approved alternatives to wax, including peppers and wrapped and chilled lettuce in the vegetable segment, and strawberries in the fruit segment.

Are they in tough against effecting changes in the industry because financial constraints enter the picture? You betcha.

Is the Canadian Corrugated and Containerboard Association aware of this? Of course.

But we may have to wait another year to see if the seeds planted provide a bumper crop of wax replacement technology acceptance at the grassroots level.

May 14-15
Sao Paulo, Brazil: Label Summit Latin America 2013, labeling technologies exhibition by Tarsus Group Limited. To register, go to: www.labelsummit.com/brazil.

May 14-16
Toronto:  PACKEX Toronto 2013 , North American packaging tradeshow co-located with Automation Technology Expo (ATX) Canada, Design & Manufacturing Canada, Plast-Ex, and Green Manufacturing Expo South by UBM Canon. At Toronto Congress Centre. Contact at 310-445-4200 or via e-mail at CanonTradeShows@ubm.com; or go to www.PACKEXToronto.com.

May 15-16
New York: Luxe Pack New York, luxury goods packaging exhibition organized by IDICE SAS. At the Metropolitan Pavilion. For more information, visit www.luxepacknewyork.com.

May 17-22
Istanbul, Turkey: Printtek 2013, international print technologies and paper fair. At Tüyap Fair Convention and Congress Center. To register, go to: www.printtekfair.com.

May 30
Notre-Dame-de-l’lle-Perrot, Que.: 2013 PAC – The Packaging Association Quebec-region Golf Tournament. To register, go to: www.pac.ca.

June 6-7
Amsterdam, Holland: Sustainable Foods Summit, by Organic Monitor. At Mövenpick Hotel. To register, go to: www.sustainablefoodssummit.com.

June 12-13
Paris, France: Pack & Gift 2013, international event and gift packaging exhibition by IDICE. At Porte de Versailles. To register, go to: www.packandgift.com.

June 18-20
New York City: HBA Global Expo & Conference, beauty products and cosmetics exhibition and conference by UBM Live. To register, go to:
www.hbaexpo.com.

Aug. 28-31
Bangkok, Thailand: Pack Print International 2013, packaging and printing exhibition for Asia by Messe Düsseldorf GmbH. Contact Messe Düsseldorf North America at 312-781-5180; or go to: www.mdna.com.

Sept. 8-12
Chicago: PRINT 13, exhibition and conference by the Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC). At the McCormick Place. Contact GASC at 703-264-7200. To register, go to: www.print2013.com.

Sept. 16-20
Munich, Germany: drinktec 2013, the world fair for beverage and liquid food technology by Messe München GmbH. At the New Munich Trade Fair Center. To register, go to: www.drinktec.com.

Sept. 23
Brussels, Belgium: AWA Label Release Liner Industry Seminar 2013. To register: www.awa-bv.com.

Sept. 23-25
Nürnberg, Germany: Active & Intelligent Packaging Congress & Exhibition, by Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association (AIPIA). At Messe Nürnberg. To register, go to:
www.aip-worldcongress.org.

Sept. 23-25
Las Vegas, Nev.: PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2013, international packaging technologies exhibition by PMMI. At Las Vegas Convention Center. Contact PMMI at 703-243-8555; or go to: www.packexpo.com.

Sept. 24-27
Brussels, Belgium: Labelexpo Europe 2013, biennial labeling materials and technologies exhibition by FINAT. To register, go to: www.labelexpo.com.

Sept. 25-26
New York City: MakeUp in New York 2013, beauty products exhibition and conference. At Center548. To register, go to: www.makeup-in-newyork.com.

Oct. 8-10
St. Petersburg, Fla.: Sustainable Packaging Forum & Expo, by Packaging Strategies. At Renaissance Vinoy Resort. Contact Karen Close of Packaging Strategies at 610-935-2183; or go to: www.sustainablepackagingforum.com.

Oct. 16-23
Düsseldorf, Germany: K 2013, international trade fair for the world’s plastics and rubber industries by Messe Düsseldorf Gmbh. Contact Messe Düsseldorf North America at 312-781-5180; or go to: www.messe-duesseldorf.com.

Oct. 23-24
Lund, Sweden: Top Packaging Summit 2013, conference and exhibition by Packbridge. At Scandic Star Hotel. To register, go to: www.toppackagingsummit.com.

Oct. 23-25
Monaco: Luxe Pack Monaco, luxury goods packaging exhibition by IDICE Monaco. AT Grimaldi Forum. To register, go to: www.luxepack.com.

Nov. 3-6
Chicago: Process Expo, exhibition and conference by the Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA). Concurrently with International Dairy Show by the International Dairy Foods Association (ISFDA). Both at McCormick Place. To register, go to: www.myprocessexpo.com or www.dairyshow.com.

Nov. 4-5
Amsterdam: AWA Introduction to Pressure-sensitive/Self-adhesive Technology Workshop 2013, in cooperation with Chemsultants International. At the Hotel Casa 400. Brochure available. To register: www.awa-bv.com.

Nov. 12-16
Milan, Italy: SIMEI 2013, international enological and bottling equipment exhibition. At Fiera Milano-Rho. To register, go to: www.simei.it.

Nov. 20-21
Montreal: Canadian Waste & Recycling Expo (CWRE), by Messe Fankfurt Inc. At the Palais des congrès de Montréal. Contact Kimn Porter at 770-984-8016; or go to: www.cwre.ca.

