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What urges you to buy one product over other if both are brand new in the market. It is actually the external appearance that affects our perceptions and ideas about the product. Packing any product thus is a challenge and companies often spend huge amount on smart packaging.

Smart packaging is the intelligent packing that serves the purpose of packing and at the same time urges the buyer to pick your product among so many other items. It also adds functionality to the product along with security and consumption.

Packaging Smartness

Packaging smartness is not only in the appearance but it also depends upon other factors like type of food being packed, household products, age for which the packing is being done etc. But whatsoever are the factors, smart packaging must include the following

It should prevent the spoilage of food by maintaining integrity. It should retain flavour, taste and enhance the look of the packed product. It should act in the changing environment of temperature and weather. Must have clear information on the product, calorie details, ingredients and other such required information. Must be sealed properly to maintain the integrity.

Smart packaging also has the microbial growth indicators, along with physical shock indicators, leakage and microbial spoilage indicators. There is also advanced version of the packing that is active packaging. It is still under the phase of development. It has more features than the intelligent packaging. This includes oxygen scavenging, anti-microbial, moisture absorbing, ethylene scavenging etc.

Smart Packaging Functioning

In this kind of packaging external or internal conditions causes the packing functions to trigger on and off accordingly. Through the indicators the customer will come to know about the status of the food product if it is consumable or not.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are packed in the smart packaging films and packing. For this breathable polymer films are used. The smart packaging pouch for this automatically regulates the ingression of oxygen and egression of carbon dioxide. This helps in creating an optimal temperature and environment around the food product thus preventing its spoilage.

Reason for Intelligent Packaging

Today there is a growing need of getting more and more information about the product by the consumer. This urge has led to the development of new and innovative concepts of intelligent packaging. Buyers are looking for the ingredients and component of the packed food and how these should be stored and used for a longer time.

In case of pharmaceutical packing the packaging will tell the consumers that how to discard the packing after consumption. It is the information that is required by the recycling companies. Also it should contain the information on healthcare centers that are required by the patient.

By: R Oberoi

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Packaging is an important element in the sale of a product. The idea is to enhance the overall image of your product with a creative presentation packaging. Several companies supply customized boxes to suit your requirements. The best thing about these boxes is that you can take an active part in the creation of the design. Undoubtedly, the perfect packaging says a lot about a product, and commands a higher value, as long as it measures up to the required standard. For a successful product launch, you need to have a unique presentation pack. Some retailers also stock standard designs that may match up to your product.

No matter what the shape and size of your product, you can order presentation packaging to suit its size. There is a variety of flat packs, rigid boxes, folding boxes, and a choice of postal mailers as well. If your product is fragile, you needn’t worry as long as you choose the right type of packaging. Many of these are made from recycled material so you can be proud of doing your bit for the environment.

If you need to send free samples to your clients, it would be prudent to choose the best presentation packaging. Ask for samples from manufacturers and retailers so that you can make an informed decision. Packaging can be made with various fabric linings, lid designs, and inserts. Your supplier will be able to offer decorative extras in case your product needs them. Ribbons and tags are among the most popular accessories with presentation packaging. The only important things are the dimension of your product and the type of material you prefer. The main consideration would be your budget for presentation costs.
Presentation packaging is the perfect way to display your product, which is the best way to attract sales and increase your profits. Many of the major brands spend a great deal of their budget on promotion and packaging. This is something they have learnt through experience. Even if you are a start-up business, you have the opportunity to grow with improved packaging. Stylish boxes, binders, and folders, are the best way to impress clients.

Presentation binders and boxes can be used to carry training material and distribute employee handbooks and brochures. Educational kits require the right type of presentation packaging too. The style and design is known to have a great impact on customers and clients. While the presentation must good, boxes and folders ought to be easy to hand and transport. Uncomfortable packaging is sure to deter a professional from carrying one.

There are different types of presentation packaging which include slipcases, presentation totes, folders, various types of boxes, and much more. Sales and marketing material are easy to carry in presentation totes with handles. Boxes can also be fitted with handles and different types of closures such as Velcro, turnbuckle closures, snap style closures, and latches. Today, corrugated presentation packaging is popular due to its low cost and lightweight. These boxes can be folded and assembled when needed. The best way to make sure you meet your sales expectations is to experiment with presentation packaging.

