Packaging World October 2023

26

Robotics Bring Big Benefits to Bakery

Two identical monoblock cartoning/case packing systems produce a number of secondary and tertiary packaging formats, while robotic palletizing brings the automated line to a close.

34 AUTOMATION

Grocer Pilots Autonomous Micro-Factory for More Sustainable Ice

Relocalize, a provider of hyper-local automated micro-factories, partners with Southeastern Grocers in a pilot to produce a more sustainable, high-quality ice product manufactured and packaged near the point of distribution.

42 Contract Packager Selection Best Practices for Scaling Brands

Could your fast-scaling brand benefit from product packaging expertise and equipment capacity from a co-manufacturer/co-packer? Experts discuss how to know whether your emerging CPG is ready, and if you are, what your next steps should be.

50 CPA Membership Directory

A company listing of members of the Association for

Cleancult’s packaging system comprises a refillable, reusable, shatter-resistant glass bottle paired with Eco Refills in 32-oz cartons that together are said by the company to reduce plastic waste by 90%. In addition, by using this packaging system, consumers can save up to 55.8 lb of plastic per year, according to the company.

DEPARTMENTS

56

Aladin Alkhawam Supply Chain Security Director, Endo International plc

Jan Brücklmeier Technical Application Group Packaging Technology Expert, Nestlé

M. Shawn French Director – Innovation & Packaging Engineering (Beverage), Danone North America

Patrick Keenan R&D Packaging Engineer, General Mills/Annie’s Organic Snacks

Mike Marcinkowski Global R&D Officer, GPA Global & Hub Folding Box Co.

David Smith, PhD Principal, David S. Smith & Associates

Brian Stepowany Packaging R&D, Senior Manager, B&G Foods, Inc.

Jasmine Sutherland President, Texas Food Solutions; Vice President, Perfect Fit Meals

FROM COFFEE TO PROTEIN POWDER,

if you make it, Spee-Dee ® augers can fill it.

Matt Reynolds Chief Editor

Anne Marie Mohan Senior Editor

Iris Zavala Managing Editor

Sean Riley Senior News Director

Pat Reynolds, Sterling Anthony, Eric F. Greenberg, Ben Miyares Contributing Editors

David Bacho Creative Director

ADVERTISING

John Schrei Vice President, Sales jschrei@pmmimediagroup.com

Lara Krieger Senior Manager, Print Operations lkrieger@pmmimediagroup.com

Janet Fabiano Financial Services Manager jfabiano@pmmimediagroup.com

PMMI MEDIA GROUP

David Newcorn President

Elizabeth Kachoris Vice President, Digital

Kelly Greeby Senior Director, Client Success & Media Operations

Jen Krepelka Director, Digital Media

Trey Smith Senior Director, Events

Sharon Taylor Director, Marketing

Joseph Angel Founding Partner and Executive Vice President, Industry Outreach, PMMI

Lloyd Ferguson Founding Partner

Spee-Dee will help find the right solution even for new formulations like plant-based protein powders, sugar substitutes and gluten-free flours. Our fillers easily integrate with all formats of bag makers, conveyor lines and cup and tray equipment. Optional vacuum tooling eliminates product drip for clean seals with all packaging types.

Staff at PMMI Media Group can be contacted at info@pmmimediagroup.com

Questions about your subscription or wish to renew? Contact circulation@pmmimediagroup.com.

Work/Study Co-Op Pays Off

Me and 32,000 of my closest friends just attended a mighty energizing PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2023—the biggest ever, by the way. Needless to say, there was no shortage of advanced technology to dazzle us. But I also had an encouraging conversation on the subject of workforce development with Fanuc engineering manager Jessica Juhasz (pictured below), who has a fascinating work/study backstory that’s more like what we see in Germany than what we see in the U.S.

Juhasz earned her B.S. in electrical engineering at Kettering University, which was founded in 1919 as a night school for engineers, managers, designers, and technicians in the rapidly-evolving automobile industry. In 1923 it was acquired by General Motors and became known as GMI, General Motors Institute. The Kettering name came in 1998. Located in Flint, Mich., and having a total enrollment of about 2,237 (1,516 undergrads), Kettering’s concept of education is unique in the way that it blends practice with theory in equal measure. In fact, all undergraduate students are required to complete at least five co-op terms with one of Kettering’s many employer partners. For Juhasz, that partner was Fanuc.

During the 4.5 years it took to earn her B.S., Juhasz spent the months of July, August, September in a Kettering classroom. October, November, December she worked 40-hour weeks at Fanuc. January to March it was back to the Kettering classroom, and April to June it was back to Fanuc. “At the very beginning they started me off in operations, purchasing to be more specific,” says Juhasz. “Having never had a corporate job, it was a good way to get the big picture, to learn about the nature of the business, about how things that go into robots got purchased. But by sophomore year I was able to work in our manufacturing and engineering department, so it was being out on the floor, doing time studies, helping improve processes within our manufacturing department, and so on.”

Upon graduation, Juhasz became a full-time Fanuc engineer. And get this. In addition to gaining 2.5 years of invaluable work experience at the same time she was earning a B.S. in electrical engineering, she was paid a salary during the months she worked at Fanuc throughout her undergraduate years. According to the Kettering web site, today the average hourly co-op earnings for first-year students is $15.38. And for seniors it’s $18.72.

Looking back now, Juhasz sums up her co-op experience this way: “It was a unique way of learning and understanding what I wanted to do in my career. You just can’t get that in a conventional academic program because it’s all purely theoretical.”

Denise Scanlon, university and early career talent acquisition partner at Fanuc, is equally impressed with what Kettering offers. “It’s so well organized,” she notes. “And they don’t make it a hardship on the manufacturer employing the student.” Worth noting is that Scanlon is the one who brought Juhasz into the Kettering/Fanuc fold way back in 2005.

Also intrigued by the Kettering/Fanuc relationship is Stephan Girard, senior director workforce development at PMMI. “Co-ops are great because they are similar to registered apprenticeships, but they don’t have as many strings attached since they are not affiliated with the Department of Labor,” says Girard. “What’s so important about a co-op is the hands-on experience that’s gained. A student in a conventional engineering program typically doesn’t get beyond the theoretical. But a student coming out of a co-op is ready to hit the ground running. I would love to see more of these types of programs.”

While we’re on the subject of workforce development, be sure to visit https://pmmiu.org to see what PMMI U offers to help the development of the future workforce. Finally, here’s the at-booth video (pwgo.to/8097) of Juhasz demonstrating Fanuc’s latest food-packaging robot. PW

Pouches Prove More Sustainable than Cartons for Cocktail Tea Bags

Sayso, the “first-ever craft cocktail tea bag” brand, is celebrating its first anniversary with a move to new carbon footprint-lowering secondary packaging and new graphics that clearly communicate the product’s purpose: to create craft cocktails and mocktails with real ingredients in mere minutes without the shaking, blending, or mess.

Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Sayso was co-founded by Chloe Bergson and Alison Evans. The two women, who met at Harvard Business School, were looking for a way to duplicate at home the craft cocktails they so enjoyed in New York City restaurants and bars, but were frustrated with the disappointing results they achieved with cocktail kits and liquid mixers that

Chemical Recycling Pilot Closes the Loop for Arla’s Cheese Maturing Bags

Keeping plastic in the loop is the goal of a new pilot undertaken by international dairy foods company Arla Foods and film producer Südpack whereby a portion of the cheese maturing bags used in Arla’s cheese production process are being chemically recycled and made into new packaging. The pilot relies on Recenso’s Carboliq chemical recycling process, which is being done at an industrial-scale pilot facility in Ennigerloh, Germany, jointly operated by Südpack, Clean Cycle Investments, and Recenso’s subsidiary, which also goes by the name Carboliq Cheese maturation is a scientific process that develops the flavor and texture of cheese over time. At its Rødkaersbro dairy in Denmark, Arla matures its mozzarella cheese by placing it in specially designed maturing bags for about two weeks. The plastic bags are made of multiple film layers that act as a barrier

were full of excessive sugar, preservatives, and artificial flavors. Their solution was to develop a line of dry mixes packaged in tea bags that could be steeped in spirits to create one of four craft cocktails (or in a non-alcoholic beverage for a mocktail): a Skinny Spicy Margarita, a Skinny Cardamom Paloma, a Honey Rosemary Moscow Mule, or an Old Fashioned.

Sayso’s cocktail mixes are non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, and/ or plant-based and include such vibrant ingredients as orange and grapefruit peel, jalapeno, ginger, smoked salt, cardamom seeds, and honey.

Explaining how Sayso came up with the idea to package the ingredients in tea bags, Bergson says that it was important for consumers to be able to see the real ingredients that make up the product. “The tea bag helped us to achieve this by containing the pieces of ingredients so that they were not floating around, and at the same time providing visual transparency,” she says.

It was also important to Sayso to weave sustainability into the fabric of the company early on, including in the selection of its packaging materials. The tea bags, from Nasa Corp., range in weight from 0.16 to 0.57 oz,

to oxygen, preventing the formation of mildew and the emergence of pathogens and harmful microflora. Because of their multilayer construction, the bags cannot be recycled through mechanical means. Instead, the 220 metric tons of maturing film used by Arla each year are incinerated.

“At Arla Foods, we have a 360-degree approach to packaging—how was the material sourced, what qualities does it possess, and how can it be disposed of after its functional use,” says Grane Maaløe, lead packaging development manager at Arla.

“In this pilot, we are finding a new use for our maturing film previously sent to incineration and are closing the loop by applying the recycled material into new food packaging, improving circularity, which is one of the cornerstones in our sustainable packaging strategy.”

For the pilot, Arla is sending 80 metric tons per year—the volume that can currently be accommodated by the Carboliq pilot facility—to Ennigerloh where it undergoes a proprietary one-stage conversion process that liquefies solid hydrocarbons, resulting in Carboliq’s CRL (Circular Liquid Resource), or a high-yield oil that can be used to manufacture new high-end polymers. According to Carboliq, its process is characterized by the application of thermal, catalytic, and physical

depending on ingredients, and are constructed of a compostable, non-woven fabric made from PLA (polylactic acid) bioplastic with a 100% PLA thread. The tag for the tea bag is made from a lamination of uncoated paper and PLA.

When first launched, Sayso’s Ready-to-Make Cocktail Sachet products were sold in an eight-count carton, with each tea bag individually packaged in a film/foil three side-seal pouch. This summer, the company switched from the carton to a flexible film stand-up pouch with zipper closure that Bergson says “significantly” reduces Sayso’s carbon footprint by negating the need for individual packaging for each tea bag. This also allowed the company to significantly reduce the cost of the product, from $24/unit ($3/serving) for the carton to $16/unit ($2/ serving) for the pouch.

Supplied by ePac Flexible Packaging, the new SUP is made from 0.56-mil post-consumer recycled soft-touch matte PET/0.48 mil PCR metallized PET/3.50 mil PCR white polyethylene, for an overall PCR content of 43.5%.

With the new pouch came new packaging graphics as well. While the logo and color palettes remain the same, Sayso has made the finished product the focal point of the package. “On the new package, we hero a real photo of our product,” says Bergson. “Because we are introducing a new product category, we realized how important customer education is. Despite using the tea bag form factor, we are not a tea product—we are a cocktail and mocktail product.”

In addition to the new packaging, Sayso has added two new flavors, Espresso Martini and Hibiscus Cosmopolitan. The products are available online through the company’s website and Amazon.com as well as in select retailers in California and the Northeast, including Citarella, Gourmet Garage, Fairway, Morton Williams, and others.

—Anne Marie Mohan

forces for cracking hydrocarbon and by its ability to use a wide range of mixed-waste plastic or agricultural waste biomass as feedstock.

Says Dirk Hardow, business unit manager, Functional Films and Compounds for Südpack, while one metric ton of mixed plastic waste does not equal one metric ton of new packaging, “it does reduce the need for fossil feedstock, and it paves the way for increased investing in this infrastructure moving forward.”

Furthermore, reports Südpack, factoring in the loss of electricity and thermal energy that incineration delivers, and the negative impact of transporting the films from Denmark to Germany, the calculation behind the test still comes out in favor of chemical recycling when it comes to overall carbon emissions. Per metric ton of plastic waste, the full processing, including the chemical recycling process, emits up to 50% less than sending the maturing film to incineration, the company says.

The pilot began in 2021. Upon conclusion of the pilot, Südpack and Arla will evaluate and plan the next steps. “The aim is to create a business case comparing the economic, practical, and environmental impact of the process,” says Maaløe. “We will use the results not only internally, but also share our findings with national waste sorting shareholders to make sure we work bilaterally to create the best recycling infrastructure for the future.”

—Anne Marie Mohan

PMMI Releases Overhauled Packaging Equipment Safety Standard

On Aug. 31, PMMI unveiled the newly approved American National Standard on the Safety of Packaging and Processing Machinery, ANSI/PMMI B155.1-2023. This new edition marks an overhaul of the standard, introducing critical changes that prioritize user safety and reflect industry advancements.

Guided by a panel of experts convened by standard-developer PMMI, the ANSI/ PMMI B155.1-2023 standard underwent a comprehensive revision to address evolving safety concerns, technological advancements, and changing operational landscapes. The development committee includes new contributors providing insights from machine builders, CPGs, and controls and automation suppliers.

“By introducing these comprehensive updates, the ANSI/PMMI B155.1-2023 standard sets a new benchmark for safety in the packaging and processing machinery industry,” says Tom Egan, vice president, industry services, PMMI. “This revised standard reaffirms the commitment of PMMI to the safety and well-being of industry professionals, ensuring that technological advancements go hand-in-hand with the highest levels of safety.”

The standard guides packaging and processing machinery suppliers and users through a formal, documented risk assessment process designed to ensure that reasonably foreseeable hazards are identified, and corresponding risks are reduced to an acceptable level.

“Safety is critical to all operators. With an evolving work landscape, having industry standards that are rigorously evaluated on a consistent basis allows us to stay vigilant in mitigating risk,” says John Uber, head of product compliance for PMMI member company Mettler Toledo.

A few key highlights of the standard’s updates include:

• Refined responsibilities. The revised text explicitly outlines the responsibilities of machinery suppliers, users, modifiers, purchasers of used machinery, and other stakeholders, fostering a safer working environment through increased accountability. The update addresses machinery-as-a-service (MaaS), including equipment loaned or provided by a third party and located in a user facility, as well as mobile platforms, robots used for logistics, cleaning, and more.

• Introduction of CM/CP concepts. The new edition introduces the concept of copackers and co-manufacturers, delineating their associated responsibilities within the framework of safety regulations.

• Updated legacy machinery requirements. The responsibilities for existing (legacy) machinery have been updated and clarified to ensure that older equipment is brought in line with the latest safety standards in a practical, cost-effective, and appropriate way.

• Clarified scope. The scope of the standard has been clarified to provide a more precise understanding of its applicability, reducing ambiguity and allowing for improved implementation.

• Remote/tele-operation enhancements. With the advancement of remote operations, the standard now offers improved information and guidelines for safely operating machinery through remote means.

• Reorganized clauses 4 and 5. The standard now features a restructured layout for enhanced clarity and ease of reference, streamlining the reading experience for professionals in the field.

• Whole body access requirements. The standard now includes comprehensive requirements for situations where whole body access is applicable, safeguarding operators from potential hazards.

Packaging World recently previewed the long-awaited acceptance and release of updates to this standard. Visit pwgo.to/8090 to read more.

The ANSI/PMMI B155.1-2023 standard will be available for purchase through the ANSI webstore. —Matt Reynolds

Madura Tea Shifts from Metalized OPP to Barrier Paper Packaging

Australia is leading the charge in a recent shift toward barrier paper packaging. Not long after Mars unveiled an Australian barrier paper pack pilot with candy bars—and Nestlé did the same with its KitKat bars—Australian brand Madura Tea shifted packaging materials from metalized oriented polypropylene (OPP) to flexible paper packaging.

“Madura Tea has made the right decision in demonstrating its environmental responsibility by using recyclable materials from sustainable sources,” says Carsten Loemker, lead, engineering/technology, Madura Tea says of the company’s motivation for the switch.

With help from German suppliers Gundlach Packaging Group and Koehler Paper, Madura believes it has found an ideal packaging format for its products in a specific material called Koehler NexPlus Seal Pure MOB 72 gsm. The supplier notes this paper material has a mineral oil barrier and offers protection against mineral oil hydrocarbons MOSH and MOAH. Gundlach Packaging Group and Koehler Paper provided the brand owner with a range of test materials from the Koehler NexFlex product range, and after several promising tests landed on this specific material. Koehler Paper says that Koehler NexPlus Seal Pure MOB is a packaging paper with a significantly reduced carbon footprint in comparison to conventional plastic packaging, and is also 100% recyclable.

“Koehler NexPlus Seal Pure MOB—which is made from 100% virgin fiber pulp and is therefore suitable for contact with food—impressed everyone involved thanks to its outstanding barrier properties,” says Yevgen Zolotkovski, sales manager for Flexible Packaging Papers at Koehler Paper.

Like all other NexPlus papers, NexPlus Seal Pure MOB is also heatsealable, and its high-strength properties make it ideally suited for further processing on all commercially available packaging machines, the company says.

“Although it’s an uncoated paper, the printing results are excellent and highlight the new environmentally friendly concept,” adds Rüdiger Brinkmann, senior sales manager at Gundlach. —Matt Reynolds

Fiber-based, Snap-closing Lid Launched at Picadeli

Swedish healthy eating pioneer Picadeli Salad Bar, a new concept salad bar destination located in-store at grocery retailers in Europe and more recently, the Midwest U.S. at Schnucks and Eatwell, will replace its entire line of plastic lids with paper-based lids. The company says the move will eliminate 250 metric tons of plastic from its supply chain every year. The new lids are recyclable in household paper waste streams and are made from renewable plant-based fiber sourced from sustainably managed forests, the company says.

“We value the health of our planet as much as we value healthy eating,” says Henrik Åkerman, head of sourcing and supply chain at Picadeli. “We are committed to preserving as many of our planet’s precious resources as possible, while also producing high-quality, functional packaging for our consumers to enjoy. With that in mind, we are delighted to introduce this new lid to our packaging. It fulfills all our needs and helps us reduce the amount of plastic in our portfolio, in line with modern consumer demands.”

The packaging format offers a secure snap closure system that represents an upgrade on the performance of Picadeli’s previous solution. Graphic Packaging International worked with Picadeli to achieve the familiar, functional, and tactile ‘snap’ that consumers know and expect.

“Everything we do, we do for our customers, and so it’s always pleasing to develop innovations that deliver on our customers’ expectations so emphatically,” says Åke Larsson, managing director of Graphic Packaging Tibro AB–the site involved in designing and producing the innovation.

“The new lids offer the functionality required for Picadeli to eliminate plastic salad bowl lids from their supply chain. They also offer great branding benefits via high-quality printing onto the lid using water-based inks.”

Picadeli used this opportunity to add bold, playful messages to the lids, enticing consumers to engage with the brand–an important benefit as it is the market-leading healthy fast-food outlet in Europe and the U.S., with more than 2000 salad bars across Europe alone. During the development of the new lid solution, Graphic Packaging optimized the design to ensure it remained rigid in chilled and moisture-rich environments.

—Matt Reynolds

Inside the cabinet? Outside?

You choose with our powerful, ultra-compact IPCs

Small enclosures. Harsh environments. Evolving requirements. As engineers, we know these factors must be addressed constantly. Every new machine presents unique challenges and opportunities to innovate. So our ultra-compact Industrial PC series gives you freedom to choose the perfect controller for every machine. Maybe it’s the C6015 with dimensions of just 82 x 82 x 40 mm and outstanding installation flexibility. Or maybe your machine calls for the IP65/67-rated C7015 for cabinet-free installation. All IPCs in this series deliver powerful control to simultaneously run automation, HMI, edge computing/IoT and other communication – all on one controller. They make ideal gateways to the cloud and support flexible I/O system expansions – inside or outside of the cabinet. The choice is yours

Advanced Recycled Material Finds Circular Home in Fruit Cups

Pacific Coast Producers, an agricultural co-op known for high-quality fruits canned or otherwise packaged for private brands the word over, has made a big shift in one of its more common packages. It will now use Printpack’s diced fruit cups that include 30% ISCC PLUS certified-circular polyethylene from ExxonMobil, an advanced or molecularly recycled material. With this launch, the three companies say they’re working toward a shared goal of reducing plastic waste by supporting a circular economy for plastics.

“Pacific Coast Producers is proud to be associated with the efforts of Printpack to manufacture packaging that is progressively more circular for our earth and our consumers. Together, we are engaged in an ever-evolving venture to provide shelf-stable, single-serve fruit products that are made from 30% ISCC PLUS certified-circular plastic. We will gradually increase the number of cups that include certified-circular content with each seasonal pack. Our collective efforts to reduce landfill deposits, eliminate waste, and diminish pollution is the most important initiative a consumerpackaged goods company can pursue,” says Andrew K. Russick, Pacific Coast Producer’s VP, sales & marketing.

Gabletop Carton for Mouthwash Cuts

Plastic by 80%

Dedicated to making “everything” that helps consumers live more sustainably in their homes, including sustainable personal care and household and cleaning products, German company LUORO has a special place in its heart, and in its product portfolio, for oral care products. The company’s first product, introduced in 2019 on Germany’s version of Shark Tank, was The WingBrush, an interdental brush with refillable heads.

Now, with its Paperdent line, LUORO is taking aim at plastic packaging in the oral care category. “Plastic waste is one of the main threats to our nature and wildlife, and especially in dental care, where an extremely large number of products made of single-use plastic are still being manufactured and used,” says Alexander Kurth, LUORO’s head of communications. “We want to break this trend and show that alternative materials can be used to make products that are at least as good and won’t outlive us by several hundred years.”

In June, LUORO introduced a new alcohol-free, vegan mouthwash product under the Paperdent line in packaging made from, you guessed it, paper. The mouthwash, in Mild Fresh and Mild Herb flavors, comes in a fully recyclable, 500-mL carton, the D-Pak from Elopak. According to Patrick Verhelst, chief marketing officer for Elopak, the D-Pak reduces the overall plastic content used by Paperdent in its mouthwash packaging by up to 80% when compared with traditional rigid plastic mouthwash bottles.

Concern for plastic waste and its potential impact on the environment is growing globally as only a small fraction of plastic is being recycled. ExxonMobil is supporting the circularity of plastics through its Exxtend technology for advanced recycling, sometimes called chemical or molecular recycling. ExxonMobil’s proprietary

Elopak’s D-Pak paper-based gabletop carton has been around since the 1990s and is designed specifically for non-food products. The carton uses sustainably sourced paperboard and is lined with a bio-based plastic

technology breaks down plastic waste into feedstock that can be used in making new plastics and other valuable products. The amount of plastic waste processed can be attributed through the ISCC PLUS mass balance free attribution approach to new, certified-circular polymers that provide the same quality and performance as virgin plastics. This allows converters like Printpack to use certified-circular ExxonMobil PP in existing converting processes.

“We are excited to be the first to bring ISCC PLUS certifiedcircular material to the diced fruit cup market. This is a significant milestone for Printpack as we continue to expand our portfolio of packaging that offers sustainability benefits. Now in addition to being recyclable, these fruit bowls will have 30% ISCC PLUS certified-circular content. That is an important step towards building a circular plastic economy,” says Dan Sanders, product development manager, Printpack Rigid.

Adds Olivier Lorge, global market development manager, polypropylene, Vistamaxx, and Exact, ExxonMobil, adds that he and his team are also “proud to work with Printpack to develop products that meet customer expectations for high-performance polypropylene products that help protect and keep food safe, while also helping to support the circular plastic economy.” —Matt

Reynolds

made from tall oil, a liquid obtained as a byproduct from pulp and paper manufacturing.

“The tall oil-based feedstock allows Elopak to create cartons entirely made from wood,” says Verhelst. “The wood used to create tall oil is sourced from sustainably managed forests, therefore ensuring the carton is fully renewable, contributing to the circular economy.”

Paperdent’s use of the D-Pak marks the first time this package has been used for mouthwash. According to Kurth, the biggest challenge related to using the gabletop carton is making sure the consumer understands what the product is. “Consumers have so far been used to using mouthwash exclusively in plastic bottles,” he says. “Most customers know paper composite cartons from milk, which is why we have to clearly differentiate ourselves here. That’s why we decided to depict a classic mouthwash bottle on the front of the packaging design to enable easy identification on the shelf.”

The Paperdent product is also among the first to be filled at Elopak’s new full-service facility in Terneuzen, The Netherlands. The facility began operation in Q2-23 and provides turnkey services that include the supply of preprinted blanks and closures, packaging on a dedicated, fit-for-purpose filler, and both pre- and aftermarket launch products. “This enables a partnership with customers across all stages of a product, from ideation to commercial launch in large or small scale,” says Verhelst.

LUORO’s Paperdent mouthwash is available for €4,99 (approximately $5.40), which Kurth says is “on par with suppliers who do not use sustainable packaging.” The product is sold online and at select pharmacies and supermarkets in Germany and Austria.

—Anne Marie Mohan

Compact Spiral lifts your line to a new level

The Compact Spiral elevators give you increased access to the production floor and the possiblity to transport goods vertically. The unique spiral-shape is key to its compact construction, offering 40% smaller footprint.

•Small footprint, using less space

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Read more at Flexlink.com or contact us at info.us@flexlink.com.

is part of Coesia, a group of innovation-based industrial and packaging solutions companies operating globally, headquartered in Bologna, Italy. www.coesia.com�

Record-Breaking

PACK EXPO Las Vegas Exceeds Expectations

Last month, nearly 32,000 attendees engaged with more than 2,300 exhibitors across a million sq ft of exhibit space last in the largest packaging and processing trade show in North America this year, and the best attended in PACK EXPO Las Vegas history.

“PACK EXPO Las Vegas was a huge win for the packaging and processing industry,” says Jim Pittas, president and CEO of PMMI. “From attendance to exhibition space to educational sessions, the show surpassed expectations to provide our largest, most comprehensive show to date. This is proof that the industry continues to thrive and show-up to provide the most innovative, sustainable, effective solutions the world has to offer.”

And show up they did. Brand owners and CPGs attending had this to say about their experiences:

“I came to PACK EXPO Las Vegas to find new packaging and filling equipment and am excited by what I’m seeing on the show floor. This might be the largest PACK EXPO I’ve attended. It’s a well put together event with a good representation of industry suppliers which allows me to see so many solutions live and under one roof,” says Suzanne Dawis, vice president of R&D, Bright Innovation Labs.

