Nested bundle
Polypack Inc. introduced the Nested Bundle, a shrinkwrap package that eliminates the need for trays and pads between round cans and bottles, the company says. With the nested bundle, the product quantity can increase, allowing additional product in the same amount of shelf space. — Polypack Inc., 3301 Gateway Centre Blvd., Pinellas, Fla. 33782; 727/578-5000; polypack.com.
Zero downtime labeling
Label-Aire Inc. introduced the Inline Series 6000 Front/Back Zero Downtime Labeling System. It is the company’s newest version and comes equipped with four rugged 3115 wipe-on applicators in a Zero Downtime configuration. If a low-label condition comes up, the secondary pair of front/back label applicators continues to apply labels. Label changes can be done during continuous run, the company says. — Label-Aire Inc., 550 Burning Tree Road, Fullerton, Calif. 92833; 714/441-0700; label-aire.com.
Label printers
TallyGenicom launched three new label printers, ranging from desktop to mid-range printers. The hybrid thermal printers bridge the gap between mid-range and desktop and print all thermal label applications. The TallyGenicom 7005 prints 5 inches per second and is available in 2-inch and 4-inch models. The 7006 industrial hybrid thermal printer has a die-cast metal use interface and prints 6 inches per second. The 7008 industrial hybrid thermal printer has print speeds of 8 inches per second and also has large-roll capacity for high-volume applications. — TallyGenicom, 4500 Daly Drive, Ste. 100, Chantilly, Va. 20151; 800/436-4266l; tallygenicom.com.
Air conditioning service
Kenworth Truck Co. offers Kenworth PremierCare Express Air Conditioning Services at select dealers. The program provides preventative maintenance, ExpressLube and emergency roadside service. Proper maintenance of a truck’s air conditioning system can help prevent costly repairs and keep drivers comfortable and cool during the hot temperatures of summer, the company says. The services are available at participating Kenworth dealers and provide a range of services from basic inspection to a premium 27-point inspection. — Kenworth Truck Co., Box 1000, Kirkland, Wash. 98083; 425/828-5000; kenworth.com.
Conveyor solutions
FKI Logistex unveiled its Logistex Case Conveyor Solutions at CeMAT 2008. The conveyor solutions handle cases, totes and trays, and are comprised of modular products tailored for a range of markets, including beverage, food, pharmaceutical and retail. All the solutions share parts and controls. The product line includes nine Logistex conveyors such as the: RT200 Right-Angle Transfer, DV200 Diverter, MR200 Motorized Roller Conveyor, CP200 Chain & Pad Driver Roller Accumulation/Transportation and ZC200 Zone Control. — FKI Logistex, 9301 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, Mo. 63132; 877/935-4564; fkilogistex.com.
Stacking palletizer
A-B-C Packaging Machine Corp. introduced a compact palletizer that automatically accumulates and stacks plastic totes or returnable plastic containers to form interlocking pallet loads that are secure for shipping. The system has a tier alignment positioning mechanism that interlocks the totes with the previous layer, and after depositing the layer, the machine squares the pallet to ensure interlocked stacking. It also has a touchscreen control that offers a set-up function for daily, shift or batch runs, diagnostic status reporting and running production counts. — A-B-C Packaging Machine Corp., 811 Live Oak St., Tarpon Springs, Fla. 34689; 800/237-5975; abcpackaging.com.
Electric truck
Jungheinrich Lift Truck Corp. announced its more energy-efficient version of EKX 513-515 electric man-up turret trucks to the North American market. The EKX 513-515 is designed for narrow aisle work in dense storage warehouses and distribution centers. The battery was converted from DC power to AC, which is more efficient and gives the machine 13 hours of run time vs. 10 hours, the company says. The truck features an electrically adjustable operator’s console and can configure its mast in two or three stages for various lift heights. It offers five chassis with multiple axis widths. There are stabilizers built into the three-wheelers as well. — Jungheinrich Lift Truck Corp., 5601 Eastport Blvd., Richmond, Va. 23231; 804/737-7400; jungheinrich-us.com.