By: Lawernce White J

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The packaging industry is going under transformation almost everyday and new technologies that are better than before are taking their place. Consumer behavior, product demand and the current level of global warming are all going to have a direct impact on the future of packaging. This write up deals with all the factors that are going to help the packaging and material handling industry to face this transmutation with a bang. The future of the packaging market is certainly looking bright. Packaging is believed to be the key method of communicating the value added benefits of a product to the consumer. Thus, there is a need to implement a global mega trend to make it even more popular. Following are some of the key trends that if implemented are going to keep this industry on its prime.

The Convenience for Society

All over the world, convenience seem to have emerged as an important characteristic in life of the people. Various changes in the societal outlook viz, structure of the family, number of working women rising, longer working hours and increase in commuting time, have also contributed to the need for convenience. Thus, the need for those kind of packaging, that enables the adult as well as children to open them, has risen. Also the future will see a great rise in the kind of packaging that allows one to indulge in multi tasking, for example, hand held consumption that is easy to open even in a car.

Health and Nutrition

This is also a driving factor in the future of packaging. With the people becoming more and more cognizant about their health viz obesity, low carbohydrate, less fat etc, the manufacturers are deemed to introduce packaging that delivers the various information regarding the product in a convenient, easy to read manner. With the rise in the demand for the food items that contain active ingredients to achieve lifestyle as well as the launch of competitive products in the flicker of a second, the need for changes in packaging in inevitable.

Green Trends

With the rate of green house emissions touching the skies, there is an urgent need to change the packaging trends that have been followed so callously in the past. The fact that even the people have become more sensitive towards the need of green technology, will surely helped in making the future of packaging more eco friendly. Various packaging options like paper bags instead of plastics and other environmentally safe technology are surely going to rule this industry.

Speed to Market

In this fast pacing world, it is important for the manufacturers as well as suppliers to keep abreast with their demand and supply chain. With the world being predicted to keep moving faster everyday, it becomes important for the packaging industry to move with the tide. Speed to the market is another future trend of packaging that is surely going to change the way this industry looks today. Development of an electronic business-to-business network is the call of the hour.

By: Eshanvi Smith

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Today’s electronic components such as active and passive components must be interconnected and assembled together in order to form a functional and operating system. The manufacturing and designing of these interconnections have evolved into a separate higher density discipline called electronic packaging. As far as early 1950s, the building block of electronic packaging is the printed circuit board or most of us call it printed wiring board (PWB), and it will always remain the fundamental and support into the foreseeable future.

As we all know that the mobile phone and computer board are getting smaller, and we are seeing the component supplier continuing increase in component performance and lead density, specifically focus on the reduction in package sizes, this has also required that PWB technology to improve and to increase the interconnection density of the substrate. The continuing refinement and introduction packaging techniques such as the chip-scale packaging (CSP) and ball grid array (BGA), the traditional PWB technology has come to a point where more advance or alternative ways of providing high-density interconnection have had to be developed in order to cope for market’s needs. This has been called at times high-density interconnects (HDI) which involved higher density with laser via hole, or the industry call it the density revolution, because doing the same things in the same old fashion way, only smaller in size, was no longer sufficient.

How to select a good packaging? In fact, the selection of the packaging is among the various aforementioned elements that dictated not only by the total system function, but is also determine by the component types selected as well as by the operating parameters of the system, for instant the clock speeds, power dissipation and consumption, and heat control management methods, and not forgetting the environment in which the system will operate.

One of the important factors that we need to consider is the speed of the electronic system operates and this is the primary rule and factor in the design of interconnections. A lot of digital and electronic systems operate near to 100 MHz and some are already reaching beyond that level. Obviously the increasing system operating speed is placing great demands on the packaging engineers and on the material properties used for PWB and also packaging substrates.

