Spiroflow Systems Inc. will show its range of standard and custom-made conveying and bulk bag handling equipment at Pack Expo in Chicago on Nov. 9-13. The company will also display its new Spirostore Flexible Silos, which provide solutions for storing bulk solids and ingredients. The silos are made from polyester fabric supported on a steel frame and can store 7,000 cubic feet of dry bulk material and support weights up to 90,000 pounds. Spiroflow also will present its new Aero-Mechanical Conveyor “AutoTensioner,” which reduces downtime, maintenance and has increased rope life, the company says. Spiroflow Systems Inc., 2806 Gray Fox Road, Monroe, N.C. 28110; 704/291-9595; spiroflow.com.

 

Speed palletizers

 

FKI Logistex will display its high-speed palletizers, including the PL-950 series, at Pack Expo 2008 in Chicago. The PL-950 uses one or more robotic arms for pattern forming, manipulating and orienting the product into the pallet layer. The equipment can be reconfigured for any type of product and is suited for small packages and complex patterns, the company says. The PL-950 also reduces the secondary packaging without compromising the integrity of the finished product. The company provides palletizers and depalletizers from entry-level GS-100 to super-high-speed A-944.  FKI Logistex, 9301 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, Mo. 63132; 314/993-4700; fkilogistex.com.

 

Sustainability solutions

 

Sidel will visit Pack Expo in Chicago and display the SBO 4 Compact Preferential Heating, the Veloce FM filler, the Rollquattro Evolution F35 labeler, the Conveyor system and the Cap Feeder CF2024. The SBO 4 Compact Preferential Heating enables the production of PET packages that are flat or have complex shapes via preferential heating. The Veloce FM filler is a hot-fill machine that features flowmeter technology for more efficiency. The Rollquattro Evolution F35 labeler can be used for roll-fed and roll-on-shrink-in labeling, and it is specifically designed for the U.S. market. The Conveyor system will feature a reject system and the company’s laydown cap sterilizer, and the Cap Feeder CF2024 will feature its new electrical panel design. Sidel Inc., 5600 Sun Court, Norcross, Ga. 30092; 678/221-3000; sidel.com.

 

Foam cleaning system

 

Ferrum and Jurgen Lohrke GmbH introduced the ferru-clean foam cleaning system to use on the company’s can seamers. All of the piping assembly, including valves and fittings, are provided in stainless steel, the company says. The system can now be used for flushing, hot water cleaning and foaming in hygienic design. The ferru-clean Control system is integrated and can be combined with filler cleaning. The system can be installed in the company’s F400, F500, F700, F800 and F900 series can seamers and also can be retrofitted on existing machines. Ferrum AG, Bahnstrasse 18, CH-5102 Rupperswi, Switzerland; 41 62 889 1311; ferrum.ch.

 

Flexible machines

 

Columbia Machine Inc. and Columbia/Okura LLC will feature its flexible palletizing solutions at Pack Expo, including the SP4000 a high-level palletizer and the A1800 a high-speed robotic palletizer. The SP4000 is one of Columbia’s soft turn infeed products and is ideal for packages that require gentle handling or labels-out palletizing, the company says. The A1800 can demonstrate high speed and flexible product handling capabilities, the company says. Columbia Machine Inc., 107 Grand Blvd., Vancouver, Wash. 98661; 360/694-1501; columbiamachine.com.

 

Refrigeration motors

 

Vendo de Mexico and Wellington Drive Technologies Ltd. announced the first annual order for 400,000 of Wellington’s energy saving Electronic Commutated Refrigerations (ECR) motors. The order commenced volume production for Vendo de Mexico’s bottle coolers and refrigerated vending machines, the company says. The motors that make up this order will save energy worth $90 million over the service life of the machines, which is equivalent to a reduction in carbon emissions of more than 600,000 tons, the company says. Wellington Drive Technologies Inc., 1407 Barclay Blvd., Buffalo Grove, Ill. 60089; 847/786 4153; wdtl.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.

 

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.

 

 

LexJet introduced 5 Mil T-Flex to provide print shops with a versatile laminate that helps cut down inventory. The co-polymer film is velvet-textured. 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 these roll sizes: 25-inches-by-50-feet, 38-inches-by-150-feet, 38-inches-by-300 feet, 51-inches-by-150-feet and 51-inches-by-300-feet. LexJet, 1680 Fruitville Road, Third Floor, Sarasota, Fla. 34236; 800/453-9538; lexjet.com.

 

Pick and place handling

 

Douglas Machine Inc.’s Axiom IM Case Packers pack unstable products using Pick and Place product handling. The Pick and Place product handling loads products directly into the case from the metering section, maintaining product control at high speeds, the company says. The product requires less space to load products, which reduces Axiom’s carbon footprint. Pick and Place is available with or without vacuum, depending on the product. Douglas Machine says the vacuum-free option is ideal for hostile environments or products with unstable caps. Douglas Machine Inc., 3404 Iowa Street, Alexandria, Minn. 56308; 320/763-6587; douglas-machine.com.

