Merge Printer Applicator
Label-Aire introduced the 3138-N Merge printer
applicator, an advanced printer applicator
featuring Wipe-On labeling technology that can be configured for wrap
labeling. This is accomplished by utilizing a label loop box for the
storage of pre-printed labels. Advanced features include automatic setup
with multiple programmable label pages for easy changeovers to labels of
different sizes, advanced user-configurable I/O connectivity and Automatic
Speed Following, which provides accurately applied labels even through
changes in product speed.
— Label-Aire,
550 Burning Tree Road, Fullerton, Calif. 92833; 714/441-0700;
label-aire.com.
RFID encoder/applicator
Markem Corp. launched the 800 Series high-speed RFID
encoder/ applicator for tagging cases of consumer goods. With increased
speed and throughput capabilities, the 800 Series is ideal for beverage and
consumer goods industries. The 800 Series is EPCglobal Gen 2 compliant and
provides users the ability to tag up to 100 cases per minute. Additionally,
the 800 Series facilitates flexible tag placement options to meet
positioning requirements for all types of products and is built to
integrate with existing software, systems and equipment. It can handle all
form factors of RFID tags, including the application of on-pitch inlays.
— Markem Corp., 150 Congress Street, Keene, N.H.
03431; 800/356-2375; markem.com.
Ethernet module
Hitachi America Ltd., Power and Industrial Division, released the SJ/L-EN Ethernet communication module
option, which provides all the Hitachi AC Micro Drives with a
high-performance, easy-to-use Ethernet interface. The SJ/L-EN is installed
externally and connects to the user’s network by means of a standard
RJ45 connector. Hitachi previously had released SJ-EN Ethernet option board
for the SJ300 and L300P series. The SJ/L-EN completes Ethernet connectivity
for Hitachi’s entire AC Drive lines. The company also offers a new
software package, HiSave VFD Energy Savings Estimator. Aimed at HVAC and Pumping customers, its purpose is to help users
estimate electric energy cost savings if they installed an inverter to
replace older mechanical means of regulating
air/fluid flow.
— Hitachi America Ltd.,
50 Prospect Avenue, Tarrytown, N.Y. 10591-4698; 914/631-0600;
hitachi.us/inverters.
Ink jet printing system
ID Technology released the
ci1000 micro continuous ink jet printing system for applying
high-resolution, high-speed identifying marks, sell-by dates and lot date
codes to any surface. The non-contact, high-speed printing gives near
letter quality print resolution. The micro printhead can produce very fine
characters accurately — as small as a quarter-inch at speeds up to
1,755-feet/ minute. Standard features of the ci1000 system include a single
electronic board, featuring surface mount technology and dual 32 bit
processor architecture.
— ID Technology Corp., 2051 Franklin Drive, Ft. Worth, Texas
76106; 888/438-3242; idtechnology.com.
Top sealing
A-B-C Packaging Machine
Corp. introduced a top-sealing case sealer that offers both tape and
hot-melt adhesive sealing, for packagers who have a variety of case sealing
requirements. Designed for contract packagers and manufacturers who supply
product to end users, this sealer offers complete flexibility in a single
machine. Built with two independent sealing modules for tape and
hot-melt adhesive application, this sealer changes from one sealing method
to another in minutes: simply unlatch the sealing module using the
quick-turn clamps, remove the existing module, and replace it with
Servo stacker
Douglas Machine Inc.’s Velocity High Speed Servo
Stacker’s gentle product handling technology forms pack patterns
without interruption, providing continuous product flow at speeds up to 600
products per minute. Intelligent programming accurately counts products and
automatically adjusts the product flow rate to prevent jams due to product
spacing inconsistency. The Velocity features servo controls for quick and
repeatable tool-free changeovers, flexibility for running numerous product
sizes and pack patterns on one machine and a compact design for efficient
use of floor space.
— Douglas Machine
Inc., 3404 Iowa Street, Alexandria, Minn. 56308; 320/763-6587;
douglas-machine.com.
Cap technology
Liquid Health Labs Inc. is pioneering a packaging
technology for the infusion of nutrition into
liquids, and is licensing its manufacturing and marketing rights. PowerCap
is fusion technology that features a patented bottle cap closure that
stores ingredients within the cavity of the cap and then releases them into
any bottled liquid, including water, soda or tea, creating an instant
enhanced beverage. The infusion of nutrition and flavor produces an
interactive experience while delivering fresh
ingredients, maximum absorption and nutritional efficacy.
— Liquid Health Labs Inc., 65 Raymond Rd., Deerfield,
N.H. 03037; 603/463-5611; liquidhealthlabs.com.
Aluminum bottles
CCL Container, a producer of impact-extruded aluminum
packaging, is giving Latin America its first re-sealable aluminum
containers. The makers of Hot Hangover Tea wanted to introduce their
product in a container as new and different as the product category itself.
