EastPack '05: Start spreadin' the news...

Showcasing machinery and materials from across the spectrum of the packaging market, the EastPack show makes its 2005 return June 13 to 15 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. The show offers visitors a look at the latest in every aspect of packaging exhibited in five product pavilions.

An addition to the 2005 edition of EastPack is the Ingredients pavilion. Assembled here are many ingredient and raw material suppliers, product developers, brand and R&D managers, purchasing staff and process and packaging suppliers, along with manufacturing and production managers.

Following their successful debuts at last year's show, The Material Handling & Logistics pavilion and the Enterprise Technology pavilion return. The Material Handling & Logistics pavilion offers equipment, products and services for material handling, automation and logistics. The Enterprise Technology pavilion hosts suppliers of information technology for supply chain management. Exhibits here will highlight the means for enterprise resource planning, advanced planning scheduling, customer relationship management, warehouse management and e-commerce.

Returning for another year is the Medical/ Pharmaceutical & Nutraceutical Packaging pavilion, where suppliers of medical-grade materials and supplies, disposables packaging, blister-packs, tamper-evident containers and testing, inspection and sterilization services, among others, can be found. Visitors to the Cosmetic & Personal Care Packaging pavilion will find a plethora of services and supplies for the cosmetic, fragrance and personal care industries. Stylized bottles, jars and bags, along with specialty labeling, coatings, colorants, and valves and pumps are just a few of the items on display.

Conference program

Medical Device Packaging serves as the topic of two conference sessions to be held Tuesday, June 14, as part of the Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) East show. The morning session, which focuses on package validation, is scheduled from 9 a.m. \to noon. It's highlighted by Amcor Flexibles Healthcare's John Ozcomert's discussion on Virtual Package Design—Reducing Development Time Through Simulation. DuPont's Curt Larsen follows with a presentation on How to Determine Minimum Seal Strength Requirements. Scott Levy, of DDL, then takes the floor to discuss Shelf Life Qualification—Accelerated and Real Time. He's followed by ISTA's William Kipp, who wraps up the morning session with a presentation on Physical Testing of Package Performance—Test Protocol Selection and Implementation.

Package process validation is the topic for the afternoon session, which is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. Don Barcan of DBI, Inc., opens the session with a discussion on Determining Optimum Sealing Parameters. John Abraham, of Planet Products, follows with a look at IQ/OQ and Packaging Equipment Validation: Validating Equipment or Validating Your Knowledge? Marie Tkacik of Tolas Healthcare Packaging then speaks about Seal Strength Testing Techniques, Effects and Measured Values. Pace Solutions, LLC's Hal Miller brings the conference to a close with his presentation, Risk Assessment Program for Sterile Packaging.

Conference registration includes admission to the MD&M East show, refreshments, lunch and a tote bag. Early registration (before May 16) is $450; registration after May 16 is $600. Parties interested in the conference and expo should register for the MD&M East show; expo-only visitors can register for EastPack.

Visitors to EastPack can use their badges to visit the other co-located shows: MD&M(r) East, PLASTEC(R) East, Atlantic Design & Manufacturing(r) and Automation Technology Expo, a new show this year providing connections to leading suppliers of automation technology. EastPack is produced by Canon Communications. Visit www.eastpackshow.com or call 310/445-4200 for more information.

Many of the following EastPack exhibitor companies have a marketing message in this issue:

Advanced Poly Packaging—4000: Manufacturer of film bags, baggers, counters, scales and conveyors. Custom-made packaging systems are a specialty. Co. also offers a variety of plain or preprinted film bags. Preopened bags on rolls, flat, wicketed, handle, litter, staple-pack, bottom, or side-sealed and stock bags are available. Page 4.

AMS Filling Systems—4526: Auger-filling equipment for powders, liquids, creams, pastes and slurries.Page 13.

Auto Labe Booth Mfg. Co.—4556: Model 110SR RFID label applicator for encoding and applying RFID labels. Page 56.