 

 

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.

 

Coder box connector

 

Markem-Imaje introduced a new option for its 4020 coder. The 4020 I/O box offers protocol-free connection to a port on the controller, which provides additional input and output options. The ability to correctly mark the randomly-presented packages is enhanced, the company says. The I/O box has a series of sensors connected to it that activate a combination of printheads to deliver the correct print. Markem-Imaje, 1650 Airport Road, Suite 101, Kennesaw, Ga. 30144; 770/421-7700; markem-imaje.com.

 

Pump-control technology

 

Kadant AES, a division of Kadant Inc., introduced UNiGY pump-control technology. UNiGY reduces energy consumption while improving process performance, including system monitoring and diagnostics for both new and retrofit applications, the company says. The system has pump-control software to produce flow rates and pressures demanded by the application. UNiGY prevents excess flow and simplifies hydraulic circuits, which reduces or eliminates the need for cooling loops and fans. The technology can be retrofitted into existing process systems and incorporated into new installations. Kadant Inc., One Technology Park Drive, Westford, Mass. 01896; 800/237-7628; kadantjohnson.com.

 

Cylinder-size labeler

 

Start International debuted its cyli-size labeler, a manual product that can label different sized cylindrical objects. The cyli-size labeler can label any cylindrical object from ChapStick-size to a 1-gallon jug, the company says. The product features metal construction and does not require any regular maintenance. In addition, it is ideal for short-run bottle labeling, the company says. Start International, 4270 Airborn Drive, Addison, Texas 75001; 800/259-1986; startinternational.com.

 

Employee training program

 

Alchemy Systems released a new Sistem 3.3 group-based training platform. The new version enhances training and compliance management automation with features such as courseware for entry-level, lower-skilled employees and job seekers in industries throughout North America. Sistem 3.3 is a training solution that can accommodate small or large groups of trainees via individual hand-held remotes. The training platform comes with 90 interactive, industry-specific courses that test employee comprehension as well as an integrated Web-based Learning Management System that automates that documentation process and provides a central location for training records. Alchemy Systems, 8015 Shoal Creek Blvd., Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78757; 512/637-5100; alchemysystems.com.

 

Touchscreen computer

 

Comark Corp. announced the addition of its new 42-inch LCD display/computer with an optional touchscreen. The new display/computer is designed to meet NEMA 12 standards when wall mounted and NEMA 4/4X requirements when panel mounted. Storage options include hard drive and/or compact flash, available up to 120 gigabyte and 32 gigabyte respectively. Touchscreen options include surface acoustic wave and projected capacitive, with alternate screen protection options of polycarbonate shields or safety glass, the company says. In addition, the company says the 42-inch industrial display is a cost effective way to visually share production data on the factory floor at the workcell or plant level. Comark Corp., 93 West Street, Medfield, Mass. 02052; 508/359-8161; comarkcorp.com.

 

New stretch wrapper features

 

Two features are now standard on all Lantech conveyorized rotary-arm stretch wrappers, including Models S-1200, S-1500, S-2500, S-3500 and S-4000. The Pallet-Grip and Load-Seeking Film Clamp features are used for maximizing load containment and reducing product damage, the company says. Pallet-Grip allows automatic stretch wrappers to wrap below the deck of the shipping pallet, while still wrapping to the machine’s full 80-inch height capability. The Load-Seeking Film Clamp ensures maximum stretch wrap containment force when used on conveyorized wrapping systems. Lantech, 11000 Bluegrass Pkwy., Lousiville, Ky. 40299; 800/866-0322; lantech.com.

 

Thermal printer additions

 

Sato America Inc. released two new features for its GL4e Series thermal printer. The new features are an internal label rewinder and the dispense option, which includes internal liner rewind. The internal label rewinding design works on rewinding printed labels and tags onto the internal rewind spindle as a removable full roll, the company says. The new features are ideal for large run, batch printing applications, and can accommodate labels up to 5 inches wide. The dispenser option features an internal rewind mechanism that prints labels without the liner. Sato America Inc., 10350A Nations Ford Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28273; 704/644-1650; satoamerica.com.

 

Water treatment components

 

Aquatech International Corp. expanded its Watertrak pre-engineered water treatment components to include six new L-Series product lines. The new product types include LFM Series Multi-Media Filters, LFC Series Activated Carbon Filters, LRL Series Reverse Osmosis, LRS Series Reverse Osmosis, LRM Series Reverse Osmosis and LSV Series Water Softeners. All of the new product types feature Aquatech’s Traklink technology to simplify connections and integrate components as well as upgrade options. Aquatech International Corp., One-Four Coins Drive, Canonsburg, Pa. 15317; 724/746-5300; aquatech.com.

