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Tetra Pak has launched a connected packaging platform, which will transform milk and juice cartons into interactive information channels, full-scale data carriers and digital tools, it says. Driven by the trends behind Industry 4.0, and with code generation, digital printing and data management at its core, the connected packaging platform will bring new benefits to food producers, retailers and shoppers, according to the company...

Ultra-low cost flexible electronics set to connect everyday items

AIPIA member PragmatIC, one of the leading developers of in ultra-low cost flexible electronics, has launched the first products in its ConnectIC® family. The PR1101 and PR1102 flexible integrated circuits (FlexICs) are designed for use in closed HF RFID systems. The company believes this new range will be pivotal in the acceleration of the smart packaging market...

Smart olive oil bottle triggers re-filling and extends shelf-life

Olivery is a ‘smart’ olive oil bottle and refill system. The bottle itself is made from a special kind of glass that helps the olive oil stay fresh for longer. Violettglass is a special type of light reflecting glass which blocks all colours except two to slow down the oxidizing process. In addition the bottle contains an LED in the base which lights up when the contents are low to alert the user its time to re-order...

New partnership combines Augmented Reality with product protection

Document Security Systems (DSS), which develops anti-counterfeit, authentication, and diversion protection technologies, has announced it has entered into an agreement with Zappar, one of the leading exponents of Augmented Reality (AR) and interactive delivery experiences...

Security labels and seals for pharma and pain patches

Schreiner MediPharm has combined its expertise in innovative specialty labels and integrated solutions with folding box manufacturer Edelmann to create a smart medicine packaging solution with diverse digital features, it says. It includes the BitSecure copy detection technology for product authentication as well as a closure seal with an integrated NFC chip and an additional void effect for tamper evidence. It is compliant with the EU Falsified Medicines Directive, effective February 2019...

Taking packaging to the next level at drupa 2020

AIPIA has been asked to take part in an initiative, by drupa 2020 organisers Messe Dusseldorf, to highlight new printing technologies for the packaging sector. The Touchpoint packaging initiative’s main goal is to display how innovative printing technologies, such as printed electronics, or digital security codes, will contribute to the future of packaging...

Stock worries? Bring in the drones

Pensa Systems, which develops autonomous perception systems, has launched a new retail inventory visibility system which has been tested recently by AB InBev in a Canadian retail outlet. The system is designed to inform retailers and brands of what is actually on shelves – across all stores, everywhere, at any point in time...

Active & Intelligent Packaging in China: part of a RMB2.5 trillion business by 2020

The rapid development of e-commerce, strong economic development and urbanization has greatly promoted the development of the packaging industry in China - with technologies, such as Smart and Active Packaging, a major part of the modernization process. China is already the second largest ‘packaging’ economy in the world, and growth is set to continue well above 5%, reaching RMB2.5 trillion by 2020. So it is a very fertile market for the latest Active & Intelligent Packaging (A&IP) technologies...

Embedding RFID tags into syringe labels ensures drugs can be tracked

Drug manufacturer Nephron Pharmaceuticals, based in South Carolina, is building UHF RFID tags into the labels that are applied to its prefilled syringe products. The system makes each item individually visible where RFID readers are employed at its own facility, as well as at its health-care customers' facilities, says a report in RFID Journal...

Two solutions extend shelf-life of avocados

US-based WP Produce, the largest importer and distributor of tropical avocados worldwide, has announced significant improvements to lengthen the shelf life of their Desbry avocados. Tropical avocados—also known as green skin avocados—are seeing a rise in demand due to the overall popularity of avocados globally...

Bridging the gap between QR mobile payments and NFC devices

The NFC Forum has released a new ‘candidate’ specification that makes it easy for mobile payments services based on QR codes to add NFC functionality, giving “payment service providers and consumers the opportunity to take advantage of the simple and secure NFC-based payment solutions already in use worldwide...

The USA Smart Packaging Revolution Continues!

18-03-2019

The North American market for Active & Intelligent Packaging (A&IP) is the largest and most dynamic on the planet. Whether it is the latest pharmaceutical compliance packs from Jones, Walmart’s blockchain project for its fresh produce suppliers, or incorporating the GS1 Digital Link into Digimarc barcodes, the deployment and operational success of A&IP is growing at breathtaking speed across major Brands in every CPG sector. It is certainly the next Revolution in packaging!

More anti-counterfeit options with conventional printing

Schreiner ProTech has enhanced its ShiftSecure solution to include additional options and increased compatibility with conventional printing procedures, it claims. Aimed at increasing the solution’s appeal and maximizing its cost effectiveness, the new versions of ShiftSecure come in a range of colours and expanded manufacturing options which extend beyond the original product’s anti-counterfeiting benefits...

Capturing value from the smart packaging revolution

Last year Deloitte, one of the most globally recognised consultancy companies to the world’s leading Brands, published an in depth survey on the future of Smart Packaging and how to best utilize these new technologies. We publish some extracts here, but for the full story come and listen to Deloitte at the AIPIA USA Summit in New Jersey, 3rd and 4th June 2019...

Artificial Intelligence enables responsive packaging

Companies need to ensure that their products arrive at the right place, on time, and preferably in a sustainable manner and at the lowest possible cost. Packaging plays a key role in this, so finding the best packaging solution for a product is of crucial importance for reliable and cost-efficient logistics and distribution as well as good presentation to customers...

AIPIA first outing in Vietnam – then on to AUSPACK!

AIPIA will run its first ever seminar in Vietnam, during the ProPak Vietnam 2019 exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) later this month. The half day seminar (on 20th March) will feature five speakers from the AIPIA membership looking at, in particular, supply chain issues and condition montitoring technologies – particularly relevant to the burgeoning market in that country for seafood exports...

Looking Absolutley Fabulous – the packaging too!

MetaShield a USA based innovator in the field of advanced materials, has launched MetaShieldCLEAN™, a fully transparent, nanotechnology-based coating that repels a significant amount of the stains, dust and dirt which can accumulate on consumer packaging during everyday use...

A BRANDS CHANCE TO GET 15 PITCHES ON HIGH TECH PACKAGING

05-03-2019

AIPIA, the Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry is looking to team up with a major Brand Owner to run an Active & Intelligent Packaging Challenge during the upcoming AIPIA Congresses. More and more major Brand Owners are recognizing that, with the rapid developments in today’s digital era, packaging has a unique opportunity to play a significant role in enabling and facilitating connected platforms and providing the consumer with increased engagement and increased confidence/loyalty towards products. So they are looking to integrate Active and Intelligent packaging (A&IP) to enhance the consumer experience, provide traceability, enhance safety and/or security, as well as extending shelf-life or reducing waste...

