Lights, camera – action! The PPMA Show is ready to roll, with a long cast list of launches, and new features such as a live demonstration theatre to give detail and insight
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This year’s PPMA Show runs from 24–26 September and promises to be the ‘smartest’ ever in terms of digital access and convenience. Inside, find our in-depth editorial preview
NEW MACHINERY
A palletising cobot launched by Pace Mechanical Handling provides a low-cost option for the agri-food sector, where a shortage of manual labour is creating problems in packing Find out more on page 22
INSTALLATIONS
A case-erector installed at a major French supplier of potatoes is an update on the model that has run there for over 10 years
The PPMA Show returns to the NEC, Birmingham this September (24-26), so register now for your free visitor badge www.ppmashow.co.uk
Standby
September/October 2024
Contents
Our stand-by-stand preview is a guide through key launches and other exhibits at the show due to
on
Equipment companies explain how they are helping to reduce their own carbon footprint and that of hard-pressed customers
88
REGULAR FEATURES
14 REGULATIONS
94 COMPONENTS
Complementing the Net Zero feature, the column this issue explains the key importance of calculating the Greenhouse Gas emissions of your business, and the standards you can follow in order not only to quantify them but also validate and verify the totals and the methods used. A third-party verifier can play an essential role in reviewing this, and add credibility to it all
A new sensor from Festo will measure pressure and flow in gases and is able, for example, at up to 15,000 litres/minute, to monitor entire compressed air systems for pressure, flow and consumption, with options to gather insights via IO-Link to optimise energy efficiency
96 MACHINERY FINDER
Members’ machinery and services
EDITOR: Paul Gander paul.gander@automate-uk.com
PUBLISHING MANAGER: Bill Lake bill.lake@automate-uk.com
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The Processing and Packaging Machinery Association assumes no responsibility for the statements or opinions, whether attributed or otherwise, in Machinery Update.
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Automate UK matters
Witness real change at the PPMA Show
James Causebrook CHAIRMAN, AUTOMATE UK (INCORPORATING PPMA, BARA AND UKIVA)
It may feel a long time ago now, but in case you missed it, we’ve seen a UK General Election won under the rather unspeci c banner of ‘Change’. So what sort of change should we expect?
The hope is we have a government able to focus on the business of governing – and, well, on business. We have to hope that a man whose father was (he repeatedly tells us) a toolmaker comes equipped with the will to support manufacturing. But of course, we make our own hope just as we make our own luck, and Peter Williamson and our Automate UK team have already begun the process of forging ties and building in uence.
In the meantime, it’s easy to be cynical about ‘change’ being more talk than brass tacks. In fact, as the annual PPMA Show (24-26 September) veers into view, I’d challenge any visitor to Birmingham’s NEC not to be bowled over by the amount of real change on display, even between last year and this.
Exhibitors talk to me with knowledge and passion about the pace of change – and o en, that innovation is frankly breathtaking.
You will be bowled over by the amount of real change on display, even between last year
and this
Of course, our members o er a strong platform of completely fresh thinking, new capabilities and, occasionally, new technologies. But an additional impetus towards change is coming from at least two further directions.
Firstly, there is the rapid rate at which established technologies are nding new applications. This is especially true of areas such as vision, sensors and machine intelligence – but taking in many other aspects of automation, too, not least robotics.
And secondly, the rhythm of system integration we are seeing shows no signs of slowing. So a machine may be lling a product, for instance, but it also incorporates checkweighing, vision or other forms of quality control.
All of these dimensions to innovation are providing huge new opportunities to manufacturers. Many are highlighted in our comprehensive PPMA Show preview (starting at p35). At the show itself, we have introduced eye-catching new features, including the Live Demonstration Area, helping to showcase just some of the most exciting launches. We look forward to welcoming you there! n
The CTS combines multiple functions into one switch with its patented FlexFunction principle.
