Controls & Machine Components

Compumotor: Small servo drives

Compumotor (Rohnert Park, CA) has launched a series of small, high-performance brushless servo drives. The new SLVD (small, low-voltage, digital) drives measure just 5.56”x3.39” with a depth of 5.49”, and the family includes models that can deliver shaft powers to 620W.

February 28, 2003

Leaders (UNIVERSAL TAXONOMY PW): Page 1596

Controls & Machine Components

Beckhoff Automation: Industrial PC

The CX1000 Automation Control from Beckhoff USA (Minneapolis, MN) is a modular, DIN rail-mounted industrial PC with power and economy. Combines Microsoft® embedded operating systems (Windows CE.NET and Windows XP), and Beckhoff’s TwinCAT®CE PLC and motion control software in a low-cost, rugged hardware platform suitable for use in a wide range of machine tool and industrial control applications, handling up to 6 axes with the PLC program.

February 28, 2003

Controls & Machine Components

Delta Tau Data Systems, Inc: Cost-effective motion control

New PMAC2A-PC/104 small-format motion controller from Delta Tau (Chatsworth, CA) delivers motion control for mid- to high-volume, multi-axis motion control applications.

February 28, 2003

Flexibles

Flexible packaging tube/pouch

Softube from Switzerland’s Obrinova AG Packaging, a subsidiary of H. Obrist, is available from Construct Packaging Associates (Manchester, MO).

February 28, 2003

Coding, Printing & Labeling

RFID is hot!

In late January in Miami, the topic of Intelligent & Smart Packaging was as hot as the conference location. The Pira Intl. (www.piranet.com) and IDTechEx (www.idtechex.com) Conference and Tradeshow was dominated by electronic product coding, or ePC.

February 28, 2003

Controls & Machine Components

SURVEY IDENTIFIES TOP MACHINE ATTRIBUTES

A recent survey of PMMI member companies identified quick-changeover capabilities, flexibility, and fast speeds as the top three machine attributes most often requested by companies purchasing new packaging equipment.

February 28, 2003

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Pickle tub packs foodservice benefits

A shelf-stable, high-density polyethylene container of sliced pickles from Dean Foods, Franklin Park, IL, ensures that Oakbrook, IL-based McDonald’s operators and its customers are well served.

February 28, 2003

Flexibles

Candy and coffee team up

If Seattle-based Starbucks is synonymous with fine coffee, Brown & Haley, Tacoma, WA, has a similar cachet with its Almond Roca candy. Beginning this year, the two organizations are teaming up as B&H produces Mocha Roca Coffee Buttercrunch in distinctive packaging for exclusive sale at Starbucks outlets.

February 28, 2003

Converting equipment

CLEMSON PLANS CONVERTING TRAINING

This spring, Clemson University expects to install at its Printing and Converting Research Center a Martin 1628 DRO three-color-flexo rotary die-cutter.

February 28, 2003

Flexibles

Thermoforming proves swell for Jo-El

“Hardware manufacturers were not known for offering consumer-friendly packaging in the past,” admits Benny Vestergaard, logistics manager of Jo-El Electric A/S, Odense, Denmark.

February 28, 2003

Flexibles

POUCH SALES CONTINUE TO CLIMB

Demand for pouches in the United States is projected to climb nearly 7% per year through 2006 to sales of $4.6 billion, representing 79 billion units.

February 28, 2003

Flexibles

PLASTIC AND PAPER MARKET TRENDS

In its new study Paper versus Plastics in Packaging, Cleveland-based Freedonia Group reports that total demand for paper and plastic in competitive packaging markets is projected to increase 1.6% annually to 21 billion lb in 2006.

February 28, 2003

Flexible packaging

FPA study picks consumers' brains

Qualitative, focus-group research conducted recently by Perception Research Services on behalf of the Flexible Packaging Assn. (Linthicum, MD) arrived at six key conclusions:

February 28, 2003