New CEO joins Thinfilm as company reports whisky campaign success

Kevin Barber has joined Thinfilm as CEO in late 2018. He is responsible for driving worldwide strategic growth, scaling product innovation and manufacturing operations while increasing market penetration and identifying new business opportunities...

Major European menswear retailer rolls out RFID in 100s of stores

French menswear retailer Celio has deployed RFID technology across all 750 of its stores, in one of the largest deployments of the technology in Europe, according to a recent report in RFID Journal. The system's rollout was completed following a 12-month set-up period, bringing visibility to inventory at each location. RFID was taken live at the point of sale (POS), along with electronic article surveillance (EAS) technology, at 55 store locations by the end of 2018...

Counterfeiting gets harder with ‘unclonable’ tag

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark claim to have created an ‘unclonable’ tag that can never be replicated, even by the manufacturer. They report their results in ACS (American Chemical Society) journal Applied Materials & Interfaces. Each year, counterfeit goods cost billions of dollars in economic losses. While manufacturers have tried to incorporate unique tags or bar codes on their products to help verify a product's authenticity, the counterfeiters often quickly work out how to copy these...

Fruit sticker extends freshness by up to 50 per cent

A USA start-up, based in Seattle, aims to combat food waste through a new sticker which it claims can keep fruit fresh for up to 14 days longer. Stixfresh is a label which can be applied directly to fruits which generate ethylene during the ripening process. The sticker’s coating is made up of a formula of beeswax and ionised sodium chloride, and has GRAS (generally recognised as safe) status in accordance with the US Food and Drug Administration...

Disappearing ink with a blue hue adds security to track & trace

At the end of last month Domino launched a new thermal inkjet (TIJ) ink that has already found track-and-trace applications in the tobacco industry. The coding, marking and printing specialist says the clear, ultraviolet-activated ink is helping to boost security in track and trace processes, with the added bonus that its vibrant blue hue has a limited life cycle and disappears completely...

Blockchain and Business News

Several announcements have been made by AIPIA members and major brands/retailers about Blockchain applications and business developments. Here is a short roundup...

Smart label pilot proves full supply chain interoperability possible

A new e-commerce solution has been piloted on UPM Raflatac’s shipments in routes all over Europe. The smart labels use Internet of Packaging (IoP) technology to log and share information about the packs during the delivery process. The company said the pilot demonstrated that the solution provides full interoperability between supply chain stakeholders without requiring heavy IT integration...

Price breakthrough for NFC tag inlays

A new NFC tag inlay, jointly developed by NXP and Identiv, is now available to order at an “unrivalled” price of US$0.05 per unit, “enabling a new generation of smart products across a wide range of end markets where NFC may have been previously considered price prohibitive.” The five cent per unit pricing is available when ordering a minimum of 20,000 units of Identiv’s 25mm diameter dry inlay design...

Danone taps into smart cap for mineral water brand

AIPIA member Water.io has worked with Danone to develop a ‘smart cap’ which will be incorporated into the Brand’s Spanish mineral water Font Vella, allowing consumers to track their levels of hydration. Named Coach2O, the widget will monitors consumers’ water intake and “coach them towards adequate hydration”, according to Danone...

Digital connection for wines and spirits

A new product from international cap manufacturer Ramondin and tesa scribos, specialists in product digitalisation, produces wine and spirit bottles that are digitally connected. The new bottle caps become a secure starting point for customer interaction, counterfeit protection and collection of market data. The new Connected Bottle was unveiled at Vinitech in Bordeaux in late 2018...

Multiple holographic security images from nanoscale 3D printing

Researchers at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) have used 3D printing to develop something that not only looks cool, but can also be used to deter counterfeiting. The device, which the scientists call “holographic colour prints,” creates images that appear as a regular colour print under white light. But under red, green or blue laser illumination, the device projects up to three different holograms...

Unique identity for every item uses HP and Digimarc technologies

AIPIA member Digimarc has introduced a new serialized packaging solution combining Digimarc Barcode and the HP Link platform, which can provide every printed object with a unique identity and offers a cost-effective option for tackling supply chain problems, claim the companies...

Smart cap kills bacteria on reusable water bottles

CrazyCap is a replacement cap for refillable style water bottles. The cap was developed by a Miami-based startup Microlyscs to sanitize the water from municipal sources or lakes/rivers in a streamlined manner with minimal effort...

Things get lighter with Coca-Cola

On labels applied to a limited edition of 700 glass bottles, the iconic Coca-Cola logo lit up when touched. The 330-mL bottles were sent to Coca-Cola employees and “influencers” as part of Coke’s #BeSanta campaign, says a report in Packaging World (USA). The technology behind the campaign comes from Berlin-based Inuru, a specialist in Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED)...

Blockchain ecosystem to ‘revolutionize’ supply chains

A breakthrough blockchain-powered technology from an Australian company could revolutionise track and trace in supply chains, it claims. Provenance and, the ability to prove it, is becoming essential, not only as a selling tool but also as a means of brand IP protection against counterfeiting. John Baird, CEO of Ultimo Digital Technologies is driving the development and distribution of its new Ubique Chain of Things (UCOT) ecosystem, according to an article which appeared in PKN...

Major commitment to RFID sustainable products and production

Smartrac announced its Green Tag Program to the public recently. In addition to its existing commitment to minimize any possible ecological impact of its manufacturing processes, the RFID and IoT developer has taken on an obligation to manufacture RFID products that live up to a true sustainability promise even under strict Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) scrutiny...

Battery free smart sensor attracts smart money

Wiliot, the Israel based semiconductor innovator, has raised a $30 million series B funding for a total of $50 million. This follows its demonstration of the first-ever sticker-sized Bluetooth sensor tag, incorporating an ARM processor, powered solely by scavenging energy from ambient radio frequencies. at the National Retail Federation 2019 Retail’s Big Show in New York City recently...

Digital twinning can help reduce food waste

Food waste occurs at all stages of the supply chain, from farm to distributors, retailers and consumers. Food that would otherwise end up in a landfill, contributing to greenhouse gases, can be turned into a resource, however, by redistributing it to various channels, such as food banks, in order to help people in need. Digital twining via the Internet of Things (IoT) could help to solve this problem, according to an article by Neil Sequeira, director of product management and marketing at QLIKTAG Software, which appeared in RFID Journal...

