Los Angeles-based Applied DNA Sciences (www.ADNAS.com) and Holomex, Mexico City, (www.holomex.com.mx) have completed a joint R&D program to develop a DNA-embedded hologram. The announcement follows the successful testing of the new DNA-embedded holographic security product by the US Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory.

The goal of the program was to design a multilayered security product that has both the convenience and speed of optical readability and the absolute certainty of DNA forensic authentication. Improved analytical methods developed by the DOE yielded positive results 10 times faster than conventional methods typically used by commercial laboratories for DNA testing.

The idea of using plant (or botanical) DNA technology embedded into inks, threads, labels, paper substrates or liquids lets converters and their consumer-product customers guarantee the authenticity of both the product and the packaging.

The DNA holograms are the first of several product configurations planned under Applied DNA's business alliance with Holomex. The companies plan to target several industries, such as pharmaceuticals, HBA, automotive and entertainment, with DNA security labels. Holomex says it will begin marketing the new DNA holograms to its existing customers this summer.

Connoisseurs of canned beer: Here's the latest answer to the age-old question of how to keep beer cold on a hot summer day: "Cool2Go"™ film wrap from Wilmington, DE-based DuPont (www.dupont.com).

The specially engineered laminated film provides a thin, insulating layer on aluminum cans, thus protecting beer from the heat transferred from warm hands, condensation and outside temperature. "Cool2Go" wrap made its debut this summer exclusively on Canada's Labatt Blue The Cold One beer.

The 30- to 40-mils-thick wrap is converted by laminating a proprietary polyester insulation between an 80-gauge top layer and a 48-gauge bottom layer of DuPont Teijin Films Melinex® biaxially oriented polyester film (www.dupontteijinfilms.com). The laminate is then gravure-printed and shrink-wrapped around each can.

DuPont also got into the act for the Labatt Blue The Cold One's six-pack shrink-wrap packaging. Flexographically printed via DuPont Cyrel® NOW plates, the overwrap's distinctive blues and gradations were possible through the plate's compatibility with both alcohol- and water-based inks as well as UV inks, the supplier says.

Maxson Automatic Machinery Co. (www.maxsonautomatic.com) has incorporated an air floatation system into inline sheeting applications that permits the entire sheeter to be moved off-line for maintenance, access to extruder screws, or to reposition the machine to another line that requires a sheeting operation.

The floatation system uses up to six casters with tough doughnut-shaped bags fastened to rigid plates. When compressed air is pumped into the caster, the bag inflates, creating a seal against the floor. When the pressure is enough to offset the load's weight, air slowly and evenly escapes between the bag and the floor. And the sheeter floats on a thin cushion of air.

With a steady supply of compressed air being fed to the six casters, strategically mounted under the sheeter, the entire machine can be lifted 0.003 in. off the floor and glided to a desired new location. When properly positioned, the air supply is shut off, the doughnuts deflate, and... Voila! The sheeter sets down on its steel base and legs, ready for operation.