News
- A new exhibition will be held March 29 to April 1, 2004, for the European market called Total Processing and Packaging by Reed Exhibition Companies (REC) and its venture partner, the Process and Packaging Machinery Association, with the support of the Institute of Packaging. The event will combine the U.K. machinery exhibitions Pakex and PPMA Machinery Only Show, and REC’s processing exhibitions Eurochem and Interphex. www.totalpp.com
- MeadWestvaco’s Packaging Resources Group (Stamford, CT) signed a memorandum of understanding with Gralex (Lewis Center, OH), setting the stage for a formal strategic alliance. The two companies will jointly develop converter and end-user relationships through a systems sales approach that promotes the use of MeadWestvaco’s specialty paperboard grades with Gralex’s hydraulic paperboard thermoforming systems. www.meadwestvaco.com, www.gralex.com
Products
- Cermex (France) presented its new Dual Injection system (D.I.S®) for changing film reels without stopping a shrink-wrapping machine. Advantages include zero machine downtime, automatic reel changeovers, and improved output. www.cermex.fr
- Klöckner Packaging Machinery (Sarasota, FL) showcased a new range of modular, bar infeed systems: DT-41 product turning device, RT-90 high-speed inline product infeed system, and a product turning and inline CT-2 feeding system. CT-2 was displayed with a new flow wrapper, Pack-200, which operates at wrapping speeds up to 500 ppm. Separately, a modular high-speed servo-controlled, end-seal gusseting device was shown. www.klockner.com
- The SIG Beverages Div. (Switzerland) displayed a blow-molding monobloc for the high-speed production of still beverages in PET bottles (400 bpm). The equipment includes a new blow-molding machine, Blomax 16, Series III (25 bpm) by SIG Corpoplast (Germany) and the Simonazzi Stilljet filling machine by SIG Simonazzi (Italy). www.sigpplastics.com
- Inex Vision Systems (Clearwater, FL) launched the InSpect family of modular, turnkey inspection systems: InSpect 100 and 500. Typical applications include empty package inspection, fill level, closure, label and package integrity, print verification, and product sorting. www.inexvision.com
- Rovema (Germany) debuted the VPK 260 f/f/s machine with integrated splicer. This system offers higher output and operational flexibility with nonstop film changes. Reels are changed without stopping production. www.rovema.de
- Harland Machine Systems (Manchester, England, U.K.) exhibited the Titan labeler that includes two sets of labeling heads to handle standard and ultrathin labels. Titan can apply front and back labels to a variety of bottle shapes and sizes at speeds up to 450 bpm. www.harland-hms.com
