Time to reveal the best

24 March 2011




In readiness for the grand exposé of latest designs and developments in packaging, hundreds of companies are busy putting final touches to their eye-catching and welcoming stands, and making sure the often complex logistical arrangements go exactly to plan.

Coming around every three years, the week-long showcase of all that is best in the industry, brought to Düsseldorf from around the world, is also a test of stamina for exhibitors and visitors alike. So, donning a pair of comfortable shoes, here is a taste of what is on offer.

Planning to announce a major product launch, the packaging group Ardagh (Hall 11, Stand A52/B53) will be found at the heart of Metal Packaging Plaza, which will house canmakers from around the globe. Visitors will see products engineered to save material resources, improved opening systems, how to shape to differentiate products, and also special effects including direct printing, embossing and beading. In its ‘concept’ cans, Ardagh hopes to point the way forward for the sector.

Langen Packaging Group (Hall 6, Stand C43) is launching what its sister company Cerulean believes is ‘the first ever fully automated tube testing system for laminate and plastics tube packaging’. Q-Test enables manufacturers to automatically test crucial parameters such as burst, leak, side-seam compression and cap torque. The system is said to do away with inconsistent and labour-intensive manual testing, and combines efficiency, security and reliability, with minimum need for maintenance or operator intervention. It is suitable for the medical, personal care and consumer food product industries.

Heat and Control (Hall 15, Stand D03) will showcase its FastBack ClimbBack technology: a horizontal motion conveyor that will convey product up inclines of 8 degrees. FastBack’s gentle horizontal motion is designed to reduce product breakage and damage, and it can end product segregation and ‘sifting’ of product, where smaller pieces settle to the bottom of the pan. The Fastback is suitable even for the most delicate of products, says the company. It is also promoting its Powder On Demand [POD] - ‘a compact, efficient system’ that transfers powders and granules to seasoning applicators, mixers, storage bins, and elevated equipment up to 19m high.

Huber Packaging Group (Hall 11, Stand A 40) will introduce a 5 litre party keg that can be stored in the refrigerator at home and dispense fresh beer with a perfect head for 30 days. The Draftking tap system is integrated at the top end and said to have the shape and feel of a classic tap, operated from above by pulling. The body of the keg, with an area of almost 1,500cm², is left completely free for decoration.

Ilapak (Hall 8B, Stand C28/F39) is demonstrating its ‘revolutionary’ ultrasonic sealing system fitted to both a Delta 3000 long dwell flow-wrapper as well as a Vegatronic 2000 bagging machine, an exclusive new stand-up pack, Flexidity, developed with Amcor, and an ultra hygienic sachet machine. In addition, following the US acquisitions of Delta Systems and FMS and their integration into the Ilapak Group, Ilapak will be showing a line from Delta for the first time at Interpack. This is a highly automated flow-wrapping line for chocolate bars at very high speeds and will be shown together with Ilapak’s high-end innovative Cayenne high speed cartoning machine.

The European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA) is celebrating the start of summer by installing an alufoil BBQ Arena outside Halls 11 and 12, where barbecue shows will take place five times a day. An array of foods will be served up, to help lend the trade fair ‘a truly international flavour’, says EAFA.

Octal (Hall 09, Stand B19) is introducing a clear rigid packaging option called DPET. The new material is said to ‘open up entirely new dimensions in sustainability, energy efficiency, cost and worldwide availability’. The company plans to communicate the benefits of DPET’s mechanical, optical and environmental properties for its target markets of dairy, cheese and meat packaging. DPET stands for ‘direct PET’ and is ‘the only rigid PET film in the world that is produced directly from the reactor in a direct-to-sheet process’, states Octal. It is seen as a potential substitute for APET and rPET in thermoformed plastics packaging in all application areas.

Linx Printing Technologies (Hall 11, Stand E53) will be highlighting the peace of mind that accurate, reliable and quality coding can deliver. Under the slogan ‘Relax, it’s a Linx’, visitors will be able to experience the tranquility of a typical beach setting complete with a tiki hut and a cocktail hour at the end of each day, while examining the array of Linx equipment. Linx’s most advanced CIJ (continuous inkjet) 7300 printer will be on display. This is designed to avoid the hidden costs of coding through the lowest running costs, minimised production downtime, error-free coding and future-proofing. The Linx 4900BC is a total bottle coding solution designed to cope with wet and humid environments. For case coding, Linx is exhibiting the latest version of its IJ370 large character printer for users with high throughputs; while the IJ200 Thermal Inkjet cartridge printer is suitable for smaller operations. The SL301 is claimed to deliver a much clearer code onto cold glass without compromising on speed, ‘ideal’ for drinks bottles.

A prototype energy saving print & apply labeller, tag-on-demand RFID labelling, and laser printing for labels up to A3 are among developments being launched by automatic ID specialist Logopak (Hall 16, Stand B36). The 515ETG labeller developed for a UK dairy seeks to reduce energy costs by eliminating the use of compressed air. The machine uses stepper motor drives and timing belts in place of the usual pneumatic cylinders, and a specially designed vacuum box in place of the normal compressed air operated unit. Also on show is a system for reducing the cost of print & apply RFID labelling where more than one barcode label is required, such as adjacent side identification of pallets and cases, or where only packs for some customers require RF tags. Rather than use labels with pre-attached tags, the CRFID print & apply labeller is fed with separate reels of RF tags and labels. It can write and apply a single RF tag, which is then verified in place and covered by one of the pack’s barcode labels.

The ‘crew’ from the NVC Netherlands Packaging Centre (Hall 9, Stand 9H21A) will be serving ‘stroopkoekjes’ (treacle cookies) together with the latest packaging news. The winner of the Benelux Packaging Award De Gouden Noot 2010 and the nine other finalists will be promoted to highlight Benelux as a ‘hot-spot’ for innovation.

Markem-Imaje (Hall 14, Stand D29) is launching two products with tangible user benefits measurable in terms of improved operational economy and factory productivity, says the company. The new flagship of the 9000 inkjet series, the 9232 prints high quality date codes, logos, alphanumeric text, 1D and 2D barcodes and other product and traceability information onto a wide range of substrates. A ‘revolutionary’ user interface is said to make the operator’s life much easier, thanks to a colour touchscreen that is quick and easy to set up, and which displays clear, real-time data about machine status, ink usage and maintenance procedures. The new SmartDate X40 thermal transfer coder has been designed to minimise ribbon consumption and maintenance requirements. It can accommodate an increased ribbon length of 1,100m, which means fewer changeovers and increased uptime, resulting in an availability rate of up to 99.6% without intervention, says the company. It adds that as much as 20% reduction in ribbon waste is possible, and the coder features ‘significantly lower power and air consumption’.


Amcor’s new stand-up pack Flexidity is produced on Ilapak’s Vegatronic bagging machine. Amcor The Markem-Imaje 9232 aims to set new standards in continuous inkjet technology. Markem-Imaje Logopak 515ETG labeller. Logopak

Amcor Amcor
Markem-Imaje Markem-Imaje
Logopak Logopak


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