Invisible digital watermark opens consumer channels

Thimm, the German-based packaging and POS specialists, has developed a display that uses an invisible code to open up new channels for communicating with customers for the launch of a new mueslis brand. These digital watermarks in printed images are positioning Fresh Nuts with its Meray brand as one of Europe's leaders in ethnic market sales, says the company...

Smart Packaging Developer? Join The Growcery at The Big Squeeze!

The Growcery is an ecosystem where Brands and startups/scale-ups team up to maximize the success of consumer-centric products and business models. It gives access to a pilot infrastructure enabling rapid prototyping and pilot production for consumer-oriented innovative projects. It actively involves a diverse range of niche players and experts to deliver tangible improvements for the Growcery community through joint learning, technology standards & best practices and shared services...

Morrisons to trial new film coating to extend produce life

One of the UK’s top six supermarket chains, Morrisons, is set to trial a new film packaging technology developed by long standing AIPIA member It’s Fresh! The new film is claimed to prolong the life of fresh produce. Dubbed a ‘purposeful packaging’ technology by the company, 'Infinite', a sustainable active deliver system, has been designed to reduce food waste in supermarkets, in the supply chain and at home, it says.

Final tests for watermarking plastic bottles in 2019

Speaking at the recent AIPIA Congress in Amsterdam Filigrade’s CEO Johan Kerver confirmed that final tests on watermarking of plastic bottles to aid recycling will be carried out in the first quarter of 2019 and they are partnering with a French company, as yet unnamed, to build the first processing plant.

Full temperature traceability of pharmaceuticals in 7 seconds

The strength, efficacy and potency of a drug can be profoundly degraded by changes in temperature. So drugs should be stored and transported only within temperature conditions under the terms of their Marketing Authorisations (MA),” says Stéphane Mure founder of Thermolabo. His company has worked with AIPIA member BluLog for a simple solution and created the Sensolabo®.

Zappar looks at AR packaging landscape in 2019

According to a recent article in Food Navigator Augmented Reality (AR) content is growing fast thanks to the launch of Apple’s ARKit, Google’s ARCore, Snap’s Lens Studio and ZapWorks. Following the AIPIA Congress in Amsterdam FN interviewed Zappar, which has worked with Mindshare UK and Neuro-Insight, to produce a ‘Layered’ report which explores user behaviour and predict key AR trends for the coming year.

Intelligent packaging solutions go global with Microsoft cloud platform

Stora Enso has joined forces with Microsoft to bring cloud-based intelligent packaging solutions to clients globally. Intelligent Packaging by Stora Enso utilizes Microsoft Azure, the leading cloud platform for business digitalization, it says. The global and scalable cloud platform enables reliable and secure data collection and analytics for clients investing in innovative intelligent packaging solutions, according to the company.

One quarter of alcohol consumed in many emerging markets is illicit

If you needed to sober up after all the seasonal merriment a new White Paper from Euromonitor, which provides strategic market research, says illicit alcohol accounts for 25.8% of consumption in 24 countries studied in three regions: Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe (including Russia).

Luxury cognac uses NFC chip to connect with consumers

As announced at the AIPIA Congress in Amsterdam, Rémy Cointreau is to integrate an NFC chip technology, supplied by some of the Association’s leading members, NXP Semiconductors and Selinko, into the cork stopper of all the decanters produced for its Louis XIII luxury cognac brand. This enables buyers to register their purchase and become a member of the Louis XIII Society, a private club where members can enjoy exclusive content, unique experiences and personalized services through their smartphones.

Label shows how to chill out with red wine

We may all be shivering in the cold in the northern hemisphere, but it is always summer somewhere on the planet. Australian based Taylors Wines is featuring touch-activated sensors and temperature guides on its packaging as part of the 2018/19 summer ‘Taylor the Temperature’ campaign, which encourages consumers to chill their red wine before serving, according to a report in PKN.

Ultra low cost RFID inlays now possible with new machine

PragmatIC recently announced a strategic collaboration with Smooth & Sharp Corporation (S&S), a supplier of RFID inlays and manufacturing tools, which will accelerate the adoption of PragmatIC’s flexible integrated circuits (FlexICs).

Top quality wines protected by ‘brittle’ tag

Toppan Printing has developed the Cachet-Tag™—an NFC1 tag designed to ensure that removal breaks the antenna circuit and makes reading impossible. It has been selected for use on all Grand Cru wines produced by Domaine Ponsot, a top quality wine producer based in Burgundy, France. Shipments of products using Cachet-Tag commenced in October 2018.

AIPIA and BXP to launch special magazine

19-12-2018

BXP, in conjunction with AIPIA, are offering a special edition issue, which will be the industry’s leading guide for the latest trends and solutions focused around Active & Intelligent Packaging. Beautifully designed, this edition will be an excellent resource for packaging and branding professionals to reference year-round.

And now – the Internet of Beauty!

Albéa, on of the world's top cosmetic packaging wholesalers and manufacturers of packaging and beauty solutions has launched the Internet of Beauty (IoB), an innovative connected packaging project developed by a cross-functional team of marketing, design, IT and packaging engineering experts. In addition, The Internet of Beauty was built in partnership with key players from the beauty industry as it opens news opportunities for brands to interact with consumers, says the company.

Get ready for the INVISIBLE RFID tag!

AsahiKasei will make their second appearance at the AIPIA Congress this year having created quite a stir with their ground breaking printing technology ideas for printed electronics last time. This year promises to be just as exciting with the introduction of a sub-micron rol lto roll (R2R) technique to acheive an ‘ínvisible’ RFID tag.

Cool and hot inks reduce product tampering and counterfeiting

The BlindSpotz™ technology of Chromatic Technologies Inc (CTI) is helping stop product tampering by inventing the first dual-indicator to detect product tampering from heat and freezing, according to the company. The use of extreme temperatures (especially sub-zero temperatures) to circumvent traditional security measures on packaging has increased substantially among criminals in recent years, with no effective deterrent until now, it claims.

New sustainable RFID tag technology

Continuing the environmental theme, ECO™ by Stora Enso is designed for intelligent packaging functionalities in supply chain, retail and e-commerce applications. The technology enables paper-based RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology tags, providing a plastic-free and recyclable solution for packaging authentication. The company will present during the AIPIA Congress on it range of paper-based smart technologies.

Taking recycling and waste seriously: A&IP a ‘positive development’

In some quarters Active & Intelligent Packaging (A&IP) is seen as an additional challenge when looking at packaging recyclability. While the current focus is very much on Single Use Plastics, there are some who believe adding an additional component, such as an RFID/NFC tag, to any pack can create recycling difficulties.

