Ferris State receives blow-molding machine

In February, Ferris State University’s National Elastomer Center for Plastics and Rubber Technology in Big Rapids, MI, received a new single-station, automatic H-121-S blow-molding machine from Bekum America (www.bekumamerica.com). The machine provides students of the Plastics Engineering Technology Program with hands-on experience on a continuous-extrusion/blow-molding machine that includes microprocessor controls.

May 7th, 2007

The Ferris State facility opened 14 years ago and is a nationally recognized university with Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree programs in Plastics Engineering Technology. Bekum America continues to advise Ferris professors with regard to curriculum for blow-molding education. Numerous Bekum employees are alumni of Ferris State.

Bekum America Corp.

More Editor’s Picks from PACK EXPO Las Vegas, Day Two

Watch Packaging World’s Emeritus Editor Pat Reynolds and Content Director Jim Chrzan as they rattle off a handful of interesting, innovative, or trending findings from the floor of PACK EXPO Las Vegas last month.

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Cobot Bin Picking and Palletizing

At PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2021, Omron demonstrated its vision-enabled TM cobot bin-picking system and its cobotic palletizing system.

Carlos Ludlow Palafox, inventor of microwave-induced pyrolysis for recycling flexible packaging

Alternative for hard-to-recycle packaging waste

Carlos Ludlow Palafox, CEO of Enval Ltd. and the creator of a unique technology based on microwave-induced pyrolysis for flexible packaging including plastic laminates, shares his vision.

(left to right) Jon McClure, president, Pregis South Carolina operations; David Timm, division president, Pregis Performance Flexibles; South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster; Kevin Baudhuin, CEO, Pregis; and Dan Zamlong, managing director, Warburg Pincus.

Pregis Opens New Packaging Film Extrusion Facility

Sustainability figures prominently in both the new Andersen, S.C., building and the materials produced within it as part of Pregis’ 2021 $140 million capex investment in new production capabilities.

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Electromechanical Welding and Control Architecture for Packaging

At PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2021, Emerson highlighted its GSX Welder with electromechanical actuation and DCX Generator architecture to control and monitor packaging machine processes.

Handled with care: Your cookies and crackers deserve the best!

Handled with care: Your cookies and crackers deserve the best!

They are a delight around the world – and a challenge for manufacturers everywhere. The guide provides an analysis of the market trends and the corresponding requirements focusing on handling and infeed technology.

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High-Performance Packaging Machine Control

At PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2021, Emerson showcased its high-performance packaging machine architecture to control multiple axes of motion and scale motion on the same PLC platform.

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Beckhoff Showcases XPlanar Updates

At PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2021, Beckhoff highlighted is XPlanar materials handling system that uses levitating movers to transport materials for packaging, assembly or transfer.

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Beckhoff’s XTS with Track Management

At PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2021, Beckhoff showcased the new track management capabilities of its eXtended Transport System (XTS) and the new stainless steel hygienic version.

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Fast-Changeover RRP Case Packer

A live, timed changeover demo illustrates the speed at which Delkor's LSP Series case packers can changeover between individually sized pouches in corrugated RRP cabrio cases, and larger club-store pouches in club-store corrugated trays.

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Leak Detection System

At PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2021, Emerson demonstrated its CT4215 leak detection system which uses quantum cascade lasers to detect leaks in real time.

Handled with care: Your cookies and crackers deserve the best!

Handled with care: Your cookies and crackers deserve the best!

They are a delight around the world – and a challenge for manufacturers everywhere. The guide provides an analysis of the market trends and the corresponding requirements focusing on handling and infeed technology.

Vision & sensor cap inspection system

Clever Syrup Capper & Reject System Eliminates a Sticky Situation

Quebecois syrup producer Nokomis Maple Products had a big fill inconsistency and reject problem that often made a sticky mess. An easy-to-use new capper with advanced inspection features made a big difference in reducing rejects and keeping things moving.

A Smattering of Day-One Findings from PACK EXPO Las Vegas

On today's Take Five, PACK EXPO veterans Jim Chrzan and Pat Reynolds curate first day discoveries in this tip-of-the-iceberg reflection of the packaging industry’s triumphant return to trade shows.

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Pick-and-Place ‘Sidebot’

Demonstrated at the Wyzo booth was the world’s first pick-and-place ‘sidebot,’ so named because it can work safely side-by-side with humans with zero protective barriers or performance compromise. It features unique Live Drive Direct Drive technology from

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Innovation Stage Interview: Contract Packaging

Jim Chrzan interviews CPA's Ron Puvak at the PACK EXPO Innovation Stage about new developments in contract packaging.