Automated Packaging Systems—4517: AccuCount? 100 and 200 high-speed counters count and batch at speeds up to 2,500 packages/hr. AirPouch(tm) Express 3 void-fill pillow system is portable; produces air pillows at more than 50 ft/min. Page 81.

Autonics USA—3223: Manufacturer of diversified controllers and sensors for factory automation. Page 69.

Belcor Industries/Wexxar—4609: Specializes in bottom sealers, case formers, case erectors,case sealers, case packing, corrugated packaging and corrugated packing. Page 65.

Bosch Rexroth—2805: Electric drives, actuators and pneumatic systems, among others. Page 57.

Cognex—3248: InSight line of vision sensors meets IEC specifications for shock and vibration. Ratings include IP67 and NEMA 6. Page 46.

CVC Technologies—4401: Specializing in turnkey packaging lines and labelers, co. offers cappers, unscramblers, cottoners, and more. Labelers feature SelfSet(tm) function for fast setups. Cover 3.

Display Pack—4801: Manufacturer of thermoformed and printed packaging with an extensive line of stock clamshells and blisters. Page 61.

Doboy—4750: Virtual exhibit of co.'s product lines, capabilities and applications. Packaging solutions provided via video clips from a range of product runs.

DVT Corp.—3201: Manufacturer of machine vision systems and accessories. Page 3.

Emplex Systems—4201: Line of sealing equipment includes continuous rotary band sealers, hot-air sealers and bag fill and seal systems. Page 61.

Festo—3001: Pneumatic systems for the food industry, among other automation components. Page 8.

First Choice Packaging Solutions—4126: Designs, produces, and seals custom thermoformed clamshells and blisters, more. Page 59.

Global Flexpak—4147: Manufacturer of gravure-printed film; printing and laminating to OPP, BOPP, PET, LDPE and others. Also manufactures pouches, rollstock, shrink sleeves, tamper-evident products and more. Page 59.

Hitachi America—4413: PXP continuous ink-jet printer for white-pigmented ink. Full-featured L200 Series micro variable-speed drives features a variety of functions. Page 33.

MARKEM Corp.—4621: Supplier of product identification solutions, including equipment, software and services. Solutions include RFID applications. Page 12, 38.

MG America—4108: Manufacturer of low- and high-speed, fully automated capsule fillers, high-seed pouch fillers, cartoners, overwrappers, palletizers and more. Page 15.

Primera Technology—4839: Color inkjet technology for printing text, graphics and bar codes; prints labels or tags. Page 53.

QuickLabel Systems—4711: Printers produce full-color labels with variable information, in custom quantities. Labels printed on-demand, from PC, at high speeds. Page 41.

RSI Print Systems—4826: Manufacturer of HP industrial printing systems. Cover 4.

Tharo Systems—4264: PA1200 label printer/applicator features all-metal construction and automatic and semi-automatic configurations. Applies labels at up to 60 labels/min. Page 32.

Tray-Pak—4461: Thermoformed packaging. Co. specializes in medium-to-high volume runs. Pages 27, 29, 31.

Videojet Technologies—4601: Printing and laser-marking products, fluids, and accessories for the product identification industry. Page 19.

VIP Color Technologies—4562: Co. produces in-house, digital color-printing equipment that empowers cos. to streamline label production. VP2020 and VP8020 print variable-color labels on-demand. Page 63.

Visipak—4062: Clear plastic tubes and transparent boxes for use as retail packages.

Zebra Technologies—4117: Bar-code printers and RFID printers. p. 37.

EXPO HOURS:

Mon. & Tues., June 13 & 14: 10 am to 4pm
Wed, June 15: 10 am to 3pm

CONFERENCE:

Tues., June 14
Package Validation: 9am to noon
Package Process Validation: 1 pm to 4pm

EASTPACK NEW PRODUCTS

Cup filler

The servo-driven Model VC-SV volumetric cup-filling system is suitable for dry, granular products such as seeds, popcorn, snack foods and gravel. A multistation, fully automatic machine, it can fill up to 60 cups/min and features a control package consisting of a PLC and a touchscreen operator interface. Multiple recipes can be setup and stored. Several options are available, including filling weight feedback and dust collecting capabilities.