E paper and UHF inlay combine for battery-less tag in Japanese stores

AIPIA member E Ink Holdings, a leading innovator of electronic ink technology, has worked with Fujitsu Semiconductor to jointly develop a reference design board for battery-less ePaper tags. The solution adopts E Ink's low voltage ePaper module and Fujitsu’s UHF FRAM RFID LSI.

Blockchain for pharmaceutical contract packing projects

Global contract packaging organisation, Tjoapack, has partnered with UK-based technology company, Veratrak, to establish the use of blockchain across the pharmaceutical industry.

Next step in Intelligent Payment & Packaging: Scan, Engage and Pay

Steve Howells, senior director – product marketing at Smartrac will explain how intelligent packaging can now be used to enable NFC based devices to become a means of payment

How-to integrate packaging innovation into a company - Staying ‘Ahead of the Curve’

This discussion at the upcoming Congress is based on years of experience and learnings involved with integrating new packaging innovation and technology into fast moving consumer products for a major multinational Brand Owner.

New fridge container tag signals freshness

A Chicago based tech startup, Ovie, is launching a series of products on Kickstarter to help people stop wasting food and money by keeping track of their food at home before it spoils. The Ovie Smarterware system turns an ordinary fridge into a smart fridge, but without the smart fridge price tag, says the company

From Pets to Packaging?

GTX Corp an Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider in the GPS wearable location and wandering assistive technology business, recently announced the launch of a new GPS tracker and Near Field Communication (NFC) digital ID system called Rover Tracker. Its for Pets, not PET bottles, but the furry kind. But hey, its a small step from Man’s Best Friend to Packaging

Secure supply chains, blockchain and brand protection

Systech CEO Ara Ohanian will enlighten delegates on Using software to secure a supply chain from the manufacturing floor to the consumer’s hands. He contends this marks a shift in packaging industry. It is almost certain the term Blockchain will be mentioned. And in a timely reminder of the growing importance of this, Systech has recently partnered with Pharma Logistics IQ to produce a report entitled: Blockchain: Can Cryptocurrency Revolutionize Brand Protection?

New NFC Forum White Paper: Bridging Digital and Physical Retail with NFC

Connected Consumers Are Here! So says a new White Paper introduced by the NFC Forum, entitled: Bridging Digital and Physical Retail with NFC. The Forum’s executive director Paula Hunter commented: The era of the ‘connected consumer’ is here – and it’s not just millennials. People of all ages and backgrounds are turning to the Internet to interact with digital content, services, experiences and brands. They’re going online for entertainment, education, knowledge, social sharing and commerce.

Time to go bananas over food waste!

Not every ‘smart’ pack has to feature a gizmo or an interactive device to make it clever. One Korean supermarket has launched a new form of banana packaging, which is being hailed as “genius” on social media. Not only does it, in some respects, extend shelf life, but at the same time promotes healthy eating!

Augmented Reality goes live: from niche to the mainstream

Constantia Flexibles, which will be presenting and exhibiting for the first time at the AIPIA Congress, has developed an innovative platform ‘Constantia Interactive’ in conjunction with its strategic technology partner Wikitude, an independent AR technology provider. The companies showcased ‘Interactive Packaging' at this year's Pack Expo, Chicago, recently

Time for Brands to Take a Reality Check!

24-10-2018

There are still many Brands out there, both big and small, who have yet to switch on to the potential of Active & Intelligent Packaging to help them Differentate and Boost their Products. If you are one of those, why not jump in at the Deep End and spend two full days submerged in the world of Active & Intelligent Packaging by attending the AIPIA Congress in Amsterdam? You can find out about ALL that Active & Intelligent Packaging has to offer and how it can connect and Add Value to YOUR Brand...

Plastics recycling made simpler by watermarking

19-10-2018

One of the major issues facing the packaging sector at present is the huge negative reaction to plastics waste, particularly in the oceans, but also because the world is coming to dread the term ‘single use’ – even if in reality flexible packaging is a very resource efficient material.

Promoting medication adherence with intelligent packaging

19-10-2018

There are few companies who know more about the journey towards revolutionizing their packaging than Jones who, in 2013, embarked on a six year journey to create a ‘next generation’ of pharmaceutical packaging. They share some of their experiences and pit stops along that road at the AIPIA Congress.

Crown closure uses AR to give better consumer experience

19-10-2018

One of the latest technologies making its debut at the Congress is DAPP, a digital application which is sponsored by Pelliconi , a premier closures design and manufacturing company based in Bologna Italy. The company has particular expertise in the crown cork closure area and is adding a new dimension to this, most traditional, form of closure.

Seeing IS Believing!

With over 30 confirmed booths in our renowned Seeing is Believing demonstration areas the AIPIA Congress will offer delegates the most comprehensive ‘window’ on the world of Active & Intelligent Packaging developments ever!

Don’t water the flowers!

Waterless Internet Flower Packaging, developed by Indian flexible packaging giant Uflex, has been becoming increasingly popular among global flower companies. It works on the principle of Active Modified Atmospheric Packaging (AMAP) through Flexfresh™, a special patented polymeric film, offering shelf-life extension solution for fresh fruits, vegetables as well as flowers.

UHF RFID tag system plots expiry and inventory of speciality drugs

A US based health-care service Asembia, is managing the inventory dating and expiration of its high-value medications using an UHF RFID system from Truecount Corp, according to an article in RFID Journal. Tag provider Charming Trim & Packaging provided the UHF inlay labels that are attached to the pharmaceutical packaging. The system employs Truecount's Simple RFID software solution.

Just tap the Talkin’ Cap

Talkin’ Things®, a top innovator in product communication platforms, together with Closure Systems International (CSI), have collaborated to integrate smart packaging technology into CSI’s global platform of closures. Come hear about this and other T’T developments at the AIPIA Congress.

Interactive folding boxes can be used with smartphones.

Siegwerk, a longstanding AIPIA member and leading supplier of printing inks for packaging applications and labels, is working on innovative folding box applications for interactive communication between the product and the consumer.

Cannabis tagging expanded following successful roll out

AIPIA member Applied DNA Sciences has recently announced that it is launching an additional system to tag the industry’s larger volume cannabis or hemp grows as part of TheraCann International’s ETCH Biotrace™ solution.

Traceability and One-on-One customer engagement

As we keep reminding people, one of the most important reasons for the growing success of Active & Intelligent Packaging is its ability to engage directly with the consumer in a totally different way than ever before. So it is not surprising that several speakers at the Congress will be sharing their knowledge about the Latest A&IP developments in this area.

