Conveying & accumulation

Radius applies labeler to Fisher-Price application

Unusual new labeler at Radius Corp. closes a plastic case around a Fisher-Price toothbrush, then applies a TE label that wraps around three sides of the case.

October 31, 2000

Stretch wrapping/load stabilization: Page 20

Conveying & accumulation

For e-commerce, size does matter (sidebar)

Capsule reviews

September 30, 2000

Secondary Packaging

Lantech Inc: Pallet wrap sensor

The intelli-sensor™ from Lantech (Louisville, KY)—now standard on the company’s stretch wrappers, retrofittable to existing machines—can detect the characteristics of a pallet load regardless of material, color, shape, texture, distance or surface glare.

May 31, 2000

Conveying & accumulation

Software brews line efficiency at Miller

Brewer sees quick payback on a multimillion-dollar investment in software that’s increasing output at six breweries nationwide. The software will be used for 57 lines, for cans, glass and plastic bottles.

May 31, 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

Secondary Packaging

Unsaleable product costs reach $4.2 billion in '98

Packaging is often the problem when products and packages are diverted from retailers to reclamation centers. Credits issued are a growing cost for distributors and manufacturers, says a new report.

February 29, 2000

Conveying & accumulation

Fit for filling 'round the clock

Aberfoyle Springs fills 500-mL PET bottles at a rate of 630/min seven days a week, in two 11-hour shifts each day. ‘We train our people like there’s no tomorrow.’

February 29, 2000

Secondary Packaging

Orion Packaging Systems: AC-drives on stretch wrappers

Long-lasting AC motors are being integrated into Orion’s (Memphis, TN) line of automatic stretch wrappers. The AC variable frequency drives are more energy efficient and more versatile than DC motors, which have brushes that tend to wear out quickly.

January 31, 2000

Conveying & accumulation

Self-manufacture of bottles brings savings

In-house blow molding of 500-mL PET bottles is expanding in a big way at Aberfoyle Springs. Two blow-molding machines are in, and a third is on the way.

January 31, 2000

Conveying & accumulation

Palletizers lift Marcal's efficiency

Robotic and in-line palletizers automate what had been primarily a manual process at Marcal Paper Mills’ Elmwood Park, NJ, plant. A two-year system payback is anticipated.

January 31, 2000

Conveying & accumulation

Contract packager blends vf/f/s systems

Unusual integrated blending scale systems enable a California contract packager to fill as many as nine different individually quick-frozen vegetables into a single bag.

January 31, 2000

Feeding/inserting/unscrambling

Case packer provides Bacardi with rum on the run

A new case packer helps Bacardi Bottling package 10-count cartons of 50-mL rum miniatures into corrugated shippers.

December 31, 1999

Sustainability

Dow Corning sings praises of palletizer/stretch wrapper combo

Combo systems at the end of three silicone sealant cartridge packaging lines save space, money and materials at the company's Elizabethtown, KY, facility.

November 30, 1999