A number of equipment suppliers servicing the beverage industry exhibited their latest products and capabilities. Below are some highlights from the show:

A-B-C Packaging Machine Corp., Tarpon Springs, Fla., introduced the M236 case sealer, designed to deliver value and performance to 15-25 cases-per-minute (CPM) lines. It also debuted the Model 300 case erector for production lines handling 15-25 CPM. The company also unveiled the first in a line of robotic packers for flexible packages. The Model 600 offers flexibility to run multiple package styles with a variety of infeed options.

Bedford, Texas-based AmbaFlex highlighted its new AccuVeyor AVh. The AVh offers companies a new way of accumulating on the production line. The spiral accumulator features a belt transfer that leaves the accumulated products untouched, meaning no clamping or transfer device is necessary, reducing the risk of jams and downtime, it says.

Suwanee, Ga.-based Arol North America showcased its capper for plastic pre-threaded caps. The closure system can accommodate speeds as fast as 1,500 bottles a minute.

C&D Skilled Robotics Inc., Beaumont, Texas, promoted its catalog of robotic solutions.

Houston-based Daxner USA Inc. showcased its solids handling technology for plants handling powders and bulk goods.

Douglas Machine Inc., Alexandria, Minn., launched TriVex SL, a top-load robotic case packing machine that packs bags, pouches and cartons in a standup configuration into retail-ready display cases with one or two product facings. Also on display were the vision-guided TriVex RL, the Contour SPS-60 shrink-wrap system, and Axiom IM and Invex IM horizontal case/tray packaging machines.

Elk Grove, Ill.-based Fort Dearborn Co. promoted its range of label options. The company offers shrink sleeve, roll-fed, pressure sensitive, and cut-and-stack labels for the beverage industry.

Tarrytown, N.Y.-based Hitachi American Ltd. announced its latest generation continuous ink jet printer: the UK Series. The product line incorporates the same low-pressure, ink return system used in previous Hitachi series printers, but adds a new cartridge-type system, making ink replacement clean and simple by eliminating the need to pour fluids, it says. The company also unveiled its first line of Co2 laser markers: the LM Series. The line incorporates a compact design offering 10- or 30-watt power output.

Cincinnati-based Intelligrated showcased its robotic integration capabilities, including enhancements to the Alvey 890 series palletizers: Alvey 890i and 891i. The upgrades include technological advancements that make the machines easier to operate and maintain, improve safety and offers options to increase capacity, according to the company.

For the fourth time, the International Society of Beverage Technologists (ISBT), Dallas, hosted the Beverage Cooler Lounge to provide networking opportunities for experts and their peers. ISBT also hosted a reception for beverage professionals Sept. 29 at the lounge.

JBT Corp., Chalfont, Pa., showcased benefits to self-guided vehicles (SGV) within automated guided vehicle systems. These mobile robots receive material movement commands from SGV Manager Server and then autonomously navigate throughout a facility along a virtual path to move material, the company says.

Pittsburgh-based Matthews Marking Systems promoted its new Mperia controllers. The platform manages multiple Matthews’ print technologies including high-resolution piezo ink jet, high-resolution thermal ink jet and drop on-demand valve ink jet. Mperia allows operators to manage messages and settings for multiple printers across one or several production lines, the company says.

Murzan Inc., Norcross, Ga., showcased its ABDT juice concentrate unloading system. The ABDT consists of two double diaphragm pumps that are mounted on a stainless steel carriage that moves the pumps and suction wand up and down to allow entrance and unloading of the four drums on a pallet at the same time, the company says.

Oconomowoc, Wis.-based Orbis Corp. highlighted its portfolio of reusable packaging options. Its most recent release is PlastiCorr, a reusable corrugated box that works seamlessly with existing automated packaging lines, it says. PlastiCorr features the first-of-its-kind, patented Enfold technology. This joint design ensures the box’s flaps return to a straight position after every use, the company says.

Dallas-based OxySense showcased its OxyPerm Permeation/OTR System. The application offers accurate and timely oxygen transmission rate (OTR) testing for films, bottles and finished packages, the company says.

PakTech, Eugene, Ore., promoted its sustainable handle and applicator solutions for the beverage industry. Available in multiple configurations and custom colors, the handles are made from 96 percent recycled material and are 100 percent recyclable as they are composed of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) resin.

PDC International Corp., South Norwalk, Conn., demonstrated its PDC R-350 Evolution Shrink Sleeve Labeler. The machine handles tapered and reverse-tapered containers, ovals, rounds, twin packs and rigid packages with capacities of 2 to 64 ounces. This mandrel-style labeler uses PDC’s proprietary blade technology, a rugged and longer-lived alternative to “spinning” knives. The company also demonstrated its new R-100 Evolution Shrink Labeler for continuous shrink labeling and twin packing. An extension of the R Series of shrink sleeve labelers, the R-100 offers speed ranges from 30 to 100 containers a minute.

Florence, Ky.-based Regal Power Transmission Solutions highlighted a range of ultra-high-efficiency AC motors, gear reducers and gearmotors. The new drives utilize Marathon Motors and Hub City or Grove Gear reducers. Combined with SealMaster and McGill bearings, along with a System Plast conveyor chain, Regal’s portfolio offerings are capable of reducing nuisance maintenance, bearing failure, product damage, and energy and water consumption, it says.

Rehrig Pacific Co., Los Angeles, showcased its line of functional pallets and crates, containers, roll-out carts and bins. The company also offers its PubKeg for breweries and wineries.

Milwaukee-based Rockwell Automation promoted its ErgoPakPal, which incorporates robotic technology and is designed to deliver complete end-of-line solutions within a compact footprint, the company says.

Brewton, N.Y.-based Schneider Packaging Equipment Co. Inc. exhibited its gable top case packer. Designed for easy, accurate and rapid changeovers, the case packer quickly changes out from the two-pack convenience case to the three-, four-, six- and eight-pack cases and also is available as a top or bottom loading vertical case packer, the company says. It also highlighted its newest, smallest robotic palletizer, The Robox. Featuring FANUC’s new M-710iC/50H, the five axis robot has more than 70 pounds of lifting capacity and is ideal for material handling, it adds. Schneider also highlighted its Sentry 7000, an automatic case sealer tape model that can seal as many as 30 cases a minute in random sequence with no operator required, according to the company.

Glasgow, Ky.-based Span Tech LLC showcased its portfolio of material handling equipment.

System ID, Plano, Texas, promoted its catalog of barcode solutions.

Vacuum Barrier Corp., Woburn, Mass., highlighted its Nitrodose G2 Servodoser. The system features a programmable motion profile dosing valve, dosing speeds as fast as 2,000 containers a minute and a long-life servo actuator. It also has accuracy by dose weight of plus or minus 1 percent, according to the company.

Next year’s Pack Expo International will co-locate with Pharma Expo and will take place Nov. 6-9 in Chicago.