Trends: Page 683

Controls & Machine Components

Barco: Packaging system software

Barco (Vandalia, OH) has created a series of software programs that can create a structural design from standards using a familiar Web browser, search databases, download graphics and CAD data from Web servers.

July 31, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

Roberts PolyPro: POP display strips

Six to 12 pieces of merchandise can be hung from POP Strips from Roberts PolyPro (Charlotte, NC). These PE point-of-purchase strips are available in a variety of widths, lengths and colors.

July 31, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

Automated Packaging Systems: Bags dissipate static

Automated Packaging Systems (Streetsboro, OH), has introduced its line of static dissipative, PE Autobags®. They’re designed for environments requiring packaging materials that don’t charge when separated and don’t contribute to charging the objects that come into contact with them.

July 31, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

Elf Machinery: Start/stop pump filler

ELF’s (LaPorte, IN) variable-speed start/stop pump filler uses 4 to 20 filling heads to fill up to 120 containers/ min with low- or high-viscosity liquids.

July 31, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

FleetwoodGoldcoWyard, A Division of Barry-Wehmiller Companies, Inc: Zero-pressure combiner

The ZPC combiner from Fleetwood (Romeoville, IL) aligns bottles in a single file and uses 4 photo eyes—1 to monitor infeed, 1 to monitor discharge and 2 to monitor gaps between bottles—to ensure a constant feed rate.

July 31, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

E-commerce brochure

Rapistan (Grand Rapids, MI) offers a brochure that describes order fulfillment and distribution system capabilities for e-commerce, catalog and customer-direct operations.

July 31, 2000

Contract Packaging

PW tours Japan

Executive editor Pat Reynolds recently took advantage of a unique opportunity to tour three packaging operations in Japan. Included on the itinerary: Sapporo Breweries, Ltd., Daiwa Can and Kose.

July 31, 2000

Contract Packaging

Retailers need to play role in defeating counterfeits

The marketing and sale of counterfeit products hurts every member of the supply chain—except the counterfeiter.

July 31, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

PLC catalog

GE Fanuc (Charlottesville, VA) has released a color catalog describing its new line of VersaMax™ Nano and Micro programmable logic controllers. Devices combine PLC and I/O into 1 unit that can fit in 1 hand.

July 31, 2000

Conveying & accumulation

Engineered Food Systems, Inc: Vibrating conveyor

Vibration frequency and stroke are predetermined for any customized Merlin Electroflex vibratory conveyor from EFS (Lake Oswego, OR). Any frequency between 500 and 3600 products/min can be selected.

July 31, 2000

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

Flex America Inc: Flex America Inc: Vf/f/s labeler

EPI Labelers (New Freedom, PA) has introduced a Flex-Pac Labeler™ that integrates to Ishida APEX vf/f/s bagmakers. Applies single-ply or multi-ply, coupon stock or reclosable labels as the bags are being filled.

July 31, 2000

Controls & Machine Components

ARCA Systems: Heavy-duty containers

Arca Systems (Tacoma, WA) has expanded its product line to include HDPE constructed Xytec® Gemini smooth-wall and Xytec® SC containers. Xytec Gemini features a base design that provides an 80% reduction in surface area and is suitable for applications such as meat and food.

July 31, 2000