Nov. 21-23
Toronto: Graphics Canada, graphics, printing and converting show by Printing Equipment & Supply Dealers’ Association of Canada (PESDA). At the Toronto International Centre. To register, go to: www.graphicscanada.com.

Nov. 26-28
Nairobi, Kenya: Food Processing and Packaging Exposium (FPPE), by Messe Düsseldorf Gmbh. At the Kenyatta Conference Center. Contact Messe Düsseldorf North America at 312-781-5180; or go to: www.messe-duesseldorf.com.

2014

Feb. 19-21
Orlando, Fla.: NPE 2015, international plastics exposition by SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association. At the Orange County Convention Center. To register, go to: www.npe.org.

May 8-14
Düsseldorf, Germany: interpack 2014, international packaging technologies fair by Messe Düsseldorf GmbH. At Messe Düsseldorf Fairgrounds. Contact Messe Düsseldorf North America at 312-781-5180; or go to: www.interpack.com.

Sept. 9-12
Nairobi, Kenya: East Afripack 2014, processing, packaging and converting technologies exhibition by Ipack-Ima S.p.A. At Kenyatta International Conference Center. Contact Ipack-Ima via e-mail at ipackima@ipackima.it.

2015

Feb 2-4
Philadelphia: PACK EXPO East, packaging technologies exhibition by PMMI. At the Pennsylvania Convention Center. To register, go to: www.packexpo.com.

The packed pavilion, located in the South Hall, houses a wide range of processing technologies for manufacturers in the baking and snack, beverage, dairy and confectionery industries, as well as other vertical sectors.

“Since debuting at PACK EXPO in 2010, the number of solutions providers exhibiting in The Processing Zone has increased by 42 percent,” says PMMI vice-president of trade shows Jim Pittas. “This growth stems from the fact that food and beverage processors continue to take a unified approach to packaging and processing and seek opportunities to be connected to solutions for the entire manufacturing lines.”

The Processing Zone represents only a small segment of exhibitors highlighting processing technologies at the show. Companies offering processing solutions will also be located throughout the exhibit halls, alongside packaging equipment and materials and containers suppliers.

With over 1,600 exhibitors and more than 700,000 net square feet of exhibit space, PACK EXPO Las Vegas will be the most comprehensive resource for food and beverage processors in North America in 2013.

Food and beverage processors will also have access to a number of other resources at PACK EXPO Las Vegas:

• The Confectionery Pavilion, sponsored by the National Confectioners Association (NCA), will link attendees with equipment and materials that maximize flexibility, enhance convenience and protect product freshness.
• The Baking-Snack Break lounge, endorsed by the Snack Food Association, and The Candy Bar lounge, sponsored by NCA, will offer networking opportunities and access to experts who can provide guidance on packaging- and processing-related challenges.
• The Beverage Cooler Lounge, endorsed by the International Society of Beverage Technologists, provides a casual forum for attendees to network and exchange ideas with peers, plus Ask-the-Expert sessions for seeking technical advice.
• The Food Safety Summit Resource Center will help processors learn about the latest breakthroughs in food safety technologies, and source solutions to the challenges facing the industry.
• Access to free education with the return of Innovation Stage. Details about presentation topics and times will be announced closer to the show.

To register for PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2013, visit www.packexpo.com. Discounted registration ($30) is available through September 9, when registration increases to $60.

About PMMI
PMMI is a trade association representing 600+ packaging and processing supply chain companies that provide a full range of packaging and processing machinery, materials, components and containers. PMMI organizes the PACK EXPO trade shows: PACK EXPO International, PACK EXPO Las Vegas, PACK EXPO East, EXPO PACK Mexico and EXPO PACK Guadalajara.

Sponsored by College de Maisonneuve in Montreal, on May 9, 2013, two 1/2 day workshops will be offered in French-language only pertinent to packaging industry professionals.

Atelier #1 – Les emballages intelligents et actifs: la prochaine révolution
L’emballage est un vecteur formidable de communication et un outil indispensable pour accroître la durée de vie de vos produits. Vous le savez déjà très certainement, mais pouvez-vous imaginer ce que les emballages actifs et intelligents pourraient apporter comme plus-value à vos emballages? Venez découvrir les tendances mondiales et les technologies novatrices pour vous préparer à la prochaine révolution !

Workshop # 1 – Active and intelligent packaging: the next revolution
The packaging is a great vehicle for communication and indispensable to increase the life of your tool products. You already know most certainly, but can you imagine what the active and intelligent packaging could bring as value to your packaging? Discover global trends and innovative technologies to prepare for the next revolution!

Horaire/Hours:
Jeudi 9 mai de 9 h 00 à 11 h 45
Thursday, May 9 from 9 AM -11:45 AM

Conférencier/Speaker:
Bruno Ponsard, M. Sc., président AIPIA et directeur de l’ITEGA/ president and director AIPIA ITEGA.

Atelier #2 – L’optimisation de vos emballages : un investissement payant!
Du concept à la palettisation, venez découvrir les opportunités insoupçonnées que vous offre l’optimisation de vos emballages. Apprenez à jeter un nouveau regard sur vos produits et sachez par vous-même reconnaître ses opportunités. L’optimisation de l’emballage est un investissement payant… et bien souvent à votre portée !

Workshop # 2 – Optimizing your packaging: a worthwhile investment!
From concept to palletizing, discover unsuspected possibilities offered by optimizing your packaging. Learn to take a new look at your products and know by yourself recognize its opportunities. The optimization of the package is a worthwhile investment … and often at your fingertips!