New NFC wrap around tamper evidence label for medical devices

Schreiner MediPharm has introduced a novel Autoinjector-Label which wraps around the autoinjector, including the cap, and has an integrated NFC chip that can be read via a smartphone app.The EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to serialize their products and to provide secondary product packaging with an anti-tampering device. Primary containers or devices such as pens and autoinjectors for self-medication, however, are not included in these requirements yet.

Orange juice gets Blockchain treatment at Albert Heijn

Consumers buying orange juice at Dutch retailer Albert Heijn can follow the route of their product through blockchain thanks to a partnership between AH and Refresco. The partners have clarified

Visual Oxygen indicator for food packaging

The main cause of most food spoilage is oxygen where aerobic food-spoiling micro-organisms grow and thrive. Using modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) it is possible to reduce the concentration of oxygen to very low levels which means an increase of shelf-life of the product.

TWE Rolls out AR experience on its major Brand wines.

We are always very excited by Augmented Reality (AR) applications so it is pleasing to find a report in Australias leading packaging publiucation PKN that, following its successful foray into augmented reality on its 19 Crimes wine labels last year, (see AIPIA newsletter 03/01/18) Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has invested in the technology at scale, launching it on two more of its leading brands.

Look, no App! Latest iPhones have backround tag reading function

According to Thinfilm CEO Davor Sutija last week was an important milestone in the evolution of NFC technology. Apple’s launch of the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR models was accompanied by news that these devices will feature an important enhancement to the iPhone NFC experience: a background tag-read capability that allows users to launch NFC-based mobile experiences without requiring a mobile app.

Bluetooth electronic data logger for Cold Chain System

Tracking temperatures of sensitive products enroute to its destination is now more accurate, easy and reliable with the introduction of LOG-IC® 360 Bluetooth Data Logger, says American Thermal Instruments, who developed the device. The addition of Bluetooth technology provides multiple advantages for the cold chain system worldwide, it claims.

DHL secures temperature sensitive shipments

18-09-2018

One of the leading global brand in the logistics industry, DHL, assures that temperature-sensitive international shipments are transported within authorised conditions. With services that are crucial for companies from different sectors, the company is now partnering with AIPIA member Blulog to optimize supply chain processes.

Better Recycling with A&IP

18-09-2018

To demonstrate just how environmentally responsible Active & Intelligent Packaging can be, one of the Congress presentations this year features Recycl3R, which uses the Internet of Things (IoT) to provide value to something that is not valuable for the brands: their packaging waste.

Nano molecules ‘light up’ on packaging when bacteria present.

18-09-2018

Contaminated produce continues to cause illness and even death in many parts of the world. Now a new type of smart food packaging may help to prevent food-borne illnesses from E.coli and other pathogens . Scientists at McMaster University in Canada have developed packaging that monitors for bacteria in food and emits a fluorescent signal if they are detected. Findings were recently published in ACS Nano.

Wear the Shirt! Visit the Lab wot dun it!!

Avery Dennison was recently named the global licensee of F.C. Barcelona's name and numbers shirt customization according to an article in Printed Electronics Now. Avery Dennison products include names, numbers, crests, woven labels and specialty trims. The company is already a provider for a number of the top clubs in La Liga and 90% of clubs in the English Premier League.

Self-heating can for beverages and soups heading for retail shelves

The 42 Degrees Company, which acquired the patent for self-heating coffee cans last year, has redeveloped the ingredients and packaging of the product and will be launching it to suppliers and convenience stores soon.

‘Final approval’ for antioxidant ‘blockbuster additive’ for plastics

Addivant has received final approval for its ‘blockbuster additive’ WESTON 705, the first antioxidant since the 1970s that has achieved global food-contact approvals. The next generation nonylphenol-free liquid phosphite antioxidant for plastics and elastomers can be used in water bottles, dairy milk bottles and packaging for snacks, as well as several other formats.

Cutting Food Waste with Inexpensive ‘Slippery’ Packs

New research from Virginia Tech aims to cut down on the food waste left in sachets and convenience packages at food service outlets, as well as the consumer frustration it generates. The University has created a novel approach to creating super slippery industrial packaging. The study establishes a method for wicking chemically compatible vegetable oils into the surfaces of common extruded plastics. It was published in Scientific Reports and has a provisional patent.

Next Step in Scalable Connectivity: Eco-friendly Technology

Each week from now until the AIPIA Congress (19-20th November) we will be featuring at least one of the exciting presentations already lined up for this year’s event. To kick off we are pleased to welcome back to our speakers’ list leading innovators in smart packaging for paper products, Stora Enso.

Look! No Hands: JD.com’s First Unmanned Store Outside China

Mega Chinese e-commerce retailer JD.com has expanded its unmanned store concept to Indonesia, marking the first time it has unveiled the technology platform outside China. The new JD.ID X-Mart employs various technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Radio Frequency Identification(RFID) and facial recognition, to enable customers to pick up items and walk out with them, without stopping to pay. So someone can try on a garment and walk right out of the store wearing it.

Distributors now Share Security and Traceability Platform

Tangle Teezer® a leading supplier of LifeStyle hairbrushes, designed and made in the UK, has been using the CODIKETT® product security solution since 2015. More than 250 product variants are being sold in over 70 countries. So physical and digital product security, global grey market control, GEO tracking and direct customer communication were major challenges.

Amazon Delivers Clothes and Adventures.

US clothing rental company Gwynnie Bee has teamed up with Amazon's Alexa to offer members an interactive unboxing experience that will let members interact with and learn about Gwynnie Bee's size-inclusive subscription service.

Tamper Proof RFID Label Offers More Secure Solutions

AIPIA member Identiv has launched the latest addition to its radio-frequency identification (RFID), near-field communication (NFC), and inlay portfolio. The next-generation Tamper-Proof RFID Label is compatible with any NFC inlay, according to the company.

RFID Round-up: Food Service Savings, Long Range Tamper Evidence and Sewn in Apparel Tracking

Several stories featured in RFID Journal and elsewhere demonstrate the multiple talents of tag technology which is clearly ensuring the markets for them are expanding at the same, or even at a greater rate, than their functionality!

New Holographic Seal Complies with FMD

As the Europe-wide Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) comes into force in February 2019 it requires all pharmaceutical manufacturers to mark their prescription medicine packaging with a serial number and an additional tamper protection device.