Adds Ryan Besai, group chief engineer, Bermudez Group Limited, based in Trinidad and Tobago, “Our group includes several companies and more than 28 brands in cookies, crackers, snacks, and breads. I’m at PACK EXPO Las Vegas to find automation and robotics solutions to take our operations to the next level. While I’m new to the show, I can see that PACK EXPO Las Vegas has a wide variety of suppliers. The Innovation Stage sessions I attended were very enlightening. For businesses based in the Caribbean, the show is relatively close and easy to reach.”

Sustainability remains top of mind and thousands of attendees visited the new Sustainability Central exhibit, as well as the hundreds of exhibitors showcasing sustainable materials and machinery at the show.

“We came to PACK EXPO Las Vegas to find more sustainable packaging options,” says Brooke Ervin, packaging engineer, Mopar (Chrysler Service Parts Division). “Particularly, we’re interested in returnable packaging. We’ve already seen possible solutions on the show floor and visited Sustainability Central. This show is where we need to be.”

PMMI heads east next year with registration now officially open for PACK EXPO East (March 18-20, 2024; Pennsylvania Convention Center). For more information and the register, visit packexpoeast.com PW

52%

The number of industry leaders surveyed by Aura about their business’s supply chain who think a genuine circular economy for packaging is still 20 years away; 26% don’t see it happening for 50 years or more

$186.3B

The predicted market value of the reusable packaging market by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 5.5% from $109.09 billion in 2023, according to Future Market Insights

3B

The number of trees that are cut down every year to meet the global demand for packaging, a number that has grown by more than 65% in the past 15 to 20 years, according to Canadian NGO Canopy

85%

The percentage of consumers surveyed by the American Chemistry Council who believe if a new plastic product is made from plastics processed through advanced recycling, the product could have a label saying it contains “recycled content”

“Reusable packaging, or as we call it ‘refill and recharge’ formats, is an essential part of our sustainable packaging development strategy. For example, we know that using refill pouches can lower plastic usage by up to 81% and help drop packaging intensity by as much as 70%. The main challenge lies with the adoption rate and the upgrading of consumer habits. This is why empowering our business ecosystem plays a pivotal role within our ‘L’Oréal for the Future’ strategy. By engaging with our retailers and with consumers, we aim to drive this category of products, which in turn will help us promote more responsible consumption.”

–Erik Troost, sustainability program lead for L’Oréal, in an article from Packaging Europe, “The L’Oréal approach to packaging sustainability”

“Plastics play an important role in the everyday lives of Canadians. However, a significant amount of plastic food packaging is used only once and then ends up in landfills as waste, or in the environment as pollution. By getting rid of problematic plastic food packaging, replacing singleuse packaging with reuse-refill systems, and ensuring that plastics, if needed, are designed to be safely reused, recycled, or composted, we can all help move Canada toward zero plastic waste.”

–Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s environment and climate change minister, as quoted in an article from Global News, “Canada sets sights on next plastic waste target: food packaging”

“We’re taking food waste and then we add certain types of microorganisms, and the bacteria is going to use the nutrients in the food waste and generate the nanocellulose material out of that. One of the most exciting applications is in smart packaging. We can embed food extract pH responsive compounds in the nanocellulose and then create a smart label that reflects the shelf life of food products.”

–Dr. Dylan Liu, lecturer in food science and sustainability at Federation University Australia, in an article from ABC News, “Packaging made from food waste could save millions of tonnes of produce from landfill”

Colgate-Palmolive’s Sustainability Plan Spans Packaging Lifecycle

Cecilia Coates, Sustainability & Digital Transformation, ColgatePalmolive, detailed her company’s plan for a 90% reduction in emissions by 2040 at PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2023. Packaging World was there to learn more.

Colgate-Palmolive’s 2025 Sustainability & Social Impact Strategy (pwgo. to/8098), includes eliminating unnecessary or problematic packaging, a 33% reduction in virgin plastic, and a transition to only use recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging by 2025. Colgate’s goals span beyond plastic reduction and far beyond 2025 though; the company also aims to reduce scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, with 2020 as the base point. Here’s how Coates describes these ambitious goals. (Note: Conversational language edited for clarity)

Packaging World:

Can you explain Colgate’s strategy to hit its 2040 emissions goal?

Cecilia Coates:

The three categories from which our emissions come are manufacturing, logistics, and procurement. Here’s how we’re tackling them: For manufacturing, its energy efficiency, renewables, and zero waste. For logistics, it’s greater operational efficiency. It’s how much weight and how much distance we’re moving products across the world. Then for procurement, it’s more about supplier engagement and working in partnership with our suppliers to reduce all the emissions in the upstream supply chain.

How is Colgate-Palmolive manufacturing becoming more sustainable?

Our biggest focus here is energy efficiency, because ultimately, the cheapest megawatt hour is the one you don’t use. We’re really focused on energy efficiency and using as little as possible to make a product and to keep growing the business while using as little energy as possible.

Then, the energy that we do use, we want to focus on making it renewable. Embedded in that carbon target is a specific sub-target of 100% renewable electricity by 2030. A lot of our factories have solar panels on site. That doesn’t mean that we’re going to get to 100% using solar panels because it’s physically impossible considering our energy

load, but that is one example of a tactic that we’re using.

And then there’s our commitment to zero waste. I love this one because it’s not always an intuitive connection for people, but really waste, especially waste that ends up in landfill, has greenhouse gas emissions, either methane or CO2. So as much more waste that we can divert from landfill is less carbon emissions that we are putting out there into the atmosphere. We have a very strong commitment on zero waste, and we’re very proud that many of our factories have been certified TRUE zero waste by the U.S. Green Building Council.

We really like exploring the connection between packaging and climate. Especially, for example, a reusable toothbrush that has an application in terms of carbon emissions. We’re doing studies which basically tell us after using a toothbrush X amount of times and having replaced X amount of plastic toothbrushes, that has an implication on carbon reduction. We haven’t published numbers yet, but we’re making the study so that we know from a very technical life-cycle assessment perspective, the carbon benefits of switching to reusable products.

What role can technology play in meeting Colgate’s emissions targets?

Data and digitization is really a key enabler of how we’re going to become more efficient and reduce energy and achieve net zero. One of the things we’re focused on is using energy sensors, IoT devices, software, platforms that can help us bring visibility to where energy is being consumed. And we have examples, vendors that are present here in [PACK EXPO Las Vegas], and have their devices in our factories, and they’re using those to really empower people with information to guide the strategy and guide the energy production.

What can you do alongside suppliers to help meet emissions targets? I want to really emphasize that this is one of our key focus areas, to engage with our suppliers. Whether they are supplying machinery, raw materials, or packaging materials, we want to talk to all our suppliers and really convey this message. Our chief procurement officers have been messaging through webinars to our suppliers, telling them how important this is for Colgate, and how we value the partnerships that we can do together to reduce our emissions together, and to collect data to make more informed decisions and more informed partnerships to get to net zero together.

Have these changes brought any challenges to profitability?

If so, how do you balance it?

Usually, when we make big goals, we must reassure people that we’re committed to making them cost-neutral. But a lot of these things are expensive. Post-consumer recycled content for example, usually has a premium price. What we do is, because we’ve made a commitment, we say ‘okay, we know and understand, but we’re going to over time make it cost-neutral.’ We try to find efficiencies in other parts of the business so that we can balance it out and ultimately be able to reach our goals while cost-neutral. —Casey

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Day and Temp Labor Agencies, And Their Clients, Face Legal Changes

New legal requirements that are intended to protect day and temporary workers have toughened obligations on staffing agencies that supply such laborers in two states. That in turn is making life harder for companies who use their services, notably contract packaging and manufacturing businesses. Opponents worry that similar requirements could spread to other states.

Legislators are motivated by the sensible goal of protecting workers from abuses by some problematic staffing providers, but the new law imposes a range of legal obligations on all such providers, both good and bad.

“Coman” and “copack” [CM/CP] companies commonly rely on day and temp workers so that they can quickly and effectively fulfill their clients’ requests, often on short notice. The CM/CP companies’ efficient, flexible responsiveness is a big part of what they are providing to clients.

The Illinois Day and Temporary Labor Services Act has been around for some time, but significant amendments were made to it this year, and a similar law was recently passed in New Jersey. Among the Illinois law’s provisions is a requirement that if day or temp workers work for over 90 days for a company, their pay must equal what’s paid to employees hired directly by the company, and they have to be provided the same benefits, or their cash equivalent. There are reporting and notice requirements that the temp services must fulfill, recordkeeping obligations for the client CM/CP companies, and penalties for violations including, alarmingly, a provision allowing private parties to sue to enforce the law.

Illinois legislators said when passing this new law that there are about 650,000 people who work as day or temporary workers in the state, and about 300 day and temp labor service agencies that are registered to operate there. Legislators suspect that many others operate but are unregistered. They believe that low-wage day and temp workers “are particularly vulnerable to abuse of their labor rights, including unpaid wages, failure to pay for all hours worked, minimum wage and overtime violations, and unlawful deductions

from pay for meals, transportation, equipment, and other items.”

Tom Landry of the national staffing agency Allegiance Staffing says laws like Illinois’ place obligations on agencies to provide things that many reputable staffing agencies already provide. “These are best practices. Good operators have no problem with this,” he says. For example, good staffing agencies already provide benefits to day and temp workers, he notes, and he adds that he himself has called for sensible regulation of the industry for years. What’s more, he says many of the protections the new amendments provide for would have been possible without the amendments, if only the pre-existing law were properly enforced. In addition to his business, Landry serves on the Board of Directors of the Contract Packaging Association (CPA), the most prominent trade association for contract packagers and manufacturers. [The author serves as General Counsel to CPA – Ed.]

But Landry fears that some of the new law’s requirements could be impractical to implement, such as the paycheck reporting obligations, which could cause confusion and lead to inadvertent violations by staffing agencies.

Landry is concerned that the law seems to characterize good staffing agencies as if they’re making “indentured servants” of their employees. He defends such companies, explaining that “Our employees work for us because they like the flexibility. They can pick and choose who they go to work for and on their schedule. They get free job training provided by [CM/CPs], they get exposed to multiple industries and work environments. They gain experience that helps them secure a better life. Good staffing agencies promote conversion [to full-time employees], it helps us recruit more quality employees and builds a better bond with our [CM/CP] clients.”

Landry thinks laws like this are headed for court challenges, and the similar one in New Jersey is already being challenged as unconstitutionally vague. It seems likely that laws like this will be the subject of ongoing debate in coming years, as proponents look for ways to protect workers and the affected businesses advocate for clarity and practicality. PW

Eric Greenberg can be reached at greenberg@efg-law.com. Or visit his firm’s website at www.ericfgreenbergpc.com.

Legislators are motivated by the sensible goal of protecting workers from abuses by some problematic staffing providers, but the new law imposes a range of legal obligations on all such providers, both good and bad.

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By Sterling Anthony, CPP, Contributing Editor

Choices in Barrier Flexible Packaging

Flexible packaging is a structural characterization referring to a material’s ability to bend and to fold, therefore, to flex. Flexible packaging, compared to rigid packaging like glass and metals, is lightweight. That inherent property results in lower transportation costs for brand owners and convenience-of-handling for consumers. Barrier protection, however, is not an inherent property of flexible packaging. It needs to be bestowed through engineered means.

The need for barrier packaging derives from the need to protect the contained products from the harmful effects of gases, moisture, and light (UV). The aforementioned elements can reduce the quality, efficacy, performance, and aesthetics of products such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and cosmetics, among others.

Flexible packaging provides barrier, either as a monolayer or a multilayer substrate. The associated technologies include extrusions, coextrusions, laminations, and coatings, producing structures such as bags, pouches, and thermoforms. The packaging supplier industry segment known as converters offer a wide and imaginative range of offerings. But how does a packaging user decide?

The protection function of flexible packaging (as with any other type of packaging) always should reflect the needs of the product. A given product’s susceptibility to harm establishes the type and the level of barrier that the flexible packaging must provide. As logical and straightforward as that might sound, decisions are complicated by various considerations and chief among them is the targeted shelf life/service life. It sets ramifications throughout the supply chain, notably on inventory levels.

It’s easier to decide on the type of barrier needed than it is to decide on the amount. A powder, for example, needs protection from moisture—a self-imposed requirement. How much protection and for how long, however, are less obvious. Too little protection (underpackaging) and too much protection (overpackaging) are both costly. The former results in consumer dissatisfaction, and the latter results in reduced margins. In the tradition of Goldilocks, comfort resides in the optimal middle. Following are some of the main ways to get there, material-wise.

• Aluminum foil. Foil is the best flexible barrier against gases, moisture, and light. The degree of protection mainly depends on the foil’s thickness, which in turn affects cost. On the debit side, foil is susceptible to pinholes, flex-cracking, and abrasion. Due to its inability to seal, along with its various susceptibilities, foil frequently is sandwiched within laminations. When, however, foil is a visible surface layer, it imparts a sheen (especially when lacquered) that

enhances aesthetics and shelf appeal.

• Metallized films. These structures are the closest rivals to aluminum foil as barriers to gases, moisture, and light. Any film can be metallized (the depositing of a layer of vaporized metal). The task, therefore, is to choose a film of certain inherent barrier properties, then to enhance them with aluminum metallizing. To illustrate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP) in its various orientations, and polyamide (nylon) are modest barriers against gases and moisture, and negligible barriers against light. When metallized, though, their barrier properties increase by multiples.

• Glass-coated films. Silicon oxide, a modification of silicon dioxide (or sand, the main component of glass), is vacuum-vaporized then deposited as a thin coating. Silicon oxide imparts barriers associated with glass, namely against gases and moisture, but not against light (though transparency and the ability to see the contents can be an otherwise advantage). The thusly coated films are best laminated to protect the coating; after all, glass is fragile. Because of cost, glass-coated films see high-end, high-margin applications, such as for some medical devices and some specialty food packaging.

• EVOH. Ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), a copolymer, is a barrier against gases. It’s used in multilayer structures, such as coextrusions and laminations, and can enhance the relatively low gas barriers provided by polyolefins. As another example, nylon’s intermediate barrier against gases is increased by EVOH. But EVOH is hydroscopic, and its barrier properties against gases are reduced in a high-humidity environment. That’s why an EVOH-containing structure might include a material serving as a moisture barrier.

One would be remiss not to include sustainability in the discussion. Source reduction, minimizing converting steps, and conserving energy usage are prime pursuits. Structures that include paper must include a coating or a film, because paper can not otherwise be sealed. Monolayer film structures—polyethylene bags, for example—are sourced from non-renewables and have poor recycling rates. Multilayer structures are difficult (an understatement) to separate into individual layers for recycling. Even those converters that promote their offerings as compostable must admit that the infrastructure for commercial composting has a long way to go.

All of that is par for the course. No packaging has sustainability bona fides that isolate it from criticism. It’s all about trade-offs and arguments about a net environmental footprint. What’s not subject to argument, however, is that barrier flexible packaging is popular with consumers. That fact cements its continued use, now and for the foreseeable future. PW

The protection function of flexible packaging (as with any other type of packaging) always should reflect the needs of the product.

It is time to experience

By Anne Marie Mohan, Senior Editor

Company Forms ‘Cult of Clean’ with Refillable, Reusable Cleaner Packaging

The range of refill-at-home options for household cleaning product packaging has so far run the gamut—from concentrates in cartridges, sachets, and tablets to refills in pouches, cans, and bottles. Now, New York City-based brand Cleancult has added another alternative: product refills in paper-based gabletop cartons.

As the story goes, Cleancult was founded in 2019 when founder and CEO Ryan Lupberger looked on the back of his laundry detergent bottle and didn’t recognize one ingredient on the list. This led him, along with co-founder Zachary Bedrosian, to design a cleaning system with zero single-use plastic waste packaging and clean formulations. Shares Lupberger, “Cleancult is dedicated to helping retailers reach their sustainability goals and reduce plastic waste in the cleaning aisle while also making sustainable cleaning options more accessible for customers.”

Cleancult’s packaging system comprises a refillable, reusable, shatter-resistant glass bottle paired with Eco Refills in 32-oz cartons that together are said by the company to reduce plastic waste by 90%. In addition, it says, by using this packaging system, consumers can save up to 55.8 lb of plastic per year.

“Unlike other sustainable alternatives such as concentrates, pouches, etc., Cleancult’s refillable system reduces the need for a user to change their behavior and allows them to easily transition from traditional household cleaning products to a more sustainable alternative,” explains Lupberger. “Once a customer purchases a refill carton and reusable dispenser, they just need to pour the product into the bottle. Unlike other products, such as concentrate tablets that require consumers to add water to create their own cleaning solutions, Cleancult is formulated and ready to use once purchased and transferred into its respective refillable container, ultimately making it easier for customers to swap to a more sustainable cleaning routine.”

To design the system’s triangular, beaker-shaped glass bottle, which Lupberger describes as “a blend of beauty, functionality, and sustainability,” Cleancult worked with industrial design agency Guerrera Office (formerly Vibility). “Every detail was carefully considered, from the geometric

lines and clean silhouettes to the ergonomic design,” says Lupberger. “We also minimized the use of plastic to ensure a more sustainable solution that is even dishwasher safe. From the shatter-resistant glass to the protective silicone sleeve, the bottles are crafted with durability in mind, so they are meant for you to refill continuously and rely on for a lifetime—they are the last bottle you will ever need to buy!”

The cartons, from a proprietary supplier, include layers of polyethylene, aluminum, and paper, with the paper being FSC-certified, “to ensure sustainability and responsible sourcing,” Lupberger notes. The cartons have been categorized by How2Recycle as being “broadly recyclable,” meaning that greater than 60% of the U.S. population has access to carton recycling, and bear the How2Recycle label.

Beginning as a digitally native brand, Cleancult has expanded since 2019 into retail stores that include Kohl’s, CVS, Walgreens, Meijer’s, and others. In March, it announced its products would be rolling out in Walmart, bringing its retail presence to 31,000 points of distribution. With this massive shift from its D2C roots, Cleancult redesigned the graphics for its packaging to ensure they would stand out on shelf while clearly communicating the company’s mission to reduce plastic waste for consumers.

“We teamed up with [brand design agency] Robot Food to help elevate our brand identity and also redesign our packaging to have consumers connect our refill cartons directly with the reusable dispensers while in-store,” says Lupberger. “This resulted in our paper-based refill cartons featuring an image of the corresponding dispenser, and the refillable glass bottles now include a hangtag to visually correlate to the specific refill product.”

With the launch into Walmart, Cleancult also updated its scent portfolio to include fragrances such as Wild Lavender, Lemon Verbena, and Sea Minerals. Its products include liquid dish soap, hand soap, and laundry detergent along with reusable bottles in three sizes with different dispensing closures and in different colors, all available at retail and online at Cleancult.com and Amazon.com. At Walmart, Cleancult’s refill cartons start at $7.48, and the glass dispensers can be purchased for $8.98.

—Anne Marie Mohan

Watch video on Cleancult’s products and packaging at pwgo.to/8074.

Robotics Bring Big Benefits to Bakery

Two identical monoblock cartoning/case packing systems produce a number of secondary and tertiary packaging formats, while robotic palletizing brings the automated line to a close.

By Pat Reynolds, Contributing Editor

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, T. Marzetti Company has a plant in Luverne, Ala., that makes frozen bakery products sold in supermarkets under its own Sister Schubert’s brand as well as under numerous private label brands. As demand for its offerings continued to grow, the plant found itself needing a more efficient way to handle manual cartoning, case packing, and palletizing. So management recently turned to robotic automation to reduce its increasingly unsustainable labor costs.

The product itself is dinner rolls in aluminum pans that consumers bake in the oven for 12 minutes or so. “In addition to dinner rolls,” notes Project Manager John Haenszel, “we have sweet goods like cinnamon, lemon, and blueberry rolls, for example. And we also make a sausageand-cheese pinwheel. But the primary package is always a round aluminum pan.”

Primary packaging changed very little. It’s done on a bagger from Kliklok, a Syntegon company, that pulls clear film bags from wickets, inserts a filled pan, and clips the bag closed. The bagged pans then go into a spiral freezer. At this point it’s time for secondary and tertiary packaging, and this is where the transformation has occurred. A key automation upgrade came in the form of a robotic palletizing system from Schneider Packaging Equipment, a Pacteon company. But most impressive are the two upstream monoblock cartoning and case packing systems from Cama Each IF299 monoblock is designed to run 45 bagged pans/min, and each system includes a Model IF315 top-load cartoning system featuring a vision-guided RB590 Triaflex delta style robot.

Cama has been supplying robots for more than 30 years now, offering a robotic loading unit with the latest open-architecture controls technology. In the case of the T. Marzetti machines, the controls are from Rockwell. “The idea is to offer equipment with built-in, custom-

ized robots, not arms that simply pick and place, but solutions conceived for specific packaging operations,” says Billy Goodman, managing director of Cama North America.

The monoblock system is part of Cama’s Breakthrough Generation (BTG) series, which features modular, scalable, and hygienically designed frameworks housing contemporary automation solutions. This includes advanced servo technology tightly coupled to vision systems and Cama’s robotic solutions, which have been developed in house to deal with the specific demands of secondary packaging. The vision system integrated by Cama includes a 3D Cognex camera.

For twin-pack cartons, the delta style robot picks bagged pans from the conveyor belt in the foreground, rotates them so that the ponytail is in the 12 o’clock position, and places them into a carton that is erected from a flat blank upstream.

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Cama’s BTG Series machines are also based on a 100% digital platform that supports full Industry 4.0 capabilities, including Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and virtual testing, training, and operation. Furthermore, advanced component-identification systems can deliver rapid format changeovers, sometimes in as little as 15 minutes.

Each IF299 delivered to Marzetti had to be able to do two essential things. First, it had to orient incoming pans, and we’ll see why in a minute. Second, it had to produce either of two formats. Format 1 is twin-pack cartons followed by six cartons into cases. With this format, consumers pick a twin-pack carton from the freezer case. Format 2, on the other hand, is a no-carton approach, where bagged pans go directly into cases in either 6- or 12-count arrangements. In this format, consumers pick as many individual pans from the freezer case as they desire. Let’s look at Format 1 first, where the robotic cartoner puts two pans into wraparound cartons and the case packer puts six twin-pack cartons into wraparound cases.

Exiting the freezer

It starts with bagged pans exiting the spiral freezer about 10 ft above floor level. A decline conveyor takes the pans down to floor level, where manual labor is used to place half the pans on a conveyor leading to one Cama system and the other half on a conveyor leading to the other Cama. Just ahead of both Cama systems are X-ray detection systems from Anritsu that detect foreign objects and cause pans with such objects to be rejected from the line.

Like any plastic bread bag gathered at the neck with a plastic clip closure, the Marzetti packages have a “ponytail.” The orientation of the ponytail is completely random when packages reach the infeed of a Cama system. This was challenge number one for the Cama engineers.

“The ponytail needs to be in the 12 o’clock position if the package graphics are going to be properly aligned with the two display cutouts in the carton,” says Haenszel. “So the Cama solution needs to do more than just put pans into cartons at rate. It needs to put pans into cartons in a specific orientation at rate. It uses a vision system to do that. It identifies the orientation of the ponytail and relays that data to the Rockwell controller, which sends that information to the robotic end

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The tooling on this two-axis robotic pusher presses the top flap closed. Then the pusher slides the finished carton at a right angle to a staging area. In doing so, the pusher pushes the preceding twin-pack carton out of the staging area and onto another right angle conveyor takeaway that leads toward the case packing station.

Six cartons in two stacks of three are pushed into the loading station of the wraparound case packer. Then the case is pushed at a right angle beneath folding bars and tooling that closes around the top to compress the top flap shut.

effector, which in turn rotates in whichever direction it needs to get the ponytail in the 12 o’clock position. That was a tall order, because if you think about the end effector putting the pan into a carton that is only slightly bigger than the pan itself, there isn’t a lot of room for error. And it would be an easier fit if the ponytail could be in a corner, where there’s more room. So it was a challenging thing to pull off.”

Pans are fed single file into the Cama monoblock on a continuousmotion belt conveyor. Flat carton blanks are picked from a magazine feed and pass under two Nordson glue nozzles before being pushed down into a forming box. The paperboard cartons, supplied by WestRock, are a 26-point paperboard printed offset in seven colors.

Once formed, the cartons proceed top-flap-open down a conveyor that runs parallel to the conveyor carrying the bagged pans. The carton conveyor pauses periodically so that the Triaflex delta-style robot can pick one pan at a time from its conveyor belt and, after rotating in either direction and as many degrees as needed to orient the ponytail to the 12 o’clock position, place the pan neatly into the carton. As soon as a second pan has been placed on top of the first, that carton is advanced out of the loading station and an empty carton takes its place so the process can be repeated.

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A short distance later, the filled carton has glue applied to its top flap by a Nordson unit and enters a two-axis robotic pusher whose tooling presses the top flap closed. Then the pusher slides the finished carton at a right angle to a staging area. In doing so, the pusher pushes the preceding twin-pack carton out of the staging area and onto another right angle conveyor takeaway that leads toward the case packing station.

At the case packing station, a carton drops into a flighted conveyor that makes yet another right angle turn to a station where a push bar pushes it into an upstacker. As soon as cartons are stacked three high, that stack of three is pushed into a loading station where it sits momentarily until it’s joined by another stack of three cartons. Then all six cartons are pushed into a single-wall C-flute wraparound case that has been pulled from a magazine feed and erected with help from, again, Nordson glue guns. Now the case is pushed again at a right angle beneath folding bars and tooling that closes around the top to compress the top flap shut. As soon as that tooling opens, the finished case is indexed forward onto a right-angle takeaway conveyor, in the process passing a Hitachi ink-jet coder for date coding.

On to Format 2

As mentioned previously, some stores display individual pans of these products in the freezer case as opposed to twin-pack cartons. This can be done in one of two ways. One option is for the store to receive 12 pans in a brown kraft corrugated case and for the store personnel to remove the pans and stand them on end in the freezer case. The other

option is for the store to receive six pans in a white display-ready case that goes into the freezer case after the store personnel opens the case along the perforated score lines.

For both the brown kraft 12-count and the white retail-ready sixcount, the IF299 operates a little differently than when two-pack cartons are being produced. Obviously, the station where cartons are picked, erected, and loaded is inactivated. Pans still enter single file on the same belt conveyor, and they still get picked by the same delta-style robot, and that robot’s end effector still orients the ponytail of each pan—though in this case it orients the ponytail in the 9 o’clock position rather than the 12 o’clock position. Orienting all pans in the same position ensures that the ponytail does not interfere with pan manipulation or case closing.

Also quite different is that once the robot has a pan in its grip, it moves in the exact opposite direction that it takes when loading twinpack cartons. In other words, rather than stroking north to drop pans into cartons on conveyor belt A it strokes south to drop pans onto conveyor belt B that runs parallel to A.