Horaire/Hours:
Jeudi 9 mai de 13 h 15 à 16 h 00
Thursday, May 9, 1:15 PM – 4PM

Conférencier/Speaker:
Louis Papineau, Bdi Spécialiste emballage et conseiller à l’ITEGA/ Bdi Specialist packaging and advise the ITEGA

Inscription:
Nathalie Grenon 514-255-4444, poste 6213 ngrenon@cmaisonneuve.qc.ca
s.v.p. réservez avant le 1er mai 2013 Places limitées

Registration:
Nathalie Grenon 514 255-4444, ext 6213, via e-mail at ngrenon@cmaisonneuve.qc.ca
Please book before May 1, 2013. Space is limited.

Où/Where:
6220, rue Sherbrooke Est Montréal (Québec) H1N 1C1 Local 226

Prix/Price
Atelier 1 : 150.00 $ / pers.* Atelier 2 : 150.00 $ / pers.* Forfait ateliers 1 et 2 : 225.00 $ / pers.**
1 Café et muffins inclus. 2 Lunch du midi, café et muffins inclus.
Workshop 1: $ 150.00/person*; Workshop 2: $ 150.00/person*; Workshops 1 + 2: $ 225.00**
*Coffee and muffins included; **Lunch noon, coffee and muffins included.

Notes:
Un minimum de huit personnes par atelier est requis pour que l’activité ait lieu. – Toutes les conférences sont présentées en français. – Les prix excluent les taxes.
A minimum of eight people per workshop is required for the activity to take place. – All lectures are given in French. – Prices do not include taxes.

At a gala ceremony held on April 22, 2013 the biennial PAC—The Packaging Association Gala Awards Ceremony saw 400 packaging professionals gather to see PAC Leadership and Competition Award winners; PAC Sustainable Packaging winners; and, of course, the PAC Best of Show that judges deemed to be the best of the best packaging out on the market.

LEADER AMONG LEADERS – PAC LEADERSHIP AWARD

Kraft Foods Group and its suppliers: Davis; pigeon* branding + design; Southern Graphic Systems; and Curwood Inc.—all entered packages into the 2013 PAC Leadership Awards bearing their brand names.
They are recognized for:

• Exceptional technical reproduction and innovative levels for graphics and structure;
• Robust brand identity and package integrity;
• Leadership in flexible packaging, labels, and brand marketing—new brand and brand revitalization.

PAC SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING AWARD

Brand Name: Odwalla PlantBottle
Customer: Coca-Cola Ltd.
Odwalla was the first nationally distributed beverage brand to transition its packaging to fully recyclable, HDPE (high-density polyethylene) plastic made from 100 per cent plant-based materials.
This packaging’s HDPE plastic is created using only ethylene derived from up to 100-percent renewable sugarcane-based ethanol sources.

PAC PACKAGING AWARD
Brand Name: Minute Maid 100% Juices
Customer: Coca-Cola Ltd.
Graphic Designer: Werle Design Associates
Pre-press/Printer: Rayment & Collins Ltd.

This redesign is centered on establishing a creative, fun and playful brand character. The aim – to empower children to visualize how fun it can be to create different animal characters out of fruit imagery.
The reveal of the fruit for the Minute Maid 100% Juices is a unique and proprietary representation.
It was a challenging technique to implement, especially the 100% juice blends since the percentage of the fruit reveal had to coincide with the product formulation based on regulatory mandates.

GROCERY BUSINESS LEADING EDGE AWARD
Brand Name: Crystal Light Mocktails
Customer: Kraft Canada Inc.
Graphic Designer: pigeon* branding + design
Pre-press: Southern Graphic Systems
Printer: Printpack Inc.

This new line of Crystal Light has used elegant graphic designs to allow for maximum shelf appeal and to stand out from their competitors. These Mocktails designs are printed inside on clear film then uses shrink wrap technology to form to the shape of the container.
Each design is printed inside on clear film using process colors, one PMS 2746 and white and each background and CT image has been created using process colors only. The printed material is shrink-wrapped onto plastic containers.

WALMART CANADA SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING AWARD
Brand name: Clorox Bleach
Customer: The Clorox Company
Graphic designer: Hunter Straker
Structural designer: The Clorox Company
Pre-press: I4 Colour
Printer: Fort Dearborn

Clorox’s transition is to concentrate its bleach liquid, products and bottles, while modernizing the packaging, marketing and user experience.
This will support Walmart’s efforts to increase sustainability and reduce the environmental impact within the market and improve business efficiencies between Clorox and Walmart. The bottles are compacted so they are smaller and lighter for easier consumer interaction, and require less plastic and less energy to make.

CANADIAN PACKAGING CONSUMER’S VOICE AWARD
Brand name: CoorsLight/Canadian/Iced Tea
Customer: Molson Coors Brewing Company
Graphic designer: Molson Coors Brewing Company / Landor / Spring Design
Structural designer: MeadWestvaco
Pre-press: Southern Graphic Systems
Printers: Ball Corporation/ MeadWestvaco

The graphics on the aluminum bottles were created for immediate brand recognition on pack and shelf. This was a new unique bottle structure for Molson Coors, exploiting the success in the USA.
The wide-mouth opening provides a much smoother flow and enjoyable drinking experience.

For a full list of Gold and Silver award winners, see the April 2013 edition of Canadian Packaging magazine.

