Packaging Automation & Controls

PACKAGING BRIEFS Tuesday, March 20
Posted by Jenni Spinner, Senior Editor, March 20, 2012
People, news and events impacting the packaging industry. More
Control System Updated for Strapping Machine
Jack Mans, March 16, 2012
High-speed, twenty-four-seven operation of the Strapmaster strapping machine requires accuracy, repeatability, and dependability from all its components, especially the motion controller. GO Packaging installed an integral machine controller-amplifier package that provides unsurpassed digital direct PWM control for three-phase brushless (servo) motors, as well as asynchronous induction motors. More
N. American machine vision sales up 5 percent in 2011
Posted by Jenni Spinner, Senior Editor, March 13, 2012
Sales of machine vision components climbed to nearly $1.9 billion, according to the AIA. More
Bulk palletizer
Posted by John Kalkowski, Editorial Director, March 11, 2012
This new line of robotic bulk palletizers is offered for high speed bulk palletizing applications. More
SC Johnson cuts VOCs in aerosol product manufacturing
Posted by Lisa McTigue Pierce, March 8, 2012
SC Johnson's newest aerosol production line, which uses innovative compressed gas technology to manufacture Glade and Pledge aerosol products, has reduced volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by approximately six million pounds in its first year of operation. More
Servo Motor
Posted by Jack Mans, Plant Operations Editor, March 6, 2012
The new AM8000 servo motor series highlights single-cable technology, with which the power and feedback system are combined into one standard motor cable.The encoder data, rotor position, multi-turn information and the status of the thermal conditions in the motor are transmitted reliably and free from interference via a digital interface. Motion system materials and installation costs can be significantly lowered. More
Integrated robotics in packaging machines
Posted by Jack Mans, Plant Operations Editor, March 6, 2012
Unveiled at Interpack, the Packer demonstrated a highly-dynamic motion control application where individual axes, cam profiles and robotics must be synchronized with the utmost precision. Integrated into the machine are the absolute latest machine concepts for handling, image processing, safety technology, control and monitoring. More
Delkor maps a course to grow its business
John Kalkowski, Editorial Director, March 6, 2012

The market is always speaking to businesses, but is their leadership listening? More importantly, are leaders willing to act when they've filtered out the messages the market is sending them? In 2008, Dale Andersen, president and CEO of Delkor Systems, a Minneapolis, MN-based manufacturer of cartoning and end-of-line packaging equipment, understood developing changes in the market, and his company capitalized on the opportunity.
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Thin-film winding
Posted by Jenni Spinner, Senior Editor, March 6, 2012
The company is offering a software library for controlling winder processes to facilitate high-quality printing on ultra-thin, highly elastic film. More
Sophisticated packaging
at bakery copacker
Jack Mans, Plant Operations Editor, March 2, 2012
State-of-the-art robotic and servo-driven systems provide high-speed packaging for Wenona, IL-based contract baker Oak State's wide assortment of products with minimum operator interaction. With 200,000 sq ft of space, including four oven lines and one of the largest chocolate enrobing lines for baked goods in the U.S., Oak State can produce 80 million lbs of baked product annually. More
Belt conveyor
Lisa McTigue Pierce, March 1, 2012
New Precision Move 2200 and 3200 Series belt conveyors delivers extremely accurate movement of product at specific times, distances and intervals for when precise product movement is critical in manufacturing and packaging processes. More
Camera for pick-and-place robots
Posted by Jenni Spinner, Senior Editor, February 29, 2012
Compact, and with a processing speed of 5000 pieces per minute with full 360 degree rotation, the FQ-M vision sensor comes with Ethernet and EtherCAT embedded for ease of integration into any environment, and it includes an incremental encoder for ease of tracking and calibration. More
Converting toolbox
Jack Mans, February 28, 2012
The Simatic® Converting Toolbox module is a PLC-based control solution used in applications with a PLC as the central control system in which process controls are implemented. The Simatic module completes the application set that includes the Simotion® module, a group of high-performance motion control converting solutions, and the Sinamics® DCC (drive control chart) module with drive-based converting solutions. More
How best to reduce power on future ICs
Posted by Jack Mans, Plant Operations Editor, February 28, 2012
Excessive power consumption has become the chief roadblock to further scaling of semiconductors, threatening to stall advancement in all electronics sectors. Engineers have devised a novel set of innovations that are mitigating the problem today and that promise to reinvigorate the chip industry tomorrow. More
Vision sensor for robot guidance
Lisa McTigue Pierce, February 28, 2012
The new FQ-M vision sensor for guiding pick-and-place robots offers built-in motion tracking and EtherCAT/Ethernet for easy integration into any environment. This smart camera has a processing speed of 5,000 pieces per minute, even with full 360-deg rotation. More
PACK EXPO International 2012 reaches 1 million sq. ft. of exhibit space
Posted by Jenni Spinner, Senior Editor, February 23, 2012
Show producer PMMI reports that 1,300 exhibitors already have reserved booth space for the packaging industry event, scheduled Oct. 28-31 in Chicago. More
PACKAGING BRIEFS Thursday, February 23
Posted by Jenni Spinner, Senior Editor, February 23, 2012
People, services, awards and news impacting the packaging industry. More
WestPack crowds soaked up live product demos
John Kalkowski, February 17, 2012
The West Coast's largest packaging show drew large crowds during its three-day 2012 run, which ended yesterday. Robotics was prominent at the Southern California show, with a number of manufacturers highlighting speed and flexibility in packaging applications. More
Anti-static pillow film
Posted by Jenni Spinner, Senior Editor, February 16, 2012

PILLOW PAK anti-static film enables packaging operations to produce static-free pillow packaging material onsite. One inflated roll of the Quilt Medium anti-static film, with a height of 7/8 in., reportedly makes the equivalent of four full bundles of traditional 1/2-in. bubble material, 48 in. wide and 250 ft. long. More
Slideshow: Top 5 Automation & Control Trends to Watch in 2012
Posted by Jack Mans, Plant Operations Editor, February 7, 2012
By Rob Spiegel, Senior Editor, Automation & Control, Design News

Running the plant has become a matter of adopting technology and adapting to it. 2012 will see an expansion of new technologies as tools introduced in 2011 get deployed, resulting in higher productivity, greater throughput, and safer plants.
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