Showcase: Packaging Equipment and Supplies

Axon
Axon Corporation, manufacturer of heat shrinkable sleeve label, tamper evident band and stretch sleeve applicators, has introduced heat-shrinkable tamper-evident band applicators to the fresh-cut produce industry. The EZ-400 and EZ-650 apply a tamper-evident seal around clamshell and large tray type packages.

“The increase in demand for product safety for all markets led us to look at areas to expand into,” said Ed Farley, director of
sales, Axon Corporation. “The EZ-Seal line has been successful in creating safe packaging for many different markets, and the produce industry will benefit just as well.”

Tamper-evident banding assures packagers and processors that their product remains uncontaminated and undamaged. Applying a tamper-evident seal to the lip of a clamshell or tray eliminates the opportunity for the package to pop open during the transportation cycle. This diminishes safety concerns and assures packagers and processors that the product arrives on the shelves in pristine condition, safe and uncontaminated.

The EZ-400 has a maximum sleeve lay-flat width of 400 millimeters. It is designed to accommodate product widths from 3-11/16 inches to 9-7/8 inches. The EZ-650 has a sleeve lay-flat width range between 150 millimeters to 650 millimeters, and accommodates product widths from 3-1/16 inches to 16-3/16 inches.

A part of Axon’s EZ-Seal line of heat shrinkable sleeve label applicators, both systems are fully automatic, continuous motion units that use minimal moving parts for high reliability and low maintenance. With a small footprint, the machines can easily integrate with existing lines or Axon can provide a complete system including applicator, conveyor and heat tunnel.

AXON Corporation represents more than 30 years of experience in engineering, design, manufacturing and distribution of the highest quality heat shrink labeling, tamper evident banding and stretch sleeve labeling equipment.

Norwood Marking Systems
Norwood Marking Systems introduces the 55sst Thermal Express, a versatile, high-speed thermal transfer printer that prints fixed and/or variable data on a wide range of flexible packaging materials, including flexible films and label substrates. Capable of operating in intermittent or continuous motion with quick conversion, the 55sst offers tremendous production versatility. Norwood’s patented ribbon handling system allows the 55sst to maximize print quality while achieving high throughput, even in the most challenging environments.

Variable printing improves product security and tracking with real-time data such as UPC, lot and production codes, expiration and sell-by dates, produced in-line as products are packaged. The 55sst printer operates at production speeds of up to a meter per second in continuous motion mode and up to 600 millimeters per second in intermittent motion mode.

Unlike traditional continuous-motion thermal transfer printers that are adversely affected by fluctuations in web speed, Norwood’s patented ribbon management system provides controlled ribbon acceleration. This system improves registration to produce consistent print quality while causing less wear and tear on the system. The 55sst virtually eliminates partial prints, misprints and ribbon breakage caused by fluctuations in web speed.

The 55sst Thermal Express offers three user interface options to ease operation. In addition to the PR4 color touch screen that would typically be mounted to the host equipment near the print engine, Norwood can equip the 55sst with a PR3 color handheld interface. Both options enable operators to recall images from memory and handle simple editing functions at print time. The 55sst also allows connectivity to a PC or network, which enables remote operation, monitoring and diagnostics of the print operation. Norwood offers its user interface in eight languages. Multi-level password protection increases production security.

With full clock and calendar functions as well as serialization, the 55sst can print fixed and variable text. Text and graphics, including a wide array of two-dimensional or RSS barcodes, can be printed with a resolution of 300 dpi horizontally and vertically. An unlimited choice of font styles and a wide range of sizes are available. A unique paragraph feature, ideal for listing ingredients and nutritional information, enables text to automatically wrap, which eliminates the need to format text one line at a time.

Norwood’s 55sst can be mounted on a wide variety of host equipment to print fixed and/or variable data. Common applications include integrating the 55sst with vertical- and horizontal-form-fill-seal systems, print and apply labelers, thermoformers and overwrapping equipment. A software-enabled, electronic adjustment provides quick and easy change from intermittent motion to continuous motion operation, which makes the 55sst ideal for packagers that wish to maximize equipment versatility. The 55sst is IP65 and NEMA 4/13 compliant.