From here on out, the sequence is very similar to what we saw when twin-pack cartons are being case packed. Pans drop into the same flighted conveyor that takes cartons to the upstacker. But in this case

it’s two pans per flight as opposed to one carton per flight. When pans reach the upstacker, they can proceed into corrugated cases in six- or 12-count formats. Whichever format is chosen, top flaps are closed and glued shut and finished cases discharge the same way that cases full of twin-pack cartons do.

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Robotic palletizing

Cases exiting the two Cama systems merge onto a single conveyor so that a Hitachi ink-jet coder can imprint date code information on each case. Cases then enter the infeed conveyor of a Schneider robotic palletizer equipped with a Fanuc robot with R30iB controller. End of arm tooling includes slip sheet pick-and-place capability.

Running commercially now since late April, the new equipment operates two 10-hour shifts four days a week. Like any leap from a largely manual operation to one that’s highly automated, there was a hiccup or two as installation wound down and commercial production began. But a lot of that had to do with packaging materials needing to be more rigidly in spec. “There’s room for slightly out of spec corrugated, for example, when humans are handling that corrugated,” says Haenszel. “When automation enters the picture, that’s not the case. Automated systems are looking for more standardized and consistent conditions. So we had to tighten up the quality requirements on corrugated cases, for example.”

The paperboard spec for cartons also changed. Because the carton is now a wraparound style formed from a flat blank rather than the pre-glued carton that was formerly erected and filled by hand, the paperboard went from a 28-point to a 26-point stock, which brought a slight cost savings.

Haenszel also notes that when it did come time to bring the new equipment in and make it fit an existing space, it helped that the monoblock Cama systems measured just 8.387 x 2 m (27.5 x 6.5 ft). “There was not a lot of room to spare,” he adds. PW

The robotic palletizer includes end-of-arm tooling with slip sheet pick-and-place capability.

Grocer Pilots Autonomous Micro-Factory for More Sustainable Ice

Relocalize, a provider of hyper-local automated micro-factories, partners with Southeastern Grocers in a pilot to produce a more sustainable, high-quality ice product manufactured and packaged near the point of distribution.

By Anne Marie Mohan, Senior Editor

In March 2023, technology startup Relocalize joined Southeastern Grocers to cut the ribbon—or rather chainsaw through a 200-lb block of ice fashioned into a ribbon—in celebration of the opening of a pilot microfactory for a new ice product at SEG’s Jacksonville Distribution Center in Jacksonville, Fla. Relocalize is a technology startup from Montreal, Canada, that provides automated food production platforms as a service (PaaS) to grocery and convenience retailers in the form of shipping container-based micro-factories driven entirely by artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.

of transportation CO2 and waste. Each of its micro-factories is engineered to handle all the processes of a traditional factory—i.e., production, processing, material handling, packaging, palletizing, inventory management, and food safety—at approximately one-twentieth the scale, by being located at the retailer’s distribution or fulfillment centers.

As part of the SEG micro-factory pilot, Relocalize and SEG also collaborated to develop a new 6-lb ice product, marketed as SE Grocers Party Cubes, that is more compact and space efficient, offers better quality and food safety, reduces waste, and uses recyclable film packaging.

Sustainable product, affordable price

As Wayne McIntyre, co-founder and chief executive officer of Relocalize shares, the inspiration for the micro-factory strategy was born from both a personal passion for sustainability as well as a way to address the challenge of providing sustainable, high-quality food at an affordable price.

Since it was founded in late 2020, Relocalize has been on a mission to disrupt the $1 trillion-plus CPG ice and beverage category by hyper-localizing the production of these water-based products to eliminate 100%

“The genesis of this project was thinking about where we could actually calibrate sustainability and value at the same time for retailers, packaged food companies and, of course, consumers,” says McIntyre. “What we stumbled upon was that there’s one area where these things come together, and that is when you have products that are very heavy and very expensive to transport on trucks, especially with all the inflation during COVID and the increased cost of logistics. It then became clear to us that products made primarily of water are really the best place to get started, where you get both great economics and good

Executives from Southeastern Grocers and Relocalize, including Dewayne Rabon of SEG (far right) and Wayne McIntyre of Relocalize (third from left), celebrate the launch of the first autonomous ice-making micro-factory while holding up bags of SEG’s new Party Cube product.

value, as well as actually make a huge sustainability impact.”

According to McIntyre, through its analysis, Relocalize determined that even for reasonably local products, transportation between the point of production and the distribution center results in a large amount of carbon. “In fact, our analysis indicates that even when your production facility is within, say, 20 miles of a distribution center, the carbon footprint from transportation is still more than 50% higher than producing it right at the distribution center,” he says. “And when you have a product that’s produced far away, you’re talking about a 90% CO2 reduction just by producing the product at the point of distribution instead and eliminating the entire middle-mile portion of the logistics journey.”

Among the bene ts cited by Relocalize of producing the product at the retailer’s distribution or ful llment center are that it breaks long supply chains and increases resilience, makes food more affordable by cutting fuel and logistics costs, and cuts tailpipe and greenhouse gas emissions.

Given Relocalize’s focus on products that are primarily water, ice was top of mind when it came to deciding which product to pursue rst. “We started with ice because the standard practice of trucking frozen water long distances just doesn’t make ecological or economic sense,” says McIntyre. “Twenty-four billion pounds of packaged ice travel across the United States and Canada from centralized production plants to retailers.” According to the company, by re-localizing packaged ice alone, CO2 emissions in North America could be reduced by more than 1.3 metric tons per year.

McIntyre adds that ice had a certain allure as well because packaged ice as an industry hasn’t changed in decades. “We had an opportunity to not just reinvent where the product was being made, and what kind of factory it was being made in, but also to reinvent the product itself,” he says. “The Relocalize ice product and the SEG packed ice product is truly a unique, different product—different in shape, different in its packaging, different in so many ways.”

Micro-factories full of proprietary technology

A complete Relocalize manufacturing and packaging micro-factory, or RELO, for ice comprises two standard, 40-ft shipping containers equipped with the company’s proprietary ice-making technology, vacuum thermoforming equipment, and robotics, integrated with custom technology from Relocalize, that operate nearly autonomously and are monitored remotely by the company.

McIntyre shares that Relocalize chose shipping containers to house the micro-factories because it enables them to repurpose and recycle existing containers, which falls in line with their sustainability values. It also allows them to build the micro-factories quickly, by not having to begin from scratch. In addition, the containers are easy to transport and deploy at the retailer’s distribution or ful llment center.

Inside the containers, the line begins with Relocalize’s proprietary ice-making technology, which McIntyre says “is the rst new process for industrial ice making in 100 years.” The ice is made from water that has gone through a fourstage puri cation process and is formed in molds that produce consistently shaped cubes. McIntyre shares that the ice is not cooled by ambient air, but uses directional freezing, resulting in clear, clean

Relocalize’s technology also makes it possible to go from production to packaging very quickly.

According to McIntyre, the technology also eliminates the 30% to 50% water waste associated with traditional ice-making processes. “We use all of the water that goes into our production process,” he says. “And that’s how, coming back to our purpose, we’re trying to make products that are better, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly. In order to do that, we have to think about every step in the process.”

Once the ice is made in the mold, an articulated-arm robot from ABB uses end-of-arm tooling, described as “ nger-like suction cups,” from Relocalize to remove the cubes from the mold and transfer them to a Harpak Ulma vacuum thermoforming machine. The vacuum ther-

The Relocalize micro-factory for ice at SEG’s Jacksonville, Fla., distribution center is housed in two 40-ft shipping containers.

ice that lasts longer and melts more slowly.

The micro-factory includes standard packaging machines integrated with Relocalize technology to manufacture, vacuum-pack, and palletize ice cubes.

moformer packs the ice in a brick-style format that eliminates air from the package, resulting in a package that is 35% smaller than a traditionally packaged ice product. “By reducing the volume by 35%, that means 35% more product on the pallet, 35% more product on the truck, 35% more product at the retailer, and ultimately 35% more space in the consumer’s freezer,” says McIntyre.

This format not only provides a more compact package, but it also reduces shrink in the retail environment as well. According to McIntyre, shrink rates for packaged ice are in the neighborhood of 10% due to damaged bags. The vacuumthermoformed bag is expected to reduce that rate to 1%. It is also expected to increase food safety for the product. “Traditionally, bags of ice are open to the air, and they can absorb odors. It’s not a solid, airtight, sealed package like most other foods,” says McIntyre. “This technology really allows us to vacuum out the air and deliver to our customers a watertight, non-leaking package, resulting in the safest-possible and highest-quality food product.”

Following vacuum packaging, the bags are picked and placed by conventional ABB palletizing robots onto pallets and put on a rail system within the container. The micro-factory is designed to store up to a day’s worth of production. When the customer needs product, the rail system carries a pallet to the door where it can be unloaded by the customer. As soon as a pallet is removed, the system produces another pallet load of product.

From its inception, key to the success of the RELO micro-factories has been to make the solution plug-and-play for the retailer. Thus, with

the RELO, instead of unloading trucks of ice from their supplier at their distribution center, retailers just unload product from the micro-factory and inject it into their distribution channel. Each micro-factory is equipped to produce up to 1.6 million bags of ice per year, to supply 100 to 200 local retail stores.

AI offers promise of complete autonomy, optimization

Relocalize’s ultimate vision is to have a network of thousands of RELOs across North America, monitored remotely and operating autonomously through AI. Currently, one operator is needed per six geographic RELOs to manage tasks such as reloading packaging rollstock on the thermoforming machines and conducting preventative and periodic maintenance. As it builds its in-house AI department, however, the company hopes to eliminate the need for human intervention.

“The first step for us is collecting the data and starting to analyze the data to predict faults,” says McIntyre. “And that’s what we’re doing right now. But we’ll have to build a team of in-house AI experts as we grow.”

Initially Relocalize plans to use AI to predict machine failures or fault states, so that maintenance events can be dealt with before problems arise. It’s also working on technologies that could load rollstock autonomously or reject batches of ice or finished bags that don’t meet quality standards before they get on the pallet.

As Relocalize grows its network, McIntyre says it expects AI to play a critical role in forecasting demand for retailers and optimizing the network. “Ultimately, we see ourselves having hundreds and then thou-

A 6-lb bag of Party Ice is displayed along with one of the micro-factory’s ABB articulated-arm robots.

sands of these micro-factories in the field. AI will help us decide where the most optimal place is to produce product on a given day because of, for example, weather, carbon footprint, fuel prices, or traffic, and we can look to the power of AI to help us make optimal decisions—and do so fully autonomously on both the supply side and the customer management side.”

SEG finds success with new strategy

Relocalize’s partnership with SEG dates back to April 2021, with the first autonomous ice-making micro-factory pilot launching two years later. SEG is the parent company of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket, and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, with stores located throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The pilot is initially supplying the new ice product to two of SEG’s Jacksonville locations.

Says Southeastern Grocers Chief Merchandising Officer Dewayne Rabon, “SEG’s partnership with Relocalize bolsters our commitment to sustainability, product innovation, convenience, and value. This unique micro-factory allows us to eliminate middle-mile logistics to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, water waste, and plastic pollution. It is truly a big win for our associates, customers, communities, and our planet.”

SEG worked with Relocalize on the development of the vacuum thermoformed packaging, selecting a recyclable, mono-material film from Winpak called ReLam. ReLam is a co-extrusion of polyethylene and ethyl vinyl alcohol, with the EVOH comprising such a small percent-

age of the film construction that the packaging is able to be recycled through store drop-off systems. Packaging graphics for the product, called Party Cubes, are customized according to SEG’s brand standards, but the packaging format can be used by other brands if they choose to adopt the product. In fact, McIntyre says Relocalize may introduce an ice product under its own name in the future.

As of late June 2023, SEG had produced and distributed nearly 800 Party Cube Units to its stores. “We’ve had an incredibly positive response from our customers,” says Rabon, “and we hope to expand Party Cubes to five additional stores in Jacksonville and one new store in Apopka, Florida.

“Our partnership with Relocalize meets at the intersection of sustainability and innovation. It provides a unique opportunity to offer our customers better ice, in a better package, at a better price—that’s also better for the planet. We continue to utilize a ‘test and learn’ approach as we consider expanding to our broader Southeast footprint in the future. Additionally, we are planning some shopper intercepts to further understand customer ice-buying motivations and behaviors.”

While both Relocalize and SEG decline to discuss costs, Rabon says that SEG has made a significant investment in the new micro-factory and will consider expanding installations in the future.

Shares McIntyre, “It will really be retailer dependent, but the overall objective of our commercial agreements will be to significantly reduce the cost for the retailer, to the tune of 30%, while at the same time producing a more sustainable product.” PW

Contract Packager Selection Best Practices for Scaling Brands

Could your fast-scaling brand benefit from product packaging expertise and equipment capacity from a co-manufacturer/co-packer? Experts discuss how to know whether your emerging CPG is ready, and if you are, what your next steps should be.

Held in conjunction with PACK EXPO Las Vegas last month, the Emerging Brands Summit convened fast-growing brands and CPGs to work through scaling their operations. Many of those emerging brands will rely on co-manufacturers and co-packers (CM/CPs) to help them meet growth demands.

“These [CM/CP] folks are entrepreneurs, they’re innovators, they’re collaborators,” said Ron Puvak, executive director of the Contract Packaging Association (CPA), which serves both co-packagers and co-manufacturers. “They want to have somebody walk in the door and be successful; that’s in their best interest.”

Puvak led a panel of CM/CPs dishing on how emerging brands can best navigate key growth stages as they scale. Their insights were many, but most generally they stressed the importance of making the CM/CP relationship more of a partnership rather than a transaction.

“You need to make sure that you get your questions answered, and that your needs are clearly understood. And we’re here to ask the same of you. We’re going to come to you with a number of questions, and we’re going to make sure that our needs are met by you coming to the table prepared,” said DeAnn DeVenney, director of sales and marketing for CM/CP Maverick Packaging. “It’s important for that first initial approach that you’re organized, you have your ducks in a row. We welcome being there for you as an advisor if you need that; we appreciate the opportunity to help you along the way.”

It’s also important that you’re willing to share your vision for your brand and your product, added Dillon Vincent, director of quality assurance for CM/CP Crystal Packaging. “You need to be willing to work with your co-man as a partner so that we can better understand what the goals are,” he said. “Is it going to be a rapid growth into a lot of volume? Or are you going to grow with multiple SKUs? Just being upfront and transparent from the get-go is extremely helpful. That way, we as a co-man are not any kind of a bottleneck to your operation or holding anything up.”

Vincent also recommended getting boots on the ground and visiting your CM/CP’s site in person.

“It probably can’t be stressed enough that your contract manufacturer or contract packager is your partner, not your vendor,” added Paul Shrater, president of CM/CP Minimus Products. The first several minutes of a meeting can really set the stage for how that relationship is going to go. “When you’re putting your baby in the hands of another company, you want to have that kind of relationship where they are your partner and you both treat each other that way.”

Beyond the relationship, the CM/CPs will be assessing whether they can properly support your product, DeVenney said, commenting on the importance of giving them a clear understanding of your product. “If I can have a sample of your product, I can hold it and make sure that I have an appreciation for how you’re packaging,” she said. “Maybe you’re having some challenges. I want to understand what those challenges are because there’s something behind it. Maybe your closure

CM/CPs provide insight to emerging brands about how to grow their business. From left to right: Ron Puvak, Contract Packagers Association; DeAnn DeVenney, Maverick Packaging; Dillon Vincent, Crystal Packaging; and Paul Shrater, Minimus Products.

doesn’t properly marry to your bottle. There are things that we can help you with. We always want to have those conversations. But my first step is understanding whether we can provide you the service that you’re looking for, based on our current capabilities.”

The first step is to make sure that capabilities line up, Vincent agreed. “Once we have found that it’s going to work, we’ll see if you have worked with a co-man in the past and learn what worked and what didn’t work so that we can make sure that our relationship and our partnership is going to be positive moving forward,” he added.

It basically comes down to transparency on both sides, Shrater said. “Having a brand say, ‘Here’s what I’m worried about’ or ‘Here are issues I’ve seen before, here’s what I want to accomplish.’ And then us as copackers say, ‘Well, here’s what we can do, here’s what we have, where we see issues,’” he said. “Or we may say, ‘You know what, it’s not the right fit for us.’”

Some CM/CPs might have certain things they specialize in, or they might not be interested in taking on up-and-coming brands. “If there’s not a good fit, by the way, ask the person you’re talking with to give a recommendation,” Shrater urges. “This industry is very much about wanting to help the customer. We can help make a good, vetted recommendation to another packager that could be helpful for the customer, whether we end up working with them or not.”

Puvak also sought out turn-offs from a CM/CP’s perspective—what not to do when you go out looking for some help in your expansion efforts.

If you go into shopping mode (“You’re the fourth person I’ve met this week. What do you have for me?”), the CM/CP knows right away it will not be a partnership. “That’s something that can be a set-up for failure, if that’s the approach—if it’s interchangeable and you’re treating your contract manufacturer like a commodity.” Shrater said. “Because It’s not just about price. It’s about many other factors. It really is a partnership.”

Vincent agreed, also bringing flexibility into the discussion. “If a brand comes in and they’re not willing to be flexible, to try to make the relationship work with our company, it can be very difficult to work with them in the long term because it can just turn into miscommunications or things getting out of line,” he said. “When it comes to working with us as a contract manufacturer, we’re trying to get the product out the door. But when there’s no real flexibility or willingness to work with your partner, that sort of thing can be a little tricky.”

Best practices for ongoing communication

Communication is key when it comes to those initial meetings with your co-manufacturer, but how about moving forward? Puvak asked the panelists for examples of best practices.

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Report: CP/CMs Bullish on Growth

The eighth edition of the Contract Packaging Association State of the Industry Report—all 200 pages of it—has been released, based on surveys and interviews with CP/CM leaders, brand customers, and other insiders. While the report is chock-full of updated industry statistics, one trend that caught the attention of PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2023 attendees was topline revenue being up while volume was flat, or even down in some categories. This rare cyclical trend reflects a temporal shift from brands to private label based on recessionary fears and tightening household budgets. This occurred twice before, once in 1981/1982 and again in 1991. In the most extreme of the three, private label rose from 14% to about 17%. Each time the economy recovered, and recession fears subsided, the trend reversed.

Most CP/CMs are bullish on the future and are gearing up for continued strong brand growth and increased

come together to make that. So that’s all got to be timed very well and very consistently to match up with our production schedules.” Continued communication is especially important when glitches arise, Shrater noted. “Having those kinds of communications, sometimes there’s a lot of almost entrepreneurial problem-solving options that can happen, where you may not know you have the opportunity to

outsourcing, as CPA research reflects a 9.3% overall industry CAGR through 2028. Another interesting development is the significant increase in software-driven production improvements. CP/CMs are investing in these technologies, squeezing out greater efficiencies and improved quality from their existing assets.

Visit pwgo.to/8095 for a preview of the report and information on how to access it. PW

ask that question,” he said.

Often, the nature of the communication changes as the trust builds, the purchase order is in hand, and the CM/CP sets to work on getting the job done. “That communication sometimes changes to something more formal,” DeVenney said. “Now it’s not necessarily all e-mail; sometimes we’ve got a form that we want you to fill out so that there’s a clear un-

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derstanding of every part of your bill of materials.”

DeVenney urges brand owners to be accepting of that change in the relationship. “There’s a reason why those procedures are put in place,” she said. “It changes from where it begins to manufacturing.”

How do I know when I’m ready for CM/CP?

If you’re having trouble lling orders from your own operation, it might be time to get help from a CM/CP. But it might not be. “It depends on the product,” Shrater said. “Sometimes people go to a commercial kitchen; we get a lot of graduates from commercial kitchens into our business. Sometimes people like to gure it out at home and come up with a recipe. We might even send them to a food scientist to make sure everything they’re doing is proper and preserved properly and all that. So it really depends on the situation.”

It’s never too early to have that initial conversation with a CM/CP, though, Shrater added. “Oftentimes, the earlier, the better,” he said. “We’ll have people come in who tell us, ‘I’m not ready. I’m six months

out, a year out. But I need to know what I’m looking at, I need to know what my options are, I need to know how this is going to play out in production so I can plan accordingly.’ We welcome that early conversation.”

Vincent agreed. “I don’t think it’s ever too early,” he said. “If you’re thinking about it, start doing some research and set a phone call, set a meeting to discuss with a co-man. Because during those conversations, you may gure out you are ready or you’re not ready. Even if you’re doing your own manufacturing and production now, once that scales up to a certain point, obviously there’s an easy answer there. But if you’re even considering doing co-man vs. doing your own production, at that time, it’s a good opportunity to go and talk to a co-man.”

Ultimately, nobody knows better than you do about when you’re ready for a CM/CP, DeVenney said. Maverick is working with a customer now who came and said they just couldn’t keep up; they had to stop all marketing because they were just trying to ful ll existing orders. “OK, so the timing is right,” she said. “If you’ve got to stop selling because all you’re focused on is manufacturing, then it’s time.” —Aaron Hand

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Step2 Custom www.step2-custom.com

Sterling Contract Packaging, Inc. www.sterlingcpi.com

SternMaid America LLC www.sternMaid-America.com

Steuart Contract Packaging www.fillingservices.com

Such Group Int. Inc. www.sgigf.com

Summit Packaging Solutions www.1TeamSummit.com

Summit Rx Inc www.summitrxusa.com

Superpacking TKT

www.superpackingtkt.com

TCM Product, Inc. www.tcmproductinc.com

The Lab, LLC www.thelabmn.com

The Lion Brewery www.lionbrewery.com/contractbrewing

The Raymond Hadley Corp. www.raymondhadley.com

The Shippers Group www.shipperswarehouse.com

Total Packaging Services www.tpsyes.com

TransChemical Inc. www.transchemical.com

Tropical Labs www.tropicallabs.com

Troystar Food Packaging www.tsfoodpackaging.com

Truvant www.truvant.com

Turf Care Supply, LLC www.turfcaresupply.com US Natural Group www.usnaturalgroup.com

Vertrauen Chemie Solutions www.vertrauen-us.com

Volk Paxit, LLC www.volkboxes.com

Wannemacher Total Logistics www.wanntl.com

We Pack Logistics, LP www.wepack.com

WePackItAll www.wepackitall.com

Western Innovations Inc. www.westerninnovationsinc.com

Western Nutraceuticals Packaging www.westernpkg.com

WH Biopharma www.whbiopharma.com

Wixon www.wixon.com

World Contract Packaging www.worldcontractpack.com

Xpress360 Inc. www.xpress-360.com

Yellow Emperor www.yellowemperor.com

ZoRoCo Packaging Inc www.ZoRoCoPackaging.com

Heat-Sealable Paper Packaging

ProAmpac’s ProActive Recyclable Paper-1000 is designed for frozen food applications such as ready-to-eat meals and vegetables. It can also be used for various dry foods and secondary packaging applications such as confectionery.

ProAmpac pwgo.to/7922

On-the-Go Container for Tacos

Better Earth launches 100% compostable taco clamshells made with unbleached bamboo fiber and free of PFAs, wax, and plastic linings. Better Earth pwgo.to/8017

High-Barrier Laminated Paper

Amcor’s AmFiber Performance Paper high-barrier laminated paper is recyclable in most paper recycling streams, earning the How2Recycle prequalification of “widely recyclable.”

Amcor pwgo.to/8087

Recyclable Foodservice Packaging

Sabert’s EcoSnap foodservice packaging features a clear PET lid, featuring an audible locking system that snaps onto a PFASfree paperboard base, keeping food secure.

Sabert Corp. pwgo.to/7963

Cobot Case Packer

Proco Machinery’s cobot case packer is designed to work alongside human operators to increase efficiency and performance. It can perform a range of tasks, from testing containers to packing them into cases.

Proco Machinery pwgo.to/7944

Top-Loading Case Packer

MGS’ Matrix TL case packer delivers favorable speed and efficient changeovers in a small footprint. It is a complete f/f/s case packing solution designed for packaging facilities with low to medium production rates and diverse packaging requirements.

MGS pwgo.to/7965

Collaborative Robot

Universal Robots’ UR20 cobot, recommended for palletizing applications, is designed to handle heavier loads up to 20 kg with a reach of 1750 mm.

Universal Robots pwgo.to/7934

Shrink Banding Machine

eatSafe Packaging’s Ringer is designed to place a secure, tamper-evident shrink band on most container sizes and shapes.

eatSafe Packaging pwgo.to/8076

Lot and Date

Coding Module

Primera Technology’s AP-CODE lot and date coder can print directly onto glass, metals, plastics, laminated labels, and more and is designed to work seamlessly with its AP360 and AP362 label applicators, including new and existing installed units.

Primera Technology pwgo.to/8013

Robotic Case Packer

The ESS enhanced V30 endof-line robotic case packer design includes a 1,000-mm capacity case magazine for longer pharmaceutical and cosmetics production runs.

ESS Technologies pwgo.to/8012

Belted Conveyor

The DCMove belted conveyor from Dorner is recommended for material handling applications, such as e-commerce, logistics, packaging, palletizing, and more.

Dorner pwgo.to/7918

Bucket Filler

Shemesh’s BuckIt TKS25 bucket filler automatically feeds both buckets and bucket lids with separate continuous denesting machines, each featuring a servo-driven, interchangeable vertical carousel cartridge.

Shemesh Automation pwgo.to/7945

Electric Motion Sizing Tool

Festo’s online Electric Motion Sizing tool is designed for error-free sizing of linear and rotary electromechanical systems.

Festo pwgo.to/7943

Decontamination Tunnel

The Nebula high-speed decontamination tunnel from IMA is designed to integrate with IMA Life aseptic fill-finish lines.

IMA Group pwgo.to/8063

Bag-in-box Packaging Machine

Niverplast’s compact EasySeal offers continuous operation at speeds to 16 boxes/min.

Niverplast pwgo.to/8075

Pouch Feeding, Variable Printing System

FlexPackPRO’s PouchMark EDGE high-volume pouch feeding and on-demand variable printing system has a feeder loading capacity of more than 250 pouches. It can feed, print, and stack up to 60 pouches/min.

FlexPackPRO pwgo.to/8078

X-ray Inspection Systems

Mettler-Toledo Product Inspection Group’s X12 and X32 (shown) X-ray inspection systems are recommended for small- to medium-sized packaged foods and pharmaceuticals.

Mettler-Toledo Product Inspection Group pwgo.to/8077

By Ben Miyares, Packaging Sherpa

Coming Age Closures— Beyond Mere Opening/Reclosing

In his 1977 hit song “Margaritaville,” Jimmy Buffett sang about stepping on a pop-top and cutting his heel.