ORBIS has long offered products that enable its customers to conduct environmentally conscious shipping, packing, storage and systems management that improves the flow of product through the supply chain. The company also commits itself internally to ensuring they utilize efficient and progressive practices and materials to attain a greater level of environmental sustainability in their headquarters, offices and plants across the map.

The award is of particular significance as ORBIS adheres to company-wide efforts to deliver a high level of sustainability throughout the entire organization.

For this award, ORBIS judges its plants on performance in the areas of delivering customer value, employee safety, financial results, project deployment, community involvement, teamwork, support of company goals and employee engagement.

The Rexdale plant, manufacturing home of the popular ORBIS Green Bin for organic waste collection and a wide variety of other reusable products, was selected because of significant improvements in on-time delivery to its customers, employee retention, increased profitability, environmental upgrades that reduced overall water usage and a very strong employee safety score, while increasing its annual shipments by nearly 20 percent.

Steve Smith, plant manager was presented the award by Orbis president Bill Ash, with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, and Ward 1 Councilor, Vincent Crisanti also in attendance.

“We were very pleased to present this award to the Rexdale team,” says Orbis vice-president of operation Pat Feeney. “Over the past year, this plant has excelled in several key areas and made significant process improvements to help meet our customers’ needs faster and more efficiently.”

For more information, visit www.orbiscorporation.com.

A great networking opportunity, highlights of the event include: brunch,  cocktails, dinner and prizes.

When:

Thursday, May 30, 2013
9:30 am – Registration & brunch
11:00 am – Shotgun start
5:30 pm – Cocktails, dinner & prizes
Dress code in effect

Where:

Club de Golf Atlantide
2201, boulevard Don Quichotte, Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-de-Perrot, Que., J7V 7P2

Price:

• PAC member (each):

Full day: $175 + $5 donation + tax

Dinner only: $75 + $5 donation + tax

• Non-PAC member (each):

Full day: $225 + $5 donation + tax

Dinner only: $95 + $5 donation + tax

• Golf carts are included in the fee.
  No billing or refunds.
  For each ticket sold, a donation will be made to the PAC—Quebec region Scholarship Fund.

How: Register on-line

REQUEST: Promotional Items
If you would like to donate items to put in each golf cart (water, juice, snacks etc.), please contact the PAC.

Sponsorship Opportunities
The tourney still has sponsorship opportunities available:

One Hole – $125 + tax.
Company name and logo on sponsorship sign at tee-off position at assigned holes

Two or More Holes – $110 + tax
Company name and logo on sponsorship sign at tee-off position at assigned holes

Closest to the Hole – $250 + tax
Company name and logo on sponsorship sign at tee-off position at assigned holes

Longest Drive – $250 + tax
Company name and logo on sponsorship sign at tee-off position at assigned holes

Brunch – $800 + tax
Company logo on banner in breakfast area

Gift Sponsorship
A mention of your company as gift sponsor during the evening dinner.

To purchase a sponsorship or for more information, contact:
Mary Ann Gryn
Events Coordinator
PAC–The Packaging Association
514-990-0134
quebec@pac.ca

For more information on the PAC, visit www.pac.ca.

In the most recent years, a push back to wax has increased as retailers have increased their demands that alternatives to wax be found. This demand has moved through the distribution chain ultimately from customers to the converters. In response, varying solutions, some from inside our industry, others from outside have been under focus and many implemented with varying degrees of success.

Following up on the popular and successful seminar on Wax Alternative Materials held in May 2012, the 2013 version features new presenters with different information and focus, all designed to keep one current.

The event shall provide an informed understanding of what is possible (and how to do it) as well as what is not yet possible.
The program will conclude about 4:30 PM with an informal reception, offering an opportunity for networking and dialogue with the speakers.

SPEAKERS:

• Brian O’Banion, vice-president, Fibre Box Association (Chicago) will profile wax alternatives in North America and specifically will detail the FBA’s new Packaging Protocol covering wax alternatives and its’ impact on customers.
• Tauno Molder, manager- Waterbased Coatings, IGI/EnviroCoatings (Toronto) will discuss the evolution of new water based recyclable treatments for both corrugator and off-line applications.
• Brett Kendall, Norampac Technical Services, (Saint Bruno, Quebec) will cover critical control points for the successful implementation at your manufacturing site and further developments of Norshield, a proprietary Norampac product.
• Brian St. Germain, national sales manager and Vidor Lowy, technical director, Technical Adhesives (Mississauga) will discuss the impact of gluing challenges in the plant and the customers’ operations when wax alternative coatings meet the adhesives.

Where
Brampton Golf & Country Club
7700 Kennedy Road, Brampton, Ont.

When
Tuesday April 30, 2012
◊ 12:30 pm Optional Lunch ◊ 1:30 pm Seminar commences ◊ 4:30 pm Networking Reception

Cost
$90 plus tax ($101.70) Optional Lunch available for $20.00 plus tax ($2.60)
To be paid in advance with registration form. No door registrations. No refunds for no shows.

No door registrations. No refunds for no-shows.
This event is restricted to CCCA and AICC Members and Associates.

To register, contact Catherine Ashworth via e-mail at info@cccabox.org.

Nordson EFD is a global leader in precision fluid dispensing and fluid management systems—thousands of manufacturers throughout the world use the company’s dispensing equipment to apply controlled amounts of the adhesives, lubricants and other fluids used to assemble a wide variety of products, ranging from small medical devices to mobile phones to commercial aircraft.

“This year marks 50 years of commitment to developing innovative technologies that help our global customers build their own products better, faster and more cost-effectively,” says Nordson EFD vice-president and general manager Ken Forden.