New Temperature Monitor Ensures Perferct Produce Cooling

Longstanding AIPIA member DeltaTrak® introduced its new FlashTrak PreCool Prime at the PMA Foodservice Conference in Monterey, California recently. The device is an automated wireless solution that monitors and records temperature during pre-cooling and alerts when correct internal produce temperature is reached.

Printed Susceptors Lead to Sustainable Microwave Packaging

One of the highlights of the recent China Summit was a presentation by FPInnovations in Canada which has developed a printing approach to produce safe microwave susceptor packaging. By utilizing a unique patterning approach to prevent overheating, the risk of scorching or ignition of the package is reduced, while increasing the heat uniformity of the food being microwaved.

Aussies can Serenade and Slurp at the Same Time!

Whoever coined the phrase ‘Wine, Women and Song’ did not probably have a musically enabled wine bottle in mind. But our friends at PKN in Australia have discovered that an alcohol delivery company has partnered with Spotify to release a special-edition range of wines which can be paired with music.

A Sustainable Powered Up Pack Using Paper Batteries

BillerudKorsnäs and researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden have taken an important step towards the development of paper batteries. Together they have taken basic research based on pure cellulose from algae and developed it to work with the same type of fibre that BillerudKorsnäs usually uses to manufacture packaging material.

Malibu Deploys 300,000 Connected Bottles for Summer Campaign

As part of its 2018 ‘Because Summer’ campaign, the leading rum brand Malibu is continuing its connected bottles journey to support the Malibu Games. The project, which marks another collaboration between Malibu and Internet of Things (IoT) agency, SharpEnd, represents a huge scale-up operation as part of the brand’s connected bottle journey, they say.

On-Demand RFID Printing Simplifies Logistics Tracking

Pinnpoint, a supplier of self adhesive labels has partnered with RFID inlay solutions provider Smartrac and laser printer manufacturer Lexmark to create ‘on-demand ‘ RFID printing. These solutions allow shippers to automatically view the status of returned goods via RFID tag reads, facilitating the growing reverse logistics model for online shopping, they claim.

AIPIA’s Hat-trick of Successes

We know the World Cup is over, but we couldn’t resist a last mention – to blow our own trumpet! During the tournament AIPIA hosted three major Active & Intelligent Packaging events, one in the USA and two in Asia.

Batteryless RFID Label Can Change Price Data

Powercast is launching a revolutionary new power-harvesting RFID label, known as the Batteryless Electronic UHF Retail Price Tag, according to an article in RFID Journal. It enables RFID-based updating of electronic paper (e-paper) information, such as prices for retail shelves. The company is partnering with systems integrators that could develop their own solution for stores.

Crown Takes Blockchain and Thermochromics to the Next Level

In a first for the beverage industry, Crown Bevcan Europe & Middle East, a business unit of Crown Holdings is launching its CrownConnect™ technology in conjunction with FACT - an all-natural sparkling drink. Each can will be marked with a 2D unique scannable code, making FACT beverage cans the first ever to be produced with a unique digital identity.

Two Smart Packs from Schreiner Created using Printed Electronics

The ((rfid))-Digital Void Label from Schreiner Group provides electronic tamper evidence and can be read using smartphones. It makes label tampering visible, indicating a potential risk to consumers. Manufacturers benefit as well, because integrated geotracking as a monitoring function allows them to see where their products are used, says the company.

Connected Bottles for a Soccer Crazy World

Thin Film Electronics a leader in NFC mobile marketing solutions, has announced el Jimador tequila as a new customer - a leading brand of Brown-Forman, one of the largest American-owned companies in the wine and spirits industry. It will use Thinfilm’s complete NFC mobile marketing solution to enhance marketing efforts for its summer soccer campaign. El Jimador sponsored the Mexican National Soccer team’s 2018 US tour prior to arriving at the FIFA World Cup.

Scaleable Production Process for Nano Food Barrier Film

At Purdue University researchers have developed a large-scale manufacturing process that may change the way some grocery store foods are packaged. The Purdue team, led by Jeffrey Youngblood, a professor in it’s School of Materials Engineering, created a new manufacturing process using cellulose nano-crystals (CNCs) as advanced barrier coatings for food packaging.

Recycling Just Got Smarter

UPM Raflatac has combined digitalization with the circular economy. By adding the RafMore smart label solution to its RafCycle® recycling process, the company is able to optimize the waste collection process from its customers, it says. The smart labels added to the recycling containers and scanned by a mobile app tell when the customers' waste is ready to be collected.

New Humidity Indicator Maintains Integrity of Dry Packs

Clariant has introduced the Humitector type 2 non-reversible humidity indicator cards for SMD dry packing. The new humidity indicator cards have been developed to maintain the integrity of dry packing, which protects moisture-sensitive devices during shipment or storage.The cards contain low-halogen and free from cobalt dichloride, a substance of concern to the European Chemical Bureau

Glowing Goose Makes this Vodka Stand Out

Grey Goose is one of the most famous brands of vodka. Now its logo is standing out even more thanks to a limited edition bottle which features a new electroluminescent label. The label’s components are integrated inside and there is no wiring. Also it is waterproof, which is a key advantage.

New IML Label Offers Greater Shelf Life for Soups

Ready-to-eat, single-serving soups now benefit from greatly extended shelf life thanks to ITC and Verstraete’s innovative Naturcrem IML packaging, using an in mould label (IML) with oxygen barrier. Traditionally these products can start to go bad once the soup comes into contact with oxygen. The new packaging radically reduces that risk, says the company.

Blockchain Initiatives Enable Local sourcing an Halal Verification

To separate developments show how quickly Blockchain technology can be used to enable two very differnent aspects of modern food supply chains.

AIPIA goes East After Being West

Following on from its first USA summit, AIPIA is running two important one day events for the Asian markets in Bangkok (June 14th) and Shanghai (July 12th) alongside the Propak Asia and ProPak China exhibitions.

‘Molecular’ Tag Adds New Level of Tracking and Authentication

Applied DNA Sciences, a US based provider of molecular-based security and authentication solutions, has introduced its latest security print platform solution, SigNature®, featuring the Videojet 1860M continuous inkjet (CIJ) printer . Find out all about this exciting new product at the AIPIA Summit of the Americas in New Jersey (4/5 June). The product was first shown at Interphex USA in New York this April.

No Absorber Pads Required in New Meat & Produce Pack

Good design can often lead to ‘smarter’ packages. Fresh meats, fish, fruits and vegetables which release liquids that need to be captured and separated from the product to extend shelf life, as well as presenting a more appealing product to consumers can now be acheived without the need of absorber pads, it is claimed. The new GravityTray offers another solution.