Operating in intermittent motion mode, the 55sst offers a print area up to 2.05 inches wide and 3.15 inches long. With continuous motion operation, the print area can be up to 2.05 inches wide and 4.92 inches long.

PBI-Dansensor
Metallized film, with its moisture and oxygen barrier properties and relatively low cost, can be quickly and easily tested on LYSSY Moisture Vapor Transmission and Oxygen Permeation testers available from PBI-Dansenso. It will validate barrier performance properties prior to material use at both point of receipt of the material and when material is taken from storage to ensure that barrier properties have not been compromised by oxidation or moisture.

Since metallized film material kept in storage is subjected to a range of temperature and humidity conditions that can warp the film and result in a weakening of the barrier properties and physical aesthetics, it is important that metallized film rolls be tested prior to use.

When used as a component of a fast-to-market packaging development strategy, the LYSSY tester provides speed, ease-of-use and accuracy for measuring permeability.

Quick-yielding LYSSY test results present packaging engineers and metallized film formulators with early and frequent moisture vapor transmission and oxygen transmission rates they can use to test and evaluate barrier protection performance.

The self-contained LYSSY tester provides continuous scanning within a controlled, enclosed temperature/humidity environment that is less sensitive to ambient temperature, humidity or physical space limitations than other test methods.

PBI-Dansensor is a worldwide leader in the development, manufacture, sales and service of equipment for industrial instrumentation and process control.

For more information, write James Margiotta, PBI Dansensor America Inc., 139 Harristown Road, Glen Rock, NJ 07452; call (201) 251-6490 or visit www.pbi-dansensor.com.

VideoJet
The new DataFlex Plus thermal transfer overprinter (TTO) from Videojet Technologies Inc. offers the industry’s highest reliability, lowest cost of ownership and simplest operation for high resolution coding on flexible packaging and labels, the company says. This TTO unit provides online printing of variable and real-time data, such as expiration dates, batch/lot codes, ingredients/parts listings, bar codes and logos.

The DataFlex Plus features proven, patented direct-drive ribbon technology that contains few wearable parts, which increases reliability and minimizes downtime and costs associated with ribbon breaks. The 1,000-meter ribbon is the longest standard length on the market, so there are less frequent changes and higher production line efficiency. Additionally, the unit features the simplest ribbon cassette on the market, making changeovers fast, easy and virtually fail-safe.

The DataFlex Plus has an intuitive 8.4-inch SVGA graphical user interface and color touch screen with easy-to-learn, icon-based controls. The standard WYSIWYG job display features a zoom facility to reduce operator error and minimize the potential for printing incorrect codes. Three levels of password protection provide added security.

”The DataFlex Plus offers superior flexibility for all production environments,” said Kent Morris, TTO product manager, Videojet Technologies. “It has the built-in capability to change between intermittent and continuous modes in right-hand or left-hand operation. Serial, Ethernet and USB communications are standard, delivering the most comprehensive communications package in the industry. The DataFlex Plus also provides the ability to manage up to four printers from one controller, delivering a simple and cost-effective solution for applications that require more than one printing system.”

The bi-directional ribbon drive allows unused ribbon to be recaptured following each print. This maintains a 1-millimeter gap between prints for the complete length of the ribbon, creating more prints per roll and ensuring the highest possible efficiency.

For more information about the Videojet DataFlex Plus thermal transfer overprinter, call (800) 843-3610 or visit www.videojet.com.

Wilpack Packaging
Wilpack Packaging, a division of A-American Machine Companies, has introduced an all-electric table-top heat sealer. Wilpack Packaging Division also manufactures rotary fill and seal packaging equipment capable of speeds up to 80 containers per minute.

The Model 20 features include:

•All-electric heat-sealer, no compressed air required;

•Plugs into a 110-volt socket;

•Seals up to 4-1/2-inch containers;

•Seals seven to 10 cups per minute;

•Weighs just 35 pounds

•Measures 17 inches by 6 inches by 14-1/2 inches;

•Food-grade quality;

•Stainless-steel safety guarding; and

•Adjustable temperature and dwell settings

For more information, call (815) 490-9235 or visit www.wilpackpackaging.com.



Be sure to check out our other specialty agriculture brands

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