Machinery: Page 1162

Conveying & accumulation

Shrink bander sets a quicker pace

Replacing a p-s labeler with a shrink bander nearly triples production speeds for vials of "super glue" used to attach artificial fingernails. Additional benefits include longer shelf life and stronger sales appeal.

December 31, 1996

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

No clear 'vision' from FDA on label inspection

Agency hopes to give additional detailed directions to drug manufacturers on the requirements for verifying cut labels and other components.

December 31, 1996

Filling/capping, liquid & viscous

Easy PC controlfor machine vision

Upsher-Smith Laboratories uses off-the-shelf PC hardware for an all-in-one video capture/bar-code scanning inspection system to satisfy FDA labeling regs while keeping false rejects low.

December 31, 1996

Tamper-evident machinery

Atrium earns an 'A' for bottle sealing

Induction sealing was so effective at three other plants that food supplement maker Atrium added a fourth machine at its new plant in Wautoma, WI. A fifth machine is expected shortly.

December 31, 1996

Flexible packaging

Retailers' influence strengthens over packaging

ECR, pre-built displays and J-I-T delivery are just three reasons why many retailers are now calling the shots on both primary and secondary packaging. Three of the largest manufacturers help converters understand how they respond.

December 31, 1996

Conveying & accumulation

Six-pack bundles get a handle on water market

In its new bottling line, McKesson Water tries a six-pack concept common in Europe but still new to the U.S. Shrink wrapping and tray-packing also shine.

December 31, 1996

Conveying & accumulation

Multipacks double the ante for bottles

A European brewer is first to offer two-layer multipacks for glass bottles. The tall 24- and 30-packs present more graphic billboard area and permit easier handling for consumers.

December 31, 1996

Sustainability

Thinking small pays off big

High-accuracy monobloc filler/dropper tip inserter/capper at CP Packaging handles thin, softwall bottles and lightweight tips at 60/min for 3-mL containers of diagnostic reagents.

December 31, 1996

Controls & Machine Components

Packaging controller for PLCs

Advanced Micro Controls (Terryville, CT) has introduced a packaging controller for Allen-Bradley (Milwaukee, WI) SLC 500 programmable logic controllers.

December 31, 1996

Controls & Machine Components

Options for heat sealer

Alloyd (DeKalb, IL) has introduced three options for its Model 2SM1216 and 2SM1428 Two-Station Medical Shuttle Heat Seal Machine with Level Three Data Acquisition.

December 31, 1996

Controls & Machine Components

Mini aluminum cans

Advanced Monobloc's (Chappaqua, NY) line of miniature aluminum cans is suited for trial- or travel-size products. They are impact extruded to provide a seamless can.

December 31, 1996

Sustainability

Plastic beer bottle could be big

Australian brewing giant Carlton United Breweries has high hopes for a barrier beer bottle made of plastic. In the meantime, it's launched a monolayer PET bottle that's causing quite a stir.

December 31, 1996