Conveying & accumulation

Ocean Spray's vision improves inspection

Juice maker automates vision system for detecting fill heights and cap application on PET bottles containing hot-filled juices. Productivity rises, labor costs decline, resulting in payback in less than one year.

August 31, 1996

Filling, Capping & Closing: Page 71

Conveying & accumulation

High-assurance capping, sealing & bottle counting

In addition to flexible changeover, Glaxo Wellcome's clinical trial packaging line makes a high priority of quality-assured packaging. Its capper, sealer and bottle packer/counter are designed to maximize accuracy while minimizing errors.

August 31, 1996

Filling/capping, dry

Glaxo Wellcome counts its savings

An electronic tablet counter/filler for clinical trial drugs provides 15-min changeover, regardless of tablet size or shape.

August 31, 1996

Conveying & accumulation

Sugar producer sweetens bundling methods

When Savannah Foods switched from a paper bundler to a shrink film bundler for 4- and 5-lb retail bags, downtime was reduced sharply. Costs are down, too.

August 31, 1996

Flexible packaging

New equipment revitalizes Amway packaging line

Filling speeds more than doubled and still continue to improve as Amway moves into full production with its new liquid filling line for men's and women's cosmetics.

July 31, 1996

Flexible packaging

Auger filler

The Servo 3000 auger filler from Spee-Dee Packaging Machinery (Sturtevant, WI) uses a patent-pending "sliding key" auger adapter shaft to remove auger screws for changeovers without tools.

June 30, 1996

Closures

Dispensing closure

Rexam Closures (Evansville, IN) has introduced the CC-6, a one-piece PP dispensing closure suited for food products, such as salad dressings and catsup, as well as for household cleaners.

June 30, 1996

Filling/capping, dry

Auger filler

The All-Fill (Exton, PA) Model SV-400 auger filler provides accurate, repeatable filling of powders, granulates and liquids. It uses The Cerebus III control system, a brushless, direct-drive servo motor with motion control electronics to control the auger for precise filling.

June 30, 1996

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

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

Flexible packaging

Preventive medicine for pharmaceutical producer

CPSC regulations caused pharmaceutical manufacturer Chattem, Inc., to update packaging for its menstrual pain relief products. Line changes included a rebuild-instead of a purchase-of a cartoner to help expedite the switch.

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

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

Vertical f/f/s machine for food and nonfood applications

The Butler(TM) 3 is a new vertical form/fill/seal machine from UVA-Butler (Richmond, VA) suited for frozen foods, cereal, pasta, pet food, powders and granulates.

May 31, 1996