Show of shows – Interpack preview, part 1

31 March 2014



Interpack 2014 – the world’s leading packaging fair – stages in Düsseldorf on 8-14 May. Packaging Today presents the first helping of our two-part appetiser for the much-anticipated event


Some 2,700 exhibitors from more than 60 countries will present their latest innovations and technological developments at Interpack – including equipment and machinery for packaging and processing, production tools for packaging containers and materials, the packs and materials themselves, and services for the whole industry. Here is a selection of what will be on show.

Specialist manufacturer of customised product handling and printing systems for 3-D products the Apex Machine Co is to display its new S-11-C Strap Printer on stand B08-3, in Hall 12. Various automatic feeding systems and packaging lines can be integrated with the Apex to allow for a turnkey production cell inline with an automatic injection moulder or extrusion line.

The S-11-C is said to provide the same high quality print as larger, more expensive machines “at great savings. Features include: 1-6 lanes, print in 1-3 colours, speeds of 300ft/min per lane, a 17-inch repeat pattern, and the ability to run either inline or offline.

Apex will also be showing a wide range of packaging containers for food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products printed using the latest technologies, including the innovative FlexApex process.

In Hall 6, on stand A31-C58, Bosch Packaging Technology is to launch its WRF 600 Flex roller former, which optimises or eliminates the trim when processing bar masses, including cereal, candy, protein and fruit. As a result, less product is wasted, helping decrease production costs and contribute to faster ROI. The line is capable of speeds of up to 1,500 bars/min.

With the recently launched Transver SDP non-contact product distribution station and the Pack Feeder 4 infeed system, bar manufacturers can increase efficiency. The Pack Feeder 4 detects misaligned products to be rejected, minimising machine stops and increasing productivity. It can be operated 24/7, and can be easily integrated with Bosch’s flow-wrappers. At Interpack, it will be showcased with the Pack 401 horizontal flow-wrapper, now available with a narrower cutting head enabling higher packaging speeds for heatseal applications.

After making its European debut at FachPack 2013, the Elematic 3001 case packer will have its global launch at Interpack. It handles a variety of pack styles, including tray, classic full wrap-around and two-part, shelf-ready packaging. The new ergonomic design and lowered blank magazine are said to make machine operation easier and safer. Easy, tool-less packaging format changeovers are achieved thanks to the intuitive Elematic click system.

The new Feige Pailfill variable bucket filling system will be making its debut on Haver & Boecker’s stand, (Hall 12, stand D08). It is said to offer a high level of flexibility through the use of individual modular planning, an intuitive operator concept, and simpler possibilities for expansion. The same exhibit will also feature Behn + Bates’ new Integra technology for dust-free and reliable filling of loose, bulk products into valve bags using an integrated plug & pack concept.

Lanico is to demonstrate fully stainless can seaming machines for a wide range of requirements (Hall 11, stand A41). Among them is the fully automatic model V110 SVA 50 T for low volume production and laboratory applications. It can operate as a stand-alone unit or in combination with a filling machine, and is “the optimal solution” for powdery or chunky products, such as milk powder, pastries or pasties.

Four seaming rollers enable production speeds of up to 3,000 cans/hour. The V110 SVA 50 T is said to be highly versatile due to a wide working range from 45-250mm height and from 56-113mm diameter. Change-overs can be made very quickly; height changes can be performed in less than two minutes.

Visitors to stand D29 in Hall 14 will see Markem-Imaje’s new Smart Date X40 IP 45 thermal transfer printer, the SLC 350 HD laser coder and “the very latest in coding technology” – the TIJ (themal inkjet) 1050 and 1200. In addition to interactive displays for all coding and marking machines, Markem-Imaje experts will explain how new coding solutions such as the Mark & Read system offered with CoLOS networking software, in partnership with Cognex, can help drive line efficiency and prevent missing codes and code quality issues. They will also demonstrate how unique promotional codes can be printed for marketing promotions with minimum impact on production, “giving manufacturers the opportunity to explore new, more effective marketing strategies”.

An innovative packaging solution for life science and healthcare products will be presented by Multivac. The GMP-compliant system is based on a thermoforming packaging machine which has been optimised for applications requiring a high degree of flexibility. The areas for product processing and machine technology have been separated from each other in the new machine. This minimises the risk of products getting lodged somewhere during the packaging procedure, causing a stoppage.

The machine also has a transparent polycarbonate front that gives the operator a very good view into the interior areas, which also have lighting, for quick detection and removal of lost products. A quick and reproducible format change enables the machine to be adapted for the widest range of batch sizes.

The new machine offers a high degree of flexibility with regard to the arrangement of the different modules, the packaging materials which can be run, the possible packaging formats and the batch sizes. As an example, both flexible and rigid films can be run.

In addition to producing vacuum packs, the new thermoforming packaging machine can also produce packs with modified atmosphere and reduced oxygen content. Thanks to its flexible layout, the machine concept is also suited to packing a wide range of products, such as syringes, ampoules, vials and injectors.