All-Fill, Inc., 866/255-3455. www.all-fill.com

Printer

The Wolke m600 printer is suitable for printing small-character variable data, 2D and RSS bar codes, as well as logos and graphics after they are imported into the system. Utilizing HP printhead technology, the m600 is capable of printing in resolutions up to 600 dpi, and at speeds of up to 800 ft/min. The flexibility of printing from one to four printheads independently, or a cluster of up to four, the printer can print up to 2 in. of independent text and images. Maintenance free, it has no moving parts, valves or solenoids. GAMP-compliant, the m600 is suitable for pharmaceutical, medical, cosmetic and food applications.

Nutec Systems, Inc., 609/912-0145. www.nutecsystems.com

RFID label applicator

The Model 110SR RFID label applicator incorporates RFID reader technology for encoding EPC data directly to an RFID label, prior to application. An apply-only solution for users that do not require on-line printing of RFID labels, the unit is servo-motor-driven.

Auto Labe, 800/634-5376. www.autolabe.com

Hot-melt ink-jet coders

The 5000 Series of hot-melt ink-jet case coders has been enhanced, allowing users to operate up to four printheads with one controller. The Model 5200 is capable of controlling two printheads, while the Model 5400 can control four. Both systems can print on two sides of a box simultaneously and both produce print that maintains its integrity and legibility regardless of variations in corrugated or recycled content, the co. reports. Print is also said to remain unaffected by moisture or condensation. The 5200 and the 5400 provide direct coding solutions and include the ability to print on shrink-wraps. Suitable for use in moist or wet, washdown environments, the coders achieve high-resolution prints and use Touch Dry? hot-melt ink technology.

Markem Corp., 866/263-4644. www.markem.com

Label printer/applicator

The PA1200 label printer/applicator is compatible with Zebra Technologies' Z4Mplus(tm), Datamax's I-Class and the co.'s H-Series of thermal/thermal-transfer bar-code label printers. It features an all-metal construction with a heavy-duty cylinder that compensates for high-stress side labeling, with minimal deflection, when using a conveyor. Its versatile design applies labels as small as 0.2030.20 in., making it suitable for small, delicate, high-precision applications. Available in automatic and semi-automatic versions, it can apply up to 60 labels/min, depending on the printer used, label size and product height. It requires minimal adjustments and offers quick setups and changeovers. Applications include pharmaceuticals and medical packs, cosmetics and more.

Tharo Systems, Inc., 330/273-4408. www.tharo.com

Carton former

The Cobra carton former can handle cartons for hot-melt, lock or simplex carton forming. Its transport system can provide up to 13 in. of uninterrupted hot-melt application, and it also provides positive carton control positioning, distance and velocity while applying adhesive.

Doboy, Inc., a Bosch Packaging Technology co., 715/246-6511. www.doboy.com

Heat-plate exchange system

The Automated Heat Plate Exchange system (ATEX) uses a combination of transfer trays and automatic locking/unlocking mechanisms to facilitate safe, operator-friendly changes of heat-seal machine heat plates. A feature available for most Alloyd(tm) sealing machines, ATEX eliminates the need for operators to balance the hot, heavy plates with one hand while releasing latches with the other. The design makes heat distribution from the platen to the plate uniform, resulting in better seals.

SCA Packaging, Consumer Products, 800/756-7639. www.sca.com

Printer

The EasyPrint X in-line thermal-transfer printer features an IP65 rating, making it suitable for use in harsh environments. Its IP65 rating makes the new model a viable alternative for meat processing and packing, poultry, dairy and prepared food applications. It offers high-speed printing of up to 1,200 mm/sec, and it's available in both 2- and 5-in. widths. It can print variable data directly onto film, foil and Tyvek?.

Bell-Mark, Inc., 973/882-0202. www.bell-mark.com