The popularity of his laid-back lifestyle song spawned a multibillion-dollar empire of restaurants, luxury resorts, tequila, chips, salsa, casinos, and retirement villages. It may also have hastened the development of non-detachable EOEs (Easy Open Ends) on carbonated beverage cans and the emergence of a generation of safer, multitalented convenience closures that followed.

With safety as an underlying requirement, opening and reclosing convenience is still a major driver of modern closure design and application. But, with an eye to consumer demands and preferences, ambitious packaging managers have been adding several characteristics to their portfolios of closures that go beyond mere opening and reclosing functionality. Some closure characteristics and capabilities we’ve noted of late include:

• A tilt toward bio. Petroleum-based polyethylene and polypropylene are common closure materials. Each makes environmental sustainability claims based primarily on its recyclability. Neither, however, matches the “green” credentials of their renewable, plant-based plastics and non-plastics counterparts.

One of those material counterparts is paper. Already enjoying a 57% share of the global disposable cup market, paper will be penetrating deeper into the largely plastic lid sector of the $12 billion market, growing at a compound annual rate of 7.2%.

Paper Machinery Corp., renowned in the market for its cup forming equipment, is introducing one- and two-piece paper lid forming lines to produce paperboard lids from roll stock–round ones for beverage cups and non-rounds for applications ranging from ice cream tubs to hardware and cleaning compound containers.

Another machinery entrant, Tetra Pak, is touting the “green” credentials of the biopolymers in its Tetra Rex Plant based carton (layers of bio-LDPE in its walls; closure molded of bio-HDPE). Bonsucro, a global standard and platform for sugarcane, certifies the sustainability of the biopolymers from Braskem

Blue Ocean Closures, a Swedish start-up, is partnering internationally on several “first-to-market” fiber-based closures including: paper-based screw caps topping paperboard squeeze tubes from Aisa Packaging, FSC-certified fiber screw closures on cartons of milk from Danish dairy co-op Arla Foods, and molded fiber caps being readied now as an option for glass bottles of Absolut vodka and the paper ones being test marketed in the UK.

Like paper, cork is a natural bio-based material. Used in ancient Egypt to stopper clay amphorae of oil, wine, and water, cork today

can be found topping a wide variety of products seeking to project a natural, upscale image (think fine wine vs. vin ordinaire).

In Germany, Sonoco is making cork lids for paperboard canisters for the Vom Achtehof line of spice snacks from Vitafy Brands. Amorim Cork, headquartered in northwest Portugal, produces the cork used on Sonoco’s canisters, which are both recycled and recyclable, and held in place by tamper-evident paper straps.

• Multitasking as containers. I first heard the idea of a water container with a filter and dispenser for populations without access to potable water in a presentation by Indra Nooyi, then a financial officer and later CEO and chair of PepsiCo. As I remember it, Nooyi envisioned a container with a built-in filter for collecting and processing contaminated water, making it drinkable. I’m reminded of her presentation by the flavored water decanter from Cirkul, Inc., whose product consists of a water bottle with a dial-to-taste flavor concentrate cartridge in its closure. Consumers can sip flavored water through a spout on the cartridge, or swallow the water neat, directly from the bottle.

• As billboards. Closures could be transformed into powerful promotional media if the hybrid decorating machine developed collaboratively by MOSS and SACMI fulfills its promise. “Heretofore unthinkable” four-color printing of the top surfaces of plastic closures is possible via digital, offset, or both simultaneously. “The combination of technologies,” say the hybrid decorating machine developers, “makes CMYK printing more economical. Digital printing,” say the machine makers, “allows infinite color combinations, different for each decorated cap.”

• Easier recycling. As Kraft Heinz approaches the goal of making its packaging 100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025, it’s eliminating the flexible silicone valve in the polypropylene caps for its upside-down squeeze bottles of ketchup in Europe. The brand owner reportedly spent $1.2 million and 185,000 hours on the in-house development project, running through 44 3D-printed iterations of the valveless cap before deciding on the design that’s being debuted in the UK.

• Keeping up with packaging advances. In the days before Jimmy Buffett flip-flopped on a pop-top, packaging directories were ponderous printed affairs whose listings were often incomplete and outdated almost as soon as they rolled off the presses. Addressing those challenges, PMMI now offers PMMI ProSource (pwgo.to/8094), an online directory of packaging and processing technologies from its members. Developed with input from end users, the directory is updated continuously by contributing PMMI members. PW

Ben Miyares, Packaging Sherpa, is a packaging market and technology analyst and is president of The Packaging Management Institute, Inc. He can be reached at

VDG Drum Motors

Maintenance-free, Efficient and Space Optimized Conveyor Belt Drive

Engineered for reliability and longevity, VDG Drum Motors are designed for 80,000 hours of continuous operation before maintenance, reducing operational and maintenance costs and increasing throughput.

IronGrip™ Lagging

IMPROVES Belt Tracking

INCREASES Belt Traction by 40%

EXTENDS Lifespan of the Conveyor Belt

For food processing and handling belt conveyor applications, the SSV Series Drum Motor drives modular conveyor belts without using sprockets.

Eliminate Drive Sprockets

IP69K-rated Sealing System

Washdown Up to 3,000 psi

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

(320)763-6043

Need more automation capability in a fraction of the space? We can help.

By engineering your EXACT SOLUTION, we make every square inch count for Case Packing, Cartoning, Palletizing, Variety Case Packing, Retail Ready, Robotics, Sleeving, and Combination machines. Our custom approach is a mix of inventive problem-solving and a willingness to take on challenges.

Aagard is a leading engineering innovator of secondary packaging automation. Check out a few of our innovative solutions:

• apid aunch- New product set-ups in minutes, no programming, no change parts, no retrofits

•Walk-Through Caser acker set up for lights-out manufacturing

• ully Automated ariety Case acking, Including etail eady ackaging

•One Case acker for Cartons and Bags, With Auto Changeover

•Telescoping Conveyor, Accessibility Without Steps Or raw Bridges

•E panded Capability with Integrated Options

TOTAL PROJECT SUCCESS happens with partnership and an iterative design process. We work together to understand the complete picture, creating the optimal solution that mitigates space, speed, and flexibility challenges to drive results.

Since 1997 we have specialized in engineering and building customized integrated combination packaging systems that fit our customers’ specific needs and spaces. Our unique packaging machines can combine many solutions into a single turn-key system with one integrated control package using our proven innovative technologies.

Whether the need is for a design solution with a small footprint or an agile system that can produce 1000s of product combinations, we will deliver T E AA A EX E IENCE

HELPING OUR CUSTOMERS WIN

CODING, LABELING & PRINTING EQUIPMENT

American Film & Machinery - AFM

American Film & Machinery is a leading manufacturer and supplier of heavy-duty shrink sleeve labeling equipment, shrink tunnels, and shrink sleeve consumables. AFM’s shrink sleeve labeling equipment includes a complete line of shrink sleeve labelers, tamper evident banding equipment, steam tunnels, electric tunnels and infrared tunnels. AFM’s labelers range in performance from 50 to 500 products per minute, offering a product and price point no matter what the application demands.

American Film & Machinery also offers a complete line of shrink sleeve consumables, including shrink labels and tamper evident bands. AFM is supported by two of the largest film converting plants – one with 7 rotogravure presses and up to 9-color stations and compatible converting equipment, and another plant with an 8-color 32” central impression flexo press.

With over 40 years of experience in the shrink labeling industry, rely on American Film & Machinery to provide the right solution to your product labeling needs. AFM products are sold through a network of authorized dealers, fully trained and capable to install, train and service our equipment. Contact us today for the name of your local reseller and find out how we can benefit your operation.

AFM, Eastey, and Squid Ink and are all divisions of Engage Technologies Corporation. American Film & Machinery (afmsleeves.com) supplies shrink labelers and tunnels, shrink sleeves, and tamper bands. Eastey (eastey. com) is a leading manufacturer of heavy-duty shrink packaging equipment and automated case sealing systems for packaging applications. Squid Ink (squidink.com) is a manufacturer of coding and marking systems for product identification and traceability, providing superior quality inks and low maintenance printing equipment.

CODING, LABELING & PRINTING EQUIPMENT

919-772-8383

Axon, a ProMach product brand, is an industry leader in shrink sleeve, stretch sleeve, and tamper band labeling systems, offering dependable performance in key sleeving and tamper band applications including full and partial body sleeves, tamper evident bands, multipacks, and full body over-the-cap sleeves. Over 5,000 Axon systems are in operation worldwide, supported by an experienced team of engineers and service personnel.

The flexibility to run shrink sleeve labels, tamper evident bands, and multipack sleeves on a single machine makes Axon applicators and systems the ideal solution for low-to-high speed and high-performance applications in a wide range of industries including craft beer, wine and spirits, RTD beverages, food, condiments and sauces, ice cream and dairy, pharma and nutraceuticals, and more.

Axon’s systems and standalone applicators are known to deliver dependable performance and unmatched flexibility that translates into higher productivity, more savings and dollars on the bottom line.

Our Team

Our success starts with listening to your needs, asking the right questions and conducting a thorough technical evaluation to deliver the rightfit solution for your business. Making use of over 50 years of shared experience in the labeling industry, our team of sales and application engineers offer guidance to ensure operational results are met, from the initial conversation through installation and day-to-day operations. Your internal teams can count on US based manufacturing of equipment and parts and local technical support provided by leading service experts that average 14 years of Axon experience.

CONTROLS, SOFTWARE & COMPONENTS

B&R Industrial Automation

770/772-0400

B&R Industrial Automation, a member of the ABB Group, is bringing a new level of performance and flexibility to packaging machinery in response to the needs of consumer goods manufacturers.

The B&R ecosystem offers a uniquely comprehensive portfolio of today’s most advanced automation technology – including machine vision, robotics, digital twin simulation, and mechatronic product transportation systems. Our team has the knowledge and experience to combine these technologies in a way that enables manufacturers to adapt to all types of unexpected changes without sacrificing productivity. This is the crucial ability – known as adaptive manufacturing – that CPG manufacturers can leverage to more efficiently handle the demands of direct-to-consumer and omnichannel business opportunities.

Codian Robotics became a member of the ABB Group in 2020. The integration of Codian Robotics’ delta robots into the B&R portfolio has made it much easier for customers to implement high-speed pick-andplace applications.

The mechatronic solutions have proven to be a game changer, enabling mass customization down to batch size one, changeovers on the fly, and make-to-order instead of make-to-stock. This is the essence of adaptive manufacturing, machines that adapt to the products being made and packaged, rather than forcing products to conform to a rigidly sequential process.

Adaptive manufacturing enables digital business strategies with the ability to deliver cost-effective, automated, make-to-order mass customization for the first time ever. Manufacturers can now offer personalized, even batchsize-one order fulfillment directly from the production line to the consumer.

GA Roswell

CODING, LABELING & PRINTING EQUIPMENT

973-882-0202

For over 60 years, BELL-MARK has been developing innovative solutions for package and carton printing applications in the medical device, pharmaceutical, prepared foods, meat, bakery, dairy, and poultry packaging industries. BELL-MARK offers many in-line printing technologies, including piezo inkjet, thermal inkjet, thermal transfer, flexographic, and ink coder, all of which satisfy requirements to print directly onto package and carton substrates.

The accuracy of coding on your product package is crucial. Expiration dates must be clearly identifiable and easily human-readable. Bar codes must be verifiable and scannable. There are no exceptions. BELL-MARK addresses these needs with systems that provide the highest quality print available on medical paper, Tyvek, poly, and foil substrates.

BELL-MARK has successfully satisfied UDI GS1 requirements for many of our customers. We understand the UD1 rules and regulations and have experience in a wide range of applications. From retrofitting band sealers to Form, Fill, Seal packaging machines, we have the expertise to ensure your codes are verifiable and scannable and meet the necessary regulations.

Eliminate costly labeling by printing directly onto your package or replace your CIJ printer with a maintenance-free alternative. BELL-MARK offers a full line of washdown tolerant printers, including both thermal transfer and thermal inkjet technologies. Print graphics, nutritional facts, bar codes, lot/expiration dates and safe handling instructions on almost any surface. Rest easy knowing your printer is IP67 rated and can be washed down and sanitized without complicated protective procedures.

BELL-MARK’s in-line printing and coding equipment delivers industryleading reliability and durability, time and time again. High-resolution print quality that consistently affords you the peace of mind in knowing that your codes will not fail. While other companies may claim it, BELL-MARK leads the way in the lowest cost of ownership and highest return on investment.

BellatRx

Inc.

www.bellatrx.com

BellatRx is a leading manufacturer of packaging lines, equipment, and integration solutions and your number one source for inventive, advanced, and automated packaging and filling solutions. Our expertise lies in the engineering and manufacturing of innovative equipment designed to your specifications for a turnkey operation.

We are a global leader in the design, manufacture, distribution, and service of Complete Packaging Lines, Filling, Capping, Labeling, Inspection, and Recovery systems focusing on Rigid Containers. We serve a broad range of industries including food, beverage, pharmaceutical, diagnostics, biotech, nutraceutical, chemical, cosmetics, and personal care for solid products, liquids, and powders.

Our packaging lines are designed to meet your packaging requirements ranging from small batch runs to large high-speed operations. We design our lines with speed, efficiency, flexibility, and ease of changeover in mind. Your packaging line will be modular with expansion capabilities built to keep pace with your company’s growing demands. Our expert technical team supports customers throughout the process from kick-off to final commissioning and beyond.

At BellatRx, we live by an encompassing mindset to create a “Beyond Expectation” experience for our customers. This experience is derived from our capabilities in application analysis, innovative engineering designs, product development, project management, on-time delivery, installation, start-up support, training, and ongoing aftermarket support.

BellatRx continues to implement the latest automation technologies to manufacture packaging machines which have become the benchmark in the industry due to their intuitive operation and easy setup. We are dedicated to expanding our product lines through ongoing investments in our people, R&D, and facilities to provide our customers with the best support, lead time, and value.

CODING, LABELING & PRINTING EQUIPMENT

BestCode

817/349-8555

CODING AND MARKING SOLUTIONS

BestCode designs and manufactures Industrial Coding and Marking Printing Systems. Systems print real-time “Best By”, “Lot Code”, “Sell By”, “Expiration Codes” and other identifying marks and codes on industrial and consumer goods to ensure product traceability.

Products are designed and manufactured in the USA; FORT WORTH, TEXAS. For more than 25 years, the BestCode group continues to produce industry-changing, forward-thinking innovative industrial printing designs. Product designs are focused on ease of use, trouble-free operation, longterm reliability, and affordable cost of ownership with an emphasis on global market requirements.

Systems print small and large character text, graphics and barcodes at high speed, non-contact, instantly dry on a wide range of substrates, including plastic, glass, paper and more - meeting the requirements for food, consumer good and industrial coding and marking applications.

BestCode offers a complete range of marking and coding solutions (50+ model configurations) - entry level affordable options through mid-range capabilities and high end, specialized engineered solutions focusing on the highest speed, most sophisticated applications.

BestCode systems minimize user interaction, limiting the hands-on time for typical coding system operations, extending the operation time between human interactions.

Systems are the most efficient CIJ printers available, lowering overall coding costs. Systems are State-of-the-Art, Current Technology, Industrial, Built-to-Last and designed for the World Market, featuring more than 20 operating/printing languages.

FILLING, CAPPING & CLOSING

Bevcorp offers solutions for your filling, blending, container handling, and seamer packaging equipment, parts, and service needs. Our goal is to provide unparalleled service highlighted by our dedicated commitment to serving the food and beverage industries. We provide high speed rotary filling equipment including new and Bevcorp Certified can and bottle fillers. We manufacture both electronic volumetric and mechanical rotary filling equipment. Our Microblend Division manufactures the Micro2 Advantage Series Blender, in-line carbonator, CSD, hot fill and non-carbonated blenders, replacement parts, and provides 24-hour service and support. Our FCI Handling Division provides quick-change handling, conversions for all brands of equipment, parts carts & storage solutions, vent tubes/ ball cages, base control and neck handling solutions. Our newest division, East Coast Seamers, provides rebuilds and overhaul services for Angelus, Continental and Canco can seamers, 24-hour emergency service, parts, oil and lubrication analysis, installations and training.

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

BluePrint Automation (BPA)

BluePrint Automation (BPA) is a world leader in end of line packaging automation. With a diverse and innovative team of experts in consumer goods packaging, BPA designs, develops and manufactures packaging solutions for flexible and other tough-to-handle packages. You make it, They’ll pack it!

• rimary ackaging ision guided robots picking individual packaged and unpackaged items for loading into your containers, wrappers or hffs machines; including Carton, Case and Tray Packing, Stacking and Loading, ariety acks into Sack or Case, inner Tray oading and it Assembly

• Secondary ackaging ori ontal and vertical pack solutions for fle ible and other packages; including wrap around case packing and end-load cartoning acking shelf ready Their Easy- case is a retail-ready case that allows for easy top loading and ensures a good-looking product appearance on the shelf.

• Turnkey ackaging Systems Taking total control of your packaging line from the end of processing through palleti ing

id you know ongerius anco, a leading supplier of multipack bag-in-bag systems is now powered by BluePrint Automation? With their wide range of bag-in-bag and sealchecking solutions, ongerius anco is the perfect complement to BPA’s end of line packaging solutions.

Backed by thousands of successful installations in over 60 countries, BPA has three full-service manufacturing facilities in the USA and Europe, an additional facility in ang hou China and ten additional subsidiaries throughout the world for sales and service. BPA has clearly emerged as a global leader in the design and manufacturing of fully integrated turnkey packaging systems. The systems are constructed for around the clock operation and known worldwide for their quick change over, flexibility, speed and simple design.

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

Brenton, a ProMach Product Brand

Brenton is a global leader in designing and manufacturing integrated end of line case packaging systems and machines, specializing in case packing and palletizing using both robotics and other automation. With expertise in conventional, hard automation as well as robotics, Brenton has the solution to fit the customer’s specific application requirements.

Brenton’s case packers are reliable, efficient and easy to operate. With over 850 traditional case packers and robotic case packing installations, Brenton continues to be a leader in the case packing industry. These systems are designed for maximum flexibility, to accommodate diverse product requirements. Brenton’s Case packing solutions offer a wide range of options to easily accommodate our customer’s applications.

The Brenton full line of palletizing and depalletizing solutions uses rugged designs which help maximize the reliability and value of your machinery. Brenton’s systems range from single pick palletizers to bulk robotic palletizers and depalletizers as well as conventional machinery. By offering both conventional and robotic palletizing and depalletizing products, the Brenton line meets virtually every automation challenge. As a FANUC ASI and FANUC Certified Servicing Integrator and Strategic Market Specialist, Brenton’s extensive knowledge in robotics continues to grow and drive additional robotic automation solutions to their portfolio.

Brenton Integrated System Solutions offer customers a single source for all end-of-line packaging needs, from standalone applications to complex packaging systems. Brenton solutions integrate not only Brenton machines but also the entire ProMach family of brands as well as other customer specified equipment. Integrating systems streamlines the production process, allowing for maximum efficiency and increased productivity.

Brenton’s partnership does not end after installation. With one of the longest running aftermarket programs in the industry, Brenton has a team of in-house aftermarket parts, service and machine retrofit experts providing 24/7 support, keeping customers up and running at peak capacity. Retrofit upgrades also available on the competition’s solutions.

TRAY, CLAMSHELL & BLIS TER PACKAGING EQUIPMENT

Busch Vacuum Solutions

757-463-7800

www.buschusa.com

VACUUM SOLUTIONS FOR THE PACKAGING INDUSTRY:

Busch Vacuum Solutions combines the precision of German engineering with American-made know-how to offer an extensive range of vacuum pumps, blowers, and compressors tailored for your unique application.

Busch is proud to offer high quality, reliable solutions crafted in the US. Our key products for packaging are proudly constructed with a combination of US-made components and international materials - giving customers both reliability and value.

At Busch, quality and innovation come first. Our expert engineering team is committed to creating vacuum systems that meet the unique requirements of our customers. With such dedication to excellence, it’s no wonder we are a leader in system building!

Keeping your production running smoothly is our top priority. Our nationwide network of service centers or on-site Field Service Specialists provides expert maintenance and repair solutions, including 24/7 support for unexpected breakdowns. Invest in peace of mind knowing that with Busch you can maximize uptime, optimize safety, and improve efficiency.

OUR PRODUCTS:

• acuum umps

• Blowers Compressors

• acuum Systems

• Spare arts Accessories

• Measurement Equipment

OUR SERVICES

• Nationwide ield Service

• Nationwide Service Centers

• acuum ump E change

• Overhaul

• epairs

• Maintenance

CODING, LABELING & PRINTING EQUIPMENT

Founded in 1976, Buskro is an industry leader in the design and manufacture of print and personalization equipment to meet a broad range of customer applications in the commercial print and packaging markets. Buskro’s approach of incorporating the latest personalization technologies and providing an upgrade path for existing equipment allows our products to meet your current needs and gives you the ability to evolve with your future needs.

Buskro equipment features heavy duty construction with the option for 3rd party integration, a design that promotes years of trouble-free operation, and powerful Compose IQ software that has all the tools to deploy simple to complex personalization systems. Buskro offers a full suite of transport modules, inkjet printers, labelers, inspection devices and personalization elements that allow you to tailor a system that’s just right to meet the specific requirements of your jobs. Choose a printer or array of printers best suited to satisfy your print resolution, coverage, and ink needs and then define the image with Compose IQ & Workflow software, control the output, track progress, and inspect the result to confirm full job compliance.

Buskro’s Package Personalization System (PPS) has been designed to apply inkjet print, brand labels, and other personalization features such as RFID variably onto a wide variety of packaging products for jobs of any size. Employing Buskro’s configurable Modular Transport System as its foundation, personalization elements are added and placed where you need them to meet your specific package personalization requirements. Layered with Workflow Software that assists with rapid product setup and job preparation plus a camera inspection device that monitors and ensures completion and right amount of each and everyone of your products, the PPS provides all the tools to reduce waste and production costs.

Buskro research and development is constantly searching for new products, processes and systems. This commitment to innovation has produced industry leading operating systems, print technologies & transports.

PALLETIZING & L OAD STABILIZATION

BW Integrated Systems

BW Integrated Systems is an industry leader in the design and manufacture of end-of-line packaging equipment and robotic automation solutions, as well as the execution of integrated packaging systems. Our company attributes its decades of success to three simple principles: “People, Products, Performance.”

PEOPLE:

Striking the appropriate balance between a people-centric culture where everybody matters and industry-leading performance is core to our business. As a member of the Barry-Wehmiller family, we strive to be a company that enables its associates to return home daily with a true sense of fulfillment. Our mission is to be a company that people enjoy working for, doing business with, investing in, and having as part of their communities.

PRODUCTS:

Our diverse portfolio comprises trusted legacy products (Ambec, Fleetwood, Goldco, Nigrelli, SWF, Tisma), innovative solutions like our Maximus Case Palletizer and Fortis Bulk Depalletizer, and integrated packaging systems. In addition, our service network provides global technical support and offers peace of mind for a diverse client base that operates in a variety of market segments, including Automotive, Beer, Beverage & Craft Beverage, Wine & Spirits, Container Manufacturing, Food, Household, Personal Care, Dairy, Paper, Pharmaceutical, and Industrial.

PERFORMANCE:

BW Integrated Systems has decades of application experience in packaging line design and integration, robotic automation, and the design and manufacture of innovative packaging equipment. We have packaging equipment and systems integration installations in over 50 countries worldwide. With six manufacturing facilities and over 650 team members worldwide, BW Integrated Systems is a trusted global partner for our clients, ranging from mid-size to multi-national corporations. Contact us to learn more.

FILLING, CAPPING & CLOSING

BW Packaging

People Who Care. Solutions That Perform.

BW Packaging is Barry-Wehmiller’s global team of packaging professionals who genuinely care about people. We show our customers that they matter by learning about their challenges and embracing them as our own. Through these partnerships, we develop purposeful packaging solutions to optimize our customers’ processes and back them with a lifetime of customer support.

Comprised of five divisions - Accraply, BW Flexible Systems, BW Integrated Systems, Pneumatic Scale Angelus and Synerlink - BW Packaging offers comprehensive packaging machinery and solutions including complete packaging lines, filling and closing, flexible packaging, labeling, end-of-line solutions, and systems integration.

Whether you need a single piece of equipment or a fully integrated line, BW Packaging provides reliable packaging solutions for food, beverage, personal care, household products and pharmaceuticals.

With 11,000+ installations around the world, BW Packaging brings a global perspective to solving the industry’s greatest challenges. Through innovation, application of our broad packaging expertise, and collaboration with our customers, we optimize packaging solutions for:

• Sustainability Infusing sustainable thinking into our business culture and practices.

• Integration Building robust connections through e pertise and IIoT solutions.

• Automation rioriti ing people and safety while streamlining production

• erformance Improving OEE with reliable solutions and lifetime customer support.

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

Cama North America

Looking to improve production and efficiency? Cama has 40 years’ experience designing and building innovative, automated secondary packaging solutions that are easy to operate, improve production and OEE, and run multiple products with quick and easy changeovers. A subsidiary of Cama Group, Cama North America is vertically integrated, providing complete sales, manufacturing and aftermarket support to North American customers, including engineering, parts and technical service.

Cama’s expertise spans a wide range of applications, including various food markets, as well as Pet Food, Personal, Health, and Home Care. Our product line includes:

• Case packers and case packing systems for SC, wrap-around, and retail-ready /display ready cases C , as well as forming, closing and lidding machines for bo es, trays and SC cases

• Intermittent and continuous motion cartoners and carton sleevers

• Integrated decoupled and monoblock robotic loading units

Check out our new BreakThrough Generation of case packers, cartoners, and sleevers BT models feature high sanitation levels quick and easy, tool-less changeovers fle ible configurations and ease of maintenance and accessibility. They offer a monoblock design, no hollow body structure, and C-less, cabinet-free technology with non-proprietary electronics In addition, they are T M-compliant and ready for the future with Industry features such as our Augmented eality A Machine Assistant.

Offering flexibility and quick changeover in a compact footprint, our integrated, turnkey systems can accept flexible or rigid products in an oriented or random configuration, orient packages as needed, end load or top load products into a carton, and case pack into a display ready and/or conventional SC or wraparound case In addition, the Cama ackaging epartment offers more than years of e perience in the design and testing of packaging cardboard, and can often help design more sustainable solutions that help our customers save material costs and reduce their impact on the environment.

FLEXIBLE PACKAGING

LLC

Partner with Clysar for packaging with a positive impact.