HIGH LOCKING FORCE OF 3,000N IN A COMPACT DESIGN
SIMPLE AND FLEXIBLE CONFIGURATION WITH A SINGLE BASE DEVICE ALLOWING DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS TO BE ACTIVATED
INDUSTRY 4.0 READY
INTELLIGENCE TO CONNECT TO IO-LINK THROUGH A CORRESPONDING GATEWAY
Sealing technology provider celebrates 50 years in business
Ceetak is marking 50 years in business during 2024, with celebrations at the Bedford head office during July and separate festivities at its Scottish and Dutch offices.
After half a century, Ceetak boasts over 80 employees across all locations, with two primary business units focused on sealing solutions and heat-sealing technologies.
Ceetak managing director Andy Cleaver pays tribute to the loyal workforce and all those who have contributed to the company’s success. “But it is to the future we focus our attention,” he adds, “working with our customers to develop sealing solutions for the future. People make the difference in business.”
Bigger show will pack a punch with even more visitor-friendly features
Larger than last year, with more genuine innovation and many new features, including the show app and live demonstration theatre, this year’s PPMA Show is ready to open its doors.
Running from 24-26 September in Hall 5 of Birmingham’s NEC, the show will host over 300 exhibitor companies.
In terms of innovation, organiser Automate UK is far from sitting on its laurels, PPMA Show director Richard Little insists.
“Beyond the human-tohuman interaction, there will be features such as the demonstration theatre,” he says, explaining that this will provide a live video link to each of 11 exhibitors, showcasing and explaining speci c equipment. Separately, there will even be an appearance by TV’s Gregg Wallace.
SEVENTIES SENSATION AT AUTOMATE UK AWARDS
Band delivers in Birmingham
Disco giants Boney M will take to the stage at the Vox venue in Birmingham following this year’s Automate UK Awards presentation and dinner, on the second evening of the PPMA Show. Also on-stage will be award-winning comedian Russell Kane. For more information on attending the awards and on the finalists see page 10.
“The digital side brings some huge opportunities,” Little adds. “The app, for instance, not only helps you nd your way around, but acts as a ‘notebook’ in your pocket when you return from the show.”
For more information on these features, on the seminar sessions – and on individual exhibitors – see our show preview starting on page 34. Registration is free at: W www.ppmashow.co.uk
US machinery group expands French site for capping systems
US-based ProMach has continued its investment in European markets by expanding Zalkin’s French manufacturing facility for capping and cap handling equipment earlier this summer.
The site at Montreuil L’Argillé in Normandy has been extended from 160,000 to 260,000 square feet, allowing the company to increase capacity and reduce leadtimes.
“ProMach’s strategic investments in the European market are a key component of our business,” says president and chief executive Mark Anderson.
Packaging machinery group acquires vision technology specialist
Mpac Group has acquired the trade and certain assets of UK-based machine vision provider SIGA Vision.
Founded in 2007, SIGA offers systems for production line control and materials handling, defect detection and quality control. The two companies have a long history of working together, and the acquisition will allow Mpac to provide fullyintegrated support to existing and future customers, it says.
Mpac chief executive Adam Holland emphasises that SIGA has been a partner for many years. “The solutions provided by SIGA are critical to our customers’ operations and we look forward to welcoming SIGA into Mpac Group,” he says.
Clarivate scrutinises patent data
Ranking underscores intellectual property
Omron has again been ranked as one of the Top 100 Global Innovators for 2024 by information provider Clarivate, the ninth time and eighth consecutive year that the company has received this recognition. Evaluations are based on innovators’ patent data.
Andy Cleaver thanks loyal staff
The PPMA Show app is a real help
SIGA Vision was set up in 2007
Automate UK takes up an active role shaping machine standards
Supporting automation in industry by promoting safe and consistent standards in machinery, Automate UK chief technical o cer (CTO) Laurie Barnes has taken his place on the ISO’s TC 313 Committee, and has already contributed to key standards.
Since becoming a committee member of TC 313 and its overarching committee MCE/3/3 Packaging Machines, he has helped to add to the CEN TC 146 equivalent within the ISO Global Directory.
