Controls & Machine Components

Krones, Inc: Service information

Krones' (Franklin, WI) Service Information System, KROSIS, is designed to increase line utilization while also providing information on the line's cost-effectiveness.

February 28, 1999

Machinery: Page 1037

Controls & Machine Components

Common Point Technologies Inc: Linking proprietary controllers

Common Point Technologies Inc. (Sugar Grove, IL) is an automation systems integrator whose "Interposing PLC" allows packaging machines with proprietary controllers to communicate with other controllers, whether they're proprietary or industry-standard PLCs or PCs.

February 28, 1999

Controls & Machine Components

OSHA to crack the whip

Industry says that proposed new regulations on safety and health and on ergonomics are unnecessary. Will OSHA listen?

February 28, 1999

Flexible packaging

Testor blazes a new trail in paint packs

Flexible pouches for paints used by modelers cost less and perform better than glass jars with labels and caps. Custom-built packaging equipment had to be developed first.

February 28, 1999

Controls & Machine Components

lpha gear drives, Inc: 'Zero'-backlash reducer

Alpha Gear Drives (Elk Grove Village, IL) has introduced the TP low-backlash planetary gear reducer for servo motors. Designed for applications that require extremely precise positioning at high speeds, the reducer features a minimum backlash of less than 1 arc/min, with "zero" backlash achieved through supplier's high-precision manufacturing, according to the company.

February 28, 1999

Flexible packaging

Young package forms grow beyond specialty niches

Two relatively new packaging forms--stand-up flexible pouches and non-round composite canisters--are expanding their application horizons and finding a measure of consumer acceptance at retail.

February 28, 1999

Conveying & accumulation

Shrink bags add spice to enchilada packaging

Enchilada maker Bueno Foods uses a shrink-bag over a tray to pack and merchandise frozen enchiladas. Customers like the microwavability, Bueno likes the ease of use and strong graphics.

February 28, 1999

Flexible packaging

Pouch versatility stands out

A canteen-like pouch for liquids or powders, a mouthwash sample pouch distributed inside newspapers, and resealable stand-up pouches for an insecticide and plant food all earn recognition from the Flexible Packaging Assn.

February 28, 1999

Flexible packaging

Testor blazes a new trail in paint packs (sidebar)

Pouches reach U.S. in Visions line

February 28, 1999

Controls & Machine Components

Sonoco Alloyd: Heat-seal data acquisition

Alloyd's (DeKalb, IL) two-station medical heat-sealer is now available with Level 5 data acquisition software enhanced for validation. Provides recipe management of setup parameters for fast, accurate changeovers.

February 28, 1999

Conveying & accumulation

Collating candy at 3,000/min

Goetze's Candy Co. triples speeds for packaging its venerable soft caramel cream candies after installing a new servo-driven feeding/collating system with high-speed motion control.

February 28, 1999

Flexible packaging

Flexible pack zips to market

A flexible bag with a transverse zipper provides consumers with 'pour-and-store' convenience for Birds Eye-brand frozen chicken-based meals.

February 28, 1999

Flexible packaging

Flexible materials earn Green Globe Award

Heath Manufacturing wins a Green Globe Award from the Flexible Packaging Assn. for a bird suet cake package that uses less material than its predecessor. New equipment increases productivity while saving labor costs.

February 28, 1999