Filling/capping, liquid & viscous

Debating the future of packaging machine control

PC vs PLC -- Six packaging machinery builders debate the pros and cons of controlling packaging machinery with either computers or programmable logic controllers.

August 31, 1999

Multipacking: Page 36

Secondary Packaging

Self-saturating swab means no-mess prep

A nurse using an iodine swab to prep a patient for surgery or IV insertion can do so quickly and cleanly with the self-saturating Betadine® PrepStick(TM) applicator from The Purdue Frederick Co., Norwalk, CT.

August 31, 1999

Conveying & accumulation

Pre-made bags bring consistency

For a more consistent look for its line of frozen Mexican foods, Ruiz Food Products of Dinuba, CA, is using the Promobag(TM) from Robbie Mfg. (Lenexa, KS).

August 31, 1999

Conveying & accumulation

Aseptic PET is Henniez's cup of tea

A leader in the bottled water business in Switzerland, Henniez is making a bold move into in-line blowing and aseptic filling of plastic bottles for iced teas.

July 31, 1999

Secondary Packaging

Nothing's fishy about trout tags

Time/temperature monitoring tags placed in refrigerated shipments of smoked fish let Top of the Mountain Trout's restaurant customers know how long the trout will remain fresh.

July 31, 1999

Conveying & accumulation

Filling PET aseptically at 200/min

With a prototype system in one plant and generation two in another, this Italian food company likes what it sees in rotary, aseptic filling of teas and sports drinks in PET.

July 31, 1999

Conveying & accumulation

Shrink-wrapped protection for white goods

When a British manufacturer of freezers and refrigerators entered a more upscale segment of the market, shrink film was the packaging material of choice.

June 30, 1999

Secondary Packaging

Hormel expanding MAP-packed pork

Hormel Foods, Austin, MN, believes it now has a long-shelf-life package system that delivers prepackaged pork cuts through a supermarket chain's warehouse.

May 31, 1999

Conveying & accumulation

Robotic tray loaders speed cookie loading

A state-of-the-art line at Voortman Cookies in Canada uses 10 vision-guided robots to simultaneously pack cookies into five trays at 1걄 cookies/min. Saves C$450ꯠ/yr in labor costs and provides 10-minute tool-less changeover.

April 30, 1999

Blisters/clamshells/skin packaging

Convenience Food Systems: Convenience Food Systems: Versatile food packager

The Tiromat Powerpak from Convenience Food Systems (Avon, MA) makes standard flexible vacuum packages, rigid conventional gas-flushed packages and skin packs.

April 30, 1999

Secondary Packaging

Multipacker makes the grade at Buffalo Rock

The country's largest family-owned Pepsi bottler, Buffalo Rock Bottling Co. of Birmingham, AL, recently installed a new multipacker selected for its high-speed and quick-changeover capabilities.

March 31, 1999

Secondary Packaging

Kisters Kayat, Inc: Layer multipacker

Kisters (Erlanger, KY) will present its layer pattern packing system called PackRouter. Capable of arranging multipacks in layers, the system is said to eliminate the need for additional transit packing.

March 31, 1999

Conveying & accumulation

Shrink bags add spice to enchilada packaging

Enchilada maker Bueno Foods uses a shrink-bag over a tray to pack and merchandise frozen enchiladas. Customers like the microwavability, Bueno likes the ease of use and strong graphics.

February 28, 1999