Conveyor technology
Conveyor technology Swisslog presented its ProMove conveyor technology at CeMAT 2008. ProMove, which stands for Professional Movement, features a modular design, tools for product design and layout configuration. It is operated by Swisslog-Accalon Box control system and software. It also allows remote monitoring on PDAs and error-finding correction. The conveyor elements are light, compact and stable, the company says. — Swisslog Logistics Inc., 161 Enterprise Drive, Newport News, Va. 23603; 757/820-3400; swisslog.com.
Tearing straps
Sweed Machinery introduced Model 200, a strap-annihilating technology. The granulator can rip through 0.75 inch plastic straps and reduce them to 3/16 inch chips. The Model 200 comes with a self-sharpening knife and a 0.75 horse-power motor that can handle five or six pieces of plastic strap per pass at a rate of more than 100 feet per minute. The machine weighs 55 pounds and is portable. It can be used on flat work surfaces, over conventional collection bins or configured for use with air evacuation systems. The company says this chopper is ideal for container and packaging operations needing a heavy-duty, compact and economical solution to process any amount of 0.625 inch and 0.75 inch scrap plastic strapping. — Sweed Machinery Inc., 653 2nd Ave., Gold Hill, Ore. 97525; 800/888-1352; sweed.com.
High-performance sealer
Marq Packaging Systems Inc. released its High-Performance Adjustable Top and Bottom Sealer that uses hot-melt glue to seal cases. It provides 7 feet of compression and has the controls on a slim pedestal rather than directly attached to the machine. The sealer has five photo-eyes to help increase accuracy, and the PLC to control the machine will be installed on-site by the customer. Other features include a stack beacon with color preference, electrical and pneumatic lockout capabilities, an alphanumeric character program for PLC input and output, and a pressure switch that automatically shuts off if the air pressure becomes too low. — Marq Packaging Systems Inc., 3801 West Washington Ave., Yakima, Wash. 98903; 800/998-4301; marq.net.
Ingredient flowability
Zumbro River Brand (ZRB) offers agglomeration services that can transform ingredient or dry mix products by improving their flowability and dispersing lump-free solutions. By agglomerating several ingredient components, the solution produces a homogenous blend that will not segregate on handling or packaging. ZRB recently worked with Liquid Health Labs Inc., Deerfield, N.H., to granulate nutrients, vitamins and flavors. Powder blends are able to flow freely with use of ZRB and PowerCap, the company says. — Zumbro River Brand Inc., 138 West Front St., Owatonna, Minn. 55060; 507/446-9097; zumbroriverbrand.com.
Ultrasonic transmitter
K-Tek released the Ksonik Micro, a compact, ultrasonic level transmitter/switch designed for liquid and bulk solids level applications. It features variable GAP technology that allows the instrument to work in the presence of dust, vapor and foam, and provides a less than four-degree beam angle. It also has an electronic filter that removes ambient noise, and the Kscope display provides detailed data and trends, including echo profiles. The Ksonik Micro measures liquid levels up to 32.8 feet and bulk solids to 16 feet, and blanking distances have been shortened to less than 1 foot. Also, a single pole-double throw relay can be used to activate alarms and pumps, the company says. — K-Tek, 18321 Swamp Road, Prairieville, La. 70769; 225/673-6100; ktekcorp.com.
Laminated film
LexJet introduced 5 Mil T-Flex to provide print shops with a versatile laminate that helps cut down inventory. The film is velvet-textured and a co-polymer. It does not curl when used in rollable applications, such as banner stands, tradeshow graphics and point-of-purchase signage. The 5 Mil T-Flex uses a solvent-acrylic adhesive and it is available in several roll sizes including: 25 inch-by-50 feet, 38 inch-by-150 feet, 38 inch-by-300 feet, 51 inch-by-150 feet, and 51 inch-by-300 feet. — LexJet, 1680 Fruitville Road, Third Floor, Sarasota, Fla. 34236; 800/453-9538; lexjet.com.
Tire lift truck
Cat Lift Trucks introduced the P17500-P36000 Series diesel pneumatic tire lift truck. The truck features a turbocharged engine, hydraulic fingertip control system and ergonomic styling. With six capacities ranging from 17,500 to 36,000 pounds, the trucks can be used for many applications, the company says. The engine is equipped with a rail fuel delivery system and the P36000 features standard oil cooled wet disc brakes. An operator compartment is mounted on the trucks, which reduces noise and vibration levels. Also, the pneumatic tire lift trucks come with service intervals up to 500 hours. The trucks have a two-year unlimited hour warranty and a three year, 6,000 hour powertrain warranty. — Cat Lift Trucks, 2121 W. Sam Houston Pkwy. N., Houston, Texas, 77043; 713/365-1000; cat-lift.com.