His work involves taking an active part, not only in UK and European bodies, but also with Automate UK’s counterparts in the US.
“My recent appointment shows my commitment to provide the biggest knowledge base and expertise that I can to Automate UK members and associated end users,” says Barnes. “We recognise the importance of standards, in particular the BSI, to our members and manufacturing, and we want to support them to achieve this aim. The standards we set today will shape the workforce of the future.”
At the Automation UK and MVC event earlier this year, Barnes launched the UK’s rst Vision Integrator Standard with the support of UKIVA members Acrovision and Scorpion Vision.
Laurie Barnes champions standards
Brexit impacts make positive differences possible, says expert
Supply-chain logistics specialist re:Trade has summarised many of the Brexit-related challenges facing UK manufacturers and exporters.
The most immediate and visible impact has come from more complex procedures and increased paperwork, it says. A recent survey found that 37% of UK businesses exporting to the EU reported longer delivery times due to new border requirements. But by applying for Importer of Record (IOR) status, companies can significantly reduce customs-related delays, re:Trade reports.
SUBSIDIARIES IN EU
At the same time, the number of UK firms setting up subsidiaries in the EU increased by 30% in the year following Brexit, highlighting a growing trend. UK foreign direct investment into the EU increased by 43% in the three years following the referendum.
Some businesses have developed deep expertise in EU regulations and compliance, turning this into a competitive advantage, it says.
Farewell to an ambitious champion of the industry
Owner and managing director (MD) of Kecol Pumping Systems Bryan Greenaway died earlier this summer, leaving behind a strong legacy at the level both of family and business. He joined Kecol in May 1986 as a general machinist, a er serving his apprenticeship at GKN Sankey. Colleagues recall how Bryan’s ambition was obvious even at the rst interview. When the then company MD asked him where he wanted to be in 10 years’ time, he reportedly replied that he wanted to be doing the MD’s job.
In the early 1990s, he took on the role of works manager where his love for the pumping industry really started to grow. His ‘never say no’ attitude towards product pumping really moved Kecol forward,
say colleagues, and his ideas on drum emptying saw the company’s equipment develop into the comprehensive range that it now supplies.
In 2007, a er a little longer than the 10 years stated at his interview, Bryan became MD, when he headed up a management buy-out of the
Kecol brand, along with three other members of the Kecol team.
The business went from strength to strength a er 2007, working with existing customers and growing the network to the worldwide distribution that it now enjoys.
Friends say that through all this Bryan remained at heart the same person that joined Kecol back in 1986. He never lost touch with the workshop, and his positive and friendly approach made him very popular with customers, distributors and the workforce at Kecol, they add.
His departure has been felt by everyone at the company and throughout the Kecol family worldwide. As Bryan wished, the workforce at Kecol is determined to keep the company ag ying and provide the same service that made the business one of the loves of his heart.
RE: THINK FOOD TECH.
Efficiency, hygiene, sustainability, safety and reliability are the key benefits of GEA thermoforming packaging machines.
Packaging plays a key role in ensuring quality and hygiene throughout the food supply chain, from production to the consumer. GEA develops thermoforming packaging systems to meet the high demands of food manufacturers.
our latest innovations at PPMA stand C120, 24-26 Sept, 2024
Bryan Greenaway was MD of Kecol from 2007
News Automate UK Awards 2024
More awards and nalists than ever promise a sparkling event
Unprecedented levels of interest in the awards have led Automate UK to create numerous new categories. Winners will be revealed at a lavish gala evening on Wednesday 25 September 2024
INNOVATIVE PROCESSING SYSTEM – FOOD TECHNOLOGY
AMP-AHS
DC Norris & Company
Multivac UK
TNA Solutions
Vita Nova Solutions
INNOVATIVE PROCESSING SYSTEM – MULTI PURPOSE TECHNOLOGY
Cajo Technologies
Emerson
Fortress Technology
Friedheim International
Ishida Europe
INNOVATIVE PROCESSING SYSTEM – NON FOOD TECHNOLOGY
TV comedian Russell Kane will headline the evening’s entertainment, following a sumptuous cocktail reception, a fantastic meal and the Awards ceremony itself. Later, pop icons Boney M will take to the stage to lift party spirits even higher.
