Bag/pouch fill/seal (pre-made bags)

Kraft executes sly redesign

The packaging for Kraft's Cracker Barrel® 10-oz cheese blocks underwent a significant change a year ago, but Kraft is hoping consumers won't notice.

September 30, 1999

Industries: Page 820

Closures

Anheuser-Busch recalls European beer in glass

The nation's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch, last month recalled nearly six million bottles of beer in 12 European countries because of safety concerns.

September 30, 1999

Converting equipment

Custom bottle 'juices' Odwalla

Last month, beverage marketer Odwalla, Inc. introduced a custom-designed bottle for its 450-mL and 325-mL refrigerated juices that it says extends shelf life by 40% compared to a previous bottle.

September 30, 1999

Filling/capping, liquid & viscous

IWK Packaging Machinery Inc: Tube filler

The TFS 80 tube filler from IWK Packaging Machinery (Fairfield, NJ) features precision servo drives, no-tool changeover and multiple closing systems.

August 31, 1999

Flexibles

Sealers

The HD-1, a 1" circular sealer, and the HD-4, a 4" straight sealer, are new from Aline Systems (Santa Fe Springs, CA). Accomplishing 6 to 12 seals/min, both machines deliver up to 50 lb of pressure to seal all plastic, laminate and barrier films.

August 31, 1999

Flexible packaging

Rovema Packaging Machines L.P.: Product accelerator

To increase speed in filling f/f/s pouches with lightweight foods such as extruded snacks, Rovema's (Lawrenceville, GA) PAC product accelerator alters the time of the product dump rather than the sealing time.

August 31, 1999

Secondary Packaging

FANUC Robotics: Sub-zero palletizer

The Fanuc Robotics (Rochester Hills, MI) M-410i palletizing system with vacuum grippers is designed to operate in the sub-zero environments of frozen food warehouses and manufacturing facilities.

August 31, 1999

Filling/capping, dry

AMS Filling System Inc: Multihead Filler

The A-610 multihead filler from AMS (Malvern, PA) fills rigid containers with virtually any dry or liquid products at speeds to more than 50 cpm. With memory storage for 54 products, the PLC-controlled machine offers optional bulk-and-dribble operation, bottom-up filling, and vibration to settle product in containers.

August 31, 1999

Controls & Machine Components

Pilz International: Machinery safety guide

The sixth edition of Guide to Machinery Safety standards has just been released by Pilz (Farmington Hills, MI). The book covers provision and use of work equipment regulations, European standards harmonization, risk assessment and more.

August 31, 1999

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Universal Labeling Systems, Inc: Flat-product labeling

A new labeling system combining the SL2000 Stepper Drive from Universal Labeling Systems (St. Petersburg, FL) and Sure Feed's (St. Petersburg, FL) product handling system is designed for high-speed, flat-product labeling.

August 31, 1999

Converting equipment

Gas-phase resins

Chevron Chemical (Houston, TX) has published a brochure titled "Bringing You More," which details its new high-performance, high-density gas-phase resins for blow molding.

August 31, 1999

Containers

How European culture drives packaging (sidebar)

Environment goals tougher

August 31, 1999

Beverage

Productivity in packaging continues to gain

A survey of manufacturers by PMMI shows nearly uniform gains in productivity from 1997 to 1998. Makers of chemical products represent the only segment where gains are not reported across the board.

August 31, 1999