Perforated strips
Aleco introduced Aleco TearAway pre-punched, perforated PVC strips. The ready-to-hang strips are suitable for industrial, foodservice, supermarket, retail and overhead door applications. Aleco TearAway Quick Strips fit the most popular door sizes and come in 7-, 8-, 10-, 12- or 14-foot lengths. Aleco TearAway Custom Bulk Roll is a continuous roll of stripping material perforated and pre-punched in custom lengths. And Aleco TearAway Replacement Strips that are available as a defined length of stripping material perforated and pre-punched to a custom length. All of the strips are combined with Aleco’s MaxBullet hardware and are available in smooth and Scratch-Guard as well as cooler and reinforced freezer styles. — Aleco, 2720 East Avalon Ave., Muscle Shoals, Ala. 35661; 256/248-2402; aleco.com.
Mobile computers
LXE introduced MX3Plus and VX3Plus mobile computers. Both are compact and built on horizontal display platforms. The mobile computers are available with two display options: a high-contrast indoor version, which is five times brighter than the color displays used in MX3X and VX3X products; and a color sunlight-readable version of the display that uses transflective display technology to capture the sun’s light and reflect it back. The MX3Plus comes with a half-VGA horizontal LCD screen and can be mounted on a forklift in a powered cradle. The VX3Plus is a wireless vehicle-mount computer with the same LCD screen as the MX3Plus. Both devices are complete with LXE’s ToughTalk voice-recognition technology. — LXE Inc., 125 Technology Pkwy., Norcross, Ga. 30092; 770/447-4224; lxe.com.
Labeling software
Sato released Label Gallery 3, the company’s labeling software series. The series features two new software development kits, updating printing control, Unicode compliance and Windows CE.NET support for mobile devices. It also includes the ‘Free’ cost-free edition, ‘Easy’ basic edition, the ‘Plus’ full version and the ‘TruePro’ high-end solution. Label Gallery 3 also offers Label Gallery SDK for PCs and Label Gallery Pocket SDK for mobile devices. Label Gallery requires Windows Vista/XP/2003 Server or 2000, Pentium-based PC, minimum 128 MB of free RAM, 75 to 550 MB of available hard disk space and a CD-ROM drive. — Sato America Inc., 10350A National Ford Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28273; 704/644-1650; satoamerica.com.
Oxygen measurement
OxySense added Kinesis Remote Capture Switch (RCS) to its accessory line for the OxySense 4000B system. The company’s OxySense takes non-invasive oxygen measurements. By utilizing the Kinesis RCS, readings can be taken from the OxySense 4000B system without the use of a mouse or keyboard, the company says. — OxySense Inc., 13111 N. Central Expy., Suite 440, Dallas, Texas 75243; 214/575-7600; oxysense.com.
Storage silos
Spiroflow Systems Inc. introduced a range of flexible silos that provide solutions for storing bulk solids and ingredients. The silos are made of polyester fabric supported on a steel frame and can hold 7,000 cubed feet of dry bulk material and weights up to 90,000 pounds. The products are suitable for any indoor or other weatherproof location and can be connected to any Spiroflow Flexible Screw, Aero Mechanical, Pneumatic and Vacuum Conveyor Systems to fill and/or empty the stored material, the company says. Discharge aids are available for different shaped silos such as SpiroSlip, SpiroAir, SpiroFlex and Super SpiroFlex. — Spiroflow Systems Inc., 2806 Gray Fox Road, Monroe, N.C. 28110; 704/291-9595; spiroflowsystems.com.
Forklift scale
Keytroller introduced a hydraulic forklift scale called Vanguard. The scale is designed to provide accuracy within 0.2 percent of the rated load, the company says. It uses a hydraulic bypass manifold module, which is mounted behind the mast on the forklift’s firewall. The company says hydraulic fluid bypasses the module where the pressure sensor reads 150 pressure values in five seconds as the load lowers about 20 inches. The system also will log weighing events in up to 99 channels with up to 99 different weighing events per channel. — Keytroller LLC, 3907 W. Martin Luther King Blvd. Tampa, Fla. 33614; 813/877-4500; keytroller.com.
