Spiral conveyor

 

Ryson International Inc. will introduce a new High Capacity Spiral Conveyor at PackExpo International 2008 in Chicago. The new conveyor was created in response to the need for taller units and heavier loads, the company says. Load capacity is 75 pounds per linear foot of conveyor for speeds up to 200 feet per minute. The angle of incline is between 9 and 11 degrees. All Ryson Spirals are of the chain slat type and incorporate a unique, proprietary low-friction design. The spirals also can be customized. — Ryson International Inc., 300 Newsome Drive, Yorktown, Va. 23692; 757/898-1530; ryson.com.

 

Case packer

 

Westfalia Technologies Inc.’s Deam Systems division provides Jug Casers that can handle multiple size jugs and fill at rates up to 180 jugs per minute. The casers are compact and work with both corrugated and dairy cases, the company says. They are constructed of stainless steel and equipped with PLC controls and color touch HMIS. The machine can case pack half-gallon or 1-gallon jugs, and dual case loading is an available option. â€” Westfalia Technologies Inc., 3655 Sandhurst Drive, York, Pa. 17406; 717/764-1115; westfaliausa.com.

 

Less packaging waste

 

Polypack Inc. introduced its newest series of shrinkwrap machines called PolyPad. The machines eliminate the amount of corrugate involved in packaging, which generates less packaging waste. The products instead are packed into an erected corrugated case or tray using interior dividers, the company says. The series places the products directly on the pad and shrinkwraps them. The machines can be tailored for total closure or bullseye wraps by using clear or print registered film. The PolyPad series can run at speeds up to 60 per minute. — Polypack Inc., 3301 Gateway Centre Blvd., Pinellas Park, Fla. 33782; 727/578-5000; polypack.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 operate in many applications, the company says. The engine is equipped with a rail fuel delivery system and the P36000 also 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.

 

Packing machines

 

Douglas Machine Inc. will exhibit its latest case packing and shrinkwrapping technologies during Pack Expo International in November. The Contour Series SPS-75 Shrink Packer packs bottles into trays and wraps with printed film. The series operates at speeds up to 75 packages per minute and includes Smartrak Steady Stream Infeed system and Slipstream HS pinless metering. The Axiom IM Case Packer packs cartons into cases and operates at speeds up to 45 cases per minute. Features of the Axiom include IEC conforming software structure, which makes the machine PackML and PackTags-ready. The Invex 3S Case Packer packs cartons into cases at speeds up to 18 cases per minute. The machine incorporates electronic motion control functionalities of a Douglas Axiom IM Case Packer, and the motors are adaptable to a wide range of products. — Douglas Machine Inc., 3404 Iowa Street, Alexandria, Minn. 56308; 320/763-6587; douglas-machine.com.

 

Electric switch

 

K-TEK Corp. announced the MS41, its magnetically actuated electric switch. The switch features a compact, dual-compartment design that isolates the 10 A Double Pole, Double Throw (DPDT) switching mechanism from the environment. An electrical connection is made through a hermetic seal with the enclosure that protects the internal mechanism from moisture and heat damage. It also features a cam action switching mechanism, which means the switch requires no maintenance. The MS41 can be used with the company’s KM Magnetic Level Gauge, LS Series Cage Level Instruments or an external chamber that contains a magnetic float. — K-TEK Corp., 18321 Swamp Road, Prairieville, La. 70769; 225/673-6100; ktekcorp.com.

 

Automatic transmission

 

Kenworth Truck Co. introduced new automatic transmission offerings for customers in construction and shorthaul applications with high horsepower requirements. The Kenworth T800 with Allison 4000 and 4500 Series transmissions, when spec’d with Cummins ISX engines, do not exceed 1,650 pound-feet. The transmissions are designed for rugged duty and feature torque converter technology. — Kenworth Truck Co., 10630 NE 8th Place, Kirkland, Wash. 98033; 425/828-5000; kenworth.com.

 

Electric lift trucks

 

Jungheinrich Lift Truck Corp. introduced the ETV C16/C20, a line of three-phase AC electric read trucks with elastic tires and high ground clearance. The elastic tires allow the trucks to operate on both smooth floors in the warehouse and on bumpy, uneven surfaces outdoors. The trucks work for stacking, retrieval at high lift heights and in restricted spaces, handling pallets and working in drive-in racking or single- and multiple-shift applications. An optional weather-proof cabin allows operators to work outdoors during harsh weather conditions, the company says. The ETV C16 and ETV C20 have load capacities of 3,500 pounds and 4,400 pounds, respectively. Both trucks have lift heights up to 24.3 feet. The trucks also have an energy reclamation feature that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy during braking, which feeds the energy back to the battery. — Jungheinrich Lift Truck Corp., 5601 Eastport Blvd., Richmond, Va. 23231; 804/737-7400; jungheinrich-us.com.

