Trends: Page 675

Controls & Machine Components

Kiwi Coders Corp.: Ink guide

Kiwi Coders (Wheeling, IL) has developed a 1-page Specialty Ink Application Guide that contains a chart including surface characteristics, substrates, ink bases and drying times.

October 31, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

Electronic Catalog

Baldor (Fort Smith, AR) has released Version 6.0 of its interactive electronic catalog on CD-ROM. Users can access technical information on 5귔 of its motors and drives.

October 31, 2000

Secondary Packaging

Cartoner favors operator training

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO: Small-footprint, servo-driven Stealth cartoner from MGS Machine (Maple Grove, MN) features a Windows NT HMI touchscreen with online manuals and self-diagnostics for operator training.

October 31, 2000

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Internet-enabled print engines

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO: Thermal-transfer label printers Internet-enabled for remote print management were on display at the booth of Zebra Technologies.

October 31, 2000

Contract Packaging

Sonoco adds POP contract packaging

REPORTING FROM PACK EXPO: The Packaging Services (SPS) division of Sonoco (Hartsville, SC) now offers contract packaging services of the point-of-purchase displays that it manufactures.

October 31, 2000

Conveying & accumulation

Sparks Belting Co.: Sparks Belting Co.: Conveyor pulleys

A new technical manual from Sparks Belting (Grand Rapids, MI) describes the company’s Dura-Drive™ line of motorized conveyor pulleys and shows how to incorporate the compact drives into existing and new belt conveyor systems.

October 31, 2000

Secondary Packaging

Low-level palletizer

The KES 2190 low-level palletizer from Kaufman (Waterville, OH) uses an encoder to track the position of the carriage lift. This information is communicated to the motor controller and then to the system’s PLC, which uses the information to maintain consistent layer positioning.

October 31, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

Pilz International: Machinery safety guide

Pilz (Farmington Hills, MI) has introduced the 6th edition of its Guide to Machinery Safety. Details information on machinery regulations and standards for the U.S.

October 31, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

Rapistan Systems: Customer service brochure

Rapistan Systems (Grand Rapids, MI) offers an updated, 12-page brochure including information on customer service. Covered are replacement and component parts, modernization and enhancements, a variety of maintenance contacts, 24-hour service support, technical documentation, system audit services, repairs and training capabilities.

October 31, 2000

Converting equipment

Relocations, expansions

The Kennedy Group (Willoughby, OH) has moved into a new 80ꯠ sq’ facility, located on a 26-acre campus at 38601 Kennedy Parkway, Willoughby, OH 44094; phone: 440/951-7660, fax: 440/951-3253.

October 31, 2000

Conveying & accumulation

Suppliers recognize packagers' training needs

In describing their own programs, suppliers acknowledge shortcomings and reflect the criticisms made by their customers. Time allocated for training remains the most pressing need, they agree.

October 31, 2000

Conveying & accumulation

Dueling technologies spell success

At Japan’s Daiwa Can, one aseptic PET line uses in-line mold/blow/fill. Right beside it, another line blows bottles and sterilizes them in a second operation just before filling.

October 31, 2000