Mobile computer
Noax Technologies unveiled its newest forklift computer, C8. The compact mobile computer has an aluminum enclosure and a daylight-durable 8.4-inch display screen with integrated touch. It is suited for tasks in both indoor and outdoor settings, the company says. Because the computer is 9.1 inches long, 7.3 inches wide and 3.9 inches deep, it can be used on forklifts, diggers, cranes or trucks. Functions of the computer include recording the operating hours, monitoring temperature and backlight controls. — Noax Technologies Corp., 2937 Bee Ridge Road., Suite 1, Sarasota, Fla. 34239; 941/922-1150; noax.com.
Pallet gripper
Lantech introduced its new Pallet-Grip load locking system for its straddle stretch wrapping systems. The Pallet-Grip is a system that locks a load to a pallet with a cable of film rolled into the bottom wraps and placed below the deck of the pallet. The system places a rolled cable of film approximately 1.5 inches below the pallet deck. It is adaptable to a range of heights, from four to six inches high. The equipment should be used when double-stacking pallet loads, shipping products on GMA pallets, winged pallets, plastic pallets or skids, the company says. — Lantech, 11000 Bluegrass Pkwy., Louisville, Ky. 40299; 800/866-0322; lantech.com.
Synthetic grease
Kluber Lubrication introduced Millplex FMG-2 US, a synthetic grease for lubricating machine rolling bearings in beverage, food and pharmaceutical manufacturing plants. The grease is composed of synthetic base oil and a calcium sulphonate complex thickener. It is designed specifically for applications where beverage, food and pharmaceutical products may come in contact with grease. It is available in 400 gram cartridge, a 50 kg. keg and a 180 kg. drum. — Kluber Lubrication North America L.P., 32 Industrial Drive, Londonderry, N.H. 03053; 603/647-4104; kluber.com.
Filler valves
Krones Inc. offers a variety of filler valves for energy drinks, juice, carbonated soft drinks and still water. Krones’ VODM-PET energy and juice drink valve filler uses a magnetic flow meter valve featuring full-stream, non-contact filling at two speeds. The filler’s vario-clamp container neck handling system requires no changeovers. Krones’ VODM-PET volumetric filler and Krones’ VOG-PET are for still water applications. Krones’ VKPDL carbonated soft drink and still water filler valve is a single-chamber filling system using a combination of mechanical and electropneumatic controls. — Krones Inc., 9600 South 58th St., Franklin, Wis. 53132; 714/441-0700; kronesusa.com.
Lift trucks
Hyster Co. introduced the Fortis line of lift trucks, each offered with multiple powertrain configurations to meet specific application requirements and business objectives. The trucks also optimize productivity, dependability and cost of operations. The Fortis trucks cover a capacity range of 2,000 pounds to 15,500 pounds, and all of them offer both cushion and pneumatic tire classes, with multiple engine choices consisting of gas, LP and diesel. Customers have the choice of performance transmissions, hydraulic controls and cooling system options. All of the trucks include a Pacesetter VSM industrial onboard computer for adjustable performance to maximize uptime. — Hyster Co., P.O. Box 7006, Greenville, N.C. 27835; 800/497-8371; hysteramericas.com.
Signal converter
Krohne introduced its new IFC 100 Signal Converter, an ergonomic solution for the water, wastewater, food and beverage, and chemical industries. The IFC100 is suitable for use with Krohne’s Optiflux series of electromagnetic flowmeters. The machine offers diagnostics of products, applications and instrumentation. It is available with the converter mounted directly on the flow tube as a compact meter in two versions. Each version features a metal enclosure, a large backlit display and a push-button soft-keypad for operation, start-up and configuration. The IFC 100 is Hart compatible and comes with multiple user languages. — Krohne Inc., 7 Dearborn Road, Peabody, Mass. 01960; 978/535-6060; krohne.com.
Bottles at high speeds
Sidel introduced Flexline, a bottling line dedicated to producing ultra-light water bottles at high speeds. Sidel also teamed up with Philips to develop new infrared lamps for blow molding machine oven for a 15 percent savings on electricity. The company offers a range of solutions for aseptic packaging of sensitive products sold in plastic bottles at room temperature. — Sidel Inc., 5600 Sun Court, Norcross, Ga. 30092; 678/221-3000l; sidel.com.
