Converting equipment

Combining x-ray technology and machine vision

Inspection equipment manufacturer combines x-ray technology and machine vision into one system.

December 31, 2003

Leaders (UNIVERSAL TAXONOMY PW): Page 1552

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

Bagger's better control is set into motion

Kliklok-Woodman improves the reliability and speed of its Cyclone vertical form/fill/seal machine with new motion control.

December 31, 2003

Containers

Filling three times faster

New vf/f/s machines operate at three times the speed of the outdated equipment they replace, reducing downtime and labor costs for snack maker Poore Brothers.

December 31, 2003

Sustainable Packaging

Pipeline: Same plan, different cultures?

I always enjoy reading reports from the Australian Institute of Packaging meetings, prepared by Michael Halley. Among other topics, these reports help me keep up to date on the kinds of packaging issues faced there.

December 31, 2003

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Cool pack for a hot product

Ultra Blue’s new handheld propane torch uses a patented container and valve to safely deliver the gas to do-it-yourselfers.

December 31, 2003

Tamper-evident machinery

Packaging pirates avast

FDA is strongly encouraging drug manufacturers to confront counterfeiters, and to bring new technology to the agency’s attention.

December 31, 2003

Containers

Cosmetic and toiletry demand to expand

According to a new study called Cosmetic & Toiletry Containers, U.S. demand for cosmetic and toiletry containers is projected to expand 2.6% annually to 23 billion units in 2007.

December 31, 2003

Controls & Machine Components

PDC International Corp.: Productivity data tracker

Watchman™ Productivity Data Tracker helps maintain, optimize, and improve all manufacturing operations. Mounts on any type of equipment or machinery.

November 30, 2003

Controls & Machine Components

lpha gear drives, Inc: Programmable actuators

alpha gear drives expands its Ternary® programmable actuators to include Profibus and DeviceNet versions of the standard 46-mm frame size, plus a more compact 32-mm frame size.

November 30, 2003

Filling/capping, liquid & viscous

Edna Valley Vineyard: Accumulation table for wine bottling line

Edna Valley Vineyard’s first-of-its-kind accumulation table from Garvey packs a lot of benefits in a small space. Positioned between a capsule applicator and capsule spinner, the 5’x6’ oval table boosts bottling efficiency by 20%. It provides five minutes’ accumulation at rates of 120 bottles/min.

November 30, 2003

Closures

Krones introduces first capper with integral servo motor/drives

At the recent BRAU Beviale show in Nürnberg, Germany, beverage processing powerhouse Krones displayed the world’s first packaging machine to employ new integral servo motor/drive technology from ELAU.

November 30, 2003

Feeding/inserting/unscrambling

Inserter

Exact Packaging introduces its 3-dimensional inserter for toys, sauces, and other promotional pieces. Inserter uses a continuous bandolier format to handle 200 pieces/min.

November 30, 2003

Secondary Packaging

How to sell a packaging machine to Unilever (or any other large CPG company)

How can a packaging machine builder sell to Unilever Home and Personal Care North America when the consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturer is making its short list of preferred suppliers even shorter?

November 30, 2003