 

 

Darigold Inc. reintroduced its single-serve milk lineup with redesigned labels printed and converted by Seal-It, a division of Printpack Inc. The line is available in six flavors in a larger-sized, ergonomically shaped on-the-go container, the company says. A cow character drinking milk is illustrated on some of the labels, and other labels show splashes of milk on multi-colored backgrounds. Seal-It says the shrink labels work well with the curved shape of the bottle. The graphics are printed in eight-color rotogravure on heat shrink PVC. — Seal-It Inc., 70 Schmitt Blvd., Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735; 800/782-7325; sealitinc.com.

 

Thermometer system

 

Wahl Instruments Inc. introduced the Wahl DST600 DTD Thermometer System. The Wahl DST600 is designed to meet the Food and Drug Administration Proposed Rule change to 21 CFR Part 113, which allows replacement of mercury in glass thermometers with other technologies. The system uses a thin-film platinum resistance temperature detector sensor along with a patent pending self-testing circuitry that continuously verifies the electronics to ensure accurate readings, the company says. The temperature range of the thermometer is -50 degrees F to 500 degrees F. The device also has a field replaceable battery with a two-year life. It also is available with an Adjustable Angle feature, which can position the display to the best reading angle. — Palmer Wahl Instrumentation Group, 234 Old Weaverville Road, Asheville, N.C. 28804; 800/421-2853; palmerwahl.com.

 

Blast technologies

 

Blast Cap Technologies introduced its range of blast cap beverage technologies. The products allow the nutrients in beverages to be bottled, shipped and stored completely apart from the beverage and mixed only at the time of consumption, the company says. The blast technologies for beverages include Twist-Blast, Button-Blast, Dual-Blast, Kid-Blast, Pouch-Blast, Blast-Cap, Blast-Max, Bottle-Blast and Tube-Blast. All of the technologies keep the liquid and/or powders separate until the consumer is ready to drink it, the company says. — Blast Cap Technologies, 1355 West Palmetto Park Road, Suite 150, Boca Raton, Fla. 33486; 310/467-6482; blastcaptechnologies.com.

 

Digital weight gauge

 

CMC-Kuhnke introduced the DFW-3000 Digital Film Weight Gauge. The DFW-3000 features a redesigned probe for measuring blanks. The operator guides the probe to the desired location for measurement where the gauge sits under its own weight and applies a constant measurement pressure, the company says. The product has an ergonomic design and is mounted on an elevated, angled platform for views of the LCD screen and interaction with the touch pad. During the measurement procedure, operators can view a graphical representation of the inspection. The DFW-3000’s microprocessor technology saves inspection data and stores lacquer information without having to connect to a computer. — CMC-Kuhnke, 250 Fall Road, Hudson, N.Y. 12534; 518/828-9345; cmc-kuhnke.com.

 

Releasing closure

 

Gizmo Packaging Ltd. created the Gizmo, a closure that instantly releases and mixes active ingredients at the point of use. When opened by a turn, the pressure in the chamber of the closure drives a jet of additive into the base product to create a mix, which can deliver a color or aroma change, the company says. The Gizmo can be used with a wide range of container shapes and sizes in both plastic and glass with either still or carbonated base liquids. It also can be incorporated into dispensing containers that use hand pumps or trigger sprays. RPC Bramlage-Wiko is the manufacturer of the new closure. — Gizmo Packaging Ltd., Unit 5, Rocep Business Park, Rocep Drive, Renfrew, Scotland; PA4 8XY, UK.

 

Portable belt conveyor

 

Hytrol Conveyor Co. Inc. introduced its Model BA Portable Folding Booster Belt, which can be used for stacking, loading and unloading products. It comes standard with a reversing drum switch, a 20-foot power cord and plug. The belt width is 14 inches with speeds up to 65 feet per minute. The capacity weight limit on the belt is 300 pounds total distributed load and 150 pounds unit load. The machine folds onto its own portable base for storage and one lever control adjusts angles. The model is available in six colors, including green, dark blue, white, beige, black and grey. — Hytrol Conveyor Co. Inc., 2020 Hytrol Drive, Jonesboro, Ark. 72401; 870/935-3700; hytrol.com.

 

Industrial trailers

 

Wesley International now offers engineered-to-order industrial trailers, designed to meet customers’ specific requirements for load, height, width, sides, number of decks and type of steering. Each trailer is custom fabricated, steel constructed and equipped with diamond plate steel decks, solid black rubber wheels mounted on an aluminum cast and a spring-loaded pin hook. Expanded metal decks, solid non-marking pneumatic tires and a cast iron pintle hook also are available. — Wesley International, 3680 Chestnut Street, Scottdale, Ga. 30079; 404/292-7441; wesleyinternational.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. The strips come in three ready-to-use styles: 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, which 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 patented MaxBullet hardware and are available in smooth and Scratch-Guard as well as cooler and reinforced freezer formulations. — Aleco, 2720 East Avalon Ave., Muscle Shoals, Ala. 35661; 256/248-2402; aleco.com.

