Total coverage 2

The ‘low cost’ Icon laser coder will be included among the Allen Coding Systems exhibits on stand 5764. Developed as an ‘ideal first introduction’ to laser technology, the Icon is ‘easy to use, fast and priced competitively with inkjet printers’. Specially designed for small character coding, it features an integrated colour touchscreen and intuitive interface with context-sensitive menus for ease of navigation. The unit’s compact design allows it installation where space is limited.

A dual colour manufacturing process for PET bottles will be a major highlight of the Artenius PET Packaging Europe (APPE) stand (5768B). Utilising specialist injection moulding equipment, the dual colour process enables PET bottles to be produced in a graduated shade of two different colours to create an individual and eye-catching appearance that enhances branding and ensures maximum shelf impact.

New packs on display from APPE include a range of Boston Round bottles for products such as shampoos, liquid soaps and body lotions, and a 70cl spirits bottle, which offers major energy savings during manufacture and transport compared with an equivalent glass bottle.

In addition, following the recent announcement of its exclusive agreement with plastics recycling specialist AWS Eco Plastics, APPE will be showing a range of preforms and containers with increased levels of post-consumer recycled PET (rPET).

Modular automation specialist Autarky (stand 5322) will launch a pick and place tripod robot at the exhibition. The new Tripod system is produced as a standard unit by Festo, using conventional linear motion components, and will be integrated by Autarky into a wide range of modular handling and automation systems.

Compared with existing Cartesian or delta parallel kinematic robots, the Tripod is said to provide higher operating speeds, greater precision and can carry heavier payloads, ‘at competitive cost’. In particular, it can accelerate at 50m/sec², with speeds of 3m/sec, while carrying loads of up to 5kg.

Bosch Packaging Technology (stand 5630) will exhibit its new modular Delta Robot platform LDx. Capable of handling a wide range of formats, products and packaging types, the machine is said to ensure maximum uptime through reduced change-over and cleaning times.

Bosch will also be launching the SVI 4020 LR vertical bagger for frozen food applications.

Visitors to the bpi.films stand (5746) will learn more about the company’s next generation Wrapsmart range. These downgauged, hand-applied, pallet stretch films offer ‘all the performance of conventional 14 micron films, but from a gauge that’s typically half that thickness’. The net result is that less film by volume is required to wrap a given load, so less packaging waste is created. Plus, this reduced waste can be reprocessed rather than sent to landfill, as all Wrapsmart films are 100% recyclable.

Craemer (stand 5132) will be exhibiting bespoke sized plastics pallets, plus the TC Totally Closed hygienic plastics pallet, and the lightweight D plastics pallet, ECOmax Dusseldorfer – ‘the first plastics half pallet and a real solution for securing reels in transport and storage’.

Designed to meet the highest hygiene demands, the new TC plastics pallet offers strength and impact resistance and a patented welding process that totally seals the lower deck and rim areas to prevent ingress of contaminants into the pallet structure. The flat, smooth outer surfaces can be easily cleaned.

Weighing only 15kg, the new lightweight D range of plastics pallets is easy to manually handle or integrate into storage systems requiring high loading capacities.

On stand 5751, PFM Packaging Machinery is launching what is believed to one of the world’s fastest bagging machines for modified atmosphere packaging.

Capable of producing MAP packs at speeds up to 250/min, the new Super Nova vertical form fill seal machine is aimed at high volume food products such as cheese, pasta, snacks and bakery items that require extended shelf life.

A new design of rotary sealing jaw is said to allow gas-tight hermetic seals to be achieved reliably at elevated speeds, using a gear-based cam system in place of the usual springs that hold the sealing bars against the film for the required period. The long dwell sealing system is also able to provide improved pack integrity using lower cost materials.