Hot is marketed as an invigorating drink with herb extracts and amino acids
that help combat the unpleasant sensations associated with a hangover. The
package holds 8.4 ounces of product.
Innovacion Comercial en Alimentos S.A. de C.V., the
marketers of Hot, selected a re-sealable 53 mm. diameter aluminum package
for their Latin American launch. Initial distribution will be in Mexico,
and then on to the shelves of convenience stores throughout Latin America
and North America. The Hot bottle features CCL’s CT-38 threaded
plastic sleeve that is fitted to the top of the container to accommodate
consumer-preferred, tamper evident, re-sealable plastic caps. The graphics
feature a fiery design of yellow and red, over a brushed aluminum backdrop,
adding emphasis to the brand name. Product information appears in black
type in both Spanish and English. An area of the design is deliberately
left blank to allow for a printing of an expiration date during the filling
operation.
Since the first beverage debuted in CCL’s bottle
in early 2002, a growing number of marketers – from global brands to
niche players – have adopted and successfully used the package,
because it is lightweight, durable, re-sealable, fast-chilling and
recyclable. To date, CCL’s bottles have been used for new product
launches, limited-edition promotions, anti-counterfeiting measures, product
line extensions and as the catalyst for brand revitalization.
— CCL Container, One Llodio Drive, Hermitage, Pa.
16148; 724/981-4420; cclcontainer.com.
Sonic batch processing
Pursuit Dynamics launched the PDX Sonic batch processing system. Designed to meet the needs of the
liquid food industry, the PDX Sonic is a self-contained, fully integrated
processing system that can mix, pump, homogenize and cook ingredients
simultaneously. The system uses supersonic shockwave technology to reduce
cooking periods by up to 15 times and cleanings by up to 80 percent. The
PDX Sonic reactor system replaces conventional multi-stage food production
processes. The process protects particulate integrity, and unlike
conventional methods of steam injection with high thermal gradients,
thermal shock is reduced and cook-on eliminated. As a result, food quality
is maintained while cleaning times are reduced.
— Pursuit Dynamics, 30 Old Kings Highway
South, Suite 224, Darien, Conn. 06820; 203/202-2128; pdxfood.com.
Sanitary fittings
New Age Industries has released AdvantaPure sanitary
fittings that meet both 3-A and ASME-BPE specifications. Manufactured to
correspond with the company’s line of sanitary tubing and hose, the
fittings now offer an added degree of safety for critical process
applications, such as those in the dairy and beverage industry.
AdvantaPure’s line of fittings offers 316L stainless steel material;
smooth, radiused edges; a wetted surface finish of 15 Ra or better;
documented lot traceability with identification markings on each fitting;
and documented quality control. Specific fitting styles consist of sanitary
male and female I-line and bevel seats; Tri-Clamp, mini Tri-Clamp and
Tri-Clamp elbows; male and female cam and groove; tube weld adapters and
pipe weld adapters.
—
New Age Industries, 145 James Way, Southampton, Pa. 18966; 888/258-4293;
advantapure.com.
Integrate reusable packaging
Linpac Materials Handling offers the Linpac Solutions
Teams to help users integrate reusable packaging into their warehousing,
storage and transportation chains. The services and solutions available are:
business cases, leasing, sample program, dunnage design, repair,
fabrication and recycling. Linpac Materials Handling products serve a
variety of industries, including automotive, industrial equipment and
beverage.
— Linpac
Materials Handling, 120 Commerce Ct., Georgetown, Ky. 40324; 502/863-5500;
linpacmh.com.
High-speed robots
Epson Robots expanded its Pro Six robot line. The new
Pro Six robots offer users faster speeds, heavier payload, longer reaches
and IP65 Rated protection. Pro Six robots are designed for small parts
assembly, dispensing, lab automation, machine tending, material handling,
packaging, food handling and many other applications requiring speed,
precision and smooth motion.
— Epson
Robots, 18300 Central Avenue, Carson, Calif. 90746; 562/290-5910;
robots.epson.com.
Equipment catalog
The new 800-page full color WACO Laboratory Equipment
Catalog has been published by Wilkens-Anderson Co. Product descriptions,
pricing and other information for a range of laboratory apparatus,
instruments, supplies, chemicals and glassware are included in the catalog.
The products are designed to meet the needs of all types of research and
development and quality control laboratories.
— Wilkens-Anderson Co., 4525 West Division St., Chicago, Ill. 60651;
800/847-2222; wacolab.com.
Bottle bag
Termika offers the first European insulated bottle bag
that is made specifically to fit 16.9-ounce bottled water. The reusable bag
folds into a 2 by 2 inch square. Termika also offers the bag in larger
sizes, and it can be customized with a company or drink logo in up to 10
colors.
