Controls & Machine Components

Q&A: Reducing controls headaches

We recently interviewed Bob Martell, an automation engineer based in Pharmacia Corp.’s main Kalamazoo, MI, facility, to find out how Plug-and-Pack™ guidelines from the OMAC (Open Modular Architecture Controls) Packaging Workgroup are saving Pharmacia and its machinery suppliers time and money.

February 28, 2003

Leaders (UNIVERSAL TAXONOMY PW): Page 1562

Controls & Machine Components

A servo-driven partnership

A donation of servo technology to a technical college yields students with motion control experience that the packaging field so desperately seeks.

February 28, 2003

Controls & Machine Components

Temperature controller improves heat seals

A total of 12 temperature zones are consistently maintained to within ± 5°F thanks to a microprocessor-controlled module fully integrated into a DeviceNet fieldbus.

February 28, 2003

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Corn-based resin makes North American debut

Wilkinson Manufacturing Co. is the first North American converter to thermoform containers from corn-based polylactide polymer, or PLA. The converter welcomes the material’s sustainable, renewable characteristics, and its consumer-friendly properties.

February 28, 2003

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Packaging 'ahoy'

Congressional mandates on ocean shipping security are expected to stimulate packaging and container technology.

February 28, 2003

Filling/capping, liquid & viscous

Filling and closing machine

The Contiline linear, continuous-motion liquid filling and closing monobloc style machine from the Kugler Div. of Optima Packaging (Green Bay, WI) has 6 rotary piston pumps and a centrifugal sorting device that conveys the containers to the capping area.

February 28, 2003

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Second generation tottles

Weber Intl. Packaging Co. (Plattsburgh, NY) introduces a line of tottles called Silhouette. Second-generation line of tottles brings a softer cosmetic image, company says.

February 28, 2003

Secondary Packaging

Automated stretch wrapper

The new WLPA-200 automated stretch wrapper from Wulftec (Ayer’s Cliff, Quebec, Canada) is a fully-automated turntable stretch wrapper that has a pneumatically activated “cut and wipe” system that eliminates the need to attach and cut film.

February 28, 2003

Controls & Machine Components

No more changeover (sidebar)

Software and servos make it possible

February 28, 2003

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

ARC issues pharma report

Just in time for the Interphex show, ARC Advisory Group has released a new Insight report analyzing the business drivers for Gen3 packaging automation in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

February 28, 2003

Flexible packaging

FPA honors innovation

Hershey’s pudding packs and technology for self-venting trayed entrees, first commercialized by Smithfield Packing, earn Highest Achievement honors from The Flexible Packaging Assn.’s 2003 Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards competition.

February 28, 2003

Conveying & accumulation

Arrowhead reorganizes

Arrowhead Systems LLC (Randolph, WI) has successfully completed its financial reorganization and has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in a positive fiscal position, with strong expectations for significant future growth, according to the company.

February 28, 2003

Controls & Machine Components

Bosch Rexroth Corp., Electric Drives and Controls: Bosch Rexroth Corp., Electric Drives and Controls: Bosch Rexroth Corp., Electric Drives and Controls: Bosch Rexroth Corp., Electric Drives and Controls: Ball rail system

The Generation 2 Ball Rail® System from Bosch Rexroth (Hoffman Estates, IL) has a new runner block that can help machine bu
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January 31, 2003