This year, the Automate UK Awards (formerly the PPMA Group Industry Awards) presentation will take place at Birmingham’s Vox venue on the second evening of the PPMA Show, not the first, as has previously been the case.
For more details, and to book your place or table go to: www.ppmashow.co.uk/awards/ automate-uk-awards-2024
THE UK’S LARGEST EVENT FOR PROCESSING EQUIPMENT, PACKAGING MACHINERY, INDUSTRIAL ROBOTS AND MACHINE VISION SYSTEMS
Automate BEST News
Automate BEST gets up to speed in a busy year
This year has proven a signi cant one for Automate BEST, with the changing of the PPMA BEST name, in line with the main Automate UK change at the end of 2023, and the appointment of the dynamic Charlie Allen as a designated lead project manager for the charity.
The support that BEST has been able to o er apprentices and other young people taking their rst steps in the manufacturing sector is now stronger than ever.
The last few months have also seen the raising of BEST’s pro le across the industry with appearances at the National Apprenticeship Show in Milton Keynes, MACH Show and of course, Automation UK and MVC. In addition, BEST has forged partnerships with a number of charities, institutions and companies, allowing it to spread awareness of manufacturing and automation beyond those already in the sector.
One of the key initiatives has been the setting up of the BEST
Club. Members of this club are recipients (both present and past) of BEST apprenticeship grants and bursaries. This group of individuals have the opportunity to gain additional support from BEST and its
partners, but additionally, they are invited to events and shows to act as ambassadors, not only for BEST and their own companies, but also for the broader manufacturing and automation industry.
Beyond all of this activity, the charity now has its own dedicated section of the Automate UK website, with plenty of information about apprenticeships and wider support. And it has its own very distinctive branding, too! W www.automate-uk.com/ automate-best/
Automate UK’s Rising Star of the Year 2024 award finalists Company Name
AMP-AHS
Evolution Bottling & Packaging
Grant recipient is raising the profile of apprenticeship
Scorpion Vision’s Kathryn Ray, who is a 2024 BEST Grant recipient and BEST Club member, has been active in helping to develop interest in STEM-based careers and in apprenticeships.
Robbie Park
Emma Saxon Festo
Yash Mendon Festo
Festo
Lewis Morley
Lewis Akintimehin
Automate BEST project manager Charlie Allen has been impressed by her air of confidence and commitment. Since the start of the year, Ray has volunteered for a number of key events, such as the MACH Show in April, where she promoted the BEST Apprentice Project Programme by coding a cobot and vision system.
Precious Akintimehin
i-Mark UK
Ellie Daun
i-Mark Daun
i-Mark UK
i-Mark
Sarah Thompson
LAC Logistics Automation Youri Den Ouden
Reeco Automation
Scorpion Vision
SMC Corporation
SMC Corporation
SMC Corporation
Keri Mills
Jack Versey
Ta eem Ahmed
Robert Adams
Charlie McMillan
“Kathryn is just one of the many members of the BEST Club who I am very proud of,” says Allen. “Bear in mind, she’s been working in this field for just six months, and her degree apprenticeship only starts in September 2024!”
Current Apprentice of the Year underlines many benefits of recognition and support provided by Automate UK accolade
Apprentice of the Year winner 2023 Olivia Harrison-Hine of Festo sees her win as a signi cant and con denceinspiring milestone in the continuation of her career.
“This recognition has greatly boosted my con dence, providing validation for my e orts and dedication in the engineering eld,” she tells Machinery Update.
“Since the beginning of my apprenticeship with Festo, when I became a member of Automate BEST, I’ve bene ted
from its consistent support and resources, which have been crucial in my professional development.”
This recognition and support have motivated her to become an advocate for apprenticeships in general, she says, particularly when it comes to encouraging more women to consider careers in engineering through the BEST Club, of which she is also a member.