PFM Packaging Machinery (Hall 13, stand C15) has extended the use of servodrive and servo format adjustment to horizontal pouch form-fill-seal machines for the first time. At Interpack, the company will demonstrate how changeover times can be cut dramatically compared with traditional mechanical equipment.

“The new D-Series Full Servo machines open up new horizons in the pouch sector by offering the opportunity to modify cycle times, sealing pressure and cutting pitch as part of the product programme,” explains R&D director Andrea Fioravanti. “They offer easy maintenance and cleaning, high performance and extremely short format changeover times.”

Also being shown for the first time by PFM is the Scirocco Combi flow-wrapper for producing reclosable packs of cheese slices using a hook and loop profile.

The newly launched Selene Mini Airless Dispensers will be one of the highlights of the Rieke stand B21 in Hall 10, where the company will demonstrate a range of dispensing solutions for a wide variety of markets. Available in 15ml and 30ml sizes, each delivering a 0.3ml dose, the new Selene dispensers are said to combine excellent protection with easy dispensing for all types of products, from highly viscous to fast free flowing. They incorporate a new pump system that delivers “consistent and reliable” operation.

A static airtight valve prevents any intake of air during the operation of the pump and is said to be completely leak resistant when not in use, making the Selene Mini Airless a safe and practical travel pack. Rieke’s proven Clear Path Technology ensures that the spring mechanism does not come into contact with the product formula, while the pump does not contain an elastomeric membrane, both of which provide effective protection for sensitive products.

A prototype of “the world’s first packaging machine without a switch cabinet” will be presented by Gerhard Schubert (Hall 14, stand 14A06), together with the latest generation of its TLM packaging technology. Both the housing and the inner workings of the transmodules have been updated.

Schubert will exhibit a total of three TLM picker lines and a TLM packaging line. The packaging line utilises automatic tool change to produce shelf-ready cartons of aerosol cans. With all of its innovative projects, Schubert pursues the principle of combining intelligent software with reduced mechanical systems. This approach – also embodied in the packaging machines without switch cabinets – is because the servoamplifiers are part of the TLM robot within a decentralised controller system and no longer take up space in the control cabinet.

The number of electronic parts has also been significantly reduced. Because each function can also malfunction, having fewer components means a lower susceptibility for error. Schubert’s 3D scanner realises spatial perception. The resulting height profile reflects the three-dimensional shape of the product to be packaged.

This advance has facilitated numerous application options. The first TLM picker line with a 3D scanner has already gone into operation at a confectionery manufacturer in Belgium. This technology is said to have raised quality assurance to a new level. The packaging machine prototype without switch cabinets processes infusion bags.

On stand C10 in Hall 7a, Sun Chemical will demonstrate the services of its packaging brand lifecycle management agency, Sun Branding Solutions (SBS), brand-owners can create “an engaging packaging design that stands out on the shelf, maintains brand colour consistency every time, utilises special effect inks and coatings and complies with low migration regulations”. SBS can also determine the right packaging structure for the specific needs of each customer.

In addition, Sun Chemical will help visitors explore brand protection options to ensure the integrity of their packaging. Among the security solutions is Verigard infra-red coding, which adds a small quantity of taggants, or chemical markers, to inks, varnishes or coatings for use in any print process on any substrate. The company’s brand protection experts will be on hand to discuss the variety of covert, overt and semi-overt options it offers to maintain brand integrity.

Visitors to the tna stand, B43 in Hall 17, will see two different configurations of the robag FX3ci high speed VFFS packaging machine. Firstly, the robag FX3ci RDJ 230 will showcase the system’s ability to package powders such as coffee, sugar and flour at rapid speeds. In the second configuration, the robag FX3ci RTJ 180 will feature an intelli-weigh 0314 omega multi-head scale, a hyper-detect metal detector and a labeller. This ultra-high speed system is claimed to offer “unmatched throughput rates” of 150-180bags/min on snack foods, making it ideal for high volume packaging.

The company will also present the robag FXIS 3ci for fresh produce, which combines the high speed PE rotary bagger with an intelli-weigh 0614 multi-head scale for fast, accurate weighing, and a newly designed roflo VM high throw conveyor for the rapid distribution of sticky products such as salad leaves.


Steel appeal

APEAL, The Association of European Producers of Steel for Packaging, will host a dedicated ‘Steel for Packaging’ stand for the first time at Interpack 2014. APEAL’s secretary general, Alexander Mohr says: “Steel for packaging is one of the most established, familiar and highly trusted packaging materials, but many retailers and brand owners are not fully aware of its market-leading environmental credentials. Having a dedicated stand (B53 in Hall 11) will allow us to show how Steel for Packaging is increasingly recycled, more efficient, more versatile and consequently more sustainable than other packaging materials.


www.interpack.com
www.apexmachine.com
www.boschpackaging.com
www.haverboecker.com
www.lanico.de
www.markem-imaje.co.uk
www.pfmuk.com
www.riekepackaging.com
www.gerhard-schubert.de
www.sunchemical.com
www.tnasolutions.com
www.steelforpackaging.org



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