“The recent enhancements to our PICO dispensing systems are a good example of our focus on understanding and anticipating the fluid management needs of the companies and industries we serve. We more than tripled their speed so they can operate continuously at up to 500 cycles per second - making them the fastest piezoelectric valves in the industry. This will help high-volume manufacturers who run their production lines 24/7 make more product in less time than ever before.”

EFD was founded in 1963 and after years of steady growth was acquired by the Nordson Corporation. Today, Nordson EFD holds a worldwide reputation as a customer-focused organization with more than 600 employees dedicated to providing customers in more than 30 countries with superior products, service and technical support.

For more information, visit Nordson EFD on the web at www.nordsonefd.com, contact them at 401-431-7000 or 1-800-556-3484.

Organized by Messe München International (MMI) and its subsidiary MMI Africa, the “food & drink technology Africa” event will premiere on  March 18 and 19, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa to be held at the Gallagher Convention Center, and is slated to be held every two years. The conceptual sponsor is the Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association of the VDMA (German Engineering Federation).

Initially, the show will take the form of a congress with accompanying exhibition—a format that has proven its value and one that was also used in 2007 for the launch of drink technology India (dti) in Mumbai, India.

Alongside its function as a technology showcase, food & drink technology Africa will also be a platform for networking, exchange of expertise and continuing professional development. It will bring mostly global manufacturers of food machinery, beverages technology and packaging machinery together with primarily regional, i.e. South African, manufacturers of foodstuffs, liquid food and beverages.

In terms of the professional development opportunities offered by food & drink technology Africa – as with dti – the event will be targeted specifically to the needs of the regional market, and will focus on technologies for safe, hygienic and resource-efficient production and packaging of foodstuffs, liquid food and beverages, as well as current developments and trends along the entire value-added chain: from raw materials handling, processing, filling and packaging through to logistics. The conference program will be supplemented by a series of workshops.

food & drink technology Africa is the third international offshoot of the leading world trade fair drinktec in Munich, India and the Beijing-based China Brew & China Beverage (CBB), the later two co-organized by Messe München.

Says Messe München managing director Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, “It strengthens our flagship, drinktec in Munich. Our experience has shown that organizing trade shows or congresses outside Germany always also has positive effects on the events we hold in Munich. Extending the portfolio of drinktec to Africa, and expanding its range to include foods, is the right step and it is a necessary one. Africa is a market of the future, it is a continent with enormous growth potential.”

Many of the exhibitors at drinktec in Munich will also be putting on a presentation in South Africa in spring 2014.

Volker Kronseder, chairman of the board of Krones AG and president of the drinktec Advisory Board, points to the high and increasing level of demand for food and beverages in Africa: “Africa is undergoing a surge in development. Already more than one billion people live on the continent of Africa and by the end of the century that figure is set to rise to 3.6 billion. In other words the population will more than triple. Beverages and foodstuffs will be produced and consumed in Africa and that requires technically solid, efficient and reliable machinery and plant. We can provide this. That is why it is important to present our technology to the market there at food & drink technology Africa 2014.”

For further information, visit www.fdt-africa.com, www.drinktec.com, www.drinktechnology-india.com, or www.chinabrew-beverage.com.

The educational events will commemorate the fourth annual National Robotics Week and focus on building interest in robotics engineering for students of all ages.

Intelligrated will host college students from Washington University and Missouri University of Science and Technology. Visits will include tours of the company’s Alvey Robotics Lab, a 5,050-square-foot research and development facility that focuses on concepting and applying new robotic innovations. Following the tour, students will join Intelligrated engineers for a luncheon, presentation and Q&A session.

Local elementary school students from the Rockwood school district who are currently learning STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) principles will also tour the robotics lab, view live demonstrations and interact with Intelligrated engineers.

“We are looking forward to welcoming bright young minds to our facility,” says Intelligrated senior vice-president of systems operations Ted Clucas. “The demand for robotics engineers is growing and we hope students emerge from this event with a better understanding of the role robotics play in the material handling industry.”

National Robotics Week, designated in 2010 by the U.S. House of Representatives, is a week-long series of events and activities to highlight the growing importance of robotics and their role enabling students to learn important science, technology, engineering and math concepts.

Intelligrated, headquartered in Mason, OH, provides automated material handling solutions with operations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Brazil.

For more information, visit www.intelligrated.com.

When:
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
7:30AM – Registration & breakfast
9 AM – Shotgun start
11 AM – Lunch
4 PM – Seated dinner & prizes
Dress code in effect

Price:
PAC member early bird
(Register by Friday, May 31, 2013)
Full day: $225.00 + HST
PAC members
(After May 31, 2013)
Full day: $240.00 + HST
Non members
Full day: $300.00 + HST

Dinner only: $125.00 + HST

Golf carts included.
Registration deadline is June 13, 2013
No billing, refunds or rain checks

Where:
Deer Creek Golf & Banquet Facility
2700 Audley Rd. N., Ajax, ON

How:
Register online
Sponsorship opportunities available

For more information:
Lindsey Ogle,
Events Coordinator
PAC—The Packaging Association,
T: 416-646-4641
E: logle@pac.ca

In 2008, PAC—The Packaging Association held the inaugural Sustainable Packaging Competition which combined with the PAC Packaging Competition to become the PAC Leadership Awards in 2009.