Clysar is a leading U.S. shrink film manufacturer with sustainable solutions for virtually every packaging application: offering today’s most extensive portfolio of recyclable, recycled-content and right-gauged polyolefin films. Gain industry-leading expertise, 24/7 technical service and the developmental support of a knowledgeable sustainability team. Recyclable Films – Find a high-performance recycled film for every product, prequalified for Store Drop-Off by How2Recycle®. Solutions include Clysar® EVO™ all-purpose film, EVOX™ high-speed film, EVO-C™ Confidential e-commerce/privacy film, EVO™ ShrinkBox® high-abuse film and ULTRA LEG™ low-energy film.

Certified Recycled Content – Meet your goals with shrink packaging made with pre- or post-consumer recycled content. EVO-C™ Confidential film, an opaque shipping film, features Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) content. Other clear films incorporate Clysar® ReClaim™ pre-consumer resin certified by SCS Global Services.

PVC Replacement – Improve material health and eliminate toxins with advanced polyolefin films that replace PVC shrink film (polyvinyl chloride), including our gentle new recyclable ULTRA LEG™ low-energy film. Right-Gauging/Source Reduction – Explore options to reduce packaging, eliminate components and deliver improved performance at lower gauges. Solutions range from printed shrink film to thin films to corrugate replacement films that save up to 80% in package volume.

Reduced Energy Use/Cost – Lower impacts with films that run reliably at lower temperatures in sealers and tunnels, achieve improved speed/ throughput and eliminate rewraps.

Responsible U.S. Manufacturing – With 60+ years of shrink packaging expertise, Clysar is a responsible resource that meets rigorous qualifications for environmental, social and ethical performance. We are committed to environmental collaboration, education and improved packaging performance.

Make your next package more sustainable and successful. Visit clysar.com or talk with us to explore the advantages of full-circle shrink packaging.

PALLETIZING & L OAD STABILIZATION

360/694-1501

www.palletizing.com

Flexible Product Handling

Columbia’s conventional palletizers are the most flexible palletizing solutions available and handle virtually every package type, including shrink bundles with and without a pad, plastic totes, high CG, unwrapped trays, and more.

Industry Leading Standard Safety Features

Columbia’s standard safety package contains Category 3 electrical safety components, including dual circuit safety interlocks & full height light curtains. This safety package provides a fully guarded, Performance Level D palletizer to keep your employees safe while enhancing OEE and production demands.

Complete System Integration

Columbia Machine manufactures conventional high-speed, high-level, floor-level & robotic palletizers, load transfer stations and provides complete system design and integration. With the most flexible and modern palletizing solutions available, Columbia is the leading palletizer solutions provider in North America.

High Performance AND Sustainability

PALLETIZING & L OAD STABILIZATION

Columbia/Okura LLC

Columbia/Okura LLC is a leading robotic palletizing integrator. Our team applies expert knowledge, gained through 26 years of business, with the right tools to solve customers’ “End of Line” production challenges for a diverse range of businesses, products, and applications. The historical success of our company can be attributed to an exclusive focus on end-ofline palletizing systems and applications.

We provide design, integration, and commission of end-of-line robotic palletizing systems including industrial robots, cobots, automated bagging machines, and integrated equipment. Through our partnerships, we procure and integrate top-of-the-line valve packers, pallet and sheet dispensers, conveyors, and any additional end-of-line equipment your line might need. By providing custom-engineered solutions, we develop robotic palletizing systems to meet demanding customer requirements.

Our team is well versed in providing solutions for most major manufacturing industries including:

• Animal Nutrition

• Beans, entils, ulses

• Building Materials

• Chemical roducts

• ood Beverage

• Milled roducts

• Medical / harmaceutical

After a system is shipped and installed, ourdedicated service team continues to support our customers with 24/7 remote support, troubleshooting, and maintenance services. We maintain a team of experienced field service technicians and engineers that are available to travel to our customer sites, offering services customized to a client’s specific needs Additionally, our team is trainedtrainers, conducting onsight training for system operators, ensuring they know how to operate the system safely.

CODING, LABELING & PRINTING EQUIPMENT

CTM Labeling Systems

330/332-1800

www.ctmlabelingsystems.com

From design and engineering through final system set-up and quality control, exceptional expertise and craftsmanship is built in at every level to create the finest labeling machines available on the market. Setting high standards is difficult, maintaining those standards is even tougher. The highest standard, that we consider our benchmark, is unsurpassed support “after the sale.”

At CTM, supporting our customers before, during and after the sale is paramount. Our management team and dedicated support staffs are driven by some of the most experienced and well-respected professionals in the industry. From semi-automatic applications to the most demanding highspeed, high-accuracy labeling solutions, we understand your needs. More importantly, we understand how to convert your needs into successful production.

To maintain unparalleled quality standards, every phase of our company is housed under one roof. When raw material leaves the rack, it travels through the most automated manufacturing facility in the industry. Stateof-the-art equipment incorporating precise tolerances, coupled with true craftsmen at the controls, results in an impeccable product. Our promise to you — “You won’t find better quality, better service or better delivery anywhere else in the industry.”

We welcome you to tour our facility and experience the “CTM Commitment to Excellence” firsthand.

Products:

• Tabletop Wrap Systems

• Custom abeling Systems

• a abel Applicators

• a rinter Applicator

• ST Servo Tamp rinter Applicator

• T-Base, -Base Stands

• Belt and Mattop Material andling Conveyors

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

DEKKA

Dekka is one of the only companies where the primary focus is on tape heads. Because of our dedication and focus, our team is not only more experienced and knowledgeable, but we care about every tape head that goes out the door. Our pride and passion lies in providing a consistent and reliable solution for every application for seamless integration and easy operation. We support every product because we put our customer’s reputation first.

A key to Dekka’s success was our ability to grow and develop a wide distribution network across North America. With our own experienced technicians as well as knowledgeable distributors and packaging suppliers, Dekka and our partners compose of the strongest tape head support network in the industry that will listen, understand and solve your tape head issues.

Dekka offers over 400 unique tape heads which fit on almost every case sealer, case erector and case former in the market. This versatility extends to the types of packaging tape and cases that our tape heads are able to handle as well including hot melt, acrylic, rubber, and other types of tapes for cases, boxes, recycled cartons and more. The wide range of products has been driven by the overwhelming demand for Dekka tape heads. Dekka customers understand the importance of the quality, reliability and service that comes with each Dekka tape head. Along with these tape heads, we also offer options and accessories on our tape heads such as the Tape Monitor Alert System and other retrofit packages.

Dekka also offers a line of entry level machinery, bringing the same level of quality and reliability from tape heads to case sealing and erecting machinery. These machines have been designed and built to synergize with Dekka tape heads to bring the highest level of performance and reliability to our customers. Contact us if you are having trouble with your current tape head or if you are looking for some new equipment- we are happy to help.

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

ADVANCED ROBOTIC CASE PACKERS AND CARTONERS

We are a leading manufacturer of advanced case packing and cartoning machinery. Our talented 350 employees have proven to be one of the most inventive teams in the packaging industry. Delkor has changed the landscape of retail ready packaging and is now widely recognized for creating a new generation of cutting-edge machinery and fresh package concepts.

RETAIL READY EXPERTISE

Our team can help you comply with the latest retail-ready packaging (RRP) guidelines for major retailers including Walmart, Aldi, Kroger and others. All of Delkor’s case packers stand-alone by offering both retail ready case styles as well as the full range of club store display trays with only 8 minute full line change-over. Delkor’s popular patented Cabrio Case design is provided free of charge with the purchase of a case packer, which enables customers to source the Cabrio Case from any corrugated manufacturer. Currently over 1 billion Cabrio Cases are in use across many product categories in 2023! To see your product in a Cabrio Case, our in-house package lab can provide you with a physical sample with graphics within 48 hours.

MAXIMIZE YOUR PACKING VERSATILITY

Delkor’s robotic case packers and cartoning machines were designed for today’s diverse packaging environment.

SYSTEM INTEGRATION

From package design to finished pallet, we’ll help you with everything you need. We’ll handle the hassle of upstream and downstream add-ons, purchases, and recommendations for your project.

CODING, LABELING & PRINTING EQUIPMENT

Diagraph Marking & Coding, an ITW Company

Diagraph provides identification solutions that make it easy for manufacturers to make the perfect mark – print after print after print. Diagraph focuses on partnering with customers in every aspect of their coding and labeling operations, including warehouse automation and eCommerce – providing a holistic approach that maximizes efficiencies for customers and drives tangible value throughout a long-term partnership.

Diagraph is the longest established business in the product identification industry and has been a trusted leading manufacturer and distributor of product identification solutions for 130 years.

Our solutions include:

• in small character continuous inkjet printers lead the industry in durability and reliability with the longest intervals between printhead cleanings (up to 3 months). The simple user interface allows for quick message setup and intuitive daily operation. The sealed industrial printhead provides maximum print quality protection over longer periods of time.

• The new esMark is the ne t generation standard for case coding Utilizing its extensive industry knowledge, Diagraph engineered this intelligent system to deliver simplicity, reliability, flexibility and a lower cost of ownership over the life of the system. This high-resolution industrial inkjet printer system offers the industry s largest print area and greatest throw distance and sets the standard for durability and the lowest cost per mark. Innovative and patented rapid replace printheads can be brought online quicker, reducing production line disturbances and repairs while minimizing downtime.

• iagraph s all-electric labeling print apply systems and label applicators are simply the smartest, most efficient and reliable automated labeling systems in the industry. Industry-leading smart technology uses sensors to reduce label application complications and ensure a one-to-one label to product match for secondary packaging and pallet labeling.

PALLETIZING & L OAD STABILIZATION

Doosan Robotics

469-885-5722

www.doosanrobotics.com

MEET THE DOOSAN COLLABORATIVE ROBOT

Founded in 1896, Doosan Group has achieved an incredible reputation as one of the most advanced industrial machinery innovators in the world. Doosan Robotics Americas continues this tradition of technological excellence with a complete lineup of cutting-edge industrial optimization and automation tools, perfect for applications of packaging, palletizing, pick-and-place, and beyond.

VERSATILE DESIGN, PRECISION PERFORMANCE

Doosan cobots easily integrate and interface with a wide range of equipment and systems. Having partnered with industry-leading manufacturers of tools, grippers, sensors, and software, Doosan cobots install quickly for immediate operation – they also arrive within four weeks of ordering. With intuitive one-touch programming and automatic axis alignment, these products are incredibly easy to use for dynamic processes and precision movements.

SOLUTIONS FOR ANY SIZE JOB

Doosan’s cobot lineup consists of three tiers and ten models with payload capacities ranging from 5kg to 25kg and reach capabilities ranging from 900mm to 1,700mm. Whether you’re looking to tackle precision palletizing tasks or heavy-duty package conveyance, Doosan Robotics has the perfect products to get the job done.

PALLETIZING & L OAD STABILIZATION

Duravant

Duravant is a global engineered equipment company with manufacturing, sales and service facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Through their portfolio of operating companies, Duravant delivers trusted end-to-end process solutions for customers and partners through engineering and integration expertise, project management and operational excellence. Duravant’s market-leading brands are synonymous with innovation, durability and reliability. The Duravant family of operating companies serve the food processing, packaging and material handling segments.

Duravant’s packaging families include:

Fischbein International, a global leader in sewing and sealing systems, designs and manufactures bag packaging equipment and complete systems.

Mespack is an international manufacturer of flexible packaging solutions that engineers and builds high speed machinery for the world’s leading consumer packaged goods companies.

nVenia designs, builds and integrates primary, secondary and end-of-line packaging solutions for producers of consumer packaged goods and industrial products with longstanding brands Arpac, Fischbein, Hamer, and Ohlson.

Wulftec is the world’s leading manufacturer of highly complex, fully customizable load containment solutions for end-of-line packaging applications.

Duravant’s food processing companies consist of Foodmate, Key Technology, Marelec, Marlen, Multiscan and WECO.

FMH Conveyors and QC Conveyors make up Duravant’s material handling segment.

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

763/428-4846

Eastey is a leading manufacturer and supplier of heavy-duty shrink packaging equipment, case erectors, case tapers, and other packaging equipment. Eastey’s shrink packaging products include a complete line of L-sealers, sleeve wrappers, shrink tunnels, and bundling equipment.

Eastey also supplies a complete line of case erectors and case tapers, from entry-level bottom and side-belt tapers to fully automatic and random-size case tapers. Eastey has been in business for over 30 years and has an installed base of over 15,000 packaging systems.

Eastey products are sold through a global network of authorized dealers, fully trained and capable of installing, training, and servicing our equipment. At our manufacturing facility in Big Lake, Minnesota, we take pride in manufacturing equipment that is First in Quality – Built to Last. We maintain an extensive inventory of replacement parts and offer prompt technical support when needed.

Today, Eastey continues to focus on its core purpose to “help companies deliver products to the world.” An expanding line of integrated products and services reflects Eastey’s commitment to meeting new needs and new challenges and ensuring that customers have reliable solutions for their packaging application.

Eastey, Squid Ink, and American Film & Machinery (AFM) are all divisions of Engage Technologies Corporation. Eastey (eastey.com) is a leading manufacturer of heavy-duty shrink packaging equipment and automated case sealing systems for packaging applications. Squid Ink (squidink.com) is a manufacturer of coding and marking systems for product identification and traceability, providing superior quality inks and low-maintenance printing equipment. American Film & Machinery (afmsleeves.com) supplies shrink labelers and tunnels, shrink sleeves, and tamper bands.

Engage Technologies Corporation is headquartered in Brooklyn Park, MN with facilities in Big Lake, MN, Spring Lake Park, MN, The Hague, Netherlands, and Shanghai, China.

MATERIALS, CONTAINERS & CONSUMABLES

(360) 673-0018

www.Ecorrcrate.com

Make

Crating Your Easiest Task

Revolutionary and patented Ecorrcrate® is a standalone, all-corrugated shipping crate solution. Presented in a convenient, easy-to-use format, Ecorrcrate is designed to better protect your product at a lower cost.

Do you struggle with:

• igh freight costs due to shipping heavy wood crates

• roduct damage in transit

• igh cost of packaging labor

• E port quarantine delays

The Bottom Line

We know determining ROI for your company’s bottom line is top priority. Take this opportunity to evaluate both your front end and back end costs, including product replacement rates as well as the associated cost of poor customer e periences before finali ing a decision on your shipping solution.

• Starting cost is lower than common wood crates

• ight weight Ecorrcrates will lower your freight in most situations

• Setup is easy and safe, saving you time and money on labor

• euse and repeat due to our durable and straightforward design

Wait…It’s sustainable and durable?

Finding a reliable, highly durable shipping solution that is also sustainable is often quite challenging Wood is a renewable resource but typical disposal is in the dumpster headed for the landfill.

This is where Ecorrcrate stands alone in the crated goods industry. Ecorrcrate is built from paper-based corrugate lumber. Our proprietary cross-laminated material gives the Ecorrcrate superior multi-directional strength and durability to better protect your products.

Strong, highly Water esistant, Shatterproof, Easy to assemble, enewable, Easily recycled, and IS M compliant, we are confident that Ecorrcrate will improve your processes and lower your Carbon footprint.

WA Kalama

CONTROLS, SOFTWARE & COMPONENTS

Encoder Products Company

At Encoder Products Company, we strive to serve you with expert service, quality products, and fast delivery. EPC specializes in encoders for motion feedback in industrial automation applications such as packaging, printing, labeling, vision systems, food and beverage, motor feedback, and more.

We understand that each industrial automation application is different, and you need encoders that fit the requirements of your applications. That’s why our encoders are highly configurable, offering a wide array of shaft or bore sizes, output types, connector types, mounting options, and resolutions up to 65,536 CPR. You’ll also get an industry-leading warranty, and fast delivery from Idaho, USA.

EPC offers:

• Tru-Trac linear measurement solutions – an integrated encoder, measuring wheel, and pivot arm in one compact unit

• raw wire units with wire lengths up to 2 meters

• Accu-Coder ro programmable encoders

• Magnetic multi-turn absolute encoders that operate in the absence of power without gear trains or batteries

• obust mechanical housings for harsh operating environments, with stainless steel and corrosion-resistant options

• Magnetic encoder modules with sealing to I

• Temperature ranges from - C to 2 C

• Competitor cross referencing and drop-in ready irect eplacement encoders

• Engineering services for your custom motion feedback needs

E C is ISO 2 certified, and we design, manufacture, and assemble most of our encoders and accessories at our corporate headquarters in Idaho, USA. When you call EPC, you’ll talk to engineers and encoder experts who can help you find the right motion feedback for your application. Contact us today.

FILLING, CAPPING & CLOSING

Industries

Induction Cap Sealers for Freshness, Leak Prevention & Tamper Evidence

+ Why Packagers Use Induction Cap Sealing

Enercon’s induction cap sealing technology reliably creates hermetic seals to prevent leaks, provide tamper evidence, extend shelf life, deter pilferage and preserve product freshness.

With industry leading application expertise, equipment design, and support, Enercon makes implementing induction sealing simple. Our application engineers will recommend the best power supply and sealing head for your specific product, cap and container to ensure you will always Achieve a Perfect Seal.

+ Cap Sealer Designs for Efficiency & Reliability

Our highly efficient power supplies & innovative sealing heads optimize induction fields for reliable sealing. Whether you package pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food, beverage, cosmetics or personal care products, Enercon has a system solution for you. Seal containers one at a time with the industry workhorse the Super Seal™ Jr. For continuous production line sealing, choose the Super Seal™ Touch & Super Seal™ Max with intuitive touchscreen control with remarkable features such as recipe control, operator lockout and integrated troubleshooting information.

+ New Super Seal™

For moderate & low line speeds, our NEW Super Seal™ brilliantly seals containers while offering advanced features. Integrated stalled container detection, container rejection control, fault information, and a menu-driven interface provides operators with all the tools they need for successful sealing.

+ Achieve a Perfect Seal with Enercon

Whether you are new to induction sealing or a packaging industry veteran, you will appreciate the application expertise provided to Enercon customers around the world. We offer quick start guides, application infographics, free webinars, training, and of course 24/7 service.

INSPECTION & TESTING EQUIPMENT

Eriez’ equipment for the packaging industry includes metal detectors and magnetic separators for metal contaminant removal, as well as a full line of vibratory feeders, conveyors and screeners.

Eriez’ compact Vibratory Feeders handle high-speed packaging, difficult products like flour, leafy and gummy products, and high material flow applications. These electromagnetic drives are energy efficient, low maintenance with no moving parts, and can be mated with a range of sanitary and non-sanitary trays.

Eriez Xtreme Metal Detectors offer best-in-class performance to safeguard against both ferrous and nonferrous metal contaminants. This equipment is very effective for identifying and removing stainless steel fragments in conveyed, gravity flow and liquid line sanitary processing applications. Detectors are positioned at different locations throughout the process from bulk and raw material through final package inspection. There is no better solution to ensure your product is metal-free than using Eriez magnets for steel removal and using Eriez Xtreme® metal detectors to reject nonferrous metals like aluminum, brass, stainless steel and more.

Visit Eriez.com for FREE downloadable guides packed with information to help you choose the equipment you need to fit your unique application. Eriez.com features more than 250 packaging solutions, from our best-inclass vibratory feeders, conveyors, screeners, and metal detectors, to our wide selection of magnetic plates, grates and traps. Many of Eriez’ most popular magnetic separators, vibratory feeders and controls are available for next day shipment.

ROBOTICS

FANUC America

FANUC America is the leading supplier of CNCs, robotics and ROBOMACHINEs with over 40 million products installed globally. We have the largest variety of easy-to-use robot and cobot models available to pick, pack, fulfill or palletize any product.

FANUC’s robots and cobots are reliable, flexible and can handle virtually any size product - from 0.5 kg. to 2,300 kg., including:

- Our CRX collaborative robots are reliable, flexible, and easy-to-use solutions for kitting, palletizing, packing and much more.

- The new DR-3iB/6 STAINLESS is FANUC’s stainless-steel food-grade delta robot for picking and packing primary food products. Rated IP69K, the robot meets USDA and FDA food safety standards.

- Expanded SCARA robot family has six models including environmental options rated IP65 to withstand dust and liquids.

- The popular LR Mate series of tabletop robots has ten models including ISO Class 4 cleanroom and food-grade variants.

- The M-20iB/25C robot with an enclosed design and IP67 rating to withstand harsh environments.

- Established M-410iC series of high-speed palletizing robots.

FANUC offers application software for packaging and palletizing, integrated iRVision® and tracking features, ROBOGUIDE simulation, Dual Check Safety (DCS), and Zero Down Time (ZDT) to help customers monitor and manage their automation.

When you’re ready to automate, FANUC and our team of Authorized System Integrators are here to provide an efficient and cost-effective solution for your plant or fulfillment center. Let’s discuss how we can help you overcome production, supply chain and labor challenges by improving your OEE, flexibility, sanitation and safety. Also, we are committed to “Service First,” providing our customers parts and support for the life of their FANUC products.

Read more about FANUC America’s innovations in Packaging World.

CONVEYING, FEEDING & HANDLING

FlexLink Systems, Inc.

Factory automation solutions from FlexLink, a Coesia company, increase the overall efficiency of production by minimizing throughput time. Our standardized solutions have a strong impact on factory performance and capability to meet the labor challenges of today. Our solutions are reconfigurable, reusable and requires minimal maintenance with low power consumption.

FlexLink’s team of experienced experts can propose customized solutions according to your needs. We deliver all sizes of projects – from simple part deliveries to large and complex turn-key solutions. Our approach is based on streamlining the material and information flows in a production process to maximize the value of the process and minimize all potential losses.

Automated palletizing with FlexLink palletizers (RC10, RC12 and RI20) helps reduce the workload of your employees. Using robotic palletizing solutions enables you to achieve effective and sustainable benefits by fully automating physically demanding and time-consuming tasks.

FlexLink serves a wide customer base, from local producers to global corporations, and from end-users to machine manufacturers. Our customers are lead players within the food, beverage, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive, and electronics industries.

Global support is provided by our operating units in 30 countries and a network of Strategic Partners. Our partner network is an important strategic element for FlexLink’s business model since our start in 1980, enabling us to enhance efficiency at factories in more than 60 countries.

FlexLink is part of Coesia, a group of innovation-based industrial and packaging solutions companies operating globally, headquartered in Bologna, Italy. www.coesia.com

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

FOCKE & CO is an international leading engineering company for packaging machines within the tobacco, food, savoury snacks, and hygiene industry. With more than 60+ years in business, we are proud to offer high-level machinery with top technology. FOCKE & CO is well recognized for providing turnkey engineering solutions for primary packaging, end–of–line packaging, and palletizing.

Snack Packing Solutions

Due to the delicate nature of snack products, FOCKE & CO’s case packers offer careful handling alongside the flexibility to accommodate tray, traywith-lid, and case (RSC) packaging. In fact, our machines - such as the HFP Base (Highly Flexible Packer) - provide multiple pack configurations that normally cannot be achieved with a typical case packer. With a clean machine concept and a compact footprint, our HFP Base is designed to fit perfectly into typical snack food production lines.

Turnkey packaging solutions for hygiene products

The modular machinery design of the FOCKE stacker and bagger equipment offers economic solutions for various applications for the hygiene industry. Increased efficiency and an open design enable easy operations and maintenance. Neither various bag styles nor sustainable materials affect the operation planning with this packaging line. The stacker module itself stands for high flexibility to combine multiple modules such as one or more bagger and / or cartoner, flow wrapper, case packer as well as further packaging solutions.

Sales and Service Worldwide

With sales and service centers worldwide, FOCKE & CO has the capabilities to deliver local technical support, training, and spare parts. FOCKE & CO has repeatedly set new benchmarks in terms of output and product quality. Our ground-breaking technologies in the field of motion control combined with components featuring extreme dimensional accuracy are highly acclaimed in the industry. This is why we are the leader in Packaging Solutions.

BAGGING, POUCHING & WRAPPING

Formost Fuji Corporation

We are here to help you design a packaging solution that is EFFICIENT, RELIABLE, and SUSTAINABLE.

Equipment EFFICIENCY is the result of many different options. The features of a Formost Fuji standard wrapper include a vision system that controls registration and makes for a faster film change and an operation panel with a tablet-like, intuitive user interface that helps reduce labor hours. The ALPHA 8 flow wrapper center seals are designed with induction heat technology that provides fast and consistent sealing, which in turn increases output and saves energy. These are just a few standard features to improve your packaging line’s efficiency.

RELIABILITY has been proven time and time again with our bagging and wrapping machines. Formost Fuji equipment is designed and built for years of dependable operation. In-house dedication to the design and manufacturing of our equipment has positioned Formost Fuji as a leader in quality horizontal flow wrapping and bagging machines as well as automation systems that remain the most reliable in the industry.

Formost Fuji is a leader in providing SUSTAINABLE packaging lines for our customers. With eco-friendly and recyclable materials continually improving and becoming more readily available, we provide free testing in our lab with your product and new films. This allows you to determine if the materials you are considering will align with your product, package integrity, and marketing efforts. Other innovative solutions, such as eliminating foam trays within flow wrap packaging, help meet consumer demand for better sustainability.

You can count on your partnership with Formost Fuji to provide you with excellent customer service from the beginning of the sales cycle, through the build and delivery, and continuing with support, training, and onsite service for years to come.

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

Frain Industries

From sealers and cartoners to cappers, labelers to wrappers, Frain has a wide range of packaging equipment ready to ship to your facility within 2 weeks! Each Frain machine that ships out from our facility arrives to yours completely dialed into your product so when it arrives to your facility, you’re ready to begin production. It’s the closest thing to plug and play you’ll get in the packaging industry. Read on to learn more about how Frain adds value to every equipment purchase or rental.

Equipment Rentals:

Invest only in what you need when you need it with packaging equipment rentals from Frain. Ideal for seasonal items, special edition products and new product development, Frain’s program allows firms to conserve capital and maximize profit. All rentals come dialed into your product, allowing your firm to begin production faster. Best of all, there’s no long-term commitment necessary.

Pay As You Go:

Why pay in full for something before you even use it? With Frain’s Pay As You Go flexible capital program, you’ll only pay for packaging equipment as you use it. There’s no leasing and no large capital investment. Instead, you’ll have the financial flexibility to invest in more projects, take more chances and get products to market faster – and on your schedule.

Consulting and Technical Support: Setup. Inspection. Repair. Training. It’s all part of the Frain difference. All Frain rentals and purchases come with up to 8 hours of technical support from Frain engineers to get you started – and we’re standing by to help with other maintenance and service too.

Contact Frain Today:

For more information on Frain and to inquire about the next piece of equipment for your packaging line, contact us today at 630-629-9900 or visit www.frain.com.