“Building on this momentum, I am embarking on an exciting new project that focuses on collaborating with innovative startups,” she says. “Immersing myself
in these projects allows me to be at the forefront of emerging technologies.”
Her earlier work at Festo involved working with a team to achieve PAS2060-compliant carbon-neutrality.
Harrison-Hine adds: “I’d like to extend my thanks to Automate UK and Automate BEST for their support and encouragement throughout my apprenticeship, I am deeply grateful for the opportunities they have provided.”
BEST Grant recipient Kathryn Ray
Charlie Allen is lead project manager
Olivia Harrison-Hine with her award
NPP combine best in class packaging, high performance machinery and systems along with a partnership approach to offer you a complete packaging solution.
e:
Regulations
Standards help measure Greenhouse Gas impacts
Robert Campling SENIOR MANAGER AT TÜV SÜD
Paul Laidler BUSINESS DIRECTOR FOR MACHINERY SAFTEY AT TÜV SÜD PRODUCT SERVICE
The GHG Protocol, the ISO 14064 series of standards and the Carbon Footprint tool can all help to calculate emissions, but your business will need to pick the most appropriate route to follow
In the global quest to achieve net zero targets, industry is increasingly under pressure to calculate and reduce its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
The business bene ts of calculating GHG emissions include increased e ciencies, as informed decisions can mitigate risks and optimise processes. The calculation of GHG emissions can also drive nancial gains by identifying areas for performance improvement, thereby reducing operational costs while aligning with green-conscious stakeholder demands. Advantages may include attracting an environmentally-conscious workforce and enhancing a company’s brand image. Likewise, investors are increasingly interested in funding ethical and environmentally-responsible companies that calculate their GHG emissionsand introduce strategies to reduce them.
In fact, in a world that's concerned about environmental impact, calculating your GHG emissions is a necessity rather than a choice.
CALCULATE & MITIGATE
It will provide you with a clear view of your business's impact, empowering you to make smarter decisions, foster partnerships, and build a resilient and pro table future.
Companies worldwide are adopting a standardised approach to GHG emission assessment, as standards
o er a structured approach, providing a common language and methodology which allow businesses to quantify their GHG emissions consistently. Standards are the building blocks for transparent reporting, setting targets, and eventually, reducing carbon emissions. But what standards can be used for GHG emissions calculation?
One of the most widelyrecognised standards for this is the GHG Protocol. Developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in the 1990s, it
The three-scope approach of the GHG Protocol at corporate level provides businesses with a comprehensive understanding of their carbon footprint, capturing both emissions within their control and those from their value chain. As the focus shi s to Scope 3 emissions, companies across the value chain will increasingly consider their environmental impact, making environmental responsibility a competitive advantage.
Another essential standard for evaluating GHG emissions at the corporate level is the ISO 14064 series. This sets a benchmark for GHG assessments
Standards are the building blocks for transparent reporting, for setting targets and cutting emissions
provides a comprehensive framework for measuring, managing and reporting GHG emissions.
When talking about the GHG Protocol at corporate level, the standard is based on three scopes:
1: Direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the organisation, like fuel combustion;
2: Indirect emissions from the consumption of purchased electricity, heat, or steam;
3: Indirect emissions from activities that are not owned or controlled by the organisation, such as business travel and supply chain activities.
and o ers guidelines for organisations to quantify, report, and verify their GHG emissions and removals. In particular, ISO 14064-1 provides clear instructions for transparent and consistent GHG inventory reporting.
For calculating GHG emissions of products and services, the Carbon Footprint tool, based on ISO 14067, is widely used. This measures GHG emissions and reductions expressed as CO2 equivalents for speci c products or services, covering activities such as manufacturing, energy consumption, and both upstream and downstream transportation.
It’s common for the terms ‘calculation’, ‘validation’ and ‘veri cation’ to become confused. They in fact refer to distinct steps in the process of assessing and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of GHG information.