“Best Before’ Labels Going at Tesco…What’s Next?

Tesco has announced plans to remove ‘Best Before’ dates from almost 70 fruit and vegetable products in an effort to reduce the amount of usable food being thrown away, according to a report in the Independent newspaper in UK. The labels will be removed from popular lines such as apples, potatoes, tomatoes, lemons and other citrus fruit and onions, among others, the report says.

SmartLabel Program Gets Boost from Digimarc

Digimarc Corporation has announced its support of SmartLabel® and the availability of Digimarc Barcode scanning capabilities within the SmartLabel app during TransparencyIQ in Chicago, which brings together leaders driving product transparency. Digimarc is offering brands and retailers a more reliable, efficient and flexible method for delivering SmartLabel to consumers, it claims. The company will be paricipating at the AIPIA Summit of the Americas (4/5 June) in Jersey City.

Tin Tunes Up for the Royal Wedding!

Electronic packaging specialists, Electropac, has joined forces with confectionery firm, Churchill’s, to produce a patriotic souvenir in advance of the Royal Wedding - a musical version of their Around London tinned giftware, filled with 150grams of assorted biscuits.

Combining AR and NFC for a Moody Smart Label

Multi-Color Corporation and Talkin’ Things are the first Internet of Things (IoT) packaging platform providers to combine Augmented Reality (AR) and NFC technology to create a unique customer experience in connected product that will help boost its sales, they say.

New Patents Raise the Game in Condition Monitoring

Infratab, the USA based provider of radio frequency sensor solutions for perishables, has added US and European wireless Internet of Things (IoT) sensor patents to its worldwide intellectual property portfolio of radio frequency sensors, software, analytics, and cloud solutions. The company is a long time member of AIPIA.

Self-Chill Can for New 7-Eleven Sparkling Coffee Drink

7-Eleven, the major convenience store chain, is rolling two ground-breaking launches into one with the introduction of its proprietary Fizzics Sparkling Cold Brew Coffee in the first self-chilling cans available to the public in the USA. During the test launch, the coffee drinks are being tested at 15 Los Angeles-area 7-Eleven® stores. The innovative Chill-Can® technology has been created by The Joseph Company International.

New generation of smart labelling technology

Each week until the USA Summit of the Americas (Jersey City 4/5 June) we are featuring one or more of the presentations which demonstrate advances in Active & Intelligent Packaging technology. This week we showcase Insignia Technologies’ innovative labels, which have proven to extend shelf-life, reduce food waste and encourage food consumption at optimal quality.

Printed ‘On Pack’ Freeze Warning Technology for Pennies

Chromatic Technologies Inc. (CTI) and AIPIA member American Thermal Instruments (ATI) has introduced BlindSpotz™ a new, patent-pending, freeze-warning technology that can be printed directly on a package. If the temperature of the package drops at or below 32° F (0° C) a coloured symbol appears on the exterior of the package to notify the supply chain that product has been damaged.

Microsoft and Digimarc Integrate Scanning Software in Windows® 10

Digimarc Corporation , an AIPIA member participating in the upcoming Summit of the Americas (Jersey City 4/5 June), has announced a new 15 year partnership with Microsoft. The partnership includes the integration of Digimarc scanning software into Windows, as part of the Windows 10 update. The two companies have worked together to improve retailer operational efficiency and increase consumer engagement with products.

New Patch can Replace ‘Best Before’ Label

Mechanical and chemical engineers at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, working with biochemists from across campus, have collaborated to develop a transparent test patch, printed with harmless molecules, that can signal food contamination as it happens. The patch can be incorporated directly into food packaging, where it can monitor the contents for harmful pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella.

Heineken enters a ‘new dimension’ with AR label

We have been waiting a while for the next Heineken adventure into the world of A&IP. Now CCL Label has partnered with 9ème Concept, a French collective of artists, to create augmented reality (AR) edition for Heineken Desperados tequila-flavoured beer. The immersive experience is launched when consumers, wearing virtual reality goggles, scan the label

Walmart Ramping Up Blockchain Use

Several recent announcements from Walmart demonstrate its strategic move towards the use of Blockchain technologies in a number of activities. The application to patent its ‘Smart Package’ system was released by the US Patent and Trademark Office in early March.

Scalable A&IP Production on Standard Manufacturing Equipment

One of the questions we often get asked at AIPIA is ‘Can we produce an Active & Intelligent enabled pack on our existing packaging lines and at our normal production speeds?’ Well one company which has successfully integrated Printed Electronics into its folded carton and labelling production – used chiefly for pharmaceutical products – is Jones Packaging.

Packaged Summit for Enhanced Brand Success

Organisers of the Packaged Summit, which takes place in Amsterdam (25 -26 June) will enable delegates to gain access to a community of top packaging professionals who will help to enhance Brand success, ensure sustainable growth and lower costs, claim the organisers Mark Allen Group.

Alibaba Pharma Subsidiary Signs Up to Better Traceability

Brand protection and consumer connection solutions company and AIPIA member YPB Group, headquartered in NSW, Australia, has signed a contract, appointing it as an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) of the AliHealth supply chain traceability platform for the China market, through its China subsidiary. AliHealth is a subsidiary of Alibaba Group. It also intends to appoint YPB as an overseas ISV partner when it launches internationally.

The Smell of Success

We do not often get the chance to feature olfactory packaging, but Tekni-Plex, through its Tri-seal business unit, has been granted a patent for its Sniff Seal® technology which is the first liner to enable scent permeation through an induction seal closure liner without affecting the seal or compromising the contents, it says.

Temperature Monitors Work for Both Food and Pharma

Blulog recently unveiled a range of new, single-use NFC temperature data loggers at Fruit Logistica 2018 in Berlin. These NFC loggers are designed especially for use in the produce industry. The philosophy behind this solution is to provide a very affordable and easy-to-use solution for temperature monitoring of these products, says the company.

Connected Corrugated Packaging for Mass Markets

DS Smith, one of the global suppliers of corrugated packaging, is helping to amplify the benefits of serialization in the pharmaceutical industry with pre-serialized, connected corrugated packaging solutions. Its Packaging Connectivity product can link corrugated packaging to any existing or planned primary packaging serialization or run a separate system. These can either meet or anticipate the FMD requirement or enable track & trace and consumer engagement benefits, says the company.

Mountain Music – Blowing in the Bottle

NourishCo Beverages an Indian mineral water supplier has introduced a limited-edition ‘sound cap’ for bottles of its Himalayan Sparkling brand. These are designed to play various sounds of wind from the Himalayas when you twist open the cap.

