Vaccon Company, a U.S. manufacturer of air-powered venturi vacuum pumps, introduces the new RTM Series™ of maintenance-free venturi cartridges at the Pack Expo Show in Chicago, November 2…
Baumer VisiLine cameras now available with USB 3.0 interface
Baumer’s VisiLine series industrial cameras are now available with USB 3.0 interface. Providing simple solutions to demanding image processing tasks, VisiLine cameras are ideally suited for robotics, packaging and print inspection, medical technology, and renewable energy applications. Baumer’s cameras featuring high-performance SONY CCD sensors are the first group available with USB 3.0 technology and excel…
B&R takes packaging machinery performance to a new level
B&R Industrial Automation will exhibit its latest packaging solutions at booth S-3179 at PACK EXPO International, November 2-5, 2014 in Chicago’s McCormick Place, where, along with the new co-located Pharma EXPO, over 50,000 packaging professionals will come together. With flexible I/O solutions, modern industrial multi-touch HMIs, modular drive systems and Panel PCs that implement the…
Make the packaging process more flexible
These days the quality of the packaging is as important as the packaging lines being multifunctional. Not only must the lines satisfy the highest requirements in terms of productivity, flexibility and reliability, but safety must also be absolute. Nestlé Purina Petcare is a manufacturer of dog and cat food; its priority is the quality of…
Packaging on the fast track
B&R’s reACTION technology takes packaging to an entirely new level With reACTION technology, B&R is able to reduce response times in industrial automation applications down to 1 µs. This new approach allows extremely time-critical subprocesses to be managed using standard hardware – all within the requirements of IEC 61131 – while cutting costs by reducing…
Kübler slip rings SR060E do not require oiling any more
Cleanliness in connection with minimal maintanance is the focus of the packaging industry. This maxim often poses enormous challenges, since the packaging machines, which are faster and more productive than ever, are in continuous operation throughout the service life. But, in spite of the intense machine run times, neither dirt accumulation nor dust generation is…
Simulation aids design iteration for packaging hot-fill process
By Travis Hunter When simulation analysis results for the widely used “hot-fill” process of packaging liquids did not correlate to lab tests, Graham Packaging Company began searching for a new simulation method that would yield accurate results. It needed to experiment with different package designs to anticipate deformation during the hot-fill process, and simulation offered…
Adaptive Systems deliver productivity gains
When manufacturers seek to increase throughput in an automation system—a packaging line, a machine tool or a pick-and-place operation—one technical issue they can quickly encounter is unwanted vibration. Depending on the process, this can require intermittent deceleration to avoid damaging the machine or product. This useful and informative Technical Paper from Bosch Rexroth provides a…
Gen 3 Inductive Rotary Encoder for Functional Safety
HEIDENHAIN is expanding its third generation of absolute inductive rotary encoders with the ExI 11xx series, providing a single encoder safety solution for many industries such as packaging, automation and robotics. These new products are especially suitable for safety-related applications up to SIL 3, PLe, and Category 4. These applications involve high risks for the…
Switching from pneumatic to electric in packaging machines
A number of companies in the packaging machine industry have chosen electrical servo technology–mainly to replace motion axes previously powered by pneumatic systems. Multivac, for example, recently switched to servo technology. “We have found that this technology increases controllability and reduces noise emission,” said Guido Spix, CTO Multivac, “which helps us increase the number of…
Packaging machine control reduces material usage
How can you implement packaging designs that make higher quality products while reducing the amount of packaging materials? How can you reduce the energy consumption of the entire packaging process? PC-based control and drive technology are ideally suited to dealing with these challenges, controlling and monitoring the entire process of individual packaging machines and complete…
Progress on a thermally and electrically conductive die-attach film
AI Technology, Inc. (AIT) claims to have solved one of the technically more challenging problems in wafer level semiconductor packaging to achieve conductive die-attach film adhesive (DAF) of 20-micron thickness. While DAF adhesive at the wafer level is becoming more prevalent in die-attach for memory modules in precision bonding and thin packages, thermally conductive and…
igus® presents maintenance-free systems for the packaging industry
