Machinery News

3 September 2012




Trayless apple solution

Ulma Packaging has launched an operator-less solution for the trayless flow wrapping of apples and other delicate fruits. The system is available in three different modular configurations based on apples arriving in cartonboard boxes, pallet boxes/plastics crates or straight from the grading process. All apples arriving for flow wrapping are initially taken from their transit packaging using water. The water gently removes the fruit and conveys it onto a two-lane conveyor for subsequent drying using air knives, prior to optional inspection and then packaging. As a further enhancement to the process, Ulma can also offer fully automatic crate packing and palletising.

The development is said to represent a major breakthrough in the handling of delicate fruit or vegetables and is suitable for large, medium and smaller fruit growers. It can be used for the trayless packing of a broad range of fresh produce.

In addition to providing a bespoke solution, pre-printed rollstock film is used to make the bags, which can subsequently be labelled immediately prior to apple packing. The equipment is designed to produce a horizontally sealed bag using a delicate non-damaging feed solution.

Optional features include vision inspection systems, use of an external interface for remote factory monitoring and fault finding, and robotic crate packaging and palletising.

Lock metal detector has value-added software

Lock has introduced a BottleChek metal detection system with value-added software for quick product setups and a higher level of traceability.

The system, which inspects bottles of tablets and capsules at the end of the packaging line for unwanted metallic particles, incorporate Lock’s Optix detector management software with direct digital signal vector image display to aid quick automated product set-ups and a high level of traceability.

The system is supplied with a high frequency (875kHz) metal detector head that can be specified with a product-specific aperture size built to customer requirements, and is designed to be highly sensitive to SS316 as required by the pharmaceutical industry. The specially designed conveyor is easily integrated into a transfer line where side-to-side bottle transfer of the smallest bottles is achieved with 100% accuracy.

In the event of metal contamination being detected, deployment of the reject system takes place without causing bottle damage or product loss.

Combined Loma CW3 system saves space

Loma Systems is launching the latest version of its combined CW3 checkweigher and IQ3 metal detector at the PPMA exhibition this month.

This compact and versatile unit benefits from a slimline metal detector head, which provides a smaller footprint but offers the same detection performance as the previous larger metal detector.

The company says that these enhancements mean its CW3 range is now a cost-effective, space saving solution for those needing both metal detection and checkweighing systems where space is at a premium.

The new combination machine can be engineered to suit individual application requirements and is capable of weighing a wide range of flexible and rigid packs up to 6kg. Constructed of stainless steel, right down to the bearings and rollers, it is suitable for the harshest of environments, and the flexible variable frequency detection will adapt to new products and packs “within seconds”.

Spiral conveyor has small footprint

The new WF 3000 spiral conveyor from MiniTec UK provides a lift height of up to 3m, a conveying distance of up to 50m and a floor space requirement of around 3m². It will transport and elevate a constant flow of materials even under full load.

The system consists of a modular conveyor track of up to 15 sections with a width of 240mm. The height between each single section is just 200mm, maintaining a low incline angle which helps to safeguard against load slippage as well as contributing to the overall compactness of the assembly. The WF 3000 has an inlet height of 800mm and an output height of 4,000mm. The variable conveying speed of 5 to 50m/min allows for very flexible regulation during material flow considering the transport load of up to 3,000 tonnes.

Despite its considerable capacity and large buffering potential, the outer dimensions of the unit maintain a compact footprint of just 1,600 x 1,600mm and an overall height of 4,500mm.

Hand labellers offer versatility

Sato has launched two labellers on the German market – the Judo % and the PB3 %. These sturdy, lightweight two and three-line hand labellers allow price and product labels in the retail and food industries to be laid out according to individual wishes and produced quickly, easily and economically with high quality.

Both devices have predefined templates tailored to the German-speaking region. The rotating printing chamber enables direct selection of various phrases, including ‘Special price’, ‘Reduced’, ‘Special’, ‘New price’, ‘30% off’ and ‘Best before’. As a result, users in the garment and retail food sectors are no longer restricted to using separate label rolls with pre-printed phrases, or forced to manually compose phrases in the device, as has been common practice up to now. The new labellers allow users to generate price labels faster and more flexibly.

Simple to operate and easy to clean

Romaco will introduce its Promatic P 91 horizontal intermittent motion cartoner at the PPMA exhibition at the NEC, Birmingham later this month.

Its ergonomic and GMP compliant design is said to make the machine simple to operate, easy to clean and versatile to use. The balcony design implemented throughout allows direct access to all parts relevant to production and guarantees stable and transparent processes. There are no vacuum pumps, chains or mechanical gears and the mitigated noise pollution will be greatly appreciated by operators. The servo-controlled drive and the patented carton pickup with its positive opening system “boost the productivity of the cartoner and improve the quality of the end product”.

With a maximum output of 100 folding cartons a minute, the Promatic P 91 offers a good final packaging solution for line configurations of all kinds.

Linerless label application module

Advanced Labelling Systems will demonstrate the new Catchpoint linerless label module on its ALS 204 and ALS 206/256 label applicators at the PPMA show at the NEC, Birmingham later this month.

The module allows labels without a backing liner to be applied at full production speeds because a cutting action is not required to separate the labels. Each label is defined by a pattern of micro-perforations, ‘catch-points’, which allow individual labels to be separated from the reel at speed, but in a controlled manner, leaving a clean edge, and with no delay in the labelling process.

Single source for all components

Multivac Marking & Inspection is launching onto the market for the first time its own checkweighers in three weight ranges. The new MR821 checkweighers, says Multivac, complete its product range for turnkey, end-to-end packaging lines, enabling its customers to benefit from being able to obtain all the line components from one source: full integration of the line modules, the right interfaces, single uniform operator guidance and one person to contact.

The MR821 checkweighers can be adapted to every application, it is claimed. Their transport conveyor and weighing modules are mounted on a robust twin-beam carrier, on which almost all configurations of different conveyor modules can be fitted. The entire construction is designed for maximum weighing accuracy with rigidity against flexing, reduction of vibration and absence of torsion.

The checkweighers can be equipped as an option with multi-frequency metal detectors, adapted to the specific user requirement in order to achieve the optimum sensitivities. All types of metals can be detected, including iron, stainless steel, copper, aluminium, brass, titanium and bronze.


Lock's BottleChek metal detection system Lock Latest version of Loma's CW3 checkweigher and IQ3 metal detector combination Loma The new WF 3000 spiral conveyor from MiniTec UK will transport and elevate a constant flow of materials even under full load MiniTec For the German market – Sato's Judo % and the PB3 % hand labellers Sato Operator-less solution for the trayless flow wrapping of apples and other delicate fruits from Ulma Packaging Ulma Packaging

Lock Lock
Sato Sato
Loma Loma
Ulma Packaging Ulma Packaging
MiniTec MiniTec


Privacy Policy
We have updated our privacy policy. In the latest update it explains what cookies are and how we use them on our site. To learn more about cookies and their benefits, please view our privacy policy. Please be aware that parts of this site will not function correctly if you disable cookies. By continuing to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with our privacy policy unless you have disabled them.