That’s a first

After a successful European launch, Tetra Pak Inc. announced that the Tetra Evero carton now is available in the United States. Featuring an iconic bottle shape, 360-degree printable surface and a sustainable environmental profile, Tetra Evero is made from a renewable resource, wood fiber from well-managed Forest Stewardship Council-certified forests, the lightweight and recyclable Tetra Evero delivers the functionality of a traditional bottle with the environmental benefits of a carton. Tetra Evero packages are formed, sterilized and filled in the state-of-the-art Tetra Pak A6 filling machine, which made its U.S. debut at Gossner Foods, a contract manufacturer in Logan, Utah. A gas-phase sterilization technique developed specifically for Tetra Evero cartons ensures product safety and shelf-stability. The direct injection molding technology creates the unique bottle-shaped top. Additionally, the Tetra Pak A6 requires half the space of an aseptic PET line.
Tetra Pak Inc.
3300 Airport Road, Denton, Texas 76207
940/565-8800
tetrapakusa.com

The benefits of BIB packaging

At the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) tradeshow in Chicago, DS Smith-Rapak highlighted its sustainable solutions for liquid packaging, including bag-in-box (BIB) flexible packaging solutions ideal for water, smoothies, iced coffee, carbonated beverages, dairy and wine. The hassle-free, square-shaped packaging is available in 1.5- to 20-liter sizes as well as customizable options. It also is stackable when full and flat when empty, improving pallet and transportation efficiency. Additionally, the BIB design features a special additive-free film to ensure excellent organoleptic and barrier properties to keep products fresher longer. At the tradeshow, the company also debuted its new EvacuStrip bags for the post-mix and juice markets that offer an evacuation performance in excess of 99.6 percent, it says. It also highlighted its Um-liners, disposable liners used in iced tea and iced coffee urns that provide a hygienic solution for dispensing iced beverages.
DS Smith-Rapak
1201 Windham Parkway,
Romeoville, Ill. 60446
630/296-2000
dssmith.com/rapak

In-store printing in a snap

At the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) tradeshow in Chicago, Brother Mobile Solutions Inc. highlighted its shelf edge, price item, direct-store delivery and route accounting mobile printing solutions with products including RuggedJet wireless mobile printers in 2-, 3- and 4-inch formats and the PocketJet, a full-page, mobile thermal printer. It also showcased the TD2000, a fast, compact and transportable label and receipt printer for food labeling in the convenience store, the company says. Engineered for retailers, TD-2000 printers are true hybrids that can freely move throughout the retail store like mobile printers, yet have the same features and functionality of desktop models. The TD-2000 fits on crowded counters or push carts for wireless printing of 2-inch wide, high-resolution direct thermal labels, tags or receipts for numerous applications, it says. Additionally, the RuggedJet 4 Series now has MFi certified models fully compatible with iOS devices in addition to all standard operating systems.
Brother Mobile Solutions Inc.
11030 Circle Point Road, Suite 100, Westminster, Colo. 80020
800/543-6144
brothermobilesolutions.com

A re-closable solution

At the China International Beverage Exhibition on Science and Technology in Shanghai, SIG Combibloc Inc. introduced a new packaging innovation: combismile. The on-the-go solution features a curved, modern shape with easy-grip corners and is designed to increase drinking comfort and convenience for consumers, the company says. The package is re-closable due to its innovative single-action spout and features two straw-hole sizes to accommodate different straw types. In addition to offering added value in convenience and differentiation, the combismile includes SIG’s built-in drinksplus solution, enabling it to hold more healthy ingredients and real food pieces, such as fruit, vegetables and cereal grains, the company says. The combismile filling machine has an output of 24,000 packs an hour and comes with a number of benefits, including high-speed performance, volume flexibility and drinksplus capability that is added by spout and straw applicators. Additionally, the unique combismile shape and “smile” packaging is directly formed within the filling machine, is designed to meet on-the-go solutions and can open up new market possibilities, the company says.
SIG Combibloc Inc.
2501 Seaport Drive, Chester, Pa., 19013
610/546-4200;
www.sig.biz

On-the-road communication

Mobile Create USA Inc. announced that its two-way radio communications device, previously released in Japan, now is available in the United States. The service, which uses the AT&T network for nationwide communications, includes GPS Google Mapping to ensure a reliable connection almost anywhere a road vehicle can travel, the company says. In addition to voice and GPS tracking, the portable handheld radios include text messaging, unlimited talk time and a keypad display microphone that facilitates communication to an entire fleet or individual vehicles as needed. Optional accessories include a four-key, push-button programmable status pad; an “emergency” signal detection cable; an external loudspeaker; and other dispatcher-friendly options.
Mobile Create USA Inc.
2033 Gateway Place, Suite 658, San Jose, Calif. 95110
408/933-9588
mcusainc.com

Powered precision

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA) announced the release of a new 5,500-pound capacity Jungheinrich ERE 125/225/225DP pallet truck for its North American product line. Designed with the operator in mind, the electric-powered pallet truck features a stand-on platform and ergonomic operator compartments. It also boasts productive and energy-efficient operations with a progressive drive technology and control electronics. Ideal for loading and unloading trailers, the pallet truck combines the maneuverability and comfort of a stand-on forklift with the compact design of a walkie-end rider, the company says. Additionally, the ERE series can be individually adapted and customized to specific applications. The forklift also can be equipped with positionCONTROL, which enables the operator to raise the forks to a preset height with the touch of a button, thereby optimizing lift time and minimizing adjustments. Other benefits include a choice of four available stand-on platforms, an ergonomic operator compartment, a three-phase AC drive motor and an “intelligent” electronic controller with progress drive technology. Customizable options include side battery extraction for multi-shift applications and a newly developed, height-adjustable smartPILOT electric tiller head that features color-coded buttons with abrasion-resistant symbols for intuitive operation.
Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc.
2121 W. Sam Houston Parkway N., Houston, Texas 77043
713/365-1000
mcfa.com

