There's no second-guessing equipment problems at Dannon's Minster, OH, plant. Its twin-camera video system can record events at up to 1/128,000-sec shutter speed and up to 60 frames/sec, boosting packaging-line efficiencies. Able to record hours of video at 60 images/sec at a shutter speed of up to 1/128,000 sec, the high-speed, digital-video system helps Dannon's plants solve complicated production and quality issues, which require the ability to actually see problems as they occur at high speeds. Read more...
New package for coffee pods German supermarket chain Aldi Süd introduces a new easy-open package for its Amaroy coffee pods. Coffee pods, which are individual, single-serving packets of product, enable end-users to make single cups of different flavored hot drinks in a single coffee maker. However, they also present a challenge to the producers, because for optimum results, the pods should not be smashed or folded, and the product should not be exposed to oxygen. Read more...
PACK EXPO Las Vegas continues growth trend
Consumer and industrial goods companies broke PACK EXPO Las Vegas attendance records as they flocked to the largest, most comprehensive packaging event in 2007 to find innovative packaging solutions from the record number of exhibiting packaging suppliers. PMMI's PACK EXPO Las Vegas set new highs in visitor attendance (+10 percent), exhibitor attendance (+19 percent), total attendance (+13 percent), international attendance (+34 percent), number of exhibiting companies (+12 percent) and net square footage (+17 percent). Read more...
University scientists urge Congress to ignore corporation's attack on meat packaging system
In a letter delivered to Congress, 17 distinguished scientists urged lawmakers to ignore a corporation's campaign to scare consumers about a meat packaging system. Over the past two years, corporate lobbying and public relations firms have been attacking a safe system of packaging fresh meat known as "Modified Atmosphere Packaging," the scientists said. In essence, the system places meat in a package where the ratio of gases in air has been altered and oxygen has been removed. It has been safely used for years. Read more...
Resealable Coke cans developed
Coca-Cola has developed drinks cans which can be resealed by customers. It works by using a flat plastic tab that swivels over the can's opening. The soft drinks giant has tried out the new design in Jersey and Guernsey. Coca-Cola is now assessing the resealable can idea and whether to roll it out further. Read more...
Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) benchmark study reveals manufacturing performance
Best-in-class consumer packaged goods manufacturers outpace their peers in operational metrics such as changeover, overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), and operational availability, according to a report published by Informance International, a leader in Enterprise Manufacturing Intelligence (EMI). The six-month study of 220 worldwide consumer goods packaging lines uncovered substantial gaps in performance for manufacturers that have granular, real-time visibility and measurement of key metrics versus those that do not. Read more...
Regulatory developments
Prepare for new bar code, says standards organization
Manufacturers and retailers should start planning for the 2010 deadline for adopting a new smaller, international bar code that can help improve logistics, says the organization that created the standard. The 2010 deadline marks when the bar codes—previously known as 'reduced space symbology'—will start to appear on products and at retail checkouts, said GS1 UK, the independent organization responsible for the new bar code. Read more...
New products
Robotic case packer
The new R700 Adabot™ is a robotic case packer that tracks and picks products on-the-fly at high speeds. Both its carbon fiber arms and its controller are able to execute 10 times faster than a PLC with its open architecture PacDrive™ automation controller. Read more...
Fallas Automation Inc., 254/772-9524 www.fallasautomation.com
Bagging system
The FAS Sprint SidePouch™ bagging system is capable of bagging at speeds up to 120 bags/min with a loading speed that is fully adjustable to optimize productivity for one or more operators. Read more...
Automated Packaging Systems,
330/342-2000. www.autobag.com
Laser-coding system The high-speed IDT K-1060 SHS CO2 laser-coding system features a 60-watt, high-speed laser system that prints two lines of text at production rates up to 16,000 units/min. Read more... ID Technology, 888/438-3242 www.idtechnology.com
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