EPI Labelers will exhibit its top labeling equipment at Pack Expo Chicago, Oct. 28 through Oct. 31, 2012 in booth N-4031.  The booth will include a variety of machines, including labelers new for 2012.  Engineered for ease of use and reliability, EPI’s labeling systems are designed to integrate to existing specific packaging lines.

Labelers at the show will include; the Flex-Pac, the U-II, the Print & Apply, the M-Series, and the new Low Cost Print & Apply.

We offer machines to label; paper, clamshells, cartons, boxes, bottles, and flexible packages for VFFS, HFFS, pouches, and bread and bun bags.  For a detailed product list, visit http://epilabelers.com/products.

There’s no better time for parties than summer, and with the Fourth of July quickly approaching, it’s time to start thinking red, white and blue!  It’s not hard to come up with a simple red, white and blue theme, but adding a vintage twist can really make your party stand out.  And we found a cheap and easy way to pump up the pizzazz of the tired theme – a label of course! 

Cool Mom Picks http://www.coolmompicks.com/2012/06/fourth_of_july_party_decor_printables.php recently featured Fourth of July party printables.  Our personal favorite?  The retro, patriotic-themed USA beer labels http://www.etsy.com/listing/102710025/printable-usa-beer-bottle-labels-4th-of from Etsy seller papergravie.  The labels are available in pdf form, with the option to order coordinating items to complete your vintage Americana theme.  It doesn’t take much to liven up your party and impress guests with your attention to detail.  So take the time you saved to kick back and enjoy your holiday!  Happy Fourth of July!!!

When people think about packaging, food products often come to mind.  While there’s plenty of clever packaging for food items, it’s fun see other everyday items packaged as food.  Today, thanks to www.yummly.com, we’re changing things up and featuring items packaged to look like faux food!  Yummly posted Pinterest photos of a variety of faux food products that  bear an uncanny resemblance to some of everyone’s favorite foods.  www.pinterest.com/yummly.  Here are some of our favorites:

The Peanut Butter & Jelly Pouch Wallet

The Ice Cream Sandwich Dessert Pillow

The Gigantic Donut Pool Float

The Pizza Puzzle

We love packaging that guarantees that friends, family members or co-workers won’t help themselves to our food!  Anti-theft packaging seems to be on the rise and not only is it innovative, it’s also pretty brilliant!  For anyone who’s ever endured the pain of looking forward to their tasty treat, only to find it’s been stolen, this packaging is for you!

Food Manufacturing http://www.foodmanufacturing.com/videos/2012/05/anti-theft-lunch-bags-keep-hungry-co-workers-away  recently featured an article on a CNN http://www.cnn.com video that demonstrates the genius of anti-theft packaging innovators.  They’ve created sandwich bags adorned with fake mold and insects.  It’s a simple concept for keeping even the most aggressive office bandit away from your food, but one that seems foolproof nonetheless. 

Buzzfeed http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/ben-jerrys-ice-cream-pint-combination-loc also recognized theft deterrent genius when they recently featured a proposed idea from Ben & Jerry’s http://www.benjerry.com back in 2002.  Though the product never came to fruition, the Euphori-Lock was an actual combination lock that fit over Ben & Jerry’s pints to deter would-be ice cream thieves.  The Ben & Jerry’s press release alone is worth the read.  One can only hope this idea will be picked up again in the future.

We all know that packaging is meant to protect our food, but this takes the concept to a whole new level.  And who wouldn’t derive just a little pleasure out of the idea of repulsing the office food thief?

Despite their crucial role in packaging, labels are only part of the package.  Most consumers don’t give much thought to the effort put forth in the design of everyday packaging, but in fact, packaging plays an important role in the safety, marketing, waste reduction and sustainability of products.
Recently, the 24th DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation recognized companies with outstanding packaging.  Several well-known brands were amongst those with top honors   Heinz, Kraft, Cadbury, Pepperidge Farm and Unilever took home silver, gold and diamond awards.  The DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation is the industry’s longest running, global, independently judged celebration of innovation and collaboration throughout the value chain.  An expert panel evaluated 200 entries in 3 categories:  Innovation, Sustainability and Cost/Waste Reduction.
EPI Labelers designs labeling machines to integrate to a wide variety of packaging, many of which were included in the awards.  To read the full article about the 24th DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation, and for a complete list of winners, visit the Packaging Digest website at http://www.packagingdigest.com/article/521756-DuPont_Awards_celebrate_packaging_innovation_sustainability_and_cost_waste_reduction.php

Weird Flavors, Awesome Labels

These flavors of liquor range from strange to downright stomach turning, but they all share one trait – awesome labels!  Flip through the slideshow at The Huffington Post to see these crazy flavors and cool labels!  Either way you look at it, it makes for an interesting use of time! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/26/worst-liquor-flavors_n_1423784.html?ref=mostpopular

Labels can be found anywhere and geared toward any demographic, even children.  One would be hard-pressed to find a better outlet to cater to a young audience than crayons.  Parents who want to give their children a head start in the science department may consider buying chemistry crayon labels. 