 

Hearing protection

 

SensGard introduced SensGard SG31, which provides hearing protection with a noise reduction rating of 31 decibels. The SG31 is ideal for use in extreme noise environments, including manufacturing plants, construction sites, airfields, power and utility plants and other extreme noise environments, the company says. The hearing protection incorporates ZEM technology that uses the mechanic energy of sound waves instead of electronics to minimize sound before it reaches the ear. SG31 weighs less than 2 ounces and requires no batteries or battery equipment. The product is available in black or loden green and is supplied with two pairs of replacement cuffs and a carrying case. — SensGard, P.O. Box 341, Fairport, N.Y. 14450; 877/208-0883; sensgard.com.

 

Robotic packer

 

Bradman Lake Inc. debuted the first model of its newly designed range of robotic case packing machines. The new robotic AX Case Packer is designed to automatically form, fill and close regular slotted case and half slotted case style corrugated cases within one frame. The machines incorporate advanced design electronic motion control technology using a combination of robotics and servo motor drives. The unit forms the case, loads the cartons/products into the case and bottom/top seals it at speeds up to 120 cartons per minute and up to 12 cases per minute, depending on the shape and size of the products involved. Later this year, the company also is releasing the MX Case Packer, which will have the capability of 240 cartons and up to 20 cases per minute. — Bradman Lake Inc. 9201-D Forsyth Park Drive, Charlotte, N.C. 28273; 704/588-3301; bradmanlake.com.

 

Label printer system

 

ID Technology, a division of Pro Mach, created a system to print and apply multi- or single-panel labels to empty boxes. The system can accommodate cartons from 10 inches up to 24 inches, the company says. It features a conveyor with variable speed side belt and idle rollers. The lower durometer belt and rollers apply even pressure and reduce friction, which prevents marring, crushing or collapsing of the empty boxes. The company’s IDT 250 Printer Applicator uses thermal transfer technology to print and apply information labels online at speeds up to 12 inches per second. The system also can accommodate inkjet printers and other labeling, coding and marking devices. — ID Technology, 2051 Franklin Drive, Ft. Worth, Texas, 76106; 817/626-7779; idtechnology.com.

 

Shelf-ready packaging

 

Cermex introduced the BC50 for shelf-ready packaging. The BC50 is a combined tray packer and lid fitter with speeds up to 26 cases per minute. The machine can be customized for specific product shapes and can handle different lids, such as U-shaped and cross lids. It offers an ergonomic design that is mechanically robust, the company says. — Cermex Inc., 4845 S. Old Peachtree Road, Suite. 1000, Norcross, Ga. 30071; 678/221-3570; cermexinc.com.

 

Recycling process

 

MEI teamed with Intercon Solutions and Scientific Recycling Inc. (SRI) to offer a “no landfill” recycling process for electronic vending products. When Intercon and SRI receive products for recycling, the companies disassemble them and return the components to the market instead of disposing them as waste. Operators now can be sure the units are disposed of in an environmentally responsible way, the company says. MEI is managing the logistics of the pick-up and paying the expenses for the bill validators being recycled through the trade-in program. MEI chose Intercon and SRI because both companies recycle electronic products using environmentally friendly techniques. — MEI, 1301 Wilson Drive, West Chester, Pa. 19380; 610/430-2700; meigroup.com.

 

Faultless caster guide

 

Hickory Hardware developed the Faultless caster sales tip brochure, a full-color, illustrated guide. The guide helps customers select and recommend the right Faultless caster for any mobility application, the company says. It also offers information about the Hickory Hardware Faultless caster as well as informative aids such as caster and wheel selection guides, caster mounting information and a comprehensive list of caster and wheel technology. The brochure features color photos and specifications for Hickory Hardware Faultless casters and wheels. — Hickory Hardware, 3438 Briley Park Blvd., Nashville, Tenn. 37207; 877/556-2918; hickoryhardware.com.

 

Compression fittings

 

NewAge Industries introduced a line of PFA fluoropolymer compression fittings called Pureloc in a dozen styles. Pureloc is made from virgin-grade chemically inert PFA fluoropolymer and works with fluoropolymer tubing. The compression fittings offer unrestricted flow, and lock and seal ability. Purelocs consist of four parts: nut, gropper, ferrule and body. Each part provides leak-proof connections, and the nut design has a ridged surface that is easy to grip and tighten, the company says. Styles include elbows, straight connectors, tees, adapters and now reducing and bulkhead types. Sizes range from 0.125 inch to 0.75 inch. — NewAge Industries, 145 James Way, Southampton, Pa. 18966; 215/526-2300; newage- industries.com.