By: Steven S Wood

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The market for energy bars is very saturated with multiple companies competing with numerous product lines and large amounts of product variation within each product line. While there are a few large competitors, the easy of entry into the market has allowed numerous smaller manufacturers to enter the market with niche, highly differentiated products. PowerBar is one of the largest manufacturers of energy bars in the market today, but they lack the highly specialized performance bar with high differentiation from the competition. The product opportunity is GelBar, a fusion of Five Hour Energy with the typical PowerBar formula. GelBar would provide long lasting energy with the nutrients of PowerBar in a compact, transportable form.

GelBar combines a gel-center made out of Five Hour Energy with PowerBar formula outside shell

The traditional PowerBar bar provides ample room for product improvement. The bar itself can contain liquids without allowing any though, thus making it an idea formula to enclose a gel substance. Five Hour Energy is marketed as a no-crash energy formula for athletes, workers, and people with an active lifestyle. By combining the Five Hour Energy formula with a gel, the gel is able to be enclosed within the PowerBar formula. The advantages to the gel formula are less dripping while still retaining a cooler, refreshing sensation.

Product Placement as a Key Driver of Product Marketing

We believe the GelBar would likely see the most sales from planned purchase areas – this would be a dedicated section of an aisle with normal merchandising, rather than in the checkout area for impulse buys. Some locations could include Erik’s Bikes, Target, REI, Sports Authority, Gander Mountain, Gear West, Wal-Mart, Cabella’s, Guitar Center, and other active lifestyle locations or convenience store locations. While some of these stores are targeted for their active lifestyle enthusiasts, others, like Guitar Center, are focused on the long-term energy impact of the bar. We believe the bar could be used prior to concerts or other energy-intense performances in addition to the obvious athletic pursuits where GelBar is a key fit for the user’s demands.

Relative SWOT Analysis of the GelBar versus a Variety of Competitive Substitute Products

The most obvious strength of the GelBar is the two brands that it brings together – 5 Hour Energy and PowerBar. The two logos could be used for marketing to clearly communicate the powerful formulas within the bar. Additionally, the bar is compact, yet big enough to handle easily while moving. Unlike paste or pure gel products, the bar contains solids which allow the user to chew the food prior to swallowing. The effects of the bar allow the user to maintain energy over a period of time from two distinct sources – the effects of 5 Hour Energy and the fats and proteins from the PowerBar formula.

However, we realize GelBar is not without its weaknesses. The first weakness is the formula of the bar – the gel-based products are intended for quick consumption while in the middle of a physically demanding activity, such as running a marathon, while solid food products are intended for rest periods within that activity – which may preclude it from the most physically demanding activities. Secondly, the two formulas may overlap in ingredients which may reduce the effectiveness of the formulas. The body can only absorb so much of a substance before it discards the remainder as excess. If the two products were to overlap in a certain vitamin that gives energy, the body may discard the additional vitamin provided by 5 Hour Energy and absorb only the vitamin provided by PowerBar, thus reducing the effectiveness of the 5 Hour Energy.

Opportunities for GelBar are numerous, though. As mentioned in the store locations, we believe the GelBar can be placed across a variety of markets, from serious athletes to musicians to casual consumers. Additionally, the product line can be expanded to include different flavors of the GelBar by combinations between 5 Hour Energy and the bar flavor. Another point of differentiation for the product is the size of the bar. Smaller bars can be provided for compact travel while larger bars can be provided for at-rest periods of an activity. Lastly, the product quantity can be varied, from single bars for the casual consumer to boxes for the serious athlete.

Threats to the product launch are numerous. The industry is highly competitive and many substitutes exist for the product. The product also bridges the gap between solid bar (at rest product) and gel products (in motion product) which may cause confusion for consumers and may decrease the times when the bar can be consumed. Lastly, the niche market may not exist for such a specialized product or a smaller, highly specialized manufacturer may already exist in this market.

Trends that support the launch of this product center on the activeness of our target market and the competition within the industry. According to the FDA, new products in the energy bar industry have increased 28% in the last four years. Additionally, the US Department of Health has issued new research indicating the obesity levels within the US continue to grow, but at subdued levels. These two trends point to an increasing demand for energy bar products by a larger market.

