Operational Excellence

E-commerce packaging pitfalls & opportunities

Two studies look at those aspects of e-commerce retail packaging—product fit, package quality, and incidence of damage—that shape a consumer’s experience with the brand.

December 4, 2014

Machinery: Page 391

Secondary Packaging

Take the stress out of machine maintenance, cleaning

This freshly designed bottom loading vertical case packer from Schneider Packaging Equipment features an open structure, plus a 30 percent reduction in part count from previous models.

December 3, 2014

Contract Packaging

Octapharma adds track-and-trace serialization aggregation

Developer, producer, and seller of human proteins requires a flexible and validated system for marking, identifying, and tracking its products.

December 3, 2014

Controls & Machine Components

Clippard: Needle valves

Clippard’s GNV Series needle valves provide bidirectional flow control, feature a rugged and compact design, are available with multiple mounting options, port sizes, flow rates, and adjustment styles, include 360˚ rotating ports, and are suitable for use with push-quick fittings.

December 2, 2014

Filling/capping, liquid & viscous

Hovione, MG2 partner to develop inhalation drugs

FlexiLAB capsule filler delivers 100% low dosages and extreme precision in-process net weight control for specialty inhalation drug production.

December 1, 2014

Controls & Machine Components

Connect disparate systems, increase productivity

Discover how the ProducTVity Station Plant Floor Communications Solution from Red Lion boosts productivity by connecting, monitoring and controlling a range of disparate processes and systems.

December 1, 2014

Controls & Machine Components

Bimba Mfg.: Expanded line of switches

Bimba Manufacturing introduces a completely new Solid-State switch series to its family of switch products.

November 24, 2014

Controls & Machine Components

Cloud to Glass: software enables machine data gathering and control

Beckhoff's TwinCAT software now enables a machine to communicate from its PLC control to an Amazon Cloud server, back down to a Google Glass "wearable" HMI that operators can use to control the machine, receive operational notifications, and gather data.

November 20, 2014

Coding, Printing & Labeling

TRIPACK shrink sleeve systems

A family owned, U.S. manufacturer of shrink sleeve application systems including applicators, steam tunnels, convection heat tunnels, and custom engineered product handling systems. Shrink Labeling – Shrink Sleeve Multi Packs – Tamper Evident Banding.

November 20, 2014

Controls & Machine Components

Portescap: Brushless slotless motor

Portescap introduces the newest addition to its Ultra EC™ mini motor platform - the 16 ECH brushless motor, designed specifically to provide an economic motor solution for high performance applications.

November 20, 2014

Flow wrapping

Sanitary design flow wrapper has washdown capability

Cavanna's Zero4 Wash Down sanitary design flow wrapper is ideal for meat and dairy packaging, as well as sticky foods. Unit has a removable cutting head that, once removed, readies the machine for washdown.

November 20, 2014

Cartoning

Healthy rewards for Big Heart Pet Brands

Customized carton closing equipment for a package whose shape and graphics make it look like a toothpaste carton was a key to this year’s PMMI Packaging Line of the Year.

November 19, 2014

Secondary Packaging

Automated palletizer with concurrent stretch wrap

TopTier's Downstacker is a fully automated automatic palletizer with concurrent stretch wrapping, and this must-see video will show you up-close how it works, from case-turning rollers to forming rows, stacking patterns and wrapping pallets with extreme efficiency.

November 18, 2014