SouthPack to span the packaging gamut: the show in Atlanta will showcase supplies and the latest information, especially on drug packaging regulations - SouthPack Show Preview - food packaging conference in Atlanta, Georgia

Food & Drug Packaging, April, 2003

Medical Device Packaging: New Opportunities (April 30).

Topics to be discussed include:

* Web-based packaging specifications for medical products. Robert De Nola of Global PKG Inc. will talk about how packaging professionals can clarify their information landscape and integrate with other enterprise information systems.

* Bar coding for medical devices. Susan Ritter of Valleylab will discuss bar coding regulations and options.

* Transport package testing for medical devices. Steve Pierce of ISTA will talk about establishing test protocols for transport packaging.

* Harmonization of medical device packaging regulations. John Spitzley of Medtronic will provide an update on harmonizing two different packaging standards for medical devices that are sterilized in-package.

New Technologies for Beverage Packaging (April 30). Topics include:

* Package design for the beverage market by Robert Wilkes of Monaghan & Co.

* Driving growth in aluminum can packaging by Frank Brown of Rexam.

* The plastics revolution by Lavonna Buehrig of Voridian, a division of Eastman Chemical Co.

* Aseptic packaging by Jeff Kellar, vice president of the plastics business unit of Tetra Pak.

* Advances in capping technology. Mike Scott of Precision Tork and John Krotzer of Colfax Corp. will talk about the relative advantages of magnet-based and mechanical cappers.

* Shrink label technology. Martin Wilson of SleeveCo will talk about advances in shrink label technology.

Controlled Temperature Packaging: New Opportunities (May 1).

Topics include:

* Introduction to cold chain. Vinnie Migliore of Cryopak will talk about types of cold chain systems and components.

* Temperature controlled pharmaceutical packaging as risk management. Consultant Linda Walker will provide a look at thermal packaging from a cost/risk perspective.

* Temperature controlled packaging for direct marketed food products. John Schrogie of QVC will examine market needs for direct-marketed chilled food products.

* Future directions. Tom Pringle of Tuscarora will look at thermal barrier materials, package designs and refrigerants.

Bar Coding Unit Doses and Patient Safety (May 1).

Topics include:

* Enhancing the quality of patient care. Frank Kilzer of St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck, N.D., will talk about bar-coding in the health industry supply chain.

* Unit-dose bar coding: coding standards, symbologies, printing processes & data capture technologies. George Wright of PIPS will talk about new barcoding systems and technologies for health care.

* Unit-dose bar coding: bar coding and HUD/OTC in-line printing. Rich Davis of Quint Co. will talk about printing technology for the new reduced-space symbology bar code.

To register for SouthPack, call 800-827-8323. For more information, access www.southpackshow.com.

RELATED ARTICLE: Women in packaging to hold SouthPack seminar.

The theme for this year's Women in Packaging summit, to be held in conjunction with SouthPack, is: Are You a Packaging 10?

That's especially appropriate for Women in Packaging, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.