 

Track and trace solution

 

Videojet Technologies Inc. introduced IMprints Track & Trace Solution, a production-floor suite of hardware and software that protects brands from product recalls, counterfeiting and diversions. The solution also helps meet government regulations regarding tracking and tracing, the company says. The software generates codes that are printed on product packaging by Videojet’s data marking and coding equipment. The codes are alphanumeric, linear bar codes or two-dimensional data-matrix codes that cannot be emulated by unauthorized parties. Videojet Technologies Inc., 1500 Mittel Blvd., Wood Dale, Ill. 60191; 630/860-7300; videojet.com.

 

Oxygen testing system

 

OxySense released the OxyOTR accessory system, an oxygen permeation measurement system to be used for oxygen transmission rate (OTR) testing with the OxySense 4000B in packaging laboratories. Equipping the OxySense 4000B with the new OTR software and the OxyOTR permeation chambers creates a system capable of conducting a number of permeation measurement tests on packages and films, the company says. The OxyOTR accessory system also offers the flexibility to perform headspace or dissolved oxygen analysis in finished packaging. The system is semi-automatic and users are required to take periodic manual readings to conduct testing. OxySense, 13111 N. Central Expy. Suite 440, Dallas, Texas 75243; 214/575-7600; oxysense.com.

 

Wireless switch solutions

 

Emerson Process Management debuted wireless float switch solutions that combine its Mobrey float switches with the company’s Rosemount 702 wireless discrete transmitter. The solution allows plant managers to access data about the performance and safety of their plants, the company says. The Mobrey magnetic float switches are unpowered and mechanical. In addition, they are used in applications including chemical, petrochemical processing and offshore installations. The switches are ideal for use with high and low level alarms, pump control and other switching duties. Emerson Process Management, 12301 Research Blvd., Building 3, Austin, Texas 78759; 512/832-3089; emersonprocess.com.

 

Hyster literature

 

Hyster developed new literature outlining its third-party logistics capabilities. The brochure details the capabilities of the N-ZR/ZDR reach trucks, S40-70FT lift trucks, the E45-65Z lift truck series and the B60-80Z walkie/rider series. The literature also highlights the Hyster usage-based billing program, available through Hyster Capital and Hyster Dealers. Hyster Conveyor Co., Box 7006, Greenville, N.C. 27835; 800/497-8371; hysteramericas.com.

 

Refrigeration panels

 

Master-Bilt offers refrigeration panels made of foamed-in-place polyurethane, available in 4-, 5- and 6-inch thicknesses. The foamed-in-place gives Master-Bilt one of the highest R-values (resistance to heat flow) in the industry, the company says. Polyurethane’s R-value per inch is 8.25. The polyurethane panels have foam that bonds directly to the metal overlay, creating a higher R-value. The foam is mixed from two parts, polyurethane resin and isocyanate, during the injection process. Master-Bilt, 908 Hwy. 15 North, New Albany, Miss. 38652; 800/647-1284; master-bilt.com.

 

Pump sleep mode

 

Hitachi America Ltd. Industrial Systems Division announced the availability of Pump Sleep Mode functionality in its X200 and SJ200 Series microdrives. The Pump Sleep Mode is implemented using the inverter’s built-in PID control, logic and timing functions as a basis, the company says. This functionality is used to stop the pump when no pumping is taking place. No additional hardware is needed beyond the standard PID operation requirement. The company also introduced the IPU-PSM, which adds the Pump Sleep Mode functionality to the built-in PID function. The IPU-PSM allows for the specification of a lower limit on inverter output frequency. Hitachi America Ltd., 5808-O Long Creek Park Drive, Charlotte, N.C. 28269; 704/494-3799; hitachi.us/industrial.

 

Diagnostic software

 

Noregon Systems Inc. released Version 3.2 of its heavy-duty diagnostic software, JPRO Fleet Diagnostics. The JPRO Fleet Diagnostics V3.2 includes features such as touchscreen navigation and updated training presentations. The Key Data Points screen for vehicles now includes Road Speed Limit and Cruise Set Speed Limit parameters, the company says. In addition, 30-day free software evaluations are available for fleets and service facilities already using a PC-based solution. Noregon Systems Inc., 100 North Main Street, Suite 2200, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27101; 336/768-4337; noregon.com.

 

Enamel rater

 

CMC-Kuhnke introduced the 3000 Series of semi-automatic enamel raters. The digital ENR-3000 has a gauge that allows for an accuracy rating of enamel within 1 percent of the measured value. The product is valuable to customers using coatings that are voltage resistant and where it is crucial to measure very small currents, the company says. The ENR-3000 is used to check the interior lacquer coating on cans and ends. Features include fill-level control, automatic start of measurement, reverse polarity after each test and password control for varying levels of access. CMC-Kuhnke Inc., 250 Falls Road, Hudson, N.Y. 12534; 518/828-9345; cmc-kuhnke.com.