igus is presenting a range of innovative new products specially developed to meet stringent demands of the packaging industry. Manufacturers of packaging machinery rely on high-performance components, especially where products must be packed in a timely and energy-efficient manner. Because of this, machinery must be designed and manufactured under strict rules and regulations. igus is…
Couplings handle servo driven packaging needs
Looking for couplings for packaging applications? These rigid couplings meet this application’s demanding needs. They have precision honed bores, anti-vibration hardware, and opposing hardware on two-piece styles to ensure fit, alignment, and holding power. They are available in a variety of sizes, styles, and materials to suit the needs of packaging applications such as case…
Modular design delivers fast response for packaging systems
Packaging lines demand extreme levels of productivity and flexibility across the board – from the primary and secondary solutions straight through to the end-of-line equipment. This can be achieved through a modular design with control and drive components installed directly on the machine’s frame – or even on rotating parts. With reACTION and NetTime technology,…
How-To Create Robust Guided Motion For Any Environment
Precision linear guidance is a necessity for automated equipment and production level processes and in many applications the operating conditions are challenging for mechanical components. DualVee® linear guide wheels from Bishop-Wisecarver Group are designed to smoothly guide heavy loads in a variety of challenging environments including high temperatures, low temperatures, washdown and vacuum conditions. Solve…
Open, adaptable and modular safety solution from Pilz
Just as products come in packaging of all shapes and sizes, so do today’s demands on packaging machines. Although packaging is primarily there to protect the content, product presentation frequently boosts the incentive to buy and is constantly adjusted to meet point-of-sale requirements. Even when the packaging tasks are changed frequently, operators expect reliability, high…
AI Technology, Inc. Releases Second Generation COOL-PAD™ CPR 7154
AI Technology, Inc. (AIT) introduces COOL-PAD™ CPR7154, a new class of thermal interface material that dispenses like a thermal pad, but performs with characteristics like that of a grease or gel when device temperatures increase to above 45°C. COOL-PAD™ CPR7154 is optimized to accommodate large areas with different heights and gaps of less than 3-mil…
“Green” conveying eliminates the need for cardboard trays
Here is both a green and a cost saving idea for conveying items in the food and beverage industry. The System Plast™ low-back pressure accumulation belt eliminates the need for cardboard trays under shrink-wrapped packs. Consisting of half-inch (12.7 mm) acetal rollers, the conveyor surface is specifically designed to ensure support and stability for PET…
ASCO Numatics Industrial Automation Engineering Scholarships Deadlines Approaches
March 31st is the deadline for U.S. students pursuing a degree in engineering to apply to the 2014 ASCO Numatics Industrial Automation Engineering Scholarship program, sponsored by ASCO Numatics, the world’s leading manufacturer of comprehensive fluid automation, flow control, and pneumatics solutions. ASCO Numatics will award two $5,000 scholarships to U.S. engineering students, provide $1,000…
Connectors for Food and Beverage Packaging
Communication and connectivity components must handle the harsh environments found in food and beverage packaging applications. It also helps if these components can reduce costs and improve reliability and operating efficiency. One product line that claims to meet these application needs is the Brad automation product line, which meets the needs of packaging machine builders,…
Ethernet Based Motion Control Upgrades Plastic Bag Making Machine
Two UK plastic bag machine support specialists have cooperated to launch a machine offering new levels of programmability and bag production flexibility. Based on ABB’s Ethernet Powerlink compatible motion control range, the machine features an all servomotor architecture and a user interface developed from the operator’s point of view. Modern plastic bag making machines often…
Power Unit for Wheelchair Lifts and Other Applications
Even though a component is targeted at a specific market, such as medical, it may be useful in a number of other applications with requirements similar to its primary market. Butler Mobility, for example, uses a high-quality, high-tech power lift for its inclined platform wheelchair lift. That same power unit can also be used for…
MISUMI Offers Wide Range of Linear Guides
MISUMI USA, Inc., a subsidiary of MISUMI Corporation, part of MISUMI Group, Inc. (Tokyo: 9962), will display its extensive portfolio of Linear Guides at PACK EXPO 2013, Booth…
Lenze’s Recent Release of Two PC-Based Controllers
Lenze Americas recently expanded its successful PC-based controller series with the recent release of the cabinet controller c300 and panel controller p300. Lenze will have the new c300…