Flexible packaging

Thermal-transfer goes four-color process

Scimed Life Systems uses up its $250ꯠ preprinted label stock inventory in favor of on-demand high-quality four-color process thermal-transfer printing. Label stock changeover drops from 20 per shift to just over one.

June 30, 1996

Rigid: Page 310

Containers

Supplier news: Relocations, expansions

Victor Tube (Pittsburgh, PA) will expand its Harrisonburg, VA, facility.

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

Containers

Men's products get masculine look

Sleek aluminum tubes give the Zirh Skin Nutrition line for men an eye-grabbing point of differentiation. The line was launched last March and is available nationwide at retail outlets and mass merchandisers.

June 30, 1996

Closures

Composite canister cuts costs

When a metal can supplier phased out the can sizes used by Beer Nuts, Inc. for its namesake snack, the Bloomington, IL-based snack company turned to composite canisters from Sonoco Products (Hartsville, SC).

June 30, 1996

Containers

Plastic drums for citrus

The N55 is the first nestable plastic drum designed for use in the transport of citrus juices, says manufacturer U.S. Coexcell (Maumee, OH). This 55-gal HDPE drum is conically shaped and has a fully removable plastic cover and metal lockband.

May 31, 1996

Conveying & accumulation

Motorized conveyor pulley

The Sparks/Dura-Drive(TM) 4.5" dia motorized pulley provides a 62% increase in radial load weight for belt conveyor systems, says manufacturer Sparks Belting (Grand Rapids, MI).

May 31, 1996

Controls & Machine Components

LDPE drum liner

ValuLiner® VLN from New England Plastics (Woburn, MA) is a 15-mil, smooth-sided, 55-gal LDPE drum liner that folds flat and nests for easy storage, but shakes open to install inside drums without pushing or tugging.

May 31, 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

Closures

Dispensing closure

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

May 31, 1996

Sustainability

Two-piece D&I cans for aerosols

Beverage packers have enjoyed the benefits of lightweight D&I two-piece cans for years. This company is out to prove that aerosol cans can be similarly fashioned.

May 31, 1996

Conveying & accumulation

Unloader, orienter speed Seagram's glass flask line

Automated uncasing speeds output and reduces costs for 375-mL glass flasks. Quick-change bottle orienter aligns bottles for downstream functions.

May 31, 1996

Conveying & accumulation

Blue Diamond shines with new case handling system

From case setup to case taping, corrugated cases are automatically guided through a "smart" handling system, part of which is hoisted out of the way when 1겨-lb totes are running.

May 31, 1996