Secondary Packaging

General Mills: packaging equipment must be 'worth it'

At the second annual Packaging Automation Forum sponsored by ELAU and other automation suppliers, packagers zeroed in on the supply chain impact of flexible, standards-based automation technologies on the packing floor. The keynote speaker in particular nailed the topic.

June 18, 2007

Controls & machine components: Page 189

Secondary Packaging

Pinless metering

The new mid-speed Slipstream™ LS Pinless Metering from Douglas uses electronic motion controls and slipsheet technology to reduce cost and increase efficiency.

June 12, 2007

Secondary Packaging

Langen Packaging Inc: End-load cartoner

New from Langen, the Breeze model intermittent-motion end-load cartoner is suitable for standard cartoning applications in the food and consumer goods sectors.

June 12, 2007

Controls & Machine Components

Renco Encoders Inc: Compact optical encoder

Renco Encoders has introduced a 3.3 V feature for the RCML15 compact optical encoder, which provides signals for brushless motor commutation as well as incremental position feedback in a low profile (.350” high) optical encoder.

June 11, 2007

Controls & Machine Components

SICK, Inc: SICK, Inc: Wire draw encoders

Sick Stegmann has introduced BKS Wire Draw Encoders, a compact wire draw measurement system that includes an integrated absolute encoder to minimize the size of the unit. Designed to provide high resolution (to 0.05mm) position or distance information for linear measurement paths to 5 m at speeds to 3.5 m/sec, even under difficult mounting positions.

June 11, 2007

Controls & Machine Components

OEM stepper drives

Applied Motion Products has expanded its family of OEM stepper drive solutions with the ST 10-S Stepper Drive.

June 11, 2007

Controls & Machine Components

Solenoid valves

New from Clippard Instrument Laboratory is a series of 10-mm and 15-mm direct acting valves, which offer features for design flexibility in applications with limited space.

June 11, 2007

Controls & Machine Components

Current sensors

AutomationDirect now offers the AcuAMP family of high-performance sensors offering flexibility and durability.

June 11, 2007

Controls & Machine Components

Schneider Electric ELAU Packaging Solutions: Ethernet/ip scanner module

The new Ethernet/IP scanner module OM-NE was designed by Elau to meet the requirements of builders in the U.S. market.

June 11, 2007

Controls & Machine Components

Wago Corporation: Profinet bus coupler

Wago has released the 750-340 Series PROFINET Bus coupler, designed to be used as local or distributed I/O on a PROFINET industrial Ethernet network.

June 11, 2007

Controls & Machine Components

An educator's 'standard' view

Ken Ryan, director of the Center of Automation and Control at Alexandria Technical College (www.camc-online.org), Alexandria, MN, says it is finding there’s a need for upskilling in all the sectors it is involved with.

June 11, 2007

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

Upskilling: Is your workforce packaging technology savvy?

As packaging machinery becomes more sophisticated, training and education, or ‘upskilling,’ becomes a growing concern for managers at Pepperidge Farm and elsewhere.

June 11, 2007

Controls & Machine Components

Moving to more modular programming

IEC Standard 61131-3 is aimed at bringing standardization—based on modular reusable components—to programming. Will it change how packaging machines are designed?

June 11, 2007