Centering on the Primary Market for the GelBar

The primary target market is the active lifestyle enthusiast and athlete. We would use a multiple products, multiple market segments approach with our many flavors of the bar. We believe the active lifestyle enthusiast can be defined as living in the US (our primary market and initial launch point) in a major city or suburban area, both male and female, any race, between 16 and 65, with income (or access to income, i.e. parent’s income) over $60,000. The psychographic segmentation would be active lifestyle, which would include a competitive drive to win, a desire to be active, riskiness, and someone who works out multiple times per week. Behavioral segmentation could be used to further target customers who frequent a sports or active lifestyle store more than once per month.

GelBar is highly competitive with many competitive advantages

GelBar solves the problem of a solid bar dehydrating the consumer. While solid bars tend to lack moisture, GelBar has a gel center that rehydrates the consumer while working out. While this does not mean water is not necessary, it will substantially offset the need to drink water while eating the bar. Additionally, it contains more sustenance than a gel pack and is better tasting. Lastly, because of the efficiency of PowerBar’s manufacturing process, GelBar can be offered at a price in-line with other bars, which means it offers more effect for the same price, making it the superior purchase in terms of value per dollar.

GelBar solves the problem of a solid bar dehydrating the user during a workout. Additionally, it solves the problem of a gel pack not tasting good and being awkward to eat. It does this by combining the two aspects into a solid bar wrapped around a gel center that is made from 5 Hour Energy for an additional burst of sustained energy for the competitive athlete.

Influencing the Customer Purchase Decision Process with Four Key Factors

Customers evaluate many criteria when purchasing an energy bar. For some, it is a quick purchase based on physical hunger while working out. For others, it is a planned purchase with a directed goal of purchasing a single type of bar.

GelBar can be advertised on sports-centric channels such as ESPN to influence the two types of purchases. Further, celebrity endorsement can create a link between GelBar and the performance of a top athlete. By using marketer-dominated sources of information, such as the website and our advertising, the consumer will know about GelBar.

Secondly, during the purchase decision process, signage or a special display can be used to differentiate the product from other energy bars. This will draw the consumer physically to another location, apart from the substitute products, making it more likely they will purchase our bar. Along the same line, pricing can be set below competition for the first few months for promotional purposes – again, causing the customer to choose our bar over others in impulse buys.

Lastly, combating cognitive dissonance can be done with our celebrity endorsements. If we obtain enough celebrities to approve GelBar, the consumer will feel a part of an elite circle of athletes by buying GelBar. This can continue to “common” athletes, highlighting superior amateur athletes that use our product or are sponsored by our product.

Developing Alternatives in Terms of Markets and Product Line Expansion

Additional markets may include casual consumers, performance musicians, hiking and camping enthusiasts and competitive workers.

Market
Examples of Market
Why This Market
Product Line Extensions
Casual Consumer
Weekend workout users
Suburban bikers
High discretionary income and a desire to mimic top athletes
New flavors
Kids bar
Performance Musicians
Professional musicians
Stage performers
The burst of energy in GelBar keeps them performing
Musician-labeled bars
Music theme packaging
Hiking and Camping Enthusiasts
Weekend campers
Thru-hikers
Ultralight hikers
Compact, high nutrient food is essential to packing light and small
Gluten and food-allergy free bars
More gel for more hydration bard
Competitive Workers
Police and firemen
Late night dock workers
Manual labor intensive jobs
The fast pace of work and physical demand is solved by GelBar’s sustained energy
More 5 Hour Energy formula

Clearly, the energy bar market has a competitive hole in it that GelBar fills. The financial analysis must be done prior to launch, but the marketing argument is incredibly strong for the launch of GelBar. We believe the need is present and the market is growing, thus making it a good industry in which to play. GelBar should be developed and launched as soon as possible to take advantage of this unique market opportunity.

By: Adam Link

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The latest buzz words these days in the packaging industry are ‘Smart Packaging’, ‘Active Packaging’ and ‘Intelligent Packaging.’ Formerly mentioned phrases are often used while talking about state-of-the-art packaging trends. Discussed as under are the same terms in a more detailed version. Have a look:

Active Packaging

Active packaging makes use of oxygen scavenging and anti-microbial technologies which extensively promote the shelf life of the perishable products. In fact this kind of packing also diminishes the scope of adding preservatives or additives to the product for maintaining basic nature of the product. One example of it is the sorbate-releasing LDPE film for cheese.

