REGISTRATION /CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST                                           8:00am - 8:45am

WELCOMING REMARKS                                                                                  8:45am - 9:00am
Stan Sacharow – Executive Director, The Packaging Group, Inc.

DESIGNING THE RETORT POUCH -  A WORLDWIDE VIEW                  9:45am – 10:30am
Christopher Nunes- Managing Director of Cornerstone Brand Identity

This talk will discuss the elements of package design and consumer testing of the Retort Pouch. Elements of world design will be visually presented along with typographic suggestions. Should the pouch stand alone or be a carton. Should it be 4-side sealed or stand up. How should the consumer identify it as being shelf stable.

"USING ADVANCED DIRECTIONAL TEAR SEALANT FILMS              10:30am – 11:15am 
FOR RETORT POUCHES"
Matt Brown, Operations Manager, Toray Plastics (America), Inc.

Toray Plastics (America, Inc.) has launched a new line of especially developed directional tear films, that will eliminate laser scoring and perforations in a lamination. All that is needed with Toray Films is a simple slit to establish a tear. Applications will be discussed as well as uses using the new line of films. AMPAC has just announced the availability of a Retort Pouch with linear tear technology.

COFFEE BREAK – EXHIBIT VISITS                                                             11:15am – 11:45am  

"A GLOBAL LEADER TALKS ABOUT EMERGING                                  11:45am – 12:30pm
RETORT POUCH DEVELOPMENTS/ TRENDS"                                       
Sal Pellingra, Marketing Director, AMPAC 

AMPAC a global leader in the retail, food, security and medical packaging markets will discuss new innovations and developments in Retort Pouch technology. The discussion will include a new package for papaya slices that won awards. Newly developed linear tear in Retort Pouches and various spouted options.

LUNCHEON/ EXHIBITS                                                                                     12:30pm - 1:30pm

"USING ULTRASONICS FOR SEALING RETORT POUCHES"                   1:30pm – 2:15pm
Uwe Peregi, Executive General Manager, Herrmann Ultrasonics

This discussion will center upon ultrasonic sealing to fabricate filled Retort Pouches. Advantages will be stressed in conjunction with product line speed and development. The company is a worldwide leader in ultrasonic technology - with many applications on the market for sample and literature. Attendees will find the Herrmann display valuable.

"ADHESIVES FOR RETORT POUCH LAMINATIONS                                 2:15pm – 3:15pm
- A NEW LEADER"
Brian S. Glasbrenner, NA Sales Manager - Flexible Packaging, H.B. Fuller Inc.

Developing and introducing a new line of Retort Pouch adhesives is quite complex. This talk will focus on the development of these adhesives, plus the recent installations of a Nordmecchanica Machine in their plant.

"MAKING THE LAMINATION WORK"                                                         3:15pm – 4:00pm 
Giancarlo Caimmi, Sales Director, Nordmecchanica

Nordmecchanica is the world leader in converting equipment for retort pouch laminations. This talk will focus intensely on which laminations to use and what conditions the products converted should be stored.

"SETTING UP AND TROUBLESHOOTING RETORT                                   4:00pm – 4:45pm
POUCH LAMINATE PRODUCTION"                         
Greg Grischenko, Project Director, The Packaging Group Inc.

"Multilayer barrier films (three or four ply layer structure) manufacture requires elevated quality level of operation including all components of the production process.
Attention must be paid to:
- material procurement, storage and handling
- laminating line mechanical equipment condition and settings
- adhesive mixing and viscosity monitoring.
Manufacturing processes should be constantly scrutinized for consistence with rapid feedback from quality control"

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