For 2013, in addition to the gold and silver awards to be presented, six Best of Show awards will also be awarded:

• PAC Leadership Award: presented to the ‘Leader Among Leaders’ selected from both the PAC and/or Sustainable Packaging Competition submissions
;
• Canadian Packaging Consumers’ Voice Award: selected by the Canadian Packaging magazine from the PAC Packaging Competition submissions
;
• PAC Packaging Award: selected from the PAC Packaging Competition submissions;
• Grocery Business Leading Edge Award: selected by the Grocery Business Media from the PAC Packaging Competition submissions;
• Walmart Canada Sustainable Packaging Award: selected by Walmart Canada from the PAC Sustainable Packaging Competition submissions;
• PAC Sustainable Packaging Award: selected from the PAC Sustainable Packaging Competition submissions.

When:
Monday, April 22, 2013
Cocktail reception: 5 p.m.
Dinner & awards ceremony: 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Where:
Mississauga Convention Centre
75 Derry Road,
Mississauga, ON,
L5W 1G3

Price:
$175.00 + HST per person
$160.00 + HST per person for tables of 10 or more

How:
Register online

Contact for more information:
Lisa Abraham
PAC – The Packaging Association
416-646-4640 or via e-mail at labraham@pac.ca.

Come to Ryerson University in Toronto on March 28, 2013 for an evening of networking and education.

Sponsored by PAC—The Packaging Association and Ryerson University, speakers will discuss the latest developments in printed electronics, how they will be incorporated into packaging workflows, and the marketing implications for the consumer packaging industry.

A catered reception will follow featuring interactive product demonstrations from Bash Interactive, Ryerson DMZ startup Flybits, and Graphic Monthly Canada.

Speakers are: Dr. Paul Smith, vice-president of the Xerox Innovation Group (XRCC) in Mississauga discussing the ‘Latest Developments in Printed Electronics‘; and James Lee, director of technology & innovation with Jones Packaging, speaking on ‘Printed Electronics for Consumer Packaging‘.

When:
Thursday, March 28th, 2013
6PM – 6:30PM -  Registration
6:30 PM – 7PM – Latest Developments in Printed Electronics, Paul Smith (Xerox XRCC)
7PM – 7:30PM – Printed Electronics for Consumer Packaging, James Lee (Jones Packaging)
7:30PM – 8PM – Panel Discussion / Q&A
8PM – 9PM – Catered reception / Interactive Demos

Where:
Ryerson University
George Vari Computing & Engineering Building
245 Church St, Toronto, ON, M5B 1Z4
Room ENG103

Price:
Free (dinner included) – but you have to pre-register.

How:
Click HERE to register online

Contact for more information:
Andrew Wong
Ryerson University
416-843-6168
E-mail: andrew2.wong@ryerson.ca

Lindsey Ogle
PAC – The Packaging Association
416-646-4641
E-mail: logle@pac.ca

So the real question becomes, What is the “Critical-to-Quality” leak size?

Oliver Stauffer will address these issues in the IoPP (Institute of Packaging Professionals) webinar “The Path to Package Integrity.”

His presentation will offer insight into understanding and defining the Critical-to-Quality leak size for various package and container formats, and also on how to fully understand package barrier. He will also discuss what happens when a package suffers from an integrity failure.

What you will learn:

• Understanding and acting on Critical-to-Quality leak size;
• Defining sterile barrier and integrity;
• Characterizing leakage;
• Identifying potential problems.

Speaker:
Oliver Stauffer
International Business Development Manager
PTI Inspection Systems

Where:
Online

When:
March 26, 2013
10AM – 11AM CST

Cost:
IoPP members: Free
Non-Members: $99

Click HERE to register.

Earn two points toward IoPP certification by attending this webinar!

Between 12 PM – 5PM at the Centre for Health & Safety Innovation facility in Mississauga, visitors can meet the homegrown experts from such companies as:

• Atlantic Packaging;
• Blow Mold Tooling;
• Deco Label Systems;
• Design Label Solutions;
• Independent Corrugator Inc.;
• Jones Packaging;
• Lintec Label & Print Solution;
• Pano Cap;
• Roda Packaging;
• Saxco International;
• Sleever International;
• Smurfit Kappa Bag in Box;
• Speedway Packaging;
• Viva Healthcare Packaging.

To attend, sign up at www.guestlistapp.com/events/134022.

For more information, contact Cheryl Dupuis via e-mail at cheryl@blowmold.com.

Steam Whistle Brewing, in conjunction with PAC—The Packaging Association is holing a tour of its downtown Toronto facility at the historic John Street Roundhouse on April 10, 2013.

At the fun-filled networking event, you will hear from one of the co-founders of one of Toronto’s most interesting beverage brands.

You can then participate in a tour of their craft brewery and see their brand new bottle washing, filtration, filling and packaging line.

The tours at the brewery are part of Toronto’s many interesting tourist attractions – but here, after the tour, you get to hoist a cold one courtesy of our host.

While the event is exclusive to PAC members, note that there is limited space available.

As with all such events, companies hosting plant tours have the exclusive right to allow or deny participation in the plant tour.

When:
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
10:00 AM – Registration
10:30 AM – Presentation by Greg Taylor, Co-founder
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM – Tour and reception lunch

Where:
Steam Whistle Brewing @ The Roundhouse
255 Bremner Blvd
Toronto, M5V 3M9
Map and directions
Parking is not included in fee.

Price:
PAC members: $65.00 plus HST
• A portion of proceeds from PAC events support the PAC Student Scholarship Fund.

