Taking place Sept. 23-25, Pack Expo brought good news for one lucky packaging line. Perrigo Nutritionals, a Vermont-based producer and packager of private-label infant formula, accepted PMT Magazine’s 2013 Packaging Line of the Year award at the ceremony on Sept. 24.
“Perrigo and its partners on this project produced a game-changer of a packaging line,” said Charles D. Yuska, president and CEO, PMMI, who presented the award. PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, is the owner and producer of PMT Magazine and PACK EXPO Las Vegas.
R.A Jones, one of 21 companies involved, entered its line into the competition. The full team — 61 key team members — produced a line that came in within 1 percent of budget and met all commercial launch dates. It was a three-year project, with its initial shipment in November 2012.
“The equipment on the line has several new-to-the-industry components and has placed Perrigo ahead of national name brands at the forefront of infant formula packaging,” Yuska said. “R.A Jones provided the Modified Atmosphere Packaging system, an inert gas flush system that is critical for maintaining proper oxygen levels — a crucial facet of infant formula production.”
Originally held in 2005, the PMT Packaging Line of the Year competition is open to lines that have been installed or renovated within the previous 12 months. Entries are evaluated on criteria including the packaging line’s contribution to the company’s business plan, the level of innovation in packaging line design and integration of machinery to optimize productivity.
Each year, one company is selected for the award. Past winners include: Legacy Pharmaceutical Packaging (2012), Florida Specialties LLC (2011), Hormel Foods (2010), Barry Callebaut LLC (2009), Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (2008), Swisher International (2007), Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (2006) and Kraft Foods (2005).