CONVEYING, FEEDING & HANDLING

Garvey

1-800-257-8581

Founded in 1926 in Hammonton, New Jersey, Garvey is recognized as a leader in designing and manufacturing low-impact, multi-functional, pressure-less loop accumulation systems, and conveyor systems. Highly regarded for its engineering expertise in developing equipment that can handle a large variety of product shapes and sizes, Garvey’s solutions convey, accumulate, orient, single file, combine, and lane products rapidly without back pressure or operator interference. It is a leader in bottling operations ranging from small vaccine vials to wine bottles. Garvey offers a broad product offering across both modular standard and highly engineered accumulation solutions. Garvey has approximately 100 employees, including a highly technical sales and engineering organization with a proven track record of innovation within the accumulation market.

Garvey’s flagship product is the Infinity Accumulator, designed to provide efficient and rapid accumulation of products without back pressure or operator interference.

The Infinity is a modular, standard accumulation solution, highly regarded for its ability to handle an extensive range of product shapes and sizes. It can handle it all, from small vaccine vials to wine bottles. Its unique design allows for products to be conveyed, accumulated, oriented, single-filed, combined, and laned rapidly and efficiently, ensuring maximum production output.

One of the critical features of the Infinity Accumulator is its pressureless loop accumulation system. This system eliminates the need for back pressure and reduces the risk of product damage, making it a reliable and safe solution for handling products. The accumulator is also equipped with the latest in engineering expertise, ensuring that it is highly functional and efficient.

Garvey’s Infinity is a perfect solution for companies looking to improve their operational efficiency. Its modular design makes it easy to install and integrate into existing systems, and its efficient accumulation technology maximizes production output.

TRAY, CLAMSHELL & BLIS TER PACKAGING EQUIPMENT

Harpak-ULMA Packaging, LLC

Looking for the lowest total cost of ownership and highest quality packaging automation solutions available for food, medical devices, and other non-food products? We can help you navigate today’s complex, rapidly changing packaging landscape. We help balance costs and functionality with innovative and emerging processes, materials, and advanced technologies; enhance your profitability and improve the performance of your primary and secondary packaging operations. Our full-service solutions address installation, training, spare parts, service and customer support.

Our capabilities span robotics and automation, thermoforming, tray sealing, filling, flow-wrapping, stretch, blister, skin pack, and vacuum. Every smart, connected G. Mondini and ULMA packaging platform utilizes Rockwell Automation’s Integrated Architecture to reduce solution complexity and maintenance costs, while realizing better quality, capacity, and throughput. We also partner with PTC to incorporate Augmented Reality tools. It all lets us leverage data to enhance your operation and realize greater productivity and efficiency.

We are focused on the environment, aiming to help you meet demand while meeting your sustainability initiatives. Our sustainable packaging options include less plastic use, thinner gauge films, optimized package sizes, reduced film scrap, and alternative packaging materials. Our customers rely on us to help them optimize their overall packaging investment, from start to finish. We offer package design and prototyping services, and can help solve production concerns with comprehensive flexible and efficient systems. We help strategize how to tackle today’s most complex packaging challenges, such as sustainability, eCommerce, robotics and digital transformation.

We focus on lowering your TCO and offering the most reliable systems available. With consistent, professional and timely customer and technical service, our partnership extends well beyond your purchase.

FILLING, CAPPING & CLOSING

Heat and Control, Inc.

Heat and Control®, a world-leading equipment manufacturer, offers the latest technology and the highest quality equipment for processing, coating and seasoning, conveying, weighing, packaging, inspection, and controls and information systems, and develops innovative solutions for production challenges.

Established in 1950, Heat and Control is a privately-owned company and has 12 manufacturing, warehouse, and associated facilities, 10 testing centers, and more than 30 offices globally. Heat and Control has partnered with other global manufacturing leaders, including Ishida (weighing packaging and inspection) and CEIA® (metal detection), and their brands include FastBack® (horizontal motion conveyors and on machine seasoning), Mastermatic (fryers), and Spray Dynamics® (coating and seasoning application systems). Heat and Control can offer a single machine or can integrate several components into a complete system and assume single-source responsibility.

Heat and Control is also able to assist manufacturers with equipment for all types of food, pharmaceutical, and non-food products, as well as provide pre- and post-sale technical support, including applications assistance, engineering, installation, parts, service, and training to maintain peak efficiency.

Heat and Control has built an extensive knowledge bank and developed a wealth of experience and expertise with access to production and technical support from a network of engineers, food technicians, field service technicians, skilled tradespeople, and support teams to provide food and non-food manufacturers with the ability to achieve their production goals.

Contact us to visit one of our demonstration centers to test products on the latest equipment.

FILLING, CAPPING & CLOSING

High Tek USA, Inc.

800.504.7120

www.hightekusa.com

High Tek USA has been a major player in the food weighing and packaging industry for almost 20 years. Founder and CEO, Jason Sigman started High Tek when he noticed that companies weren’t getting a quick turnaround on either the purchase or the repair of their machines. “When a weighing packaging machine goes down, the customer doesn’t have the ability to fulfill orders, which could mean loss of revenue, loss of the food product, and sometimes the loss of their business,” says Sigman. “We make sure that doesn’t happen.”

INNOVATIVE

High Tek’s machines are durable, dependable, and long-lasting, with the star being their Premium Combination Weigher. High Tek’s machines have been created with the customer’s actual needs in mind. Customers want a machine that performs the essential speed and accuracy requirements but is also easy to operate, clean, and repair. This one has so many standard features and options for customers, it delivers everything for those who need it.

24/7 SERVICE

High Tek’s 24-hour technical and emergency services just can’t be beaten in this industry. “We have structured our business like firefighters, meaning we have the tools and experience to quickly identify an issue and provide solutions,” says Sigman. “We can schedule emergency services and get a technician on a plane with parts usually within 24 hours.”

ECONOMICAL

CODING, LABELING & PRINTING EQUIPMENT

Hitachi Industrial Equipment & Solutions

847-956-6600

www.hitachi-iesa.com/industrial-marking-and-coding

Hitachi Industrial Equipment & Solutions America, LLC is a pioneering developer of marking and coding solutions. We offer a wide range of Continuous Inkjet Printers and other solutions that are aimed at increasing efficiency and reducing maintenance costs associated with package printing. Since 1975, Hitachi has provided solutions to food & beverage, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, automotive, and industrial packaging.

The new Hitachi UX2 printer combines innovation with the reliability customers have come to expect from Hitachi. This UX2 continuous inkjet printer has several new features to enhance the coding process:

• Enhanced code quality at higher speeds – The improved dot control algorithms create more legible codes. Even at increased speeds, code quality does not degrade.

• Added convenience and safety – With a sealed Safe-Clean Station, multiple cleaning modes, and self-guided troubleshooting videos available, the UX2 puts control in the hands of the operator.

• Quick line changeovers – Move inkjet printers from production line to line with ease using preconfigured I/O connectors, eliminating timeconsuming mistakes.

• Newly designed print head – Because of the print head modification to catch inkjet build-up, the UX2 printer can run for three times longer by reducing print quality issues and electronic faults.

A vision system is developed specifically able to isolate each character in the dot matrix inkjet printing while most vision systems on the market today are limited in their ability to read dot matrix printing found on primary packaging. This provides some key benefits to manufacturing companies:

• Specifically developed to accurately read inkjet codes regardless of the printer brand being used

• Isolation of each character to detect code degradation

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

IPG (Intertape Polymer Group)

800/474-8273

www.itape.com

Intertape Polymer Group Inc. (IPG) is a recognized leader in the packaging industry. Leveraging its advanced manufacturing technologies, extensive research and development capabilities and a comprehensive strategic acquisition program, IPG has assembled the broadest and deepest range of products in the industry.

IPG’s product offering includes carton sealing and industrial tapes (masking, filament, duct/cloth, double coated, flatback, foil and electrical), stretch and shrink film, protective packaging products and complementary packaging systems for industrial and retail use. IPG also specializes in high performance tape products engineered for demanding aerospace, marine, automotive and industrial applications. The comprehensive product offering and market specialization uniquely positions IPG as the supplier of choice for leading packaging and industrial distributors and large end users across a diverse cross section of industries.

CONVEYING, FEEDING & HANDLING

888-419-2358

Intralox is the leading conveyance solutions provider helping move the world’s most critical products. Our extensive portfolio of technologies and services enhances food safety, powers e-commerce, and solves challenges for industries ranging from food processing to industrial manufacturing to logistics and material handling. Our business model relies on direct collaborative partnerships rather than distributors. Serving and supplying directly provides you with distinct advantages, including:

• E traordinary customer service

• Industry-specific e pertise

• aster innovation and implementation cycles

We partner with leading companies across the packaging industry to deliver innovative technology, reliable operations, and optimized line layouts. Whether you’re an equipment manufacturer or end user, you can benefit from our innovative products, comprehensive services, and unparalleled expertise.

Intralox’s belt and equipment solutions for the packaging industry help you:

• Optimi eline layouts for throughput and fle ibility

• uture-proof lines for fle ibility and sustainability

• Standardi e belts, equipment, and components

• educe product loss, operating costs, and downtime

Our acker to alleti er consists of three core facets E pertise,Service, and Technology. Our approach helps you fully integrate these areas in order to realize the best possible results, both now and in the future. By working with Intralox early in your project, you can achieve this and more with the right components and the right services before, during, and after installation— delivered on time, every time.

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

(864)

ITW Hartness, a division of Illinois Tool Works (ITW), is the first choice in secondary packaging solutions. Our product portfolio includes highquality accumulation, packing and palletizing equipment that deliver unprecedented OEE, and lead the industry in using IIoT technology to maximize customer value.

ACCUMULATION—Recognized as the global leader in first-in, first-out, pressure-free accumulation, our proprietary DYNAC portfolio includes single-file, mass flow and floor level models to fit any application. With a small footprint flexible enough to handle a wide variety of packaging types, our products are relied on by leading consumer goods companies to prevent micro stops and increase uptime – saving you money.

PACKING—No matter how complex the package, our innovative packing solutions deliver speed, flexibility, and cost savings. Top load drop packing, shrink, tray, wraparound, and robotic case packing solutions make up our diverse portfolio. We work with customers to provide the solution best equipped to meet the unique needs of your product mix and operation.

PALLETIZING/DEPALLETIZING—With more than 500 robots installed and long-tenured experience on our team, ITW Hartness leads the industry with our proven palletizing and depalletizing equipment. Built to handle a wide range of products and packaging formats with no expensive change parts and fully automated changeover, customers see ROI in as little as 18 months or less.

AFTERMARKET—Downtime is expensive. That’s why our experienced customer support team is available 24/7. From onsite service and machine rebuilds to training and equipment updates, customers rely on ITW Hartness to provide unmatched expertise and support.

SYSTEMS INTEGRATION—Using a DYNAC-centric line design philosophy and best-in-class approach to machine center selection, our expert integration team helps select customers maximize end-of-line efficiency. Projects are validated using simulation software to assess performance, allowing customers to understand their investment and ROI even before the install. With proven experience helping customers increase throughout and lower cost of ownership, our equipment portfolio adds reliability and flexibility to any line.

CONTAINERS & CLOSURES

James Alexander Corp.

908/362-9266

Located in northern New Jersey, James Alexander Corporation (JAC) is a leading contract manufacturer and custom filler of single-use crushable glass and plastic ampoules. Its manufacturing facility features unique, company-designed equipment and produces its patented plastic ampoules, among other product offerings.

James Alexander Corp. has expanded its operations floorspace, adding 18,000 square feet to its warehousing capacity and 2,000 feet apiece to manufacturing and office space. The expansion provides additional capacity for servicing key markets including pharmaceutical (OTC & Rx), medical devices, health & beauty products, first aid and diagnostics.

JAC’s patented single-use plastic ampoules, which have undergone various enhancements since their initial market introduction, are available in a variety of colors and with an array of applicators, offering singlehanded activation in a customizable format. Meanwhile, the company’s glass ampoules can be filled and assembled in single-use swab or dropper packages. JAC also recently introduced a winged device, THE ACTIVATOR™, which provides easier activation for these glass formats. Other services include autoclave sterilization for glass ampoules, blister packaging and formula compounding.

Plastic Unit-Dose Dispensing Systems

James Alexander Corp.’s revolutionary plastic ampoule combines style and ease of use through single-handed activation. With just a gentle squeeze, the inner membrane ruptures, allowing the contents to be dispensed by the user. The plastic ampoule is available in sizes up to 5ml, as well as a range of colors and applicators.

Unit-Dose Glass Swabs

James Alexander Corp.’s unit-dose swabs offer the stability of glass in one- or two-part systems allowing for convenient application of pharmaceuticals and health aids. JAC also produces single-use glass ampoules for inhalation and dropper tip assemblies for the dispensing of liquids.

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

JLS Automation

717/505-3800

JLS Automation supplies hygienic robotic packaging solutions for the food industry that solve complex packaging challenges. Designed for even the strictest sanitary environments, our custom vision-guided primary & secondary robotic packaging systems are user-friendly, fast to start-up, & ensure both worker & food safety.

Several patents have been awarded for our proprietary robotic tooling & high-speed leak detection systems. Our hygienic, vision-guided robotic packaging systems are made to get wet, simple to integrate into your packaging line & never get tired!

Talon® Primary Loading Systems – Hygienic pick-and-place systems for loading thermoformers, flow-wrappers, vacuum skin packs, trays & more.

Osprey® Case Packers - Accurate & gentle loading of thermoformed packs, bags, SUPs, trays, chubs & other primary packs into standard RSC or retail-ready cases in horizontal or vertical orientation.

Peregrine® Vision-Guided Cartoning Solution - Load tri-seal & other cartons easily & efficiently. Elimination of conveyor transfers. Robotic loading & closing. All within a small footprint.

Harrier Bacon Draft Loading System - Automatically load bacon drafts into thermoformers, save floor space, solve labor gaps & increase productivity.

Sandwich Assembly System - Automatically build various sandwiches, accurately stacking each component from the bun/bread to meat, cheese & other ingredients. Lines can include up-and downstream equipment.

Integrated Systems - We take system responsibility for your entire line from concept to design, integration, FAT & installation.

JLS View - Reduce downtime spent on service & maintenance. Virtual service calls utilizing Microsoft HoloLens 2 technology provide easy access to technicians. Save time & get your line back running quickly.

CONVEYING, FEEDING & HANDLING

King Plastic Corporation

941/493-5502

King Plastic Corporation is the leading manufacturer of quality polymer sheets, slabs, and massive shapes. With over 20 product brands to choose from and applications for every industry you can imagine. The Polymer sheets are made in the U.S.A.

King Hy-Pact®, the super tough polymer sheet is the smart choice for many high abuse applications in the food service, food processing and packaging markets.

The industrial polymer sheet is environmentally stabilized with excellent physical properties. It is the product of a proprietary process called K-Stran™, the most advanced manufacturing process of quality sheets with tight tolerances and custom widths up to 60”. King Hy-Pact® has a clean white color with a smooth, non-skived finish on both sides of sheet for better material flow. It is also available in black. Tests have shown for outdoor applications after 2,000 hours of UV exposure, King Hy-Pact® outperforms both HDPE and UHMW with superior toughness in wear resistance, flexibility and high-impact strength. King Hy-Pact® is the smart choice for many high abuse applications requiring superior properties, outstanding flatness and a smooth surface while providing significant cost savings compared to UHMW. Applications include, but are not limited to, food processing chutes, star wheels, fabricated parts, snowplow blades and dock fenders. The material is easy to machine and fabricate. King Hy-Pact® polymer sheet is NSF listed to meet requirements of commercial food processing operations for direct and indirect food contact.

Applications

Bin and Mixer Linings

Chain and Belt Guides

Conveyor and Guide Rails

Food Processing Components

Machine Parts

Material Handling

Sprockets

Star Wheels

MATERIALS, CONTAINERS & CONSUMABLES

Klöckner Pentaplast Food Packaging

www.kpfilms.com

In the kp Food Packaging division, the sustainable protection of everyday needs is very important to us. Our aim is to ensure you get the most sustainable total food packaging solutions that not only protect your food products while extending shelf-life and reducing food waste, but that can also be recycled. We operate across a vast range of fresh food categories, supplying thermoformed trays, rigid films for form, fill and seal applications as well as flexible barrier and stretch films to protect your products.

With 20 manufacturing and distribution facilities across 14 countries worldwide, we maximise the value we deliver to our customers while understanding and meeting local needs.

Market Knowledge

Supplying solutions for the food packaging starts by understanding market and consumer trends and anticipating their needs. kp works with top brands and retailers to understand and develop unique solutions to make them innovators in their markets.

Global Leader in Recycled Content

Our inhouse PET flake cleaning process allows us to use up to 100% postconsumer recycled PET to further support your sustainability goals and optimize the carbon footprint throughout the entire value chain.

Product Management and Design

Klöckner Pentaplast - PHD

Focused on delivering its vision: The Sustainable Protection of Everyday Needs, kp is a global leader in rigid and flexible packaging, and specialty film solutions, serving the pharmaceutical, medical device, label film, consumer packaging, cards/graphics, and home building and construction markets. With a broad and innovative portfolio of packaging and product films and services, kp plays an integral role in the customer value chain by safeguarding product integrity, protecting brand reputation and improving sustainability. kp’s “Investing in Better” sustainability strategy solidifies its commitment to achieving ten clear targets for long-term improvement by increasing recycling and recyclability of products, cutting carbon emissions and continuous improvement in employee engagement, safety, and diversity, equity and inclusion. kp has earned a gold rating from EcoVadis, the leading platform for environmental, social, and ethical performance ratings, putting kp in the top 3% of companies rated in the manufacturing of plastics products sector. Founded in 1965 kp has 31 plants in 18 countries and employs over 5,900 people committed to serving customers worldwide in over 60 locations.

Collaboration is integral with each opportunity. With a cooperative approach, kp’s expert technicians visit you on-site to consult, troubleshoot, train, and provide all the necessary solutions to help optimize film performance.

You can also work together with a designated team at the kp i.center, designed specifically, to serve the pharmaceutical, nutritional supplement and thermoforming industries. Equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and expert staff, kp is dedicated to help you improve current packaging and create new sustainable solutions.

FILLING, CAPPING & CLOSING

(414)

www.kronesusa.com

Every day, millions of bottles, cans, and PET containers run through a Krones line. As a supplier for complete systems, Krones provides beverage bottlers, food producers, breweries and CPG companies all over the world with both individual machines and complete turnkey production lines. Our technology offerings are comprehensive and ever-expanding, with solutions from process technology, filling, and packaging…all the way through material flow, IT, automation, and container recycling.

With our comprehensive Lifecycle Service (LCS) aftermarket support program, Krones also provides full engineering and manufacturing support for implemented production solutions – up to 24 hours, 7 days-a-week. The robust online platform at Krones.shop offers a user-friendly experience to not only order spare parts, but also manage substitution lists, maintain customized stockkeeping, track upgrades, plan overhauls, and more. You can even access Krones Academy training courses for your on-site teams, allowing you to fully maximize your equipment investment.

Multiple Krones subsidiaries throughout North and Central America provide enhanced expertise and horsepower to meet your total packaging, production and processing needs. Serving the beverage, food, dairy, HPC and pharmaceutical industries, Krones Process Group North America provides sanitary process system expertise backed by the global depth and experience of KRONES. Leveraging over 165 years of combined experience, Krones North American subsidiaries Javlyn Process Systems, W.M. Sprinkman Corp. and Trans-Market have aligned, combining resources and knowledge to afford customers the highest level of quality.

CODING, LABELING & PRINTING EQUIPMENT

Label-Aire, Inc.

Label-Aire is the worldwide leading manufacturer of pressure-sensitive labeling machinery.

Over 50 years ago, Label-Aire introduced a revolutionary new method for applying pressure-sensitive labels. The patented “air-blow” concept provided the packaging industry with labeling machines. This new preferred method of label application eliminated the need for additional product handling. Our pioneering technique has gained complete acceptance. The widespread growth of pressure-sensitive labels in existing and new markets worldwide resulted.

Labeling Made Easy

When our customers asked for a labeling machine that was easy-to-use and production-tough, we took plenty of notes. Our advanced Primary Applicator line of labeling equipment delivers top-notch performance on even the most difficult applications. Our labeling systems and labeling equipment are loaded with features: Making operating labeling systems simple and virtually maintenance-free, automatic setup, user-friendly control panel & display, stepper motor technology, and Zero Downtime labeling capabilities. And it’s all backed by the industry’s most experienced and responsive labeling systems distributor network.

Focus On Innovation and Saving Customers Money

Since our inception, Label-Aire’s focus has always been on providing customers with the most inventive, intelligent, and reliable pressuresensitive labeling machines. The result? Over 50 years of satisfied customers with lower operating costs and higher productivity than our competitors.

BAGGING, POUCHING & WRAPPING

Mamata Enterprises, Inc.

At Mamata, we understand your needs and provide solutions to increase your productivity and reduce changeover times and footprint.

Our machines are based on conventional servo technology. They are designed to offer the best OEE in the simplex pouch packaging segment.

The key features address the crucial areas in terms of efficiency, hygiene, product quality and flexibility.

HFFS Rollstock machines: Our Simplex HFFS machines allows brands to produce and package pouches at upto 120 ppm and are to a Duplex machine. It’s ideal for lay-flat pouches, stand-up pouches with and without zippers, and single-serve sample packs in the range of 80 to 300 mm. Its ability to produce pouches from recyclable mono-material films makes it unique in the industry.

Premade Pouch filling systems: These machines are designed for highspeed premade pouch-filling applications, allowing you to trade old semi-automatic or manual operations for a highly efficient packaging machine. At 65 ppm, it delivers comparable speeds to a Duplex premade pouch system or a Simplex roll stock HFFS. An ideal machine to package trail mixes and nuts, fresh and frozen produce, snack foods, powders, Pet foods, etc. It’s designed to package both PE/PE recyclable mono-material pouches & laminated pouches.

VFFS baggers: Our Vertical Form Fill Sealing (VFFS) system achieves exceptional seal integrity and optimal precision across a large range of films at up to 220 ppm, making it the fastest system in the industry for single lane pouch filling.

All above and many more that will ease your packaging process and rise above getting competition.

For your pre-sales and after-sales support, our Florida location is equipped with spare-parts, local technical support, and sales consulting.

CODING, LABELING & PRINTING EQUIPMENT

To help you define which technology offers the best price and performance ratio for your application, Markem-Imaje offers a full range of end-of-line solutions:

High-resolution Large Character Inkjet (LCIJ piezo)

Print and Apply Labeling

Thermal Inkjet (TIJ)

Low-resolution Large Character Valve Jet

The 5000 Series LCIJ piezo coders with Intelli’Wax printheads rapidly fill and jet Touch Dry® hot melt inks which are solvent-free, safe to handle and environmentally friendly. Codes never bleed or fade, dry on contact and are 100% scannable. The Intelli’Wax printheads combined with our exclusive Intelli’Dark Touch Dry ink produce the industry’s darkest, consistently scannable, direct print codes.

The 2200 Series print and apply solutions build on a proven concept that provides reliability, efficiency and ease of use. It gives you a wide range of interchangeable applicators, optimized operational intervention and an unparalleled application rate.

The innovative eTouch-S® applicator is built with artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure that labels are applied to your exacting standards on every pack, at the highest production speeds and in the safest manner possible. Thanks to its unique SoftTouch technology, the eTouch-S® applicator offers full movement control and application monitoring. An optional Advanced Trigger Sensor can fully automate labeling operations on variable-speed production lines with no operator intervention required.

End-of-line case coding is most effective when it gets the right product to its proper destination with high uptime in your factory. Regardless of which option you choose from us, you can take advantage of the data management capabilities of our CoLOS® platform and services to get the most out of your investment.

INSPECTION & TESTING EQUIPMENT

METTLER

Product Inspection

METTLER TOLEDO is the world’s largest manufacturer of metal detectors, checkweighers, X-ray and vision inspection equipment, delivering a wide range of solutions for foreign body protection, regulatory compliance, and improved profits. Systems range from economical to state-of-the-art with customized material handling solutions.

Safeline metal detectors automatically reject all types of metal contaminants, including the most difficult to detect stainless steel. Systems are offered for dry, bulk, packaged, liquid or frozen products for gravity feed, conveyorized, pumped and throat applications.

Safeline x-ray inspection systems use high-performance image processing to detect and reject all types of dense physical contaminants, as well as measure mass, check for missing or broken product, and confirm fill levels to guarantee product and package integrity.

CI-Vision machine vision systems verify label content and integrity to prevent recalls. The use of these systems in your food safety program can help you prove due diligence, pass regulatory audits, and protect your brand.

Hi-Speed checkweighers deliver productivity and profits. A wide range of sizes and configurations are available to handle nearly any container type or package design even at high production rates to ensure accurate product delivery, reduced giveaway, and optimized production processes. Patented weighing technology and over 50 years of package handling expertise ensures repeatable performance from the first to the last package weighed maintaining tight production tolerances.

As a member of OMAC, METTLER TOLEDO is committed to connectivity and data storage and retrieval to help meet regulatory requirements. Inspection systems can be connected using a variety of methods, including our own ProdX data collection and management software.

CONVEYING, FEEDING & HANDLING

mk North America is a full-service conveyor company, offering mechanical solutions for all of your packaging and automation needs.

Since 1988, mk has been manufacturing a wide variety of conveyor systems including: belt conveyors, flat top chain conveyors, plastic modular belt conveyors, timing belt conveyors, roller conveyors, and more.

All of our conveyor models are available with our standard t-slot aluminum frames, and many models are also available in stainless steel.

mk’s conveyor line is backed by the mk line of t-slot aluminum extrusionsideal for guards, workstations, carts, and so much more. This ensures that any accessories you buy from mk will be compatible, resulting in seamless integration on the factory floor; all while saving time and money.

mk North America believes in offering not only a better product, but also a better solution. Our dedicated team of conveyor and automation experts will work with you to understand your unique application and related challenges. This partnership results in mk being able to deliver a topquality conveyor solution when you need it.

All of our conveyors are built and tested in our Bloomfield, CT facility and shipped directly to you as completely assembled as possible. So, you can rest assured your conveyor system will be ready to go when it arrives.

Whether you are looking for a single, one-off, conveyor or a complete conveyor system - remember the mk promise to provide a better product AND a better solution.

We look forward to hearing from you and proving our excellence in conveyor system solutions on your next project.

CONVEYING, FEEDING & HANDLING

Modular Conveyor Express - MCE

www.modularconveyor.com

Build Your Best Conveyor Business

Modular Conveyor Express (MCE) is the dedicated distributor network of Nercon. Selling exclusively through MCE Distributor Partners, MCE complete conveyor systems are designed by Nercon engineers and backed by Nercon quality standards. This network includes distributors located across the United States who are fully supported by an MCE team of conveyor experts able to understand and respond to the specific operational needs of the MCE distributor network on an individual basis.

