Jan/110
Packaging creating added Value
Often (see also 99% of the time) packaging is seen as a sunk cost, so when it is used to add value we must take note. This post’s example is the ingeniously hip(ster) CD case of artist Moldover. After learning the ins and outs of circuit design, Moldover designed a CD jewel case inlay which not only secured the product but actually was a musical instrument. The result is something entirely fresh and capable of convincing consumers to buy music in an era of illegal piracy. So even if electronic music isn’t your thing, Moldover’s unique creation should be enough for you to take note. Checkout the video below:
Jan/110
MSU’s School of Packaging featured on History Channel
The History Channel recently aired a Modern Marvels special on the packaging industry. The show featured a number of segments including a trip to the School of Packaging at Michigan State. While the program’s focus was fairly general, it was enough to give viewers a fundamental understanding of the industry. Anything which helps consumers appreciate what goes into packages they use daily the better.
The full episode can be found here:
Modern Marvels – Packaging
Aug/090
Miller’s Home Draft: Beer in a Box
Just in time for the start of college football season, MillerCoors is market testing its latest Home Draft package in a handful of cities. Their new system looks to grab the attention of consumers who prefer the draft beer experience over cans or bottles. When compared to more traditional 18 or 24 pack configurations, Home Draft can also save the end user refrigerator space. Containing one and a half gallons of beer at an estimated price point of $20.00, Miller has positioned the new product to fetch a 10-15% premium over similar volumes packaged in conventional arrangements. Couple its competition from other brewer’s mini-keg systems with its premium price in today’s economy and it will be interesting to see if the Home Draft is successful at penetrating the market.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Aug/090
School of Packaging’s Equipment Wish List
As a recent alumnus of Michigan State University’s School of Packaging, it’s important to bring attention to their crucial need for donated laboratory equipment. If you’re a company updating machinery, replacing existing tooling, or have an excess of capacity take a few minutes to peruse the wish list link below for a possible match. Your donation could make a big difference in the quality of education and technical proficiency of future packaging professionals.
Aug/090
Web Browsers: The bane of developers
Just opened TIP with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 8.0 and was baffled to see how its content was displayed. Compared to Firefox 3.5 (used to create, code, and test TIP) items were shown in the wrong location and object boarders were presented with incorrect properties. Page load and generation times lagged even on same service provider’s high speed internet connection. This disheartening discovery prompted an investigation into which web browsers were most compatible with my page. Sadly for Microsoft, the results were pretty one sided. Out of the top five programs by market share, the only one with display issues was Internet Explorer. Mozilla’s Firefox, Apple’s Safari, Google’s Chrome, and Opera’s Browser rendered content correctly and accurately every time. Looking deeper into this phenomenon I found hundreds of bloggers with the same issue, their only suggestion… keep developing for the superior browsers. So that’s what I will do. If you would like to view how TIP is meant to be seen and have a better internet experience in general get yourself a copy of Firefox, Safari, Chrome, or Opera you won’t regret it.
Jul/090
Bottled Water Replacement? (with poll)
File this new concept under: “Why didn’t I think of that?”
For those of you who would rather die than drink water from the tap, a new company has emerged which plans to package water in boxes rather than bottles. Boxed Water is Better LLC, has developed a Tetra Pak style paperboard container that closely resembles that of an old milk box for use with H2O. The company plans on shipping the boxes empty and in a knocked down configuration to fillers. When compared to traditional plastic bottles, shipping in this arrangement yields a much higher product to truck density. This freight savings coupled with the packages 85% recycled material content makes for a very green product. At a time when people are lobbying for plastic water bottle taxation, this idea could really take off. Can this concept really over take the plastic bottle as water’s new best friend? Tell us what you think below…
Source: Boxed Water Is Better
Jul/090
Package Review: Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers
Recently Healthy Choice launched it’s all new Cafe Steamers product into a very mature frozen food segment. Does it’s innovative DuoTray Steamcooker have what it takes to capture market share from the big players? Lets find out.
The core branding message behind the Healthy Choice division of ConAgra Foods has always been that of well being and health. So it makes sense that they chose to incorporate this steamer tray into an all new product line. The outer 6 sided paperboard carton demonstrates the health branding very well as it’s high quality graphics display every nutritional fact and food point system known to man.
The cartons color layout, shape, size, and overall aesthetics are generally appealing. Ease of use features such as the carton pull tab and well thought out instructions add to the products usability.
