Controls & Machine Components

AutomationDirect: Schematic software

Automationdirect.com (Cumming, GA) has introduced VIADirect UltraLITE, an entry-level software suite that aids engineers in the design and layout of control systems.

February 29, 2000

Controls & machine components: Page 309

Controls & Machine Components

Advantage Puck: Carrier pucks

A color catalog sheet from Advantage Puck Group (Mishawaka, IN) highlights ways that product carrier pucks help pack-aging lines run at higher line speeds and reduce changeover time.

February 29, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

Nigrelli Systems Inc: Systems brochure

A 4-page color brochure from Nigrelli Systems (Kiel, WI) features the company’s packaging equipment systems. Ten machines are displayed in large photos, with accompanying descriptions.

February 29, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

Who attended

More than 70 people representing at least 40 companies attended the recent OMAC Packaging Motion for Packaging Working Group meeting in March in Chicago.

February 29, 2000

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

OMAC group tackles packaging motion standards

OMAC (Open Modular Architecture Controls) Motion for Packaging Working Group hammers out a specific mission and four key areas to simplify motion controls for packaging machinery. Areas include: defining business benefits of open controls; standardize on programming languages; standardize on network protocols; foster education in motion control technologies in tech schools and colleges.

February 29, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

Relocations, expansions

Mitsubishi Polyester Film (Greer, SC) will increase its capacity by more than 20ꯠ tons at the Greer facility by 2003.—Pester USA (Allendale, NJ) has doubled the size of its facility and staff by relocating to 7 Pearl Ct., Allendale, NJ 07401; phone: 201/327-7009, fax: 201/327-7824.—Spear Inc.

February 29, 2000

Conveying & accumulation

Controls push speed limit

U.S. Sugar fills two 5-lb bags/sec with better than ±0.1% accuracy thanks to a state-of-the-art sugar-filling line powered by the latest in servo drive, PLC and networking technology.

February 29, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

Networks on the rise, packagers say

Nearly half of survey respondents have few or no networked packaging lines. Yet more than half anticipate specifying them in the next two years, say packagers in an exclusive PW survey.

February 29, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

Packaging controls standards group formed

The movement toward standardizing motion controls for packaging machinery took a small but critical step forward in early February. An official working group for standardizing on motion controls in packaging machinery was created at the recent Open Modular Architecture Controls (OMAC) end user meeting held in Orlando, FL.

February 29, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

PCs offer strengths in other areas

The following letter was received in response to a two-part series by David Newcorn, Special Projects Editor, on PC vs PLC controls, published in September and December 1999 (see packworld.com/go/pcctrl).

February 29, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

Controls sites offer education

Controls suppliers are valuable resources that can benefit packaging professionals who want to learn more about controls.

February 29, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling

PDC International Corp.: Shrink labeler for irregular-shaped products

Recommended for labeling irregular or awkwardly shaped products such as tape rolls, the PDC R-300 shrink labeler from PDC (South Norwalk, CT) applies sleeves at speeds to 350 pieces/min.

February 29, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

Formost Fuji Corporation: Patty bagger

The frozen meat patty bagger from Formost (Woodinville, WA) packs up to 55 bags/min of frozen, 5”-dia hamburger-type patties. The machine accommodates patties that are stacked in a roll like pennies, or flat patties.

February 29, 2000