Time to be inspired

3 March 2011



Interpack, Europe’s biggest packaging industry show, which takes place between 12-18 May, returns to Düsseldorf, Germany. Packaging Today looks at some of the exhibits and special features in the first of two previews.


The 2008 edition of Interpack celebrated the event’s Golden Jubilee and marked the occasion with an exhibition looking back at 50 years of packaging history. This was a rare indulgence for Europe’s biggest packaging industry exhibition. Interpack is the shop window for all that is new and innovative and available, here and now, and on offer from companies around the world. What makes the show all the more exciting is that it is the place to glimpse developments that lie around the corner. And its importance for brand marketers, buyers, designers, machine builders and more is that they can learn what is driving the market.

Rockwell Automation on its Talking Point Stand (Hall 6, A61) will be discussing packaging control, how to reduce the total cost to deliver machinery and how its Integrated Architecture system can ‘seamlessly integrate’ process to packaging machinery. Live presentations will cover hot topics for the industry and exhibits will showcase machinery equipped with Rockwell Automation technology.

Multivac Marking & Inspection (Hall 5, Stand 5E23) will be showing innovations in coding, labelling and pack inspection of packs aimed at the food, cosmetics, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. One of its new series of metal detectors, the MR831 model, is a stand-alone unit that can be integrated into thermoforming packaging lines, Also to be featured is the MR337 SQ conveyor belt labeller, able to monitor from above the top label and from below the base label barcode, and with a surface scanner to check barcodes running counter to the usual running direction. The T 850, the ‘first twin-lane model of the new generation of traysealers’, with output capacity of 80-100 packs/min, will be on show too.

Afa Dispensing Group (Hall 9, Stand A36) will debut packaging and dispensing applications based on its ‘revolutionary’ Flair technology. Products from the hygiene and sanitation, personal care, and home and garden sectors, will show the benefits of using Flair’s air-based, all-plastics, nonpressurised system for liquids, fluids, high-viscosity products, soft food and other products that are susceptible to oxygen degradation.

Multipond (Hall 15, Stand A03) supplied Brandt Zwieback-Schokoladen with a fourcomponent multihead weighing system MP 2001-FFC-S5R to reduce its waste ‘almost to zero’.

Exhibitor Marden Edwards (Hall 16, Stand B25) supplied its BX100FF overwrapper to Caluwe Artisan, for chocolate production. It is designed to prevent heat damage to paper and product; and paper print registration facilities, for consistent overwrapping presentation of print around product.

‘The biggest, full-colour packaging container with a metallised in-mould label (IML) in the world’ is being presented by HK Plastics (Hall 10, Stand E10). HK’s array of containers with IML now extends up to 60 litres, using an IML process that offers a full photographic result with top-to-bottom coverage.

Theegarten–Pactec (Hall 4, A05) will present continuous and intermittent machines for packaging small-pieced confectionery, and systems for product infeed, separation and storage. The company’s expertise has helped it break records: the latest being 1,000 cycles/min for jellies in double twistwrap by the model MCH. It will be on show with the MCC model, one of which will be foil wrapping chocolate eggs, while the other uses the top twist method. For the first time Theegarten-Pactec will show a modernised EK1 that was first brought out 20 years ago: it offers a higher output volume, packaging material savings, and adherence to modern safety directives.

First-timer at the show Arpac Europe (Hall 15, Stand 15C21) will exhibit end-of-line packaging machines. “It will give visitors the perfect opportunity to see for themselves why the company has become so successful in the USA and why it has launched its European operation,” says Arpac General Manager Tony Hacker. Working machines will include fully automatic models such as Case & Tray Packer EL-2000, Twin Reel Shrink Wrapper 25TW-28, L Bar Shrink Wrapper & Tunnel L26-VT, Fold & Lock Tray Erector MTE-1200 and Dual Handed Case Erector MCE-3400.

Ahead of Interpack, InnoScan K/S (Hall 6, Stand D40) has made it possible to get an impression of the company’s inspection machines by viewing an on-line video on its homepage of a syringe machine and an ampoule/vial machine.

TNA (Hall 17, Stand A28) will highlight its latest electromagnetically-driven vibratory motion conveyor: the TNA roflo VM 3, designed to prevent and smooth out any build-up of free-flowing product. It can be combined with the TNA roflo HM 3 horizontal motion conveyor that offers complete control over product speed and direction with almost instant response to control signals. The TNA Robag 3C vertical form, fill and seal (V/F/F/S) bagger will be seen operating at speeds of up to 250 bags/min. It is suitable for use with snacks and powders.

Pharmaceutical packaging specialist Uhlmann Pac-Systeme (Hall 16, Stand B23/D24) will debut its Integrated Bottle Center 120 - a compact, industry compliant machine that counts and fills solid dose products at 150 bottles/min, and is suitable for small to medium-sized batches. This response to increasing cost pressure, and the demand for smaller batches, takes up half the space of a conventional line made up of separate components, says Uhlmann.