Conveyor Designed by Nercon

Built to maximize productivity, MCE complete conveyor systems provide a significant competitive advantage to MCE distributors. Developed and designed by highly skilled Nercon engineers over countless hours of analysis and testing, MCE conveyors skip the costly start-up of a custom process and begin with a core of proven equipment making your projects more cost-effective and MCE’s turnaround time an advantage — 4 weeks!

MCE’s conveyor systems are manufactured at Nercon’s production facility in Oconto, Wis., where Lean Manufacturing practices are employed to increase quality, identify any wasteful operations, and reduce unnecessary costs. As an industry leader in manufacturing conveyor systems and equipment, we are proud of the advanced technology and unparalleled quality our distributors can count on.

Contact us at (844) 293-2816 to learn more about becoming a distributor of MCE.

CONTAINERS & CLOSURES

MRP Solutions

518-561-1812

www.mrpsolutions.com

Plastic jars, containers, CRC, continuous thread and dispensing closures manufactured in the USA.

Build your brand and deliver packaging premiumization with MRP Solutions. More than ever, consumers expect quality products packaged to deliver an unmatched user experience and connection to the brand and product. MRP Solutions combines extensive packaging expertise with a consultative approach to reliably uncover customer needs. By understanding business goals, we can tailor smarter, safer and more flexible packaging solutions that reduce cost and increase speed to market, helping businesses capitalize on opportunities. With one of the most robust, recyclable plastic closure offerings in the market, whether you need a standard continuous thread closure, disc top, push pull caps, twist open, child resistant caps or a specialized cap like our Ultra Light® or MegaFlap®, we have an option to fit your project. From fast-order shipping of a wide range of stock components to developing custom product solutions with our in-house innovation team, MRP is your trusted supplier.

MRP Solutions leads the way in sustainable manufacturing. MRP now offers PCR resin pricing in addition to virgin resin pricing on ALL quotes, where applicable. MRP makes it easier than ever to choose sustainable, choose recycled and choose circular.

FLEXIBLE PACKAGING

Increase your Productivity with MULTIVAC, your partner for single-source full-line packaging & processing solutions. Our One Line – One Control capability allows all MULTIVAC components, such as product loading, processing, packaging, conveying, printing, labeling, & inspection, to be controlled from a single HMI. With easy setup and changeover through a single interface, we provide the perfect machine for every pack.

As one of the world’s leading suppliers of packaging & processing solutions for a wide variety of foods, life science and healthcare products, and consumer and industrial goods, long-term productivity is at the heart of every machine and solution we develop. Thanks to holistically designed systems, our comprehensive line solutions help you reach your PEAQ Performance with increased Productivity, Efficiency, Availability, and Quality. MULTIVAC Smart Services enable data collection in realtime, optimizing processes and maximizing efficiency throughout your equipment lifecycle.

Our portfolio covers all packaging design, performance, and resource efficiency requirements. In addition, it encompasses an extensive range of packaging technologies, automation solutions, and labeling and quality control systems. Finally, our offering is rounded off by solutions upstream of the packaging process: in portioning and processing and baked goods technology.

Ultimately, we see ourselves as partners making a decisive contribution to your business’s success. As a worldwide group with 85 subsidiaries, we are closely linked with our customers and their markets, allowing us to identify trends and developments early. When you decide on MULTIVAC as a partner, you opt for the highest level of quality and efficiency, comprehensive customer care, and highly qualified sales and service teams.

CONVEYING, FEEDING & HANDLING

Nercon Conveyor Systems

844-293-2814

www.nerconconveyors.com

Nercon is a conveyor systems manufacturer, providing solutions to the snack, cheese, pet food and treats, beverage, health and pharmaceutical packaging industries since 1976. An essential part of any production line, Nercon’s conveyor systems are operating in nationwide consumer packaged goods manufacturing facilities, where uptime is critical in the efficiency of operations.

Designed with a Purpose®

Our ProCore® brand serves a unique purpose in the Nercon conveyor product line. Developed by highly skilled engineers over countless hours of analysis and testing, ProCore® conveyors skip the costly start-up of a custom process and begin with a core of proven equipment making your projects more cost-effective and our turnaround time faster. The ProCore® conveyor family maximizes performance and minimizes downtime. Conveyor designs range from MatTop, belt and TableTop, moving a variety of packaging.

Keep It Clean

Built to maximize productivity, HydroCore® is our sanitary and washdown conveyor systems designed to withstand rigorous sanitation practices and daily hygienic procedures. HydroCore’s® hygienic designs disassemble, washdown, sanitize, and reassemble easily. Our uniquely innovative sanitary design is known for its versatility and durability, adding value across all product operations.

Nercon’s conveyor systems are manufactured in Oconto, Wis., where Lean Manufacturing practices are employed to increase quality, identify any wasteful operations, and reduce unnecessary costs. As an industry leader in manufacturing conveyor systems and equipment, we are proud of the advanced technology and unparalleled quality our customers can count on.

Contact us at (844) 293-2814 to partner on your next project. www.nerconconveyors.com

CODING, LABELING & PRINTING EQUIPMENT

NITA Sentient Labeling Systems

Welcome to NITA Sentient Labeling Systems, the original 100% Servo Labeler that dramatically REDUCES OPERATOR TOUCH-TIME and increases productivity - all while integrating the latest next-gen technology, the most intuitive user experience, best-in-class responsive support, and truthfully, pure labeling joy.

We love UPTIME. We’re so driven by it we’ve designed all the features on every NITA to create it. How? By meticulously analyzing your labeling pain points – then solving them – with innovation, technology, and certifiably flawless execution.

And how do we keep you running? By building these incredible UPTIME features into every NITA:

- Parts ordering directly from the machine via built-in 3D drawings that scale down to your specific required item

- A self-diagnosing system that identifies possible issues and suggests fixes or when parts need changing or servicing before they become a problem

- Daily Preventative Maintenance schedules and video tutorials with tieredlevel tasks

- Ultra-fast & precise color-coded changeovers with in-screen 3D location maps or even our incredible Servo-driven FULLY AUTOMATIC product changeover system at the push of a button.

- NitaCare lifetime no-charge live remote tech support built right into your screen

Nita Labeling PROMISES to do anything and everything required to make your labeling life as easy and productive as it can be. It is why we exist. Experience for yourself what the best labeling company and labeler will bring to your productivity numbers. 100% money-back-guaranteed happiness.

We cannot wait to meet you. For the love of labeling! Your NITA Team

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

Nordson Corporation

Nordson is recognized as the world leader in hot melt adhesive dispensing systems for the packaging industry, with comprehensive product lines that include tankless dispensing systems, adhesive melters, applicators, nozzles, hoses, and pattern controls as well as tracking and verification systems.

Nordson is a global solution, with direct offices in over 30 countries. Our substantial reach in global manufacturing allows for deep customer relationships, pursuing innovative solutions for customer problems and providing long-term, hands-on customer training, service, and support.

Nordson helps automate your packaging operations with products and solutions with a low total cost of ownership. Our adhesive systems help customers achieve a lower cost per package and reduce adhesive usage. Our solutions maximize package integrity and provide flexibility to meet changing market demands. Because one solution does not fit all applications, we offer a variety of systems to fit a wide range of needs.

Our ProBlue® Flex melter is advanced technology that is modular and scalable. It brings together machine integration, and precise and accurate adhesive dispensing. The ProBlue Flex melter is complemented by Nordson’s new BBconn Controls, which allows for remote operation, more visibility, real-time oversight, and the data and analytics needed for continuous improvement.

The MiniBlue II Slim with EcoBead Inspect ensures package integrity while reducing adhesive consumption. The MiniBlue® II applicator packs high performance, high speeds, and long-term reliability in a compact size. When paired with the EcoBead™ Inspect, users can verify adhesive placement to ensure the integrity of every package and can gather data for continuous improvement.

FILLING, CAPPING & CLOSING

623-334-7928

Turnkey solutions for your business

For over 60 years, Novembal has been a leader in plastic cap design and injection. Our extensive knowledge of the markets, our experience and our commitment to continuous quality improvement, place us among the industry leaders. By offering our customers innovative solutions, we help them maintain and build their competitive position in the market. We support our customers in each step of the process, from the conceptualization of the closure designs through industrialization and beyond:

Design Services

Our experts help customers turn their ideas into reality by providing innovative designs that make their products stand out on the shelves. Once the concept is validated through pilot tooling, an industrial solution will be provided.

Production Services

We emphasize unique solutions that offer quality, convenience and innovation to meet any need that your business may have. If a completely new or different design is required, we can tailor a closure to the needs of our customer.

We also offer tolling options. By combining an existing customers’ mold and our resources, we can produce, finish, inspect and package your product.

After Sales Support

The after-sales team provides reactive and proactive technical support to troubleshoot issues, minimize downtime and optimize your production equipment. Our goal is to help you achieve your goals in production and line efficiency.

Explore more at novembal.com

BAGGING, POUCHING & WRAPPING

nVenia, a Duravant Company

nVenia leverages the strengths of the ARPAC, HAMER, FISCHBEIN, and OHLSON product brands as a leading equipment designer, manufacturer, and integrator for primary, secondary, and end-of-line packaging solutions.

ARPAC Brand equipment is renowned for integrated fit-for-purpose production lines and includes shrink wrappers, tunnels and bundlers, tray and case formers, case packers, robotic and conventional palletizers, and pallet stretch wrapper systems.

FISCHBEIN Brand equipment is the trusted name in open-mouth bag sewing and sealing systems. Sew systems encompass plain and tape sew models, with sealers for all shapes and sizes of flexible packaging.

HAMER Brand equipment leads the market in large format bagging and automation equipment in some of the harshest production environments. The new HAMER Brand VLR-B machine delivers highly accurate dosing of free-flowing powdered products. The horizontal form, fill & seal systems are ideally suited for large scale bag filling automation, open mouth bagging machines are the industry standard for filling premade bags, and robotic palletizing systems are also ideally suited for stacking large bags.

OHLSON Brand equipment is an economic solution for automating weighing and counting operations. The OHLSON Brand includes multihead weighers, linear weighers, vertical form, fill & seal (VFFS) machines, and premade pouch filling machines.

Combined, these trusted brands deliver next-level performance through the consultative design of integrated production lines to meet the needs of a variety of industries. Our expertise as an integrated packaging systems manufacturer is born from decades of building packaging equipment and answering to the diverse requirements of our clients to package products within a single production line.

Backed by more than 300 years of experience across our brands, together we have one focus: our customers and what they need to solve.

IL Wood Dale

FILLING, CAPPING & CLOSING

OPTIMA Machinery Corporation

920 339-2222

www.optima-packaging.com/en-us

Filling, closing, and packaging with state-of-the-art technology. Cuttingedge machine solutions for the entire packaging world – that is our commitment.

Incorporated in 1985, with one employee in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Optima Machinery Corporation was the first international subsidiary of Optima. Over the last 38 years, the business has grown to over 100 employees in the United States and the addition of a service hub located near Raleigh, North Carolina.

Originally established as the North American sales and service point for all Optima divisions, we provide OEM spare parts, service, support, calibration services, CG membrane repairs, multi-pack bagging machine solutions, and direct machine sales for all Optima machines delivered to the U.S. and Canada. We also represent Rianta Packaging Systems with sales and support for machines in the bakery industry.

Optima supports companies worldwide with flexible and customerspecific filling and packaging machines for pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, paper hygiene, and medical devices markets. As a provider of solutions and systems, Optima guides these companies from the product idea through successful production and throughout the entire machine life cycle. More than 3,000 experts around the globe and 19 international locations contribute to Optima’s success and ensure the worldwide availability of services.

BAGGING, POUCHING & WRAPPING

833-472-9466

We’ve manufactured and installed vertical baggers, premade pouch fillers and flow wrappers for companies around the world for more than 30 years. We’re not a typical packaging machine company. We’re a single-source provider, so you get ONE point of contact for design, manufacturing, service and integration.

Operating from eight global facilities with a passionate and focused staff, we have a strong service presence, the ability to provide systems integration and an installed base of over 7,000 machines.

Manufactured through our WeighPack, EndFlex and ValTara brands and supported by Paxiom Service, our primary, secondary, and end-of-line packaging machines will increase your production rate and save you valuable time, labor and resources. Here are a few of our popular solutions:

VF

1200 HIGH-SPEED CONTINUOUS MOTION BAGGER

Engineered for high-speed applications, this vertical form, fill and seal machine can handle multiple package formats and produces a wide range of package sizes providing flexibility for both retail and club-size packaging, up to 150 bags per minute.

SWIFTY BAGGER 3600 PREMADE POUCH FILLING MACHINE

The Swifty 3600 features an easily accessible bag magazine, automatic zipper opener, bag shaker and integrated exit conveyor. Producing up to 2,700 bags per hour, this bagger will fill pouches from DOY pack, SUP and SURP to pillow, gusseted, quad and carry handle.

PKR-MS

MODULAR ROBOTIC PICK & PLACE CELL

The perfect addition to your flow wrapping line, this top load case/tray packer with delta robot will gently pick your wrapped product by either vacuum or mechanical means and place it into your case or tray at up to 80 packages per minute to be packed for shipping in your preferred pattern.

Visit us online to explore our packaging solutions and watch real-life videos. Whether you need a vertical form, fill and seal bagger for frozen food, a pick and place robot for wrapped baked goods, a premade pouch filling machine for snacks, or one of our other machines, we’re confident we have the automation solution for your business.

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

PMI KYOTO Packaging Systems

In 1993, Branko and Lilly Tisma founded PMI Cartoning, Inc. in Elk Grove Village, Ill. For 25 years, PMI worked to ensure its customers were satisfied with the quality of every single machine that left PMI’s doors. PMI expanded its operations as the company grew. In addition to its headquarters that houses all engineering, parts, service and support staff, PMI opened a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing, engineering and testing facility next to its offices, and a rebuild facility down the street in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

In December 2017, Kyoto Seisakusho Co., Ltd, a leading global packaging solutions provider, acquired PMI. Today, the former PMI Cartoning continues to operate from the Elk Grove location as PMI KYOTO Packaging Systems and offers the same service and high-quality vertical and horizontal cartoners, case packers, and integrated packaging systems customers have relied on for the past 25 years. In addition, new offerings will be available from the Kyoto product line, including over-wrappers and palletizers, which Kyoto has been providing for more than 70 years to the packaging industry.

Our industry and application experience includes food, beverage, cosmetic, confectionery and pharmaceutical, among others. Application and product handling experience allows us to excel with unique applications involving high speeds and difficult-to-handle products. Built to last, it’s not uncommon to find a PMI machine still running 20 years after installation.

After the successful debut of PMI KYOTO’s compact machine line at PACK EXPO 2022, the company is proud to say that three new compact machines have entered their fleet -- the KC-100F compact horizontal cartoner, the KTB-100 compact vertical case packer, and the SPC-3000 horizontal case packer are available for those who wish to maintain space in their factory without compromising on ability or quality.

FILLING, CAPPING & CLOSING

Pneumatic Scale Angelus

800/992-0491

www.psangelus.com

Pneumatic Scale Angelus is an industry leader in the design and manufacture of packaging solutions for wet and dry filling, capping, can seaming, and labeling applications, as well as versatile container handling systems from Zepf Solutions. We design innovative equipment, using the most advanced technologies, to the unique specifications of our customers. Since 1895, our solutions have set the standard in the Food, Beverage, Craft Beverage, Pharmaceutical, Household and Personal Care industries, and are supported by a global Service and Aftermarket network with the most robust offering of change parts and pre-owned/rebuilt solutions in the industry.

INNOVATION & EXPERTISE

As one of five Barry-Wehmiller businesses of BW Packaging and through our diverse but complementary capabilities, PSA and our sister companies provide everything from standalone machines to fully-integrated packaging lines. We serve as trusted advisors to our customers, offering products with leading-edge technology, backed by expert service technicians capable of supporting every machine manufactured since our inception.

FLAGSHIP BRANDS

PSA has earned its reputation as a leader in the design and manufacture of packaging machinery by leveraging the strengths of the most trusted and innovative brands: Angelus, Burt, Consolidated, Continental / Closetech, Mateer, Multi-Tech Systems, OnTrack, and Zepf Solutions.

CULTURE OF LEADERSHIP

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

Propack Processing & Packaging Systems Inc.

Propack Processing & Packaging Systems Inc. is an industry leader in robotics and innovation, manufacturing and supplying high-performance processing and packaging machinery for the global market. At Propack, we pride ourselves on working collaboratively with clients to build strong relationships and ensure the best solutions are developed to meet their unique needs.

Packaging

For over 25 years, Propack has been designing custom pick and place packaging systems for a variety of markets and applications. With the highest quality machinery, built in North America, Propack has earned a reputation for outstanding food-industry automation, specializing in handling snack bar, bakery/snack cake, prepared foods and frozen products, along with many more wrapped and unwrapped products.

Processing

We provide world-class sanitary design machinery including slab formers, slitters, spreaders, and ultrasonic guillotines. We understand our customers’ challenges and pride ourselves on being able to respond with flexible processing solutions.

Integrated Solutions

With extensive integrated systems knowledge and experience providing turnkey solutions, our experienced team will design and deliver complete packaging line solutions and seamless integration for primary and secondary packaging operations.

Parts, Service and Support

Propack’s knowledgeable support team is customer focused and our engineers possess world-class technical skills. We recognize that our service and support is key to our customers’ success and our long-term partnerships.

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

R.A JONES, a Coesia company

R.A JONES offers an extensive portfolio of solutions for both primary and secondary packaging machinery for FOOD/BEVERAGE, HEALTH CARE, HOME CARE, PERSONAL CARE and other CONSUMER GOODS manufacturers that includes:

AEROSOL: Our KP-Aerofill series of machines includes low to high speed equipment for those needing aerosol and rotary liquid fill systems, rotary base crimpers, gasser/shakers, propellant and liquid fillers, bag-on-valve (BOV), air powered through-the-valve (TTV) technology, and more.

BEVERAGE/MULTIPACKING: Our Wraptor, Meridian, and Maxim series of machines provide a wide range of solutions for any mid to high speed can and/or bottle (glass or plastic) production line needs. Whether single tier or double tier, 4 pack to 48 pack, our machines can handle multiple package configurations and types including E-Flute & B-Flute cartons.

CARTONING: Our comprehensive portfolio of machinery includes end load and top load cartoners. These can range from hand load vertical end load cartoner to fully automated systems. Familiar branded cartoning technology includes: CMV, Legend, Legacy, and Criterion.

CHUB PACKAGING: Our KartridgPak chub packaging equipment established the chub package category decades ago. Features/benefits include: close-clip option, continuous motion, rollstock clips and film, PLC controls, simplified clipping head, stainless steel construction, heat, radio frequency and extruder sealing options, and more.

CUP FILLING/SEALING: Autoprod and Holmatic cup filling systems are the flagship series of cup fillers manufactured and services by R.A JONES. Fill, seal and overcap preformed cups, tubs and trays.

POUCHING: Pouch King is our high-speed pouch-filling series of horizontal form fill seal machinery with patented printed circuit heating technology for 3-sided, 4-sided, gusseted and stand-up gusseted pouch styles.

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

www.robatechusa.com

Robatech designs and manufactures sustainable solutions for industrial gluing processes that are reliable, safe, economical, straightforward, and green. Robatech’s experienced sales and service teams get gluing projects up and running and ensure smooth operation of adhesive systems all around the globe.

INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS FOR A NEW DIMENSION IN GLUING

Robatech’s innovations save resources and thus downsize your operating costs. The smart Vision melter (pictured on the bottom right) not only melts the adhesive gently and with great reliability, but it does so with the industry’s best energy efficiency. And the performance of the Performa heated hose is an excellent match. It reduces energy consumption up to 45% compared to conventional hoses. And to make the system complete, there’s the SpeedStar Compact application head that is not only fast, durable and intelligent, but it saves you up to 40% of adhesive when used for stitching.

PRECISE AND FAST GLUING OF PRIMARY PACKAGING

Primary packaging of food and medicines puts high demands on the gluing process. Robatech offers you reliable system components that allow you to glue small packages precisely and safely even at high speeds. You can expect a consistently high-precision adhesive application with a clean cutoff, safely and cleanly bonded products, high process reliability, high production speeds, and low energy consumption.

ECONOMICAL AND RELIABLE GLUING OF SECONDARY PACKAGING

Do you want to glue secondary packaging efficiently and yet sustainably?

Whether you put primarily packaged products into secondary packaging through standard top-loading or horizontal cartoning, or whether you use on-demand packaging machines, the adhesive process is essentially the same. Robatech’s adhesive application systems apply hot melt adhesives economically and still glue secondary packaging reliably. Maximum system availability increases your production by reducing downtime, while industry leading energy efficiency saves resources and reduces operating costs.

GA Alpharetta

CONVEYING, FEEDING & HANDLING

Ryson International, Inc.

Ryson Spiral Conveyors need less floor space than conventional conveyors and are faster and more reliable than any elevator or lift.

Unit Load Spirals convey cases, totes and packaged goods smoothly on our slat style belts and come in 9 standard slat widths ranging from 6” to 30”. Available in powder coated carbon steel, stainless steel, wet environment and freezer versions.

Mass Flow Spirals handle full and empty bottles, cans and jars in mass up to 2000 units per minute. Available in 4 different slat widths ranging from 6” to 20”.

Narrow Trak Spirals are super compact and designed to handle your smaller loads. Our 6” and 9” wide nesting slats can end-transfer small cartons and packages or side-transfer small bottles and containers in a single file or in mass at speeds in excess of 200 FPM.

Ryson’s Bucket Elevators combine vertical and horizontal transportation of bulk materials in one integral unit.

Ryson Bucket Elevators are designed for gentle handling and well-suited to transport a broad range of bulk products. Our signature feature is that they are completely enclosed with overlapping pivoting buckets, that prevent spillage and helps mitigate foreign debris.

Their modular design enables us to customize with ease. They can be configured with multiple inlets or outlets that can be controlled individually. The design makes them easy to install and modify. Available in three standard bucket sizes, yielding capacities up to 300, 700 or 1,800 cubic feet per hour. They can also be delivered in powder-coated carbon-steel, stainless-steel or wet environment versions.

All Ryson equipment is modular and built to order. No matter the application, the Ryson team is up to the challenge of finding solutions for your conveying needs.

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

Schubert North America LLC

Schubert is a global leader in top-loading packaging machines (TLM). The family-owned company based in Crailsheim (Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany) builds on an interplay of simple mechanics, intelligent control technology and high modularity. With this philosophy and a highly developed culture of innovation the company has been pursuing an entirely independent technological path for more than 50 years. The second generation of the company now employs 1,300 people. Innovations include the vision control system, the transport robot Transmodul or the flowwrapping machine Flowmodul. Schubert provides future-proof solutions that are easy to operate, flexible in terms of format conversion, high in performance and stable in function. The machines package products of all types in trays, cartons, boxes or flow-wrap bags.

With the new Schubert lightline machine series, customers can master standardized packaging tasks with great efficiency and high quality - at attractive purchase costs and short delivery times. It consists of three machine types: The lightline Cartonpacker, the lightline Pickerline and the lightline Flowpacker.

Space-saving design, unbeatable efficiency and excellent quality control are the hallmarks of the Schubert Flowpacker. It can be equipped with four different sealing technologies. The new patented technology makes it possible to program sealing to the millisecond and ensures constant sealing times. For each flow-pack, the cross-sealing unit immediately adapts to the variable speed of our upstream pick & place robots. Like all of Schubert’s sealing technologies, the flying cross-sealing unit can be integrated into every Flowmodul and combined with other sealing technologies.

With its North American headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, and with sites in Dallas, Texas and Toronto, Ontario, Schubert is expanding its customer support across the continent. This support encompasses high-level accessibility, preventive service as well as extensive training for customers. Schubert has installed two training machines at its training center in Charlotte.

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

559/651-2339

www.serpapackaging.com

Serpa designs and manufactures a complete range of cartoning systems for the pharmaceutical, medical device, nutraceutical, food, beverage, cosmetics, industrial and personal care markets. For more than 37 years, companies across the globe have looked to us to handle their most demanding secondary packaging challenges.

We provide horizontal, vertical, and top load cartoners that can accommodate both hand load and automatic load applications, designing systems capable of nearly any speed for the desired application. We also provide a broad range of end of line packaging solutions, including case and tray packers, robotic palletizers, literature feeders, paperboard sleeve wrappers, tamper evident labelers, and robotic product handling systems. Additionally, Serpa provides line integration and validation services, designing turnkey integrated end of line packaging systems from start to finish with single source responsibility.

Serpa machines are designed to meet the needs of demanding production environments, featuring ease of maintenance, user-friendly operation, and rapid, repeatable changeover technology. Our high-performance systems can be designed to meet sanitary and FDA validation requirements and are backed by our strong customer support program to quickly resolve issues that may arise.

98% Uptime, Guaranteed

MATERIALS, CONTAINERS & CONSUMABLES

Shurtape Technologies, LLC

Established in North Carolina as Shurtape Technologies, LLC, we’re a privately owned, global company proudly serving a variety of markets, including packaging, building and construction, HVAC and industrial/ MRO. Our success is built on our passion: for our products, for complete customer satisfaction, and for the markets we serve. And we seek to continually remain engaged with our markets and the customers and craftsmen who use our tape so we can deliver what they need – to the absolute highest standards.

At Shurtape, we craft our packaging solutions to one simple standard. Yours. We know every sealing situation is unique. And we understand that keeping your lines running at peak production is a priority. This is what guides and inspires our team to develop purpose-built packaging solutions that address commons case sealing issues – downtime, material waste, personal injuries, product damage – and deliver the consistent, reliable seals you demand, every time.

In our Packaging Solutions portfolio, we offer a variety of hot melt and acrylic packaging tapes for manual and automated case sealing applications, including HP Series packaging tapes, which have the highest holding power to fiberboard in the industry and perform reliably down to the core, resulting in less unnecessary downtime due to changeover frequency and more efficient tape consumption. To enhance your packaging lines, we also offer a variety of manual and automated case sealing solutions, including ShurSEAL®, which combines our HP Series packaging tape with innovative tape application technology to produce secure, tamper-evident case seals, while maximizing packaging line performance.

For the efficient way you do business, we deliver Secure Seals, Every Time™

FILLING, CAPPING & CLOSING

People all over the world consume products packaged by Sidel Group solutions every day.

