ELAU will be running a servo capper to demonstrate the benefits of its PacDrive automation system including the SCL integral servo motor/drive technology.
These benefits are said to include pushbutton recipe changes - package format and product changes can be selected at the operator panel for fast, tool-less changeovers, often without change parts; error detection; online documentation of quality parameters; and predictive maintenance.
Elau says the quality of the capping process is directly dependent upon the consistency of capping torque and that servo drives "significantly improve torque control compared to mechanical cappers, as measured by the beverage industry according to the Cpk processability index".
High speed conveyor
AmbaFlex will be showing its new Spiralveyor SVX extended spiral conveyor to accommodate high throughputs and to suit "new generations" of high speed/dual lane packers. The SVX has a dual belt – two belts running parallel to each other. The belts can run synchronously, at different speeds or even in opposite directions.
Also shown will be the Spiralveyor SVM, a multi-functional spiral conveyor that is specifically intended for unpacked bottles and cans in mass flow or single lane, and the SV model which can handle a broad range of products from plastic crates, wrap around to heavy shrink packs and cartons.
Drying debuts from ACI
An increased efficiency can drying system that is said to be easy to install and adjust to cope with different can heights has been introduced by Air Control Industries and will get its first public showing at Drinktec.
Based upon a tunnel configuration, ACI's can drying system features configured slots that direct air to remove water efficiently while driving it downwards and out of the enclosed area.
The company says the enclosed environment also ensures the water is contained and the drying air performs more effectively than with conventional "open" systems. Noise attenuation is another benefit of the enclosed design.
ACI will also show a new bottle drying system that is said to be effective for high speed lines with cold bottles.
Integrated into ACI's Dri-Line bottle drying systems, the JetPlate is a development of AirKnife technology and is designed to improve the drying efficiency of the company's machines while also simplifying installation and maintenance.
ACI says Beta sites have proven the JetPlate performs effectively on line speeds up to 55,000 bottles/hr with a diverse range of products, from beer to cream cheese jars.
Major features of the JetPlate include its ability to deliver twice the volume of high pressure over the bottles from a closer position than before with the entrained air ensuring that all water and spray is directed downwards to prevent possible recontamination. JetPlates are also said to be simple and quick to adjust.
Breakthrough in PET packaging for CSDs
Ultra 144, the latest preform production system available from Kortec in the US, is claimed to be the world's largest multilayer system and, with an output of more than 250m preforms/yr, it is specifically is designed for high-volume carbonated soft drinks applications.
The oxygen-barrier performance is said to be 60 times higher than with a monolayer PET container, permitting a substantially longer shelf life. Kortec says this means the Ultra144 system has "broken through" what had been a major barrier for CSD production as, for the first time, CSD producers can now also fill smaller PET containers and still have a sufficient shelf life of more than 16 weeks – twice that of monolayer containers. It says the production costs are also competitive compared to producing aluminum cans.
Prasmatic to focus on flexible case packaging
Italian company Prasmatic will be highlighting its TCS Series case packing machines intended primarily for the dairy and beverage sectors. The company says the compactness, flexibility, accessibility and visibility of the working cycle together with quick size changeover and operating simplicity, makes this machine ideally suited to handling fluted cartons and shrink film.
One of the most important features is said to be the high capacity carton magazine – both in line and outside the machine – in which the carton blanks are loaded vertically.
Prasmatic says the ergonomically-designed TCS Series machines are very user-friendly and also guarantee "minimal maintenance costs" due to the self-supporting steel tube structure with large sliding doors, which allow a complete view of the mechanical parts in motion.
Options include standard tray and full height tray, complete wraparound carton, tray with upper edges and packs with tray and film.
Multipack alternative
To complement its can and PET multipack portfolio, ITW Hi-Cone will unveil a new machine designed to provide an alternative multipack format for glass bottles.
The pack features ITW's Zipper technology – which allows consumers to remove bottles individually – and a central band for "billboard" image and pack integrity.
Sporty closures sealed
Enercon Industries says it will be launching its "advanced sealing technology" into the drinks industry. The company says the Superseal Deluxe – which runs at speeds up to 100 m/min – has specially designed coils to suit sports type closures and is one of its most powerful and smallest air-cooled systems.
"Trials are currently taking place with a major German mineral water company and proving to be a great success" says Paul Bennion, european regional sales manager.
The company will also show its Compak Junior which it says is compact and light, but powerful enough to handle virtually all of induction needs for the laboratory or low volume production items. This self-contained portable system is available with a choice of two sealing heads covering cap diameters from 20 – 120mm.