Triple Whammy for Brands from Zappar

Zappar and its friends at Shazam often team up to offer some of the most exciting Augmented Reality packaging around. The presentations they make are always wildly popular features of AIPIA events. So we are pleased to confirm they will be part of the line up at the AIPIA Summit of the Americas. Here are just three reasons why big Brands love ‘em!

EAS Tagging goes Mini to Protect Fine Garments

Checkpoint Systems, a leading supplier of Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS), RFID solutions and Alpha High-Theft Solutions for the retail industry, has announced a new solution that protects fine garments without leaving a pin hole, the Needlelok™, earlier this year. Now, as forecast, the companies have introduced the Needlelok Mini.

Counterfeiting In Focus as Fakers Up the Stakes

It is one of the biggest challenges facing Brand Owners, Supply Chain professionals and Consumers as more and more fakes of just about every kind of consumable product flood markets around the world. Two AIPIA members Authentix and Scantrust have recently confronted the issue head on. Both are offering solutions but, in different ways, are trying to raise awareness of both the size of the problem and the potential hazards and consequences of industrial scale counterfeiting.

Partnership Raises the Game for Track & Trace Solutions

VerifyMe, a technology solutions company that provides identifiers and serialization for authenticating, tracking and tracing functions - including for labels and packaging - has announced a reseller agreement with eAgile, a provider of IoT Solutions including RFID labels, tags and intelligent packaging solutions. Under the terms of the agreement, eAgile will be able to offer its clients VerifyMe enabled HP Indigo Security ElectroInk, which is marketed as RainbowSecure.

Wine Fraud ‘Off the Scale’

The scale of France’s Côtes du Rhône wine fraud scandal in 2017 is larger than first thought, with new figures revealing that as many as 66.5 million bottles of wine were counterfeit, reports Securing Industry. Original estimates for the scam that began in 2013 and which was uncovered last year, suggested that the amount of fake wine was around 40 million bottles, it says.

Bubbles OF Water not Bubbles IN Water

An edible alternative to plastic water bottles made from seaweed has won the UK round of an EU competition for new, more sustainable products. The spherical or ‘bubble’ form of packaging, called Ooho is described by its makers as ‘water you can eat’. It is biodegradeable, hygenic and costs 1p per unit to make, says the developer. It is made mostly from calcium chloride and a seaweed derivative called sodium alginate.

Break the Code to Discover the Real Whisky Taste

A new single malt scotch whisky The Glenlivet Code is coming to market with an intriguing AR tasting experience created in conjunction with Shazam. The whisky, inspired by British code breakers, promises a "labyrinth of flavours that will test the senses of even the most discerning whisky drinker". It will be available in 28 markets from March 2018.

Interactive Pallet Makes Debut

The Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML and the European Pallet Association (EPAL) are developing the load carriers of the future at the newest Enterprise Lab in Dortmund, Germany. The first application of the interactive pallet was made public by the partners at LogiMAT 2018.

Major Blockchain Use for Logistics Increases Rapidly: Alibaba, DHL, DeFeet

Several announcements on blockchain deployment have been announced, reports Securing Industry, which all reinforce the technology’s compatibility with Active & intelligent Packaging for security and supply chain applications. Examples include: Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is bringing its logistics arm Cainiao together with its online marketplace T-Mall to introduce blockchain technology to track goods on the platform.

Ebay Boxing Clever with AR app

Ebay in the USA has introduced a new AR-powered feature that helps sellers decide on the best box to use for shipping their items to buyers. The technology works with a range of products, the company says, including everything from car parts, kitchen wares, glass or electrical items.

Intelligent Biosensors to Track Food Spoilage

Clemson University researchers are working to develop packages that would use communication between cells to detect food that’s beginning to spoil. This ‘intelligent’ packaging would use sensors to detect biological processes – specifically, the signals cells send to each other when they start to break down.

A Lot of (SMART) Bottles!

Market research analysts Technavio forecast the global smart bottle market will grow at a CAGR of close to 15% during the period 2018-2022. This is according to their latest report which segments the global smart bottle market into the following applications (smart water bottle, smart pharmaceutical bottle, smart alcoholic beverage bottle, and smart baby feeding bottle) and key regions (the Americas, APAC, and EMEA).

Two Major New Customers for Thinfilm’s NFC Technology

Thin Film Electronics has announced British American Tobacco Global Travel Retail (BAT GTR) as a new customer. BAT GTR is launching a connected edition of its Dunhill brand products using the company’s NFC (near field communication) SpeedTap™ tags.

Wider Printhead Offers Advanced Product Identification

HP Inc recently announced a 22mm wide-swath printhead for high-speed, high-resolution marking needs. These include 1D and 2D bar codes, enabling brands to benefit from large-size codes and characters for advanced product identification, anti-counterfeiting, and track and trace, it says.

On Pack Display Shows How Much is in the Bottle

August Faller Group has designed the prototype for an innovative medication pack that captures the level in an opaque bottle of liquid medicine at the push of a button and delivers it to the patient via an integrated display.

Graphene Tag can be Etched on Food

Graphene is already well known as a ‘wonder ‘ material because it is extremely thin and strong, a great conductor of heat and electricity, is antibacterial and can even hunt cancer. But now you can have your wonder material and eat it, too! James Tour at Rice University has demonstrated a way to etch a graphene ‘ label’ onto food like bread and potatoes, as well as materials like cardboard and cloth, where it could then act as an RFID tag.

Strategic Partnership to Offer Connected Products

Meanwhile labels solutions provider Multi-Color Corporation has also been busy elsewhere with the announcement of a strategic partnership with Talkin’ Things, the smart packaging system which enables brands to communicate with consumers, protect against counterfeiting, track products throughout the supply chain, and much more!

Chilling Your wine to Perfection

We all know Aussies are partial to a cold beer, but in New Zealand they are going a step further as a notable Sauvignon Blanc producer is now using thermographic label technology to show when a wine is chilled correctly. The producer, Matua, is using Chill Check labels to identify when its Regional Series and First Frost Sauvignon Blanc are crisp and aromatic, according to a recent story in PKN.

Nano-structured Holograms Boost Anti-counterfeit Capabilities

Some eye-catching nano-structured holograms from Schur Flexibles now have built-in anti-counterfeit features. The patented anti-counterfeit film concept allows the building of a unique holographic effect into packaging. There is no use of inks, varnish or solvents involved, says the company.

Anuga Foodtec: First NanoPack Test Results to be Announced