Validation is the con rmation of a claim through the provision of objective evidence, that the requirements for a speci c intended future use or application have been ful lled (con rmation of plausibility). It helps ensure that the calculation is based on sound and credible information.
THIRD-PARTY SCRUTINY
Veri cation is an independent assessment to con rm whether the reported impacts accurately represent the actual emissions. A thirdparty veri er reviews the emission calculations and documentation to con rm their accuracy. This adds an additional layer of credibility and trust to the reported gures.
Understanding the standards used for calculating the GHG emissions is crucial for businesses striving for sustainability. Selecting the appropriate standard will depend on the company’s business goals, the industrial sector and stakeholder expectations.
i For more information contact W www.tuvsud.com TÜV SÜD Product Service is Automate UK’s technical and legislative partner
Reduce Waste Reduce Cost Reduce E ort
Domino understands that integrating innovative, new equipment into the toughest production lines requires reliable, compliant products, smart integration, and a consistent global support infrastructure. Domino’s latest technology is designed to keep pace with customers’ increasingly intelligent factories.
Packaging and production trends demand the printing of real-time and variable data, machine-readable codes, and images onto changing and increasingly sustainable, flexible packaging films and labels.
Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) is a viable alternative for various flexible packaging applications. This could benefit manufacturers looking to prioritise sustainable manufacturing methods, reduce waste, and optimise their total cost of ownership.
Thermal transfer aims for mobile coding use
TC1000/2000 case erector from Lantech
• Proven technology
• Sturdy robust design
• Quick and easy set up between size formats
• Supplied in either tape or hot melt application
• Various options available
• UK engineering support/install
17 Elizabeth Court, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 8PF T: 01480 382739 M: 07764 772965 E: andrew@maters.co.uk www.maters.co.uk
he new Thermomark Prime 2.0 mobile thermal transfer printer from Phoenix Contact is designed to be used in a wide range of applications, says the company.
The compact device is suitable for central use in a marking cell or, alternatively, for marking directly in the application environment. This enables the e cient and exible design of work ows and o ers a huge advantage, especially in large systems, Phoenix Contact claims.
This thermal transfer printer is said to be able to mark over 600 di erent materials for various areas of application across industrial identi cation. With its proven thermal transfer printing technology, the identi cation of terminal blocks, conductors, and cables, as well as devices and systems, for example, is precise and resistant, says the supplier. The standalone printer enables highquality marking of materials in card and sheet format in less than eight seconds, it adds.
Access via the integrated marking system app so ware means that the Thermomark Prime 2.0 can conveniently carry out mobile identi cation directly in the application environment.
Data can be entered easily and intuitively using the printer’s con gurable 7” colour touch display. The battery
is powerful and replaceable, says the company, and both materials and ink ribbon change are easy.
Automatic ink ribbon, magazine, and materials detection prevents printing errors. For central use, such as in a marking cell, the Thermomark Prime 2.0 can be easily controlled and managed using the Phoenix Contact marking so ware. The so ware is said to feature extensive design options and a clear user interface.
T 01952 681700
W www.phoenixcontact.co.uk
Rare earth magnet drum separator has extended applications to include foods
Separation technology specialist Eriez has expanded its Salient Pole Rare Earth (SPRE) drum line to include food processing applications, a er success in the mineral processing and recycling industries.
Utilising neodymium or samariumcobalt rare earth magnets, SPRE drums o er exceptional magnetic force that signi cantly surpasses conventional magnets such as ferrite or alnico.
Rare earth magnets maintain a strong magnetic eld over an extended distance, facilitating thorough separation of metal contaminants.
The drum separators feature a selfcleaning design and generate a powerful
magnetic eld of up to 6,000 gauss.
The unique arrangement of magnetic poles on the drum surface is said to create distinct magnetic elds, enhancing e ciency. Used across various industries, drum separators e ectively remove ferrous and other magnetic contaminants.
WIDESPREAD USE ACROSS FOOD
“Our SPRE drum separators are now widely used to safeguard food products against metal contamination,” says Chris Ramsdell, sales manager for magnetic separation.
