News Briefs …

Food & Drug Packaging, Dec, 2000

* PepsiCo recently purchased South Beach Beverage Co., maker of SoBe-brand drinks which are wildly popular with teenagers. This move puts pressure on rival Coca-Cola to develop innovative products and packaging in the future if it wants a healthy share of teen dollars and loyalty. Knowing Coke, the ensuing response will make for some great packaging articles in the future.

* Use of holograms in packaging is about to explode. Costs are coming down, production speeds are going up. Thinner substrates and new technologies are making holograms possible on more types of packaging than ever before. (Also see the American Bank Note Holographics item in "News from Pack Expo" on p.35.)

EVENTS

Jan. 8-10, 2001--MD&M West, Medical Design & Manufacturing, Anaheim, Calif., (310) 445-4200; www.devicelink.com

Mar. 20-22--Interphex, Philadelphia, Pa., (888) 334-8704; http://interphex.reedexpo.com

PERSONNEL UPDATE

B K expands presence in U.S.

With more than 14 years experience in the industry, Cy Stanland will head the new Consumer Packaging Div. in North America for Bischof Klein GmbH, a leading European flexible packaging supplier. He's located in Charlotte, N.C.

Techpack America extends Chairman's duties

Daniel Rachmanis, chairman of Techpack America, a member of the Techpack Group of cosmetics packaging companies, has also been appointed worldwide Managing Director of Techpack Make-up Business Unit. Make-up represents Techpack's largest activity, with annual sales exceeding $200 million and manufacturing plants in the U.S., Italy, France and Spain.