Reusable PLC code
Bosch Rexroth expanded its line of IndraLogic PLCs and PACs with the new IndraControl L10 PLC. It features sealable hardware, pre-developed machine functions, reusable code and unified programming software. The IndraContol L10 PLC works for general automation, printing, converting, packaging, machine tool and other industries. It also features a full megabyte of program storage space along with an Ethernet port for remote access or SCADA functionality. — Bosch Rexroth Corp., 5150 Prairie Stone Pkwy., Hoffman Estates, Ill. 60192; 847/645-3600; bosch-rexroth.com.
Multi panels
Siemens Energy & Automation Inc. announced the new Simatic MP 377 Multi Panel. It offers 64,000 colors, and the MP 377 is available in 12-inch TFT-displays, and 15- and 19-inch touchscreen models. It is suited for the Win AC MP 2007 operating platform and includes 2 MB of memory as well as 12 MB of memory for larger projects. It is easily configured with the WinCC flexible 2007 Standard with options such as SmartService, SmartAccess, OPC-Server and Audit. The MP 377 includes a non-volatile alarm buffer without battery, additional retentive memory for software PLC data and RS 485/RS 422-interfaces for process connection. — Siemens Energy & Automation, 3333 Old Milton Pkwy., Alpharetta, Ga. 30005; 800/964-4114; sea.seimens.com.
Shrink labels
Seal-It, a division of Printpack Print Shrink Labels, printed two shrink labels for the launch of First Juice organic fruit and vegetable juice beverage for toddlers. First Juice is sold in 8-ounce recyclable, sippy-top containers. It has an all-in-one combination shrink label and tamper-evident band around the entire bottle. The line includes a 32-ounce size as well. The shrink labels conform to the shape of the container and are flexo printed in eight colors on heat shrink PET-G. — Seal-It Inc.,70 Schmitt Blvd., Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735; 800/782-7325; sealitinc.com.
On/off highway truck
Navistar International Corp. introduced International PayStar 5900i Set-Back Axle, a Class 8 vocational on/off-highway vehicle that features a new axle configuration. The truck is powered by Caterpillar or Cummins diesel engines up to 15-liters and 625 horsepower. It has a standard 12.25-inch frame rail PayStar chassis as well as Whisper Cab sound insulation. The front tow pin is capable of pulling up to 150,000 pounds. — Navistar International Corp., 4201 Winfield Road, Warrenville, Ill. 60555; 630/753-5000; navistar.com.
Unbleached paperboard
MeadWestvaco Corp. offers KlaFold, a coated unbleached kraft paperboard manufactured by Klabin, Brazil’s largest paperboard producer. KlaFold has a three-ply structure and is to be used for lightweight packaging applications. It offers a higher yield at the same caliper as most other coated paperboards. It also is US Food and Drug Administration and ISEGA compliant for direct food contact. — MeadWestvaco, 11013 W. Broad St., Glen Allen, Va. 23060; 804/327-5200; meadwestvaco.com.
Large character printer
Videojet Technologies Inc. introduced the 2320 large character ink jet printer. It provides high-resolution on-line printing of variable data on corrugated shipping containers for applications that require code heights from 0.8 to 2.7 inches. The printer has an automatic self-cleaning and self-maintenance system that continuously keeps printheads free of dust and debris. The product also has an air-driven ink system that eliminates downtime due to maintenance on pumps, solenoids and other moving parts. — Videojet Technologies Inc., 1500 Mittel Blvd., Wood Dale, Ill. 60191; 630/616-3657; videojet.com.
Hybrid forklift
Komatsu Forklift U.S.A. Inc. announced its hybrid electric forklift that works for 11 hours per day with a one-hour opportunity charge during the shift. The technology uses a sealed, maintenance-free battery, built-in inverter charger, capacity and on-board charge controller to keep the truck running at peak performance. The truck has two energy sources from which the power is drawn: a capacitor and a sealed, maintenance-free, motive power industrial battery. It is currently available on the AE50, four-wheel pneumatic electric model family. — Komatsu Forklift U.S.A. Inc., 14481 Lochridge Blvd., Covington, Ga. 30014; 770/787-5100; kfiusa.com.