T 029 2086 8501
W www.eriez.com
The device can mark up to 600 material types
New Machinery
Laser finishing complements digital roll-to-roll label press
AM Labels has extended its range to include a new laser label nisher which can dovetail “ awlessly” with another new addition to its portfolio, a digital roll-to-roll label press, says the company.
The Taurus laser label nisher from DPR SrL is said to complement the A nia X350 digital press by o ering unwinding, laminating, label cutting, rewinding and slitting in a single pass. It will run at speeds of up to 70m per minute, using a sealed CO2 laser source to nish printed labels, says AML, with impressive cutting quality and speed, saving time and resources.
It emphasises the quality and precision of the label edges, with multiple laser processes o ering greater label design exibility with kiss-cut and perforated options.
The Taurus laser label finisher uses a CO2 laser and runs at up to 70m a minute
Meanwhile, the A nia X350 takes digital label print to another level, AML argues, combining high performance with new standards in productivity – and with the added bonus of cost-e ectiveness.
The roll-to-roll press has a 21-inch touchscreen interface and cloud-based RIP so ware, making it ideal for complex
CONVEYORS
label designs, according to the company. It has a print speed of 45m per minute and a roll width of 350mm.
Sales and marketing manager Brendon Bass says AML is delighted to add the two systems to its portfolio. “The combination of both products produces high-quality labels with a professional nish,” he says. “Saving time and money is a huge bene t to those producing labels in-house, while the eco-friendly, highly resistant inks o er
long-term durability.”
With the A nia press, the extended printhead life and sustainable-but-durable pigment inks can cut costs by up to one third, compared with alternative systems, says AML. As well as providing accuracy and control for intricate label designs, it adds, the cloudbased RIP so ware will provide costing information for each job.
“The combination of label production machines is a game-changer for businesses looking for high-quality printing and nishing of in-house labels with the bene t of a superb and professional nish,” says Bass.
Pluses with the Taurus include reduced inventory requirements and costs, lamination options without special media, the elimination of the need for pre-die-cut label rolls and for die tools – saving on cost, the company adds.
T 01536 414222
W www.amlabels.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 1795 421771 Fax: +44 (0) 1795 428905
The Afinia press in action
Ishida Quality Brings Peace Of Mind
The pack quality, accuracy and consistency delivered by an Ishida multihead weigher, bagmaker Integrated Total Packing System (iTPS) and DACS Checkweigher are helping start-up crisp brand Simply Roasted to ‘shake up snacking’.
Simply Roasted crisps are baked in the company’s unique roasting ovens at its factory in Norfolk. The company says that this process, rather than frying the crisps in hot oil, delivers the same levels of crunch and listings with several leading retailers, Simply Roasted crisps are also being rolled out in cafés and shops throughout the National Health Service (NHS) sites.
As Stuart Monk, Simply Roasted’s Managing Director, points out, one of the main challenges for any new brand is to build and maintain that Ishida’s INSPIRA snack food bagmaker delivers are therefore critical.
“With a new product, you literally get one chance to put it in front of consumers, so if the bag isn’t sealed properly or has a small leak, then our unlikely to lead to a repeat purchase,” he said. “Our investment in Ishida equipment and the consistent quality seals that it delivers has therefore been very important in enabling us to build brand integrity and loyalty.”
The INSPIRA bagmaker’s HMI touchscreen allows ease of set up.
system have also helped Simply Roasted to navigate several major business energy prices greatly impacted on all the company’s input costs.
The Ishida INSPIRA snack food bagmaker delivers consistent pack quality and excellent seals.
“Again, as a new business, we took the decision that we could not pass these price increases onto our consumers, so we initially had to absorb them,” said Stuart. “Now with the Ishida system running at around accuracy and minimal giveaway, we can pack more product into more some of these costs. So, we are continuing to maintain our prices at a time when many competitors are increasing theirs.”