How:
Register online

Contact for more information:
PAC education manager and events coordinator
Lindsey Ogle
416-646-4641
logle@pac.ca

And tell’em Canadian Packaging magazine says hi! make sure to read our in-depth article on Steam Whistle Brewing in our March 2013 issue.

Featuring such companies as Unilever, Walmart, Target, Sobeys, P&G, Nestle, Loblaws, Monelez International, Kraft, Costco, Canadian Tire and Coca-Cola Ltd. who will all speak this summit, this collaborative leadership platform will drive awareness of packaging sustainability challenges and opportunities.

Individually, these host companies will discuss to the 800 or so summit executives and managers in this interactive and fun event, talking about their own corporate sustainability programs, share success stories and highlight optimization opportunities within their supply chains.

This collaborative industry approach will provide a forum for finding common ground and best practices, as well as highlighting some of the biggest challenges the packaging industry faces today and in the future.

The speakers will cover a broad range of topics, including:

• supply chain collaboration;
• supply chain mapping;
• life cycle approach;
• harmonization of PPP (printed paper product) stewardship programs;
• design guidelines.

Says PAC NEXT executive director Alan Blake, “Our summit goal is to bring (the) industry together to advance the discussion on the value of packaging and how it can be optimized across the entire supply chain to reduce environmental impact and reduce waste.

“Further, we also see a tremendous opportunity to incorporate learnings from the Summit into the PAC NEXT Members Project technical committees as we focus on our vision of A World without Packaging Waste to deliver economical recovery of all packaging materials.”

Packaging Optimization Summit
Date: May 15, 2013
Time: 8AM – 7PM

Location:
Toronto Congress Centre
Cohen Room (@ PACK EX Toronto)
650 Dixon Road
Toronto, ON

Price:
PAC NEXT Members: $50.00
PAC Members: $75.00
General Admittance: $100.00
Taxes extra

Price includes:
Ticket to the Summit
Ticket to PACKEX Toronto
Ticket to PAC NEXT Sustainability Village
Lunch
Networking Reception – food and beverage

To register, click HERE

For more information, contact the affable:
Lindsey Ogle
, PAC education manager & event coordinator
T: 416-646-4641
E: logle@pac.ca
W: www.pac.ca

Bracing winter winds blew through Chicago, Illinois this January but even they couldn’t cool down the energy and excitement that seemed to resonate out of McCormick Place as it played host to ProMat 2013.

The materials handling tradeshow drew 785 exhibitors and 34,085 attendees, who packed the tradeshow floor. Informal polling by MM&D found exhibitors reporting a seeming uptick of senior level executives—people who could make purchasing decisions and open the purse strings—visiting their booths, and that impression was confirmed by the facts. ProMat officials report 85 percent of attendees had buying authority and 34 percent planned on spending $1 million or more on equipment and systems over the next 18 months.

According to MHI (the new name for the association formerly known as the Material Handling Industry of America) people intend to open their purse strings. MHI forecast a six percent (or better) growth rate across the industry for 2013 and a 10 percent rate for 2014. MHI cautioned there is some risk of a downslide for the first half of 2013, but even so, it expects the global industry to be strong.

The only negative numbers MHI reported were those for trade growth, import growth and export growth. It found trade growth slowed by more than 50 percent in 2012 due to reduced US demand and economic problems in foreign markets. Import growth dropped nearly 19 percent and export growth slipped 13.5 percent from the previous year.

The projections follow a series of positive numbers generated in 2012. Orders for new materials handling equipment grew 7.7 percent in 2012, while shipments grew 9.6 percent. For 2013, that number is expected to grow approximately seven percent, with the following year seeing a nine percent growth rate.

Positive feelings about the future weren’t just found in data projections. Organizers added a new element to the show. They hosted a competition and gave awards to the most innovative new and existing products. The winners were iQFusion, a custom-sized cardboard box automated packer, by Packsize LLC (new product) and the dual sided packing slip/shipping label printer application TwinPrint System by FOX IV Technologies Inc (existing product). But more than just passing out some hardware, the competition spurred discussion about the competing products and about advancements in the industry in general.

The show’s headlining speakers echoed enthusiasm for the industry. The Wednesday morning keynote, in particular, featured a panel discussion about the future of the materials handling industry, and the industry experts on the panel all seemed to be genuinely optimistic about the industry’s health.

The discussion was led by futurist Edie Weiner, president of Weiner, Edrich, Brown Inc. But before moderating the discussion, she opened with a presentation about how changing perceptions and technology will allow the industry to leap forward.

She stressed that the concept of storage is going to play an increasingly important role, not just in the materials handling world but in everyday life. “Solving the storage problem will be a tremendous opportunity of the future. People will want to pay for it.”

Developing a better understanding of what goes on outside of the four walls of a business is one way the industry is changing, according to panelist Michael Mikitka, CEO of the Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC).

“We’re hearing more from our members they’re becoming more involved with sales teams and customer service when it comes to delivering on the promises made by the company to its customers. They’re getting involved to see how the product, once it hits the customer’s door, is being used. Then they can provide input and take back information that provides value to the relationship.”

He added that not only is the industry adapting to this new business approach, but it’s trying to quantify and understand it as well.

“Obviously numbers and benchmarking are important, but we’re moving beyond the numbers to what we refer to as soft metrics. We’re finding some of our members are now trying to evaluate relationships they have with business partners: the flexibility they have, their reliability, etc. Using that, they consider all the other metrics—what’s been delivered on-time, what’s been delivered damage-free, what’s the best supplier who’s been reliable and dependable. The relationship side is a metric our members are looking more closely at.”