Etsy user QueInteresante now sells labels that allow parents to rename crayons by chemicals and chemical reactions that share that color.  The labels seem to be an effective teaching tool because children are exposed to them regularly. 

Crayon labels are a unique idea for parents looking to give their little “chemists” a head start.  They’re an easy lesson for children, who are able to play while they begin to retain knowledge of chemicals and chemical reactions.  Crayon labels demonstrate how multifaceted labels can be; they convey a wide variety of information to a wide audience.  They’re also proof that labels have the ability to transform mundane information into colorful fun!

To read the original story, and see more photos of chemistry crayon labels, go to  http://www.buzzfeed.com/babymantis/chemistry-crayon-labels-1opu

Finding healthy options at the grocery store is getting easier!  Walmart recently announced that it will be labeling healthy foods with a green Great for You label.  The label will appear on the retailer’s Great Value brand as early as this spring.  The company also plans to allow other brands to use the label without paying a licensing fee.  Since the launch of Walmart’s healthier food initiative, it has promised to improve the nutritional quality of the food it sells. 
The Great for You label is one of several steps Walmart has taken to promote healthier food, including; lowering the prices on fresh fruits and vegetables, working with national and private label products to reduce sodium, added sugar and trans fat in products it sells, working with suppliers to cut the costs of reduced-fat and fat-free items, and increasing charitable support for nutrition programs.
To learn more about the Great for You label criteria, go to http://walmartstores.com/nutrition/greatforyou.aspx

The ‘Hunger Games’ series has proven to be extremely popular, and with the movie premiering this week, it’s getting more attention than ever.  As with any popular series, there’s a wide array of products for followers.  A quick search on the series turns up a variety of products from bookmarks, to CD’s, to entire magazines dedicated to the trilogy. 

A product that may not be so easy to locate?  ‘Hunger Games’ labels.  But they do exist!  And we found them.

A seller on Etsy www.etsy.com is offering ‘Hunger Games’ Bottle Labels.  The labels, which are inspired the Capitol Grade Sleep Syrup found in the book, can be wrapped around water, soda, syrup, or virtually any type of bottle.  http://www.etsy.com/listing/94287817/hunger-games-inspired-bottle-labels

Should you choose to have your own ‘Hunger Games’ party, the labels may be used in conjunction with a ‘Hunger Games’ party package.  The package includes a banner, favor tags, cupcake wrappers, and more.  http://www.etsy.com/listing/94259736/hunger-games-party-package-printable

All packages come as a PDF digital file that can be printed.  There are no physical materials in the package, it contains digital files only. 

With the hype surrounding the book; and now, the movie, a ‘Hunger Games’ party is sure to be a hit.  And no party is complete without a good label!

While most labels are meant to encourage consumers to purchase a product, the Obama administration has proven that labels can be used to discourage consumers as well.  The administration has been pushing to require graphic warning labels on cigarettes. 

The Food and Drug Administration approved nine graphic warning labels for tobacco makers to display on cigarette packs beginning in September.  These images are considered to be extremely graphic by some; they include photos of dead and diseased smokers.

Four of the largest U.S. tobacco companies sued the federal government in August, saying such labels violate free speech rights, and will cost them millions.  Last month, a District Judge ruled them unconstitutional, thus blocking the rule from taking effect.  However, the issue could still end up in the U.S. Supreme Court because the latest decision conflicts with another U.S. District Court Judge’s decision that upheld the label’s legality.  It remains unseen whether the graphic labels will end up on cigarette packs at this point.

Both sides seem to have strong arguments for and against these labels, and the process ruling their legality may take some time.  While one side argues that the labels clearly illustrate the risks associated with using such products, the other side argues that the images are neither “factual” nor “accurate” and they violate the First Amendment.  It remains to be seen which side will win this battle over the labels.  However, it is very clear that labels have the capability to send a strong message to consumers, and companies realize the effect labels have over consumer impression of their product.