For bulk batches there will be a working line that combines a Blister machine B 1660 and a Cartoner C 2504. Also in operation will be a Blister Express Center 300: a single-lane packaging line with a blister and a cartoner module, which is less than 8m long. It is designed to process all common solid dose products and forming material in batches of 10,000-70,000 packs.

Preco-Europe and Preco USA (Hall 12, Stand A36) will unveil an innovative, high speed laser system designed for flexible packaging applications. The directed beam technology creates contour scoring, cross web scoring and perforating at web speeds up to 457m/min, depending on print repeat distance and film type. It is said to give a consistent score depth throughout the run, from beginning to the end of a roll.

Trident Industrial Inkjet will introduce new inkjet technology for printing on non-porous coated-corrugated and shrink wrap in the food, beverage/wine, medical/nutraceutical and cosmetics sectors. Trident´s 384Jet NP printhead is said to provide quality inkjet printing of barcodes, graphics and alphanumeric text with print speeds up to 1.0m/sec and a print height of 50mm. Also new from Trident is non-toxic, AllWrite A5000 black ink for non-porous package printing. The 384Jet NP and AllWrite A5000 will be seen integrated into printing systems displayed by Weber Marking Systems (Hall 4, Stand D55); Zanasi (Hall 6, Stand B40); and REA Elektronik (Hall 11, Stand F32).

Endoline Machinery (Hall 5, Stand 5F04-5) will launch complete packaging assembly lines with robotic pick and place systems as part of a new partnership with ABB. An ABB IRB1600 robot will form an integral part of Endoline’s new packaging module, programmed into an Endoline conveyor system. The conveyor will feed from a high speed case erector and into a case sealer.

Cermex (Hall 13, Stand C47/D48), a division of Tetra Laval, exports 70% its machines for automating a wide range of production processes, with 8% of turnover spend every year on commercialising new processes, so there should be plenty to see.

Econocorp (Stand 17, C28) will show the Econoseal Spartan cartoner - a heavy duty horizontal, intermittent motion cartoner with speeds of up to 2,400 cartons/hour. The machine can be supplied as a manual loading unit or with automatic product loading accessories. It handles both paperboard and corrugated material as well as hotmelt and tuck closure.

The Concetti Group (Hall 14, Stand D33), for the industrial packaging sector, has a new device for the closure and tie of the ‘big bag’ charge valve. Due to the automatic tying device, the operator is not forced to handle the charge valve of the filled big bag (manual throttling and tying), avoiding the risk of inhalation or contact with the product during its closure.

Special show features

Show-goers will find a host of smart solutions for protection against product piracy. A wealth of ideas for products and packaging that adapt perfectly to specific lifestyles await discovery. Ways to keep in step with the move to more sustainable production methods will include energyefficient machinery, facilities, processes, resource-saving packaging materials and much more.

A special feature called Save Food is being produced with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations. The congress and its dedicated show will focus on the positive contribution that the single elements of the value added chain for packaging, transport and logistics can make in combating the pressing problem of worldwide food waste.

Innovationparc Packaging is an established forum at Interpack for creative exchange between exhibitors and visitors on aspects of ‘quality of life’: health, identity, simplicity and aesthetics. Visitors have the opportunity to talk to entrepreneurs representing various levels of the value added chain about specific thematic priorities. These creative exchanges play a part in making the Interpack experience so unique for the sector, says the organiser.

The Metal Packaging Plaza is a new meeting place for the international metal packaging industry. Information on the potential for discovering innovative packaging solutions from metal will be found here.

What are the market drivers?

Consumer demands on products and packaging are subject to social change and changing consumer behaviour. Manufacturers have to adapt to rapidly changing trends. For example, exhibitors will present the developments in small-portion and family packs, and products that are easy to open yet still well sealed.

Interpack 2011 will offer room for new ideas to spark, by bringing all novelties, innovations and visions to life. Being there creates opportunities for dialogue, which refines a hall of simple, physical presentations of products and turns it into a room for ideas.


New plastics sector event

Prior to Interpack, PETnology/tecPET will present for the first time ecoPack systems 2011, in Düsseldorf on 10-11 May.

The conference will cover the latest moves by the plastics packaging industry to meet the ecological and economical requirements of markets and consumers.

Packaging and machine concepts for bottles, containers, tubes, caps, cups, films and blisters will be included in the programme. Presentations will also focus on beverage and food, pharma, cosmetics and healthcare.

The event hopes to attract executives responsible for corporate strategy, CSR, R&D, packaging design, packaging technology, packaging, production, marketing & sales, technical marketing, sustainability and procurement. Further details and booking information can be found on the website.


Theegarten-Pactec will show machines for the confectionery sector. Theegarten Trident´s 384Jet NP printhead is said to provide quality inkjet printing. Trident TNA's advanced technology Intelli-flav OMS on-machine for seasonings. TNA Multivac T 850: ‘first twin lane model of the new generation of traysealers’. Multivac Preco will unveil an innovative, high speed laser system designed for flexibles. Preco

TNA TNA
Trident Trident
Multivac Multivac
Theegarten Theegarten
Preco Preco


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