Each of those packaging solutions is developed according to our goal to deliver the highest quality standards to consumers. We are a leading provider of equipment, services and complete solutions for packaging liquids, foods, home and personal care products in PET, can, glass, brick, carton, pouch and other materials.

There are close to 40,000 Sidel Group machines in operation in over 190 countries today. Every one of them is the result of over 170 years of proven experience and innovation.

We continually focus on providing our partners with proven expertise in blowing, filling, labelling, material-handling, end-of-line and lineengineering solutions, including an innovative focus on the factory of tomorrow.

Delivering this level of performance requires that we stay flexible. We continuously ensure we understand our customers’ changing challenges and commit to meeting their unique performance and sustainability goals. We do this through dialogue and by understanding the needs of their markets, production and value chains. In turn, we apply our solid technical knowledge and smart data analytics to ensure lifetime productivity reaches its full potential.

We call it Performance through Understanding.

PALLETIZING & L OAD STABILIZATION

www.signode.com

With over $2B+ in revenue, 80+ manufacturing facilities across 6 continents and over 9,000 employees worldwide, Signode is a leading manufacturer of a broad spectrum of transit packaging consumables, tools, software, and equipment that optimize end-of line packaging operations and protect products in transit. Signode brings this extensive product portfolio together under 40 of trusted brands to offer complete transit packaging solutions to its customers.

We produce strap, stretch, stapling and protective packaging. We also manufacture packaging tools and equipment used to apply the bulk packaging materials. These commercial packaging products are used to pack, bundle, unitize, protect and secure goods during warehousing and transit. Our company is a pioneer in the industrial packaging sector with a long history of customer-focused innovations in materials, processes and automation technology that have revolutionized the sector.

Signode offers tailored automation solutions that allow manufacturers of all industries, scales, and needs to maximize productivity and efficiency. Among the wide spectrum of automation capabilities are StorFast® automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS), automated palletizers, a complete range of conveyors, Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs), Automatic Unitizing Solutions, and more.

All of these automation solutions are made possible through Signode’s intelligent logistics management systems. These systems have the power and customizable ability to provide everything from a basic Warehouse Control System for managing pallet movement all the way up to a complete Warehouse Management System that is integrated with each customer’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and order management software.

From standalone solutions to integrated systems. Signode provides the tools, consumables, and software to optimize end-of-line packaging operations and protect products in transit. We are excited to go to market as Signode and to share the portfolio of products, services and capabilities that make us the world’s premier end-of-line packaging company.

CONTROLS, SOFTWARE & COMPONENTS

734/426-3476

www.siko-global.com

For over 50 years SIKO has been developing and producing rotating and linear measuring systems, actuators and individually programmable displays for the entire field of machine construction. With its precision and innovative power, the company sets global standards in terms of quality and reliability. SIKO has been characterized by innovative ideas and quality without compromise for our customers. Our motivated and experienced staff is the cornerstone of our success. Many years of experience in distance and angle measuring technology as well as input from our customers have created a basis for solutions for both the present and the future.

SIKO is there for your Quick Size Changeover needs.

Three solutions, one supplier for effective size changeovers

1. Compact fieldbus actuators for precise fully automated positioning to shorten size changeover times. Offered with IO-Link, Ethernet/IP, Profinet, EtherCAT, PowerLINK, RS485 and CANopen interfaces.

2. Electronic indicators that monitor changeovers for verification, accuracy, safety and speed. Also, offered with the above mentioned interfaces.

3. Mechanical indicators for low cost, reliable axis positioning.

CODING, LABELING & PRINTING EQUIPMENT

RFL Series Roll-Fed Labelers

The RFL Series range of roll fed labelers was born from the same need as our shrink sleeve labelers - a need for faster, more efficient, more robustly built machines with Allen Bradley controls. In a market where efficiencies and cost of ownership are everything, Sleeve Seal has a proven history of fast, precise label application with minimal maintenance costs. Our engineers have an unparalleled depth of knowledge that has been applied to a new style of label application for today’s market. Sleeve Seal is proud to present our new range of RFL Series of roll fed labelers.

SSL Series Shrink Sleeve Labelers

Sleeve Seal is focused on a new era of repeatable labeling performance. Built-to-last American manufacturing expertise and modern engineering are combined to produce speeds from 25 to 1600 CPM on robust machines equipped with intelligent Allen Bradley controls. Heavy weight construction and the fastest, most durable drive train in the industry provide high efficiency runs for countless hours. Sleeve Seal machines are engineered to provide quality labeling performance with simple, tool-less changeovers between container formats. Other patented innovations, such as a multi blade cutter assembly with quick-change blades have been developed for ease of maintenance.

SST Series Shrink Tunnels

The line of Sleeve Seal shrink tunnels features a new style of tunable controls that make shrinking labels on containers both precise and repeatable. Our shrink tunnels are available in a broad range of sizes that compliment all our labelers for shrinking labels at high speeds. In addition to newly designed controls, Sleeve Seal tunnels feature 316 stainless steel interior lining and components for maximum corrosion resistance. Every shrink tunnel model features external controls that allow the adjustment of individual arrays without exposing the operator to heat.

FILLING, CAPPING & CLOSING

Specialty Equipment

467-3432

www.specialtyequipment.com

Since 1969, Specialty Equipment Corporation has been a leading manufacturer of American-made packaging systems. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, we have built our reputation on manufacturing high-end packaging machinery and material handling systems including:

» Liquid fillers for Pails, Drums, Bottles, and Totes

» Drum and Pallet Conveyors

» Palletizers

» Solids Fillers for Pails, Drums, and Super Sacks

» IIoT software

Specialty Equipment is well known for building the most rugged drum, tote, pail and bottle filling machines for the agriculture, chemical, cleaning, coating, food, lube, and sealant industries.

Benefits of using Specialty Equipment Liquid Fillers:

» Improves Efficiencies & Accuracy

» Increase Production & Maximize Uptime

» Add Savings to Your Bottom Line

Over our 50 years in business, we have developed a full product line of automatic and semi-automatic liquid filling machines and conveyors for industries like; agriculture, chemical, cleaners, coatings, flavors, food, food additives, lubricants, and sealant manufacturers. The products we fill and convey include; drums, pails, bins, bottles, jugs, totes, pallets, and rubber bales, a customized product.

CODING, LABELING & PRINTING EQUIPMENT

Squid Ink

Squid Ink is a manufacturer of coding and marking systems for product identification and traceability, providing superior-quality inks and lowmaintenance printing equipment.

Squid Ink began in 1991, supplying high-quality replacement inkjet fluids. Since then, the company has grown and expanded to include a complete line of hi-res piezo printing systems, CIJ (continuous ink jet) printing systems, TIJ (thermal inkjet) printing systems, DOD (drop-on-demand) printing systems, laser coders, and a full library of inks and inkjet fluids. Our printers and ink are designed to print the highest quality bar codes, batch numbers, date codes, logos, and large or small character text, directly onto corrugated cases, plastics, metals, glass, wood, and other substrates.

And Squid Ink continues to design new products that are reliable, easy to use, and cost-effective. One of our latest examples is the CoPilot Gemini, a new feature-rich printing system that offers 360 dpi print resolution, 5.6” print height, full-color touchscreen, and the option to run from a wireless tablet. The CoPilot Gemini offers users clean and reliable printing of bar codes, logos, and razor-sharp small-character text.

Today, Squid Ink continues to focus on its core purpose to “help companies deliver products to the world.” An expanding line of integrated products and services reflects Squid Ink’s commitment to meeting new needs and new challenges and ensuring that customers have reliable systems for their packaging application.

Squid Ink, Eastey, and American Film & Machinery (AFM) are all divisions of Engage Technologies Corporation. Squid Ink (squidink.com) is a manufacturer of coding and marking systems for product identification and traceability, providing superior quality inks and low-maintenance printing equipment. Eastey (eastey.com) is a leading manufacturer of heavy-duty shrink packaging equipment and automated case sealing systems for packaging applications. American Film & Machinery (afmsleeves.com) supplies shrink labelers and tunnels, shrink sleeves, and tamper bands.

MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

Standard-Knapp, a leader in packaging equipment since 1894, specializes in the manufacture of custom, state-of-the-art case, tray and shrink packaging machinery. Standard-Knapp belongs to international group EOL Packaging Experts, GmbH, and acts as the North American distributor and servicer of equipment from sister companies A+F, BMS and NEO.

The newest addition to Standard-Knapp’s line of case packers is the Unipack 2.0, a robotic pick-and-place dynamo that can pack, unpack and repack. Designed for small to medium food and beverage plants, this packer covers a small footprint, and is easily transported with an optional mobility kit. The Unipack 2.0 shines in the 5-15 case/minute range, and features the same color-coded change part system that makes product changeover a snap on all Standard-Knapp machinery.

Standard-Knapp’s flagship machine is the 939S Versatron™ case packer. Its patented Soft Catch technology allow for the packing of lightweight glass into partitionless cases without breakage, via a servo-actuated lift table. This allows the Versatron to actually “catch” the product while it descends into the case. Even gentler packing is achieved by the robotic Pic-N-Place model. The Versatron™ Pic-N-Place uses robust, robotic arms and adjustable, heavy-duty grippers to pick up and gently place packs of product safely into the bottom of every case.

Standard-Knapp’s full line of case & drop packers includes a variety of useful options, modules and upgrades, as well as uncasers, case sealers and product laners.

Standard-Knapp also specializes in tray/shrink technology, including the exciting new TriWraptor™ line of multipackers, shrink wrappers and TSUP (Tray/Shrink/Unsupported/Pad) packer. The TriWraptor line’s flexible highspeed Robo-Wand™ wrapping module provides consistent, tight wrapping across a wide range of product shapes and sizes.

All Standard-Knapp machinery is engineered and built to provide decades of reliable service, 24/7/365.

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

Syntegon is a leading single-source supplier of processing, packaging, and automation technology to the food and pharma industries. Our product portfolio ranges from standalone, entry-level machines to fully integrated systems. Our mission is to support customers in creating sustainable solutions with market-leading technologies.

Syntegon’s technology is built by some of the most iconic names in packaging. Doboy, Elematic, Kliklok, Osgood, Sigpack, and Woodman are just several in the group. Their legacies of quality, reliability, service, and dedication to the customer embody Syntegon’s core philosophies. United as one team, we are all working toward the same vision — Packaging and Processing for a Better Life.

From mixing raw ingredients to end-of-line case packers, our portfolio for the food industry includes: confectionery and bar processing equipment; product distribution, collation, and loading systems; horizontal flowwrappers; vertical bagmakers; topload, endload and wraparound cartoners; case packers; filling and sealing systems for cups and bottles; thermoforming, filling, and sealing systems; bag sealers; checkweighing systems; and sustainable packaging solutions.

Fields of application in the pharmaceutical industry are the production, processing, filling, inspection and packaging of liquid and solid pharmaceuticals (e.g. syringes and capsules).

Based in Waiblingen, Germany, and employing some 6000 associates, at 30 locations in more than 15 countries worldwide, a highly-qualified workforce develops and produces complete solutions for the food, pharma, and consumer goods industries. These solutions are complemented by a comprehensive after-sales service portfolio. A global service and sales network provides customers with local points of contact, including several locations in North America.

BAGGING, POUCHING & WRAPPING

Texwrap, a ProMach brand is centrally located in Washington, Missouri, and is the leader in the design and manufacture of fully automatic shrink wrapping, shrink bundling, and E-commerce systems.

Known as the industry innovator, we hold patents on some of the most significant breakthrough technologies in the shrink-wrapping business. Our full line of standard wrappers includes L-bar sealers, intermittent motion side sealers, continuous motion side sealers and vertical wrappers, as well as shrink tunnels, that are all made in the U.S.A.

The Tekkra & Kayat SRX lines of shrink bundlers helps round out our shrink packaging solutions with intermittent motion, continuous motion and custom bundling systems.

To complete our product offering, Texwrap’s EPS Series of machine’s provides solutions to help E-commerce operations improve profitability by increasing throughput, preventing errors with our proprietary product tracking feature, and creating right-sized packaging that reduces film waste and DIM weight shipping costs.

Texwrap partners with a nationwide network of highly trained packaging distributors in order to better serve our customers. This partnership provides a support structure to ensure the best machinery/application fit, a smooth startup, reliable local service, and long-term return on the machinery investment.

Our mission is to provide our customers with the latest technological advances while maintaining our commitment to a user-friendly machine that is efficient and easy to maintain. The quality construction, flexibility, easy changeover and low maintenance features of our systems give our machinery the Lowest Total Cost of Ownership available in the market today.

BAGGING, POUCHING & WRAPPING

Triangle Package Machinery Company

773/889-0200

100 YEARS OF KEEPING FOOD SAFE

For three generations, our family-owned & operated business has provided innovative sanitary packaging solutions that are built to last & supported in the USA. Triangle packaging machines offer versatility while providing solutions that maximize production. Whether you need to weigh or bag seafood, soup, mashed potatoes, protein, baking mix, put a bag of cereal in a box or a variety of other products, there’s a Triangle solution engineered to meet your application.

VFFS BAG MACHINES

Our vertical form-fill-seal baggers are designed with sanitation & ease-ofuse in mind while meeting USDA/3A & FSMA standards. All models come with an open, accessible design, sanitary forming tubes, tool-less change parts & sloped surfaces for easy run-off during washdown.

PRE-MADE POUCH FILLERS

Simple, automated solution for filling & sealing pre-made pouches. Run Doy bags, 3-sided seal, flat & stand-up pouches (SUP) with ease. Simple integration with multihead weighers, augers or cup fillers.

BAG-IN-BOX CARTONERS

Flexibility in a small footprint. Quick, auto-changeover from single to dual or quad packs in seconds. Pairs perfectly with a Triangle bagger & weigher combination. A unique belt infeed system protects your product.

MULTIHEAD WEIGHERS

From cereal to wet proteins, & everything in between. Unmatched accuracy & speed. Even product distribution for optimal production. Mount directly on top of Triangle VFFS baggers. No mezzanines required.

SUPERIOR SERVICE & SUPPORT

Field service is available out of our Chicago headquarters & regionally throughout the US. Our 22 service technicians offer an average tenure of 18 years. Spare parts are manufactured in-house & are typically shipped the same business day.

BAGGING, POUCHING & WRAPPING

Unified Flex Packaging Technologies

1-866-369-4181

Unified Flex Packaging Technologies is a global manufacturer of flexible packaging systems tailor made to customer specific application requirements. Our manufacturing facility is located in the Canadian manufacturing hub of Woodstock, Ontario with service centers in the US to ensure quick and direct customer service. We have been designing and manufacturing superior quality flexible packaging systems for more than 15 years. Our engineering team alone have a combined 50 years of packaging and automation experience over a wide variety of applications. Our expertise can be measured by the depth of the product lines we offer. We have successfully manufactured systems for liquid, nutraceutical, snack food, produce, protein, industrial product, bakery, and confectionery applications for companies. Our flexible packaging systems are simple to use, reliable and robust made from premium quality non-proprietary parts.

Unified Flex has 7 unique series (Premium VFFS, Economic VFFS, Continuous motion VFFS, Stick Pack machines, Multilane Sachet, Spouted Pouch Fill and Cap, and Pre-Made Bag Packaging Machines) with a total of 17 machine models to provide customers with unique packaging systems for a wide range of products and packaging requirements. Not only will these machines significantly improve your productivity, they will greatly streamline your efficiencies. Speeds can range from 7 to 180 bags per minute and numerous bag types and sizes are achievable, bringing you more packaging options for your products. You can count on Unified Flex Packaging Technologies to deliver intelligent machines, economical solutions, and dependable systems for all your packaging needs.

Call us at 1-866-369-4181 or email sales@unifiedflex.com

LABEL S

727/327-2123

www.universal1.com

Welcome to Universal Labeling Systems! We are labeling machinery. Since 1984, no one has designed and built more custom, made-to-order labeling systems than Universal. Labeling is all we do and we do a lot of it. All machines are designed and built in the USA at our St. Petersburg, Florida manufacturing facility.

Everything we are goes into everything we do. Your Universal Labeling machine is sold and supported through a worldwide network of authorized distributors. And these knowledgeable distribution partners are backed by the expertise of our technical staff. Universal’s product manuals include specifications, bill of materials, set-up and operational details, and machine maintenance.

Universal Labeling Systems offers the most complete line of pressure sensitive labeling machines. From low volume table top models to high volume zero down time systems, our machines are designed, manufactured, and tested with one purpose in mind…you and your labeling needs.

And at Universal, we do more than talk as our Performance Guarantee states:

CONVEYING, FEEDING & HANDLING

U.S. Tsubaki Power Transmission, LLC.

847/459-9500

U.S. Tsubaki Power Transmission, LLC is a leading manufacturer and supplier of state-of-the-art power transmission and motion control products and is a global leader in roller and conveyor chain production.

U.S. Tsubaki is the largest global subsidiary of Japan’s Tsubakimoto Chain Company which was founded in 1917. Today, U.S. Tsubaki products are marketed in over 70 countries. Its corporate headquarter and main distribution warehouse are just outside of Chicago in Wheeling, IL and it has full manufacturing facilities in Holyoke, MA, Sandusky, OH and Milwaukee, WI. In addition to this it has service centers strategically located in Los Angeles, CA; Houston, TX; Atlanta, GA; Philadelphia, PA and Anoka, MN.

The TSUBAKI name is synonymous with excellence in quality, dependability and customer service. An intense focus on research and development, along with constant modernization of its production facilities are among the key components in Tsubaki’s ability to successfully meet the ever-changing needs of the marketplace.

Tsubaki has a wide variety of standard roller chains and attachment chains that cater to the Packaging Industry applications. It also offers a multitude of specialty chains such as corrosion resistant Neptune® chain, lube-free Lambda® chain, vacuum wrapper chain, thermoforming chain, Gripper® chain and Titan® series chain for high-speed operations. Tsubaki’s Made-to-Order capabilities allow for custom engineering of chains and attachments specific to your operation to ensure optimal performance.

CONVEYING, FEEDING & HANDLING

VDG (Van der Graaf)

888/326/1476

VDG is the leader in the design and manufacturing of drum motors for belt conveyors, with a strong focus on safety, reliability, and longevity. Manufacturing in-house in USA and Canada for 37 years, using cuttingedge production technology and automation, and with continuous improvements through R&D, VDG ensures product quality, fast delivery, and after sales support.

All drive components of the VDG Drum Motor including the electric motor, gear reducer, and bearings are enclosed inside the drum, increasing energy efficiency, operator safety and optimizing space. VDG Drum Motors are designed for 80,000 hours of continuous operation before maintenance, minimizing downtime and reducing maintenance, and operational costs.

The VDG patented IronGrip™ lagging, offered for VDG Drum Motors, enhances the durability and lifespan of the conveyor belt and the lagging. It consists of steel bars welded symmetrically on the drum with hot-bond vulcanized lagging inserts between the bars. IronGrip™ lagging eliminates uneven belt wear, improves belt tracking, increases belt traction by 40%, and has a 4-5 times longer service life compared to standard lagging.

VDG’s stainless steel SSV Series Drum Motor features an IP69K rated sealing system, withstands up to 3,000 psi washdown pressure, and drives modular, wire mesh, and monolithic conveyor belts without using sprockets. The SSV Drum Motor eliminates crevices that trap food byproducts and bacterial harborage, reducing washdown time and water usage by 50% and providing the most efficient and hygienic drive solution for food processing and handling belt conveyors.

The IntelliDrive™ Drum Motor features new synchronous permanent magnet motor technology, delivering 40% increased electrical efficiency, a wider range of belt speeds without loss of torque and an increase in electric motor lifespan compared to a traditional conveyor drive. It enables onsite diagnostics, full motor indexing speed control, and communications with other automated plant equipment.

MI Shelby Township

920-564-5051 Viking Masek

vikingmasek.com

Running a business can be complicated. Your packaging automation project shouldn’t be. At Viking Masek, our packaging systems help our customers do business better. Simplified, efficient, and automated. With over 20 years of packaging experience, Viking Masek Packaging Technologies has quickly grown to become an industry leader in durable, innovative packaging machinery.

We manufacture easy-to-use premade pouch packing machines, economical VFFS baggers, high-speed continuous motion vertical baggers, carton packaging, palletizing, robotics, and multilane stick packaging machines. Through Viking Masek Robotics & Automation, we offer our clients state-of-the-art robotic packaging systems. These packing solutions significantly enhance end-of-line processes, directly improving overall equipment effectiveness, customer satisfaction, and company profit.

Our stainless-steel equipment is durable and efficient. By applying the latest engineering advances to machine software, we maximize the efficiency from each machine, giving you faster production and more profitability. We also partner with top packaging film and pouch suppliers to ensure your packaging materials meet your needs for sustainability.

We offer technical service, training, and preventive maintenance plans with the purchase of every packaging machine. Not only does our team of Sales Consultants and Project Managers ensure that our clients’ needs are met from first contact to installation, but our Service Department also works tirelessly to ensure minimal downtime if training or maintenance are required.

From cheese and coffee to raw poultry and fresh vegetables, to pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements, plus much more, Viking Masek has the right packaging solution for you.

MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

WestRock is a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging solutions. We are materials scientists, packaging designers, mechanical engineers and manufacturing experts with a shared purpose: Innovate Boldly. Package Sustainably. Guided by our values of integrity, respect, accountability and excellence, we use leading science and technology to move fiber-based packaging forward.

WestRock’s best-in-class innovation engine leverages the largest set of fiber-based substrates, a vast network of converting and distribution capabilities and an unmatched packaging machinery platform to power the next generation of renewable, recyclable packaging. Our broad portfolio is operated in four segments – Corrugated Packaging, Consumer Packaging, Global Paper and Mill Operations. A uniquely integrated Commercial, Innovation and Marketing function offers unrivaled end-to-end solutions and support to solve our customers’ greatest challenges.

Our global operations include:

– More than 50,000 employees in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific

– More than 30 containerboard and paperboard mills

– More than 320 operating and business locations

– Products in a wide range of markets, including beauty and personal care, beverage, e-commerce, healthcare, home and garden, media and electronics, packaged food, pizza and retail

Sustainability and innovation are fundamental to WestRock’s vision to become the world’s best paper and packaging company. By innovating for our customers and their customers, bettering the planet and supporting people and communities, we’re imagining and delivering on the promise of a sustainable future.

CARTONING, MULTIPACKING & CASE PACKING

Wexxar Bel is a leading manufacturer of fully and semi-automatic case and tray forming and sealing solutions. From small start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, we provide a wide array of reliable machinery focusing on advanced technologies, easy to operate equipment and a top tier service network.

Wexxar Bel’s dedication to quality means you can take pride in the quality of your purchase and peace of mind in the reliability and performance of our machines. Many Wexxar Bel customers are excited to show-off their new purchase to visitors and stakeholders while other more long-term customers still feel that pride when they show off their nearly 40 year old still running Wexxar Bel machines. You will always feel supported by the industry’s best performing and best-serviced case/tray formers and sealers in every step that your company takes

With a wide distribution and service network across North America, customers are always fully serviced and supported quickly and reliably. Whether you decide to work with our certified partners or our own experienced technicians, Wexxar Bel and our partners will listen, understand and solve your packaging problems and issues.

Wexxar Bel is also a technological leader in the field by pushing the boundaries of innovation. The company was built on the reliable patented “Pin & Dome” system and continues to incorporate new technologies in our products to create innovative and ultra-reliable packaging machinery. This obsession with reliability has also transitioned to our IPAK product line with the utilization of servo-drives to ensure complete tray blank control at all times for precision accurate forming.

Our dedication to pushing boundaries have also put a focus on providing sustainably made and efficient machines. Our manufacturing facility in Vancouver is powered 100% by renewable energy and we also implemented sustainable practices in our manufacturing facility. Furthermore, we constantly push our machines to be more energy and maintenance efficient, reducing overall energy consumption, redundant parts and increasing overall product life.

INSPECTION & TESTING EQUIPMENT

Do you have an in-motion product weighing challenge? Then Wipotec is your answer. Our checkweighers deliver precision, accuracy, and repeatability in robust product and package weighing applications. Our X-Ray scanners and vision systems ensure that foods are free of foreign body contamination while maximizing package integrity, and product labeling accuracy. Wipotec’s TQS modular serialization and aggregation machines guard against counterfeit products entering the global supply chain. Wipotec manufacturing takes place in Kaiserslautern, Germany. The Atlanta metro area is home to the company’s North American operations. The metro Atlanta facility includes training rooms, a product showroom, application engineering labs, and an expansive spare parts warehouse.

Checkweighers

Checkweighers prevent under filling and overfilling of product, resulting in brand protection and cost reduction due to less product giveaway. Wipotec checkweighers use EMFR weigh cells to deliver the fastest and most accurate product weights possible at throughputs up to 650 ppm. The modular design of these machines enables support for a wide variety of machine options including metal detectors.

X-Ray Scanners and Vision Systems

Our X-Ray scanners and vision systems prevent expensive product recalls. These machines maximize product safety and packaging integrity. X-Ray scanners are ideal for foreign body contaminant detection, package completeness, and fill-level checks. Vision systems do a great job verifying product label contents and correct placement on your packages.

TQS Serialization and Aggregation Machines

These modular machines got their start in the pharmaceutical industry ensuring end-to-end tracking of medications in order to keep counterfeit products out of the supply chain. Driven by global compliance regulations, these machines employ open interfaces and software that delivers the flexibility needed to meet each country’s track and trace requirements. These machines are now finding use in various industries such as cosmetics, medical devices, cannabis, and personal care products.

FILLING, CAPPING & CLOSING

Yamato Corporation

262/236-0000

YamatoAmericas.com

Yamato is always the best way to weigh.

Yamato Corporation is the leading provider of automatic, commercial, and industrial weighing solutions in North, Central, and South America. Our industry strengths include cheese, poultry, snack foods, confectionery, prepared meals, fresh produce, and more. Whether your product is dry and free-flowing, wet and sticky, or frozen and a little difficult to run, a Yamato scale can weigh it for packaging.

Yamato scales offer supreme accuracy and support a wide variety of markets. Our combination weighers, checkweighers, and depositors can address virtually any packaging application. Our commercial scales offer convenient weighing for a range of retail markets, and our industrial solutions are ideal for very high target weights.

We promise you the Yamato Difference. As Yamato – not a distributor or agent – we’re easily accessible and available to offer you direct advice and support. We understand that you need non-stop performance. We promise you’ll get that from our scales, and from us. That’s the Yamato Difference.

Yamato Corporation is a subsidiary of Yamato Scale Co., Ltd., headquartered in Akashi, Japan. Founded in 1920, Yamato Scale Co. is celebrating over 100 years of providing innovative, high-quality weighing equipment and systems to customers around the world.