Intelligent Packaging

As the name suggests, intelligent packaging is one where the package intelligently senses the transformations inside as well as the outside conditions and indicates the user with the corresponding status. Thus, in a nutshell it mean ‘a package that senses and informs’. It is indeed a futuristic technology which would be used not only in the general food packaging but also in pharma packaging too.

Smart Packaging

Smart packaging refers to a number of functionalities put together for making the stored food,beverage or other product a lot more safer, reliable and maintainable. The ‘smartness’ in the packaging facilitates the following features:

-Active prevention of food spoilage by retaining its integrity for a longer period of time. In other words, it increases the shelf life of the packed product.
-Promotes the basic product attributes like look, taste and aroma of the stored product.
-Actively responds to the variation in package or product environment.
-Speaks about the important product information like product history, terms and conditions to user etc.
-Indicates the integrity of seal and assists in opening it too.
-Provides authentication about the product and counter theft act as well.

By: Sanchita Kapoor

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As consumers lead busier lives and are ‘on the move’ more and more, the dairy industry has developed new products that tap into this change of lifestyle. A key part of that change has come from packaging companies.

The 21st century consumer is more demanding than ever before. As society has evolved so too have preferences, and products must now tick a larger number of boxes to meet expectations. In the dairy industry the challenge for manufacturers is to create on the go products that satisfy the need for health, convenience and the environment in one fell swoop.

Health and well-being have been at the top of the consumer agenda for a number of years. Phrases such as ‘you are what you eat’ are being taken seriously and the public is turning its back on foods that are considered to be unhealthy. This is great news for the dairy sector and has resulted in an upsurge of products promising to improve health and wellbeing.

Convenience is another key factor in the consumer purchase decision. Nowadays, purchases must support lifestyles and these new active trends have given rise to on the go consumption and an emergence of packaging shapes and styles that are easier for consumers to handle. Dairy products that meet the need for on the go convenience, have been around for some time.

One-a-day shot formats took the dairy industry by storm a number of years ago and have been popular ever since. However, subsequent product and packaging innovations have been few and far between and this is an area that offers a wealth of opportunity for dairy manufacturers.

In the children’s market, however, there has been interesting progress. Brands have jumped on this convenience bandwagon providing ideal convenience products for children. The unique, fun packaging format grabs children’s attention and keeps them entertained. On the more practical side, they are easy to handle, are mess free and by the nature of their consumption, remove the need to use a spoon as they can be ‘sucked’.

But it isn’t just consumer convenience that counts. Ease and profitability for the retailer are also important. Shelf space is just one area where dairy manufacturers can increase their product’s appeal. Historically, products used to be circular but more recently, the trend is for square shaped containers that make the best use of space, enable increased product availability and ultimately facilitate an upturn in sales.

In recent years, consumers are placing more importance on goods that help rather than harm the world. By using responsible packaging, companies can really enhance their products’ environmental claims and a wealth of untapped opportunity exists in this area for dairy manufacturers to explore.

Expert opinions
Experts from leading packaging companies share their views about this particular sector, beginning with recent trends and developments.

A Category Management Director says we are seeing the emergence of a new ‘golden triangle’ in consumer demands, built around health, pleasure and convenience and these global trends in consumer preferences are shaping product development.

“According to research in 30 countries, health and fitness is a top consumer value in almost all countries. Product development will increasingly leverage this opportunity. New health positioned concepts will accelerate demands on packaging attributes such as appearance, protection of fragile ingredients and the need for new features such as portion control.”

The growth of on the go eating and drinking was highlighted in a 2006 report that found that 27% of respondents sip a drink while walking or driving, and the figure is far higher in individual countries; in the US, 58% of people do this. Mobile eating and drinking puts demands on availability, visibility and appeal, since buying on impulse is more and more frequent. “Extreme convenience will be the name of the game.”