Although it has a large footprint, the product fit well into our full size refrigerator’s 3.8 cubic foot freezer. With substantial flat sides the package can easily be placed on multiple planes, which aids space efficiency.
Tearing down the paperboard carton reveals a fairly simple die-cut shape with a green color backing. There are just 3 glue relief areas which are small in thickness, evidence of tight manufacturing tolerances.
While the outer carton is pretty standard fair the sauce tray and steamer system is where the true innovation lies. Constructed of semi transparent polypropylene the sauce tray supports and houses the steamer tray slightly above a reservoir of sauce.
When cooked the pores of the steamer tray allow vapors created to interact with the food it contains before being purged through a self-venting heat sealed film.
During testing this automatic venting film setup worked very well as there were no leaks or spills that occurred. This is one of the systems best features as it eliminates the almost customary act of cutting film vent holes in frozen foods. The product had no difficulty fitting in a 0.6 cubic foot microwave and suggested cooking times were very accurate. After cooking is completed the user has to remove the nested steaming system from the sauce tray and pour it’s contents into the sauce tray below. Once contents are thoroughly mixed, the meal is ready to consume.
After reviewing multiple iterations of this product, it is safe to say ConAgra did its packaging homework here. Not only is the end item innovative it plays nicely to Healthy Choice’s brand image. Even though the actual flavor and nutritional enhancement due to steaming can be debated, Cafe Steamers are sure to claim increased market share… especially while freezer cases continue to be filled with standard tray cooking systems.
Rating:
(Out of 5 Boxes)
Shelf Presence: 
Ease of Use: 
Environmental Impact: 
Value Added: 
Overall (not an average):
Key Statistics:
Cost $3.00 – $4.00
On Shelf Dimensions
Length: 7.5”
Width: 7.5”
Depth: 2.0”
Weight (Full): 14 oz.
Paperboard Carton
Overall Length: 19.125”
Overall Width: 11.25
Thickness: 0.021”
Tray
Length: 7.375”
Width: 7.375”
Depth: 1.75”
Material: Polypropylene
Thickness: 0.125”
Steamer Tray
Length: 6.5”
Width: 6.125”
Depth: 1.375”
Material: Polypropylene
Thickness: 0.018”
Jul/090
Constar’s DiamondClear Obtains FDA Approval
with DiamondClear
without DiamondClear
According to a press release from Constar, the FDA approved it’s latest oxygen scavenging DiamondClear PET material for food use. With barrier properties and clarity close to that of glass, the approved material will likely have wide spread applications throughout the food and beverage industry. In addition to being lighter than glass the material is also recyclable which helps to reduce overall environmental impact. For a copy of the entire press release follow the link below:
Jul/090
Packaging Corporation of America Reports 2nd Quarter Profit
On the 21st, PCA’s Paul Stecko reported a second quarter profit of 109 million dollars or $1.07 per share. Of the reported profit, 80 million was due to alternative fuel tax credits, while 29 million of profit was from actual operations. The company also projected third quarter profits to be around $0.24 per share. The overall positive news pushed shares higher to end the week just shy of the 20 dollar mark.
Source: Packaging Corporation of America
Jul/090
Apple’s freshly leaked patent displays potential future of electronics packaging
It seems Apple is really beginning to emphasize cutting edge package design as one of its core competencies. This as illustrated by a newly leaked patent for a system dubbed “active packaging” which allows for a device’s battery to be charged and software to be updated while in packaging on the store shelf! The positive ramifications for the consumer are enormous. No longer would buyers need wait agonizing hours for their newly purchased device to charge or update, just turn on and enjoy. This “active packaging” technology could open up many new marketing options for retailers. For example it would be possible to attract customers by streaming digital media to the devices while on display. With most other electronics manufactures treating packaging as a necessary evil, this patent news is truly refreshing.
source: Engadget
the Today in Packaging Weblog
- Packaging creating added Value
- MSU’s School of Packaging featured on History Channel
- Miller’s Home Draft: Beer in a Box
- School of Packaging’s Equipment Wish List
- Web Browsers: The bane of developers
- Bottled Water Replacement? (with poll)
- Package Review: Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers
- Constar’s DiamondClear Obtains FDA Approval
- Packaging Corporation of America Reports 2nd Quarter Profit
- Apple’s freshly leaked patent displays potential future of electronics packaging