NUUK, rPET water bottle concept

The Sidel Group’s art designers present NUUK, a new recycled PET (rPET) water bottle concept, drawing inspiration from the purity of ice and its unique formations, the company says. In fact, the NUUK brand takes its name from Greenland’s capital and the fjords that make it famous, it adds. The “Frozen, Authentic, Unique” slogan highlights the brand’s attributes, while the container, produced from clear, 100 percent rPET, is designed for high-quality, fjord-sourced premium water brands. With its distinctive design and asymmetric shape, the 500-ml bottle showcases the water it contains and reflects the brand’s essence. The specific ice shape on the lower part of the bottle constitutes a great asset and reinforces its structure. It also gives the impression that the bottle is surging up from the ice, according to the company. The deep bottle base resembles a rock glacier and is produced by the company’s patented Base Over Stroke System (BOSS). The mechanical forming, which takes place during the blowing process, optimizes the material distribution in the final bottle base profile, while the consistent blowing process uses a minimum amount of material, it says. With its ice shape and blue color, the wide cap enhances the brand’s premium look and perception. Additionally, the bottle is compatible with tethered cap solutions to meet environmental requirements and forthcoming regulations.

Raymond Courier 3220 Automated Tow Tractor

Ideal for handling and heavy-duty towing in a beverage warehouse, The Raymond Corp. recently launched the newest addition to its automated guided vehicle (AGV) lineup: the Raymond Courier 3220 Automated Tow Tractor. With a capacity to tow as much as 15,000 pounds, the AGV combines vision-guided technology with a heavy-duty towing capacity and more ramp capability, further expanding the company’s end-to-end intralogistics solutions, it says. The tow truck also features a low clearance arch as a standard design, making it easier to maneuver through areas with low overhanging structures. The Courier 3220 joins a fleet of three additional Courier AGVs, and features increased towing and ramp grade capability for more productivity of indoor towing applications. Additionally, the Courier line infrastructure-free installation enables easy and fast commissioning, operational flexibility and exceptional scalability as routes can quickly be transferred between trucks as well as be added or redeployed to different facilities, locations, shifts or applications, the company says.

Fort Dearborn Co., Elk Grove, Ill., announced the acquisition of Hammer Packaging Corp., Henrietta, N.Y. The combined organization takes advantage of Hammer’s state-of-the-art technology to enhance Fort Dearborn’s leadership position in the decorative label and packaging marketplace by further expanding the company’s geographic footprint, capacity and capabilities, the company says. The respective companies will continue to be led by Fort Dearborn’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kevin Kwilinski and Jim Hammer, president and CEO of Hammer Packaging, who is the fourth generation to own the company.

Because intercontinental travel for fall 2021 remains uncertain and global reach is the key to its success, the drinktec advisory board and Messe München announced the decision to postpone the world’s leading trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry until Sept. 12-16, 2022. The event, which will take place in Munich, Germany, is registering high demand for floor space from customers in Germany and abroad, with three quarters of the available exhibition floor space already booked, the organizations say. The global beverage industry meets in Munich once every four years. “Companies synchronize their innovative developments in line with this cycle, which is why we had to find timely dates in the trade fair calendar. Canceling altogether and leaving an eight-year gap in between trade fairs would have been unacceptable for the industry,” said Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, deputy chairman of the board of Messe München, in a statement. He notes that two thirds of all drinktec visitors come from abroad and half from other continents.

Waukesha, Wis.-based Wildeck Inc. welcomed Michael Troka as the new vice president of marketing. In this role, Troka will be responsible for the planning, development and execution of all marketing strategies and tactics. He has a 20-year track record of success in corporate marketing and advertising agency account management roles for Fortune 500 companies, the company says.

PakTech, Eugene, Ore., is undertaking a new partnership with GreatAmerica Financial Services, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to provide financing options on the sale of all of its PakTech Applicators. PakTech is offering no money down financing options and a choice of terms from 12 to 60 months. This is the first time the company is offering financing options, and it wants the ability to add applicator equipment to be smart, sustainable and simple, it says.

Denver-based Kois Beverage Corp. announced a new partnership with Vancouver, British Columbia-based Beauty Gourment LLC, a women’s functional beverage company, to form a subsidiary named Bevcreation LLC, which currently operates a commercial-scale beverage canning facility. In addition to packing KOIOS’ nootropic beverages and Fit Soda functional beverages, the Bevcreation canning facility also will handle contract packaging for consumer packaged goods firms to maximize use of their respective infrastructures for manufacturing, it says. Based on current bandwidth, the Bevcreation canning facility’s production slots are approximately 60 percent booked through at least early 2022, and the company expects the canning facility operated by Bevcreation to earn more than $1 million in gross revenues in its first year of operation. Given the recent growth of hard seltzers, the company will explore the development of a Fit Soda variant infused with grain liquor.

Toshiba America Business Solutions, Lake Forest, Calif., promoted Scott Robinson to vice president of managed print services (MPS). With Toshiba since 1999, Robinson now directs Toshiba's MPS business across the company's direct channel — Toshiba Business Solutions (TBS) — and independent resellers throughout North and South America. Noting that MPS has been a key initiative and differentiator for the company since 2004 due to its multi-vendor approach, Robinson’s new position will focus on growing the MPS program to expand client offerings, improve operational efficiencies and identify strategic investment opportunities enabling Toshiba to meet its business objectives, the company says.