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VFFS Bagger Squeegees Air Out for Faster, Flatter Packing of Hot Liquids

Triangle Packaging Machinery demonstrates its Model XYTLF, a vertical form/fill/seal bagger for hot fill, pumpable foods. Its servo-controlled squeegee system helps eliminate costly leakers and headspace inside the package.

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FlashCell is Next Gen Weighing Technology

Mettler Toledo at Pack Expo Las Vegas launched FlashCell technology, the firm’s next generation electromagnetic force restoration weighing technology. It offers a much faster processing speed and occupies a smaller footprint on the plant floor.

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Child-resistant Pack for Cannabis Product

Orics Industries showed at PACK EXPO Las Vegas a rotary tray sealing system designed specifically for a CBD-infused candy bar in a child-resistant package. The thermoformed PET tray has notches and flaps that prevent a child from opening the package.

Chris Walsh, CEO and Founding Editor at MJBiz

Considering Cannabis Packaging?

There are a few things to consider when moving into cannabis packaging. Read what this exploding market requires, and where it’s headed.

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The AccuVeyor AVL from AmbaFlex at PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2021

Dynamic First In, First Out Accumulation Balances Packaging Line Harmonics

A wide variety of CPGs can benefit from the AccuVeyor AVL from AmbaFlex, a dynamic accumulator that allows for the absorption and release of items between processes without any interruption, with true first in/first out accumulation functionality.

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Honeywell Robotic's Intelligent Depalletizer

At PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2021, Honeywell Robotics demonstrated its intelligent, flexible depalletizer system featuring artificial intelligence, and 2D and 3D vision for pick-and-place depalletizing operations.

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ABB's and Covariant's Intelligent Pick-and-Place System

At PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2021, ABB and Covariant showcased their new pick-and-place system combining ABB's IRB 1300 robot and Covariant's artificial intelligence technology.

The machine’s recipe approach allows operators to easily adjust specs to different flower strains through compacting and twisting to produce consistent shape with uniform density.

Feeder Plays Integral Role in Automated Pre-Roll Cannabis Equipment

Just as it is affecting many other verticals, a tight labor market is also impacting the emerging cannabis industry, especially in typically manual processes like pre-roll production. Lately, automation is becoming more sophisticated to fill the gap.

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ABB's GoFa Collaborative Robot

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Fully Fiber-based Tray, Carton Wrap, and RRP Case Packing Line Makes its Case on Material Savings

An innovative solution for food manufacturers, the Cluster-Pak® (CP) eMerge™ Combo is WestRock’s newest fully integrated system that enables a wide range of bowl and tray formats from primary tray packaging to tertiary SRP or RRP case packing.

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Festo Integrates Electric Automation and Pneumatics

At PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2021, Festo showcased its new Simplified Motion Series combining pneumatics and electric automation along with its new gripper technologies.

The cylindrical shape of the PET kegs adapts well to the processing chamber of the Hiperbaric HPP in-pack units.

PET Kegs Meet High Pressure Processing

Hiperbaric teamed up with Petainer, putting its One Way PET Keg under pressure to enable the cold-pressed juice market to take advantage of keg dispensing.

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Cartoner Enables High-Speed, Recycle-Ready Packaging for Bumble Bee Tuna

This new paperboard packaging solution will help The Bumble Bee Seafood Company further its commitment to reducing ocean waste without sacrificing product quality.

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Cobot miniPAL 2.0 has 25% Greater Payload, Added Safety Features

Columbia/Okura upgraded its miniPAL® with the enhanced UR10e cobot arm by Universal Robots, increasing the payload to 12.5 kg (27.55 lbs) as well as replacing pressure sensitive safety mats with area safety scanners.

ID Technology's Model 258 print & apply label applicator with CrossMerge™ technology.

Print & Apply Labeler Improves Print Quality Without Sacrificing Line Throughput

ID Technology, a ProMach product brand, used PACK EXPO Las Vegas to officially introduce its new Model 258 print & apply label applicator with CrossMerge™ technology.

HPP aligns with consumer health trends

Health-Based a Top Trend in High Pressure Processing

HPP touches on the better-for-you and clean-label consumer trends, as well as sustainably utilizing perishable produce, and the growing pet food market.