Abstract: An alcoholic beverage is aged in at least one wooden barrel after the barrel is covered by a film having an oxygen transmission rate of at least 0.5 cc/m2/day and an ethanol transmission rate of less than 30 g/m2/day. The beverage acquires one or more specific flavor components in an amount of 50%, 75%, 90%, or 100% relative to amounts of one or more of the same flavor components in a control alcoholic beverage aged in at least one wooden barrel without the film thereon. Covering the barrel with the film reduces the angels' share evaporative loss, while allowing the beverage to develop desirable flavor components during aging. In another embodiment, the process reduces angels' share evaporative loss while achieving organoleptics indistinguishable from a control.

Abstract: An easy-open and reclosable package includes a pouch including a discrete laminate including a tape including a base strip coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive, and a panel section having a die cut defining a die cut segment, the panel section adhered by the PSA to the base strip; the panel section anchored to a first side panel; the second surface of the base strip anchored to the inner surface of a second side panel; and a product in the pouch. The die cut segment is so arranged with respect to the pressure sensitive adhesive that when the package is opened, the package can be reclosed by adhering the pressure sensitive adhesive to the first side panel.

Abstract: An easy-open/reclosable gusseted package includes a reclosure mechanism including a first and second interlocking strip; a die cut in a first panel and in a first and optionally a second gusset. The die cut defines a die cut segment spaced from the first and second ends of the package that can be displaced to open the package and access a contained product between the interlocking strips, the interlocking surfaces being at least partially exposed. The package can be reclosed, after removing the die cut segment, by engaging the interlocking surface of a second portion of the first interlocking strip with itself in the first gusset, and optionally a third portion of the first interlocking strip with itself in the second gusset, folding the package, and engaging the interlocking surface of the second interlocking strip with the interlocking surface of the first portion of the first interlocking strip.

Abstract: A packaging article has tear initiators for initiating a manual tear that can be propagated to open a package and allow a product to be readily removed therefrom, without the use of a knife or scissors or any other implement. The packaging article is made from a heat-shrinkable multilayer film having at least one layer containing an incompatible polymer blend, and/or a layer containing an inorganic filler, and/or a layer having a high Young's modulus. The film also has a Peak Load Impact Strength of at least 50 Newtons per mil, The tear initiators can be used to generate a manual machine direction tears to open the package, with the manual machine direction tear being capable of propagating in the machine direction to the opposite edge of the packaging article. A process for making a package and manually opening the package is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for packaging a product (P) arranged in a support (4) comprising unrolling a film (10a), progressively moving a number of supports (4) inside the packaging chamber (24) of a packaging assembly (8), keeping the packaging chamber (24) open for a time sufficient for a number of supports (4) and for the film (10a) or for film sheets (18) to properly position inside said packaging chamber (24), causing the film sheets or film portions to adapt to the shape of a cavity formed in the upper tool (21) of the packaging assembly (8) and sealing the film sheets or film portions to respective supports. An apparatus (1) for performing the above process is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a multilayer film having an active oxygen barrier layer that comprises an oxygen scavenging composition that is a blend of a thermoplastic resin (A) having carbon-carbon double bonds substantially in its main chain, a transition metal salt (B), and an oxygen barrier polymer (C) having oxygen barrier properties that can be further enhanced by exposing the composition to a source of ionizing radiation e.g., electron beam radiation. Irradiation improves the oxygen scavenging abilities of the oxygen scavenging composition so that oxygen can be intercepted and scavenged as it passes through the film. The resulting irradiated multilayer film has improved active barrier properties in comparison to the same film prior to irradiation. As result, the multilayer film of the present invention can be used in packaging applications to help maintain a low oxygen atmosphere in the interior of a package.

Abstract: A bag-in-box system for use in dispensing a pumpable product includes a carton, a flexible thermoplastic pouch disposed in the carton, a spout joined to the pouch, a spout closure, and a pumpable product disposed in the pouch, the flexible thermoplastic pouch including an outer wall including a coextruded film having a polyethylene layer, a tie layer, and a polyamide layer, and a discrete inner wall including an ethylene polymer or copolymer, or a composition like that of the outer wall, the outer wall sealed to the inner wall at the perimeter of the pouch. Optionally, a discrete intermediate wall can be disposed between the outer wall and inner discrete wall of the pouch. The system can further include a pump operatively connected to the pouch and carton to dispense the pumpable product from the pouch.

Abstract: A polymer blend comprises a propylene-based homopolymer or copolymer in an amount of from 75 to 95 weight percent, and an olefin block copolymer (OBC) in an amount of from 5 to 25 weight percent, based total blend weight. The polymer blend, and films having outer printed layers containing the blend, provide enhanced ink abrasion resistance. The OBC is an ethylene/?-olefin copolymer having hard and soft segments. Multilayer film made using the blend can be used for food packaging, and may optionally be heat shrinkable.