Controls & Machine Components

Forging a control standard for packaging

Packaging faces a digital crossroads, with an opportunity ahead for packagers, if they seize it. At the February 1999 OMAC Users Group meeting, several packaging end-users indicated an interest in standardizing motion controls for packaging.

August 31, 1999

Controls & machine components: Page 320

Filling/capping, liquid & viscous

Debating the future of packaging machine control

PC vs PLC -- Six packaging machinery builders debate the pros and cons of controlling packaging machinery with either computers or programmable logic controllers.

August 31, 1999

Feeding/inserting/unscrambling

Oil packer's ink-jets add bar codes

Private-label motor oil customers seek better bottle codes and bar codes on cases. Packer siezes opportunity to upgrade to a networked system using wax-based inks that help plant achieve pollution cutbacks.

August 31, 1999

Controls & Machine Components

ITW Angleboard: Corner posts

StackMaster(TM) is a corner post made of laminated paper by ITW Angleboard (Glenview, IL). It unitizes stacked loads, absorbs shock and prevents damage during package handling and transit.

July 31, 1999

Controls & Machine Components

Sealed Air Corporation: Foam packaging

Instapack® GFlex(TM)is a packaging foam from Sealed Air (Danbury, CT) that accommodates heavy products requiring protection from multiple impacts during shipping.

July 31, 1999

Controls & Machine Components

Total Control Products: PC control/HMI

FactoryClient 2000 is a Windows® CE-based PC control and human-machine interface from Total Control Products (Melrose Park, IL). It includes a 6" touchscreen display, an Ethernet port and industrial I/O interfaces.

July 31, 1999

Controls & Machine Components

Sonic Air Systems, Inc: Models on CD-ROM

A new CD-ROM displaying 3-D solid models of Sonic's air blowers, air knives and other components is available from Sonic Air Systems (Fullerton, CA).

July 31, 1999

Controls & Machine Components

STA Packaging Tapes: Carton-sealing tape

From STA Packaging Tapes (Garden Grove, CA) comes a 5-page color brochure describing the company's Supreme line of p-s water-based acrylic packaging tapes.

July 31, 1999

Controls & Machine Components

Balluff: Luminescence detectors

Compact LDµ luminescence detectors from Balluff (Florence, KY) can read UV markings, labels or guides even on highly reflective package surfaces such as bottles, metal or ceramics.

July 31, 1999

Controls & Machine Components

Matik Inc: Box-forming machine

A 4-page brochure describes the Boix Model FP-4 box-forming and gluing machine from Matic North America (West Hartford, CT). Features technical specifications in English, Spanish, German and French, as well as dimensional diagrams and large color photos.

July 31, 1999

Controls & Machine Components

API : Foil designs brochure

API Foils (Lawrence, KS) has introduced "Designs of the Millennium Brochure," a fold-out guide featuring ideas for making millennium-related packs look dazzling.

July 31, 1999

Controls & Machine Components

Flexible food can

Hoogoven Packaging Steel (Ijmuiden, the Netherlands), with Stork Food and Dairy Systems, has developed a concept for a flexible food can. Called Le Carr/, the 3-pc tinplate can has a square shape, stiff ribs and a thin body to make the can flexible.

July 31, 1999

Controls & Machine Components

Daubert Cromwell: Vapor wrapper

Nox-Rust® Vapor Wrapper® from Daubert VCI (Burr Ridge, IL) helps keep ferrous metal parts corrosion-free when stored or shipped in the wrapper.

July 31, 1999