Conveying & accumulation

Anti-stat conveyor for f/f/s

Easy-to-operate vertical form/ fill/seal machines from KEY-PAK Machines (Lebanon, NJ) have anti-static exit conveyors to permit the passage and safe grounding of static electrical charges created by sliding surfaces in the packaging of foods and beverages in metallized plastic film.

June 30, 1996

Containers: Page 259

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

Coffee packer finds Virtues in thin film

By downgauging the film by half for foodservice coffee packs, Virtues of Coffee reduces material, energy consumption and labor costs. Structure improves machinability and even puncture-resistance, while maintaining shelf life.

June 30, 1996

Coding, Printing & Labeling

NutraSweet drum labeler keeps on ticking

Pity the printer/applicator that must withstand NutraSweet Kelco's Augusta, GA, aspartame plant. The artificial sweetener used in diet soft drinks is a granular substance that creates a harsh, dusty environment that's brutal on packaging equipment.

June 30, 1996

Labels

Gatorade shrink label satisfies the need for speed

Roll-fed labeler combines adhesive and shrink application to provide the look of a shrink label, the tamper-evidence of a neck band, and the speed of a wraparound.

June 30, 1996

Sustainability

Bottles fuel use of recycled resin

Chevron incorporates recycled-content resin in its bottles for fuel additives, taking a proactive approach to potential legislative container requirements.

June 30, 1996

Flexible packaging

Thermal-transfer goes four-color process

Scimed Life Systems uses up its $250ꯠ preprinted label stock inventory in favor of on-demand high-quality four-color process thermal-transfer printing. Label stock changeover drops from 20 per shift to just over one.

June 30, 1996

Containers

Supplier news: Relocations, expansions

Victor Tube (Pittsburgh, PA) will expand its Harrisonburg, VA, facility.

June 30, 1996

Converting equipment

Shaping technology injects market excitement in metal cans

Until a couple of years ago, American packagers using cans seemed satisfied with the straight sidewall profile and functionality of most metal cans. The cans were strong, easy to fill and seam, and offered a number of labeling, case packing and stacking options.

June 30, 1996

Containers

Men's products get masculine look

Sleek aluminum tubes give the Zirh Skin Nutrition line for men an eye-grabbing point of differentiation. The line was launched last March and is available nationwide at retail outlets and mass merchandisers.

June 30, 1996

Closures

Composite canister cuts costs

When a metal can supplier phased out the can sizes used by Beer Nuts, Inc. for its namesake snack, the Bloomington, IL-based snack company turned to composite canisters from Sonoco Products (Hartsville, SC).

June 30, 1996

Containers

Plastic drums for citrus

The N55 is the first nestable plastic drum designed for use in the transport of citrus juices, says manufacturer U.S. Coexcell (Maumee, OH). This 55-gal HDPE drum is conically shaped and has a fully removable plastic cover and metal lockband.

May 31, 1996

Conveying & accumulation

Motorized conveyor pulley

The Sparks/Dura-Drive(TM) 4.5" dia motorized pulley provides a 62% increase in radial load weight for belt conveyor systems, says manufacturer Sparks Belting (Grand Rapids, MI).

May 31, 1996

Controls & Machine Components

LDPE drum liner

ValuLiner® VLN from New England Plastics (Woburn, MA) is a 15-mil, smooth-sided, 55-gal LDPE drum liner that folds flat and nests for easy storage, but shakes open to install inside drums without pushing or tugging.

May 31, 1996