Closely examining every aspect of the operation is the necessary first step organizations must take if they want to drive their supply chains into the future. They really need to understand their business as it is today and determine what they want it to be in the future.

“I think our role is so core, the role itself doesn’t change, but how we implement and how we innovate, that makes the supply chain more efficient,” said George Prest, CEO of recently rebranded Material Handling Industry (MHI).

“Our industry literally touches everything. We are just one small part of it, but we tend to look at ways of improving productivity because if we can increase productivity we have a healthier economy, which creates jobs and a higher standard of living. So what I see is more and more innovations. The role itself doesn’t change—move, handle, store, protect—but the way we do it will evolve.”

Liz Richards, executive vice-president of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA), also spoke about how jobs have evolved.

“In 2009 our members really, really struggled and the sales process changed. The cycle became much longer. There was a realization the skill-sets needed by sales people changed with it. They needed to be much more solutions-focused. I think an organization can take its core beliefs and flip them over, and that’s really where our members need to go and really see how things have changed, ”

Richards said the industry must do a better job recruiting talent. She told the audience of the efforts MHEDA is making to introduce high school and university students to the supply chain world.

“Whether they become our employees or our suppliers, it’s important for them to see who we are. We’re an industry hidden in plain sight. We need to bring in young people to help us and turn things around and uncover new paradigms and flip our core beliefs.

Rick Blasgen, president and CEO of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) also said he regretted the supply chain not having as high a profile among students

“Students coming out of universities are receiving higher paying job offers than engineers, so we’re getting there. The career opportunities for supply chain professionals have never been greater. If you want an international opportunity, it’s easily accomplished. There are networks of people in our organization looking for individuals who want those roles. And those people are becoming senior leaders in companies. Look at Tim Cook. He ran the supply chain before taking over the reins at Apple. Or Walmart’s last two CEOs were out of their logistics organizations because we see so much and understand our suppliers and our customers. Frankly we’re taking over the world and everybody hasn’t figured it out yet.”

Even in the current strong-yet-precarious post-recession economy, the industry long regarded as the heartbeat of Canada is hemorrhaging.

Though manufacturing contributes roughly 13 per cent to the national GDP, it’s share was once closer to 18 per cent.

While unions, business leaders and other industry watchers call on Canada’s federal and provincial governments to step up for manufacturing on home soil, one region in Ontario is taking matters into its own hands.

Launched in February, the Regional Municipality of Durham—located just east of Toronto—has rolled out a series of information and networking sessions for local business leaders in a bid to strengthen the region’s manufacturing sector.

“Manufacturing is something that’s very big in our region and we just want to make sure that we find ways of bringing manufacturers together, allow them to collaborate (and) share their knowledge and best practices so we can assist in supporting the overall health of our economy and help them prosper in Durham region,” said Kasia Chojecki, manager of economic development and strategic initiatives for the region.

Partnering with the Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC), the sessions, dubbed Take Your Business to the Next Level—the Essential Tools for Manufacturing Leaders, cover topics from collaboration to planning and sustaining business for long-term success.

According to Dave Jarrett, EMC field service advisor for the GTA, York and Durham regions, the biggest obstacle the organization is trying to overcome with the sessions is a general lack of collaboration amongst manufacturers.

“We find (for) a lot of our manufacturing folks collaboration is not an intuitive skillset,” he said. “We’re competitive by nature, and even though we’re competitive, there are many times where manufacturers can work together … but it is a skill that needs to be taught.

“We’re trying to create the forums to allow that to be experienced.”

The first session,  Plan Your Step-up Program, covered accessing government funding and industry collaboration for an audience of representatives from about 40 manufacturing firms.

Jarrett, who was one of three presenters at the first session, used his own personal journey to obtain funding to illustrate some of the best practices manufacturers can use for their own businesses.

“(We) were explaining how we have applied those funds in our businesses and, as we set out to use those funding mechanisms, what challenges we ran into … in order to share some of our best—and worst—practices,” he said with a laugh.

Approaching those funding opportunities without a strategy can be overwhelming, Jarrett said of his experiences, noting when he first set out to access funding he tried to take on more than he was capable of.

“Each of them has a project plan that needs to be supported, and ultimately you’re trying to build a long-term with these funding government agencies,” he said. “I took on too many funds at the time that I was (pursuing) mine thinking we could execute and manage more than we could.”

The next session, set for April 23, will focus on transforming business. A third session covering sustaining business is scheduled for Sept. 30.

While the importance of strengthening the foundation of manufacturing is evident, Chojecki said a focus on collaboration will help build a foundation of partnership that can help both today and tomorrow.

“The thing with manufacturers is they need networks—they need supply chains,” she said. “The more people we can connect them with, the more successful they become.”

According to Chojecki, manufacturers not currently operating in the Durham region but considering expanding to the area are more than welcome to attend the upcoming sessions.

“If there are manufacturers interested in Durham region and they want to attend these sessions or they want to get in touch with us we’d be happy to work with them,” she said.

The Durham session was a pilot, according to Jarrett, as EMC looks to expand its offering of similar engagements in other regions.

“We are rolling more of these out in the Greater Toronto Area,” he said. “We have another initiative that will be taking place May 23 in the York region and we will be trying to establish one in the Etobicoke/Toronto/Mississauga region.”

Jarrett noted the Durham session marked the first time EMC rolled out an event focused on government funding for manufacturers.

To learn more about upcoming sessions be sure to check the EMC—Durham region webpage.