“Key consumer trends such as the demand for healthy added value products, the rise in concern over childhood obesity, the move towards smaller and single households and the erosion of traditional mealtimes due to busy lifestyles has lead to the demand for on the go dairy beverages in smaller portion pack sizes from 25cl to 50cl,” says a Senior Manager Marketing Communications.

“We see the emerging and development of new moments of consumption,” he remarks. “Consumers are consuming while travelling, at work and during social and sporting activities, giving rise to new distribution networks for portion sized products including vending machines, forecourts and leisure outlets.”

Changing habits
A Product Manager also comments on the global change in eating habits: “The number of people eating the traditional three meals a day is constantly dwindling. Eating habits are more and more dictated by the individual’s daily routine. For many people ‘snacking’ has become a way of life. Meals are becoming more liquid – soups are making a comeback, and even a breakfast meal is now a breakfast drink rather than toast or a bun.

“As consumers become more mobile, the food industry is keeping pace. New product concepts are bringing fresh impetus to the international food industry catering for consumers’ expectations that food and drinks should be available at any time and able to be conveniently consumed anywhere. Appropriate packaging plays a significant role in this.”

A glance at the shelves in any supermarket shows what international market research studies also confirm: more and more foods in single serve packages are hitting the market.

“We reckon that by 2010 worldwide more than 30% of all aseptic carton packs will be small size packages up to 33cl. Compare this with the situation in 2002, when single serve carton packs made up a scant 20% of the total.”

“We are seeing an increasing number of consumers willing to experiment and to discover new product benefits, which is also driving innovation in the industry,”. This is translating into rising demand by consumers for a variety of package shapes and sizes and increasing functionality. But it must be balanced with the demand by our customers for increasingly cost effective, flexible solutions with higher performance. This means we will see further changes in aseptic packaging technology and the products we develop.”

So what is the industry looking for in the on the go sector?

“The industry is looking for the highest performance levels from hygienic and aseptic technologies to ensure the most demanding standards of food safety and quality are achieved says a Category Management Director.

“This is even more challenging in flexible or high speed applications and here low acid dairy applications are at the leading edge of technology performance compared to high acid categories such as juices, nectars and still drinks.

“Pressure to improve performance levels come from all sides of the value chain – from consumers, from competition in the dairy industry, from retailers and from legislators.” .

Meanwhile another expert “In saturated markets standard products will just not make the grade. Competitive pressure in the dairy industry is growing and with it the need to develop fresh, innovative ideas that allow food manufacturers to differentiate their products from those of the competition, while at the same time using more cost effective methods of production. These ‘multi sport disciplines’ are the main drivers for decision making in the beverage industry, and they demand a real all rounder – with regard to products, processing technology and packaging.”

Any food manufacturer who wants to do more than just get by on the international market needs solutions that meet the demands of consumers and retailers, while simultaneously increasing profit margins.

“Food manufacturers find themselves in a difficult position, because in order to be successful they are expected to lower costs and at the same time offer products with added value. Product developments that do not add up to profits are no innovation at all.

Ticking all the boxes
Meanwhile, another expert observes: “Consumers demand specific functional, emotional and environmental benefits from portion packs – easier to hold, drink from, open and re-close with no leaks and easy to dispose of and recycle. Our customers are looking for a portion packaging solution that ticks all these convenience boxes but which brings product differentiation and on-shelf visibility.”

“Packs across all beverage sectors have seen great success with a curved pack providing an easy grip for grab and go. For older consumers and kids these benefits have proved very important, but also the unique shape of the cartons has provided the marketing tool for the right product or brand image.”

As childhood obesity has doubled worldwide in the last 20 years, this ‘epidemic’ has fuelled campaigns and crusades over healthy eating for kids. School milk has been a central focus with many countries seeing many changes including the banning of sugar based drinks in favour of milk, juice and water. The cartons in both 25cl and 50cl sizes are the perfect portion pack to capture the right image for their school beverages as ‘cool’ products designed to fit with kids’ busy on the go lifestyles.

At the other end of the age range, the over 55s or seniors market continues to grow as a key beverage market. Here the portion pack is seen to have an important role to play.

