News from the Exhibitors

28 February 2008

Mearsom Freer will showcase its brand new platinum bottle range. These distinctive white PVC bottles are available in 25, 50, 100, 150 & 250 ml sizes with a wide range of caps to give good shelf appeal and adaptable dispensing. Measom Freer has been producing plastic packaging for over 70 years.

Multitubes BV is the leading tube supplier in The Netherlands, manufacturing monolayer tubes with up to 5-colour printing and labelling. The company will be present at easyFairs PACKAGING INNOVATIONS to exhibit quality products and promote its fast turnaround service. A recent 5,000 square metre extension to its factory enables it to cope with increased demand.

Cambridge-based MW recently took on a project for Ciroc, Diageo’s luxury vodka made from French grapes. The solution was a revolutionary yet sophisticated ice cooler that combines a mix of three different materials. The cooler body is made of solid stainless steel and has a high-density foam liner with a twist lock mechanism, allowing it to be stored in the fridge, as well as being the centre of attention when in use.  Graeme Lilwall, Global Marketing Manager for Ciroc said, “We are really pleased with the new gift-pack. Not only is it visually stunning, it also combines a functional benefit for the consumer. We hope that this will give us a competitive advantage during the key gifting period.”

At this year's show we are delighted to welcome Rexam, a leading global consumer packaging company and the largest beverage can maker in the world. Its Dispensing Systems division has 9 plants, in the U.S., France, The Netherlands, Brazil and China, and serves global beauty, home and personal markets with an extensive product portfolio.  Products include samplers, lotion pumps, fragrance pumps and closures, foam pumps and complete packages. Rexam will present foam pump applications including the winner of this year's Rexam Annual Formulation Challenge, UK-based Innovation Deli Ltd. This year, the Challenge addressed the potential of Rexam’s newest platform in mechanical foamers – the squeeze-operated EZi Foamer – in the fast-growing body wash category.

Founded in 1985, SACO Specialist Anodising Ltd is now a market leader in the manufacture of aluminium caps and shrouds for the cosmetic industry, offering component design, in-house tooling, pressing, assembly and anodising. SACO now offers 500 standard caps and shrouds and continues to expand its production capacity including the recent purchase of a new 75,000 square feet factory very close to its existing site.

Innovation is key to the success of SHB, which will exhibit the new SHB Adapter-Ring for SATURN III and GEMINI III closures. SHB now offers a third colour plus engraving for its patented ring, which it delivers assembled with the cap. SHB is one of the largest manufacturers of standard bottles and caps for personal care products and household liquid products.

If you want to use a foil board but are reluctant because of the environmental issues you might want to check out Simply Cartons, which has developed a foil board that is 100 % recyclable and biodegradable. Apart from that, it has all the normal attributes of regular foil board: the company believes that whilst waste reduction is a requirement, it should not compromise shelf presence or functionality. Simply Cartons has repositioned itself and developed new market sectors such as cosmetics, haircare and healthcare alongside its existing presence in food, publications, confectionery and toiletries.

Exhibiting at easyFairs PACKAGING INNOVATIONS for the first time, paper-based packaging manufacturer Smurfit Kappa will exhibit a suite of tools to help customers make the right packaging choices. The company will showcase its Innobook, a global database for the creation of innovative packaging solutions, Merchandising Wizard merchandising unit design system and its commitment to environmental issues and recycling.

Taixing K.K. Plastic Co. is a leading lotion pump supplier in Asia, and has a number of patented features used to protect products, including water-shield, leak proof, counter tamper, rct. The company recently entered roll-on packaging and is poised to become the dominant supplier in this industry soon. Taiwan K.K. Corp. supplies high-end acrylic skin care jars, bottles and airless pumps, together with in-house decoration services including  spraying, silk screening, hot stamping and frosting.

Tampoprint will showcase its pad printing and laser marking equipment. The company provides printing solutions for all manufacturing sectors including medical devices, automotive & electrical goods.

Vetroplas will present several new standard items from its two main partners, Eurovetrocap of Italy and CTL of France. Among new items on offer are the "Nina" 15ml, 30ml and 50ml airless packs in polypropylene, and the ‘lense" style lids for glass jars from Eurovetrocap. CTL’s wide range of plastic and laminate tubes enables Vetroplas to offer a variety of materials and dispensing solutions. Vetroplas has recently announced the introduction of the stylish "Easydose" airless tube.

14 February 2008

Covering the whole spectrum of innovation, easyFairs PACKAGING INNOVATIONS will bring together everyone involved in pushing back the boundaries of packaging design, including manufacturers, design and brand agencies, and retailers and brand owners.

While many leading packaging suppliers, contract packers and design and brand agencies are returning for a second or third year – including Constar, Macpac, Robinson Plastic Packaging, PET Power, DCA Design, PDD and, major UK glass packaging specialists William Croxson & Son – the 2008 show will also see some major new names coming onboard, such as Sun Chemical, Tetrapak, M&H Plastics, Seymour Powell and Wincanton.

One of the most interesting innovations comes from Ditone Labels, who are leading the field in the development of Braille labelling for toiletry, cosmetic and medicinal bottles. Braille is now a mandatory inclusion on all medicinal products for human consumption and, as legislation may soon extend to other products, there are practical issues for brand owners to address.

Show launches will include new special printed effects from ink manufacturer Intercolor. The Interact range includes coin reactive coatings, textured and tactile coatings, glow-in-the-dark phosphorescent inks, thermochromic inks, metallic ink effects, photochromic inks and UV fluorescent inks.

Miniature finishing specialist Clinical Print Finishers (CPF) is hoping to break into new markets with an innovative machine that allows it to produce die-cut miniature booklets, whilst Johnsen & Jorgensen’s new SmartPack, which offers an eco-friendly bulk packaging solution for drinks, will also be launched at easyFairs PACKAGING INNOVATIONS.

Visitors to the Constar stand, one of the largest suppliers of PET containers for conventional applications in soft drinks and water, can find out about the company’s expansion into the growing custom PET market for food, juices, teas, sport drinks, new age beverages, beer and flavored alcoholic beverages. 

Clifford Packaging will offer a complete service from design to delivery, supplying a wide range of corrugated and solid fibreboard containers. One of the latest innovations from the company is the BottleBuddie™, a new range of drop-in wine boxes that meet all the necessary RRP criteria including an integral handle for easy in-store handling.

Already bigger than last year, the 2008 show will deliver much more, including the latest developments in printing, labelling and flexible packaging technology from the likes of BASF, Easibind, ELAG, Kurz UK, Holland & Watts, and Opus 21 Digital.