Machinery: Page 913

Controls & Machine Components

Packaging trails the networked future

An astonishing 71% of respondents to an exclusive PW survey report that few or none of their packaging lines are networked. Packagers identify top reasons for wanting packaging-line networks and the major obstacles that hold them back.

August 31, 2001

Controls & Machine Components

Blue Diamond networks coders

Networking multiple coders to a host PC saves time and provides flexibility for nut cooperative Blue Diamond Growers.

August 31, 2001

Conveying & accumulation

Machine builders weigh in on safety issues

What are packaging machinery manufacturers’ plans for keeping their equipment operating safely and ergonomically? Exclusive Packworld.com survey reveals which safety devices are most popular.

August 31, 2001

Flexible packaging

Packaging technologies blossom at seed company

Filling of plant seeds into cans and pouches sold to commercial growers took a big step forward when Seminis built a new plant. Front-and-back labeling systems are standouts.

August 31, 2001

Bag/pouch fill/seal (pre-made bags)

Printer/bagger lets Statcorp pack 'stat'

Maker of blood-pressure cuffs adds an imprinting bagger to cut labor and label costs, while productivity soars.

August 31, 2001

Secondary Packaging

Furman polishes up brightstock packing (sidebar)

Faster changeovers

August 31, 2001

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Food allergens nothing to sneeze at

FDA is looking more closely at food labels and processing/packaging materials to determine whether incidental additives must be declared.

August 31, 2001

Conveying & accumulation

Furman polishes up brightstock packing

Furman Foods increases output with a new depalletizer, tray packer, tray stacker, film wrapper, and shrink tunnel. Conveyors assist flow control to keep things running smoothly. See in-plant video

August 31, 2001

Controls & Machine Components

OMAC releases position papers, solicits feedback

After 15 months of studying how best to remedy the complexity that results from proliferation of packaging machine controls, the OMAC Motion for Packaging Initiative working group has issued a series of position papers documenting its recommendations. See them at http://omac.packworld.com.

August 31, 2001

Controls & Machine Components

Vaccon Company, Inc: Silencers

Vaccon (Medfield, MA) offers a line of silencers that can be used on all pneumatic devices and in any facility operating equipment that uses compressed air.

July 31, 2001

Controls & Machine Components

Rockwell Automation: Rockwell Automation: Glossary of motor terms

Rockwell Automation (Milwaukee, WI) has compiled a glossary of motor terminology. Definitions of axial thrust, capacitor, and 216 other terms provide a refresher for experienced motor users and a primer for beginners.

July 31, 2001

Controls & Machine Components

Roberts PolyPro: Roberts PolyPro: Spray bottle carrier

Roberts PolyPro (Charlotte, NC) introduces the PolyLift spray bottle carriers, available in narrow-center and wide-center versions. Bottle carrier is available in any Pantone color to match color graphics and has ample space for UPC codes/stickers.

July 31, 2001