Feeding/inserting/unscrambling

Bulk bag unloading

K-Tron America (Pittman, NJ) has integrated K2-Modular volumetric feeders with bulk bag unloaders to provide controlled material discharge. Three twin-screw and two single-screw feeder models are available with feed rates ranging from 0.002 cu' to 560 cu'/hr.

December 31, 1996

Materials: Page 812

Conveying & accumulation

Manual dumping station

Flexicon (Phillipsburg, NJ) has developed a Manual Dumping Station configured for direct connection to flexible screw conveyors. It collects dust created during manual dumping of powder and bulk solid materials from bags, boxes, drums and other containers.

December 31, 1996

Converting equipment

CR mouthwash packaging

Rexam (Evansville, IN) has introduced CR packaging for mouthwash. It consists of injection stretch/ blow-molded PET and PP CR jigger closures. The 8- and 16-oz sizes are available with a 28-mm finish.

December 31, 1996

Containers

Proximity sensors

A new ultrasonic series of 18-mm, cylindrical proximity sensors is now available from Hyde Park Electronics (Dayton, OH). Applications for the Model SM600/SM650 include cap presence and/or tilt detection, fill-level check, nonmetallic container counting, fill-tube presence monitoring, downed container detection and case inspection.

December 31, 1996

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

Closures

Study confirms bottles affect wine buying

A recent study on American wine purchasing shows that glass wine bottles play a key role in determining which wine is purchased. Marketers considering dropping glass in favor of some other packaging material would do well to analyze the study-perhaps even duplicate it in their own product categories-before making a move.

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

Closures

HDPE oval

Caliber Packaging (Cerritos, CA) has introduced the Niagara, a HDPE oval bottle with a wide panel for decoration. Available in standard 24/410 or 24/415 finishes to accommodate most closures, pumps and sprayers.

December 31, 1996

Closures

Injectable ampule seal

American Label (E. Hanover, NJ) has introduced a patented p-s TE seal specifically designed for application on the cap of an injectable ampule. The S"ate Closure(TM) replaces conventional seals, often made of metal, which can cause torn gloves and cut fingers.

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