— Termika U.S., 475 Persimmon
Lane, Roswell, Ga. 30076-7721; 678/585-7767; termika.us.
Washdown-proof checkweigher
Hi-Speed has introduced X-series, its new timesaving,
IP 69K-compliant, no-tools-required checkweigher. X-series is ideal for
products that are wet, sticky or abrasive. The new design features smooth
contours, a highly visible 15-inch user interface proven to withstand very
harsh environments, and a controller that seamlessly integrates multiple
inspection functions. The X-series can be sanitized quickly and allows a
single operator to monitor multiple lines.
—
Mettler-Toledo Hi-Speed Inc., 5 Barr Road, Ithaca, N.Y. 14850;
607/257-6000; hispeedcheckweigher.com.
Label printer applicator
Videojet's new P3400 label printer applicator has a
modular design for seamless combination of the base system, a print engine,
and one of eight standard application modules. The system has a standard
14-inch unwind reel (16-inch optional) that results in fewer label changes
and increased uptime. Also standard is an optical low-label sensor. These
features, along with one-screen set up, make the P3400 a customizable,
off-the-shelf solution that can overcome even the most challenging
applications. The P3400 features premium-quality thermal transfer printing
for high-resolution bar codes and text for shipping labels, which are
subsequently affixed virtually anywhere on a shipping carton or case.
— Videojet Technologies
Inc., 1500 Mittel Blvd., Wood Dale, Ill., 60191-1073; 800/843-3610;
videojet.com.
Print registered shrink bundler
Polypack has launched its
Cha Cha Cha System 24-A. The fully automated shrink-wrapping system is
capable of receiving individual products or trays and providing a wrap with
clear or print-registered polyethylene film with speeds up to 40 wraps per minute. With straightforward operation and
versatility, operators can create multi-pack or shrinkwrapped preloaded and
preformed trays.
— Polypack Inc., 3301
Gateway Centre Blvd., Pinellas Park, Fla. 33782; 727/578-5000;
polypack.com.
Shrink and stretch labels
SleeveCo’s shrink labels have become a major
force in many different packaging categories. Shrink labels offer up to
11-color rotogravure printing and provide 360-degree marketing capability.
SleeveCo also offers specialty inks, single mock-ups and a state-of-the art
in-house prepress department. SleeveCo stretch labels also offer a color
360-degree marketing option on packages from 8 ounce to 55 gallons. Printed
on top quality proprietary plastic film, SleeveCo stretch sleeves offer
colors and line screens that can handle a variety of graphic intensity.
— SleeveCo, 103 Lumpkin Campground Road North,
Dawsonville, Ga. 30534; 706/216-3100; sleeveco.com.
Low-capacity plate condenser
Alfa Laval’s AlfaCond 400, a lower-capacity
model of the company’s AlfaCond purpose-built plate condenser, was
developed specifically for condensing vapors under low-pressure,
high-vacuum conditions in evaporation and distillation systems. The
AlfaCond 400, which completes the AlfaCond range, is ideal for smaller
capacities in applications such as turbine condensers in small
co-generation plants, distillation systems and evaporation and
crystallization systems in sweetener plants, sugar mills, starch and
ethanol plants, and the chemical and food industries. The AlfaCond 400,
based on the plate-and-frame heat exchanger concept, is ideal as an
alternative to shell-and-tube heat exchangers and barometric condensers.
— Alfa Laval Inc., 5400 International Trade Drive,
Richmond, Va. 23231; 804/236-1373; alfalaval.us.
Filtration membranes
Millipore made available
its family of ultrafiltration membranes for the nutraceutical and
industrial biotech markets. UF membranes are used in a variety of specialty
chemical and food and beverage applications where fluid purification or
clarification is needed. The company’s polyethersulfone and
regenerated cellulose UF membranes can collect and concentrate extremely
small particles and dissolved molecules from fluids. Millipore’s
families of UF membranes are available in a broad range of molecular weight
cut-offs for a variety of applications.
— Millipore Corp., 290 Concord Road, Billerica, Mass.
01821; 800/645-5476; millipore.com.
Band applicator
Axon Corp. released the updated EZ-100 HSX, the company’s fastest single-head tamper-
evident band applicator. The new EZ-100 HSX, capable of a larger size
capacity, is a continuous-motion tamper-evident banding machine capable of
speeds up to 500 bottles per minute. The machine has the capacity to band
caps up to 50 mm. in diameter. In addition, a new optional feature allows
the system to operate with modulating conveyor speeds, allowing for the
system to speed up or slow down based on downstream production needs.
EZ-100 HSX relies on feedback from the conveyor drive as well as an encoder
that changes the application speed when the conveyor speed changes.
— Axon Corp., 3080
Business Park Drive, Suite 103, Raleigh, N.C. 27610; 919/772-8383; axoncorp.com.