Detecting carbon dioxide

As the use of carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas increases in popularity as a natural refrigerant due to its low environmental impact and increasing hydrofluorocarbon regulations, Bacharach Inc. offers a CO₂ leak-detection monitor for industrial and retail refrigeration applications, it says. The instrument selectively takes into consideration response times and operating temperatures in these applications, the company says. Because CO₂ has a high operating pressure, it can quickly escape into the refrigerated space at very high rates that could create a potentially dangerous condition in machinery rooms, cold rooms, freezers or other enclosed areas. The refrigerant leak-detection instrument is designed to monitor gradual changes in atmospheric CO₂ and is specifically rated for use at temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius/-40 degrees Fahrenheit, it says.
Bacharach Inc.
621 Hunt Valley Circle, New Kensington, Pa. 15068
800/736-4666
mybacharach.com

Shrink-sleeve prowess

PDC International Corp. announced that it is re-introducing the 75C-E Shrinksealer, which can provide labeling and neck banding at line speeds as fast as 400 containers a minute, the company says. Ideal for a broad range of applications and products with irregular shapes or inconsistent sizes, the new shrink sealer has two technological advantages exclusive to PDC: IndexingTooling technology, a film management system that precisely handles sleeving material through feeding, cutting and application with precise consistency; and a cutting blade assembly that is an alternative to standard spinning knife configurations and is engineered for precision cutting and perforating, delivering precise, clean cuts for months, even under continuous high-speed conditions, according to the company. For added functionality, the blades, many of which are double-edged, also can be re-sharpened. The shrink sealer applies thin-gauge banding materials between 1.25 mm and 30 microns that are compatible with standard and sustainable films, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), PET glycol-modified (PETG), biaxially oriented polystyrene (BOPS) and polylactic acid (PLA) films, it adds. Manufactured in the United States, the machine is engineered for durable, continuous operation and uses readily available, off-the-shelf components to minimize total cost of ownership and prevent unscheduled downtime.
PDC International Corp.
8 Sheehan Ave., South Norwalk, Conn. 06854
203/853-1516
pdc-corp.com

A washdown conveyor solution

Regal Beloit Corp. offers its new Sealmaster Triathlon washdown conveyor-mounted ball bearing to provide customers and original equipment manufacturers in the beverage processing industry with an economical composite performance option. The new washdown conveyor bearing features the Sealmaster PN Gold bearing insert, a high-phosphorus, nickel-plated inner and outer bearing ring for corrosion resistance, and a high-performance, triple-lip seal to minimize contamination ingress and retain lubrication, it says. The bearing also features the SKWEZLOC locking collar, which centers the shaft in the bearing bore, securing the shaft with near-perfect concentricity while not damaging the commonly used stainless steel shafting. The cost-effective performance solution can be used in the same reduced-footprint design commonly used on beverage conveyors. To maintain its smaller footprint, the Triathlon washdown conveyor bearing has reduced bolt hole spacing to replace compact conveyor designs on 40 mm and one-and-a-half-inch sizes.
Regal Beloit Corp.
200 State St., Beloit, Wis. 53511
608/364-8800
regalbeloit.com

Treading lightly

Continental Tire announced the release of a new tire retread: the ContiTread Hybrid HT3. The tire, a matching retread to the Conti Hybrid HT3 tire, has been optimized for spread axle trailer applications in long-haul and regional delivery, it says. The retread features a new and improved wing design for added protection in high scrub applications while maintaining mileage performance. It also features unique groove geometry with stone ejection technology to virtually eliminate stones. The 16/32 tread depth is available in 210 mm, 220 mm and 230 mm widths.
Continental Tire
1830 MacMillan Park Drive, Ft. Mill, S.C. 29707
800/776-2022
continentaltire.com

Analyze this

Krohne Inc. announced that it has added two new total suspended solids (TSS) sensors and a transmitter to its analytical portfolio. The OPTISENS TSS 7000 is a TSS sensor for hygienic applications with a Tri-Clamp connection, for use in milk separation, fruit processing and other food and beverage applications, while the OPTISENS TSS 3000 is used in wastewater applications to measure solids concentration in plants for early detection of product loss, the company says. Both sensors are glass-free optical sensors with multiple path lengths for various concentration ranges. They use alternating light four-beam technology for a higher reliability of the measurement compared with classic two-beam technologies. Two NIR LED light sources and two detectors compensate for most errors caused by dirt, aging or light-source variations. Because the devices can measure through a PP layer, measurement errors and sealing problems typically caused by glass windows cannot occur, it says. The sensors can be operated with Krohne’s menu-driven MAC 300 analytical transmitter, which operates with as many as three different analytical sensors. The transmitter features a backlit LCD display, robust housing that can be wall- or panel-mounted, optional live trending and data logging, and an SD card slot to save parameter sets or upload new firmware.
Krohne Inc.
7 Dearborn Road, Peabody, Mass. 01960
800/356-9464
krohne.com