“As seniors have very specific health requirements and as more seniors find their appetite wanes with age, the industry can assist by providing products with recommended portions on one serving.

“Consumer surveys confirm the trend towards greater public awareness of health and diet issues, and this is opening the way for foods with added value to have a stronger market appeal. Food manufacturers see this as an opportunity and a response to the question of what products they can use to create an added value product to justify charging a higher price and increase their profit margins. This means that investments in added value products must also be economically profitable.”

Other considerations
Products with unusual textures, such as velvety smoothies, provide an opportunity to combine new drinking and taste experiences with healthy ingredients such as fruit. In China, for instance, UHT milk containing pieces of real fruit in aseptic carton packs are proving a hit with consumers.

A segment Manager for Liquid Dairy says: “We are convinced that this new product concept will bring fresh impetus to the international UHT dairy market.” And in fact UHT milk containing rice and wheat grains has now also been launched in single serve carton packs in China.

“In many markets cost is a major consideration. In emerging markets in particular, we’ve seen a trend towards smaller volume packages such as the 12.5cl and 20cl sizes that are on offer. This meets consumer demand for key price points and at the same time, accommodates shops with limited shelf space.

“In addition, some segments of the market, particularly younger consumers, like to express their personality through what they drink. For this group of consumers, funky, modern, and trendy packaging is a must. Packaging solutions are also interesting because producers can combine different bottom formats, volumes, tops, carton materials, print qualities and cap colours to create a unique package that appeals to a certain market segment.”

“As well as design and functionality, environmental concerns are playing a more significant role than ever in the packaging strategy,” With both dairy producers’ customers and the end consumer becoming more aware of green issues, producers need to more carefully consider the environmental profile of their products. The less plastic, the better!”

Future outlook

“The key factor in deciding on the development of new technologies and innovation is their cost effectiveness, performance and market impact, developing products that will help our customers be competitive and provide consumers with safe, new, functional packages that meet their changing needs is what drives innovation.

Environmental issues also impact on the go, as they do in all other dairy sectors and points to a recent study BYA recent survey (Global Food Packaging Survey) that confirms that half of all consumers already choose environmentally friendly packaging over convenience and want food manufacturers and retailers to react to that demand. Deliberately offering and consciously choosing ecologically friendly packaging solutions is a start.

By: Gillian Wight

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To become a dentist, a graduate with a bachelor’s degree undergoes 4 years in one of the dental schools accredited by the American Dental Association’s (ADA’s) Commission on Dental Accreditation. At the end of the course he undertakes various written and oral examinations before being certified as a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), also known as a dentist.

Dentists are specialists trained to diagnose, prevent and treat ailments relating to teeth or oral tissue. Their work involves employing various methods to preserve natural teeth, such as filling cavities, examining X-rays, capping children’s teeth with protective plastic sealants, and straightening and fixing fractured teeth. Evaluation of the dental health is done by examination of the X-rays. They also handle invasive procedures like painless tooth extraction, and surgical correction of gums and supporting bones to treat gum diseases.

Some of the most common equipment used by the dentist for treating patients are X-ray machines, drills, and instruments such as mouth mirrors, probes, forceps, brushes and scalpels. Dentists normally wear masks, gloves and safety glasses for self-protection and to prevent the patients from acquiring infectious diseases.

During their training program they learn techniques pertaining to modeling and measuring the oral cavity for designing dentures to replace missing teeth. This is also useful in creating oral prosthetics and implants. As part of preventative dentistry, the dentists offer instructions on diet, brushing, flossing, the use of fluorides, and other aspects of dental care that contribute to enhancing the dental health.

Many dentists are private practitioners, but a large number also form partnerships or work on salary in hospitals, dental clinics, prisons or military units. Some others are instructors, administrators or researchers in dental schools and laboratories. Dentists may specialize in any one of the eight specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. The largest group is orthodontists, experts in fitting patients with braces or retainers that put pressure on the teeth to align them properly.

The employment opportunities for dentists are tremendous. The flipside is there is much job-related stress. Ever-increasing number of dentists take an early retirement due to ‘burn-out,’ lower back problems or poor general health.

By: Damian Sofsian

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