The INSPIRA iTPS comprises an Ishida CCW-RV 14-head multihead weigher and INSPIRA rotary bagmaker. At Simply Roasted, it is handling
The Ishida solution has brought ‘peace of mind’ to Simply Roasted.
The Ishida CCW-RV multihead weigher is delivering accuracy to within one gramme of target weight.
For Snacks Market Innovator
speeds of 80 bags per minute (bpm) for the smaller size and 60bpm for the larger – well within its top speed of 120bpm.
The Ishida system has replaced the company’s original bagmaker,
“Pack weight inconsistencies and product trapped in the seals were very long time for these to be resolved,” said Simply Roasted’s Operations Manager Paulius Imbrasas.
Bof service, including fast maintenance support and parts supply, and training.”
The Ishida CCW-RV multihead weigher is delivering accuracy to within one gramme of target weight. The INSPIRA bagmaker features enhanced motor and drive technology that improves positional jaw control at the point of sealing, while Ishida’s rotary back seal band technology ensures been greatly reduced,” added Paulius.
The INSPIRA bagmaker’s HMI touchscreen allows ease of set up.
minutes while the machine’s open construction, which allows quick and
“Our investment in Ishida equipment and the consistent quality seals that it delivers has been very important in enabling us to build brand integrity and loyalty.”
Stuart Monk, Managing Director, Simply Roasted
manual wash-down can be undertaken in around an hour, compared to up to three hours with the previous bagmaker.
“With the old machine, we had to do everything manually,” says Paulius. “With Ishida, you just select the appropriate programme, and everything is ready. This saves a lot of time.
“In terms of maintenance, the system constantly monitors itself and further enhances its reliable performance.”
weight check in line with regulatory and retailer requirements. It features an intuitive display for ease of operation, and a durable construction with fast and easy access for service and maintenance. Ishida’s proprietary AntiFloor-Vibration (AFV) technology helps the checkweigher to maintain the highest weighing accuracy even in challenging production environments.
rotary bagmaker is capable of running at 33% higher speeds while the checkweigher can feedback pack weight information to the bagmaker to help adjust the bagging process and further increase performance
“The Ishida system is the Rolls Royce of bagmakers,” concluded Stuart peace of mind. Whether sending out samples to a retailer or a potential is nothing wrong with the packaging.”
ISHIDA Europe Ltd
Kettles Wood Drive, Woodgate Business Park, Birmingham, West Midlands B32 3DB
Ishida’s proprietary Anti-Floor-Vibration (AFV) technology helps the DACS-GN checkweigher maintain the highest weighing accuracy.
New Machinery
Cobot means affordable palletising of fruit & veg
Pace Mechanical Handling has added the PacePal collaborative robot (cobot) to its product portfolio, emphasising its low-cost credentials for palletising.
The company, which describes itself as a leading designer of automated packing solutions for farmers and pack-houses, stresses the importance of having this type of system as an option in these sorts of production environment. What is particularly important, it adds, is the cobot’s ability to work safely in close proximity to people without requiring guarding or a cage.
produce are being packed.
Managing director Nick Cesare spells out the issues facing this sector.
With a 20kg load capacity and a reach of 1,300mm, the PacePal can palletise up to 15 cases or cartons per minute. This design focus on board packaging makes the cobot ideal for on-farm lines where potatoes, carrots or other fresh
The PacePal palletising cobot aims to meet challenges facing fresh produce
“Over the past couple of years, we’ve heard over and over again the challenges faced by farmers and packers who are struggling to nd people prepared to work in their packing operations,” he says. “We’ve also heard countless times that these growers cannot a ord to automate, as the cost of the machine is una ordable.”
But at under £80,000, the cobot is competitively priced,
he argues. “It’s incredibly cheap for what it is, and is available to buy, rent or on a hire-purchase agreement,” says Cesare. “We think it will become one of our most popular models.”
Pace Mechanical Handling claims PacePal is more competitively priced than most other manufacturers’ entry-level robots.
T 01775 630900
W www.robotpalletizing.co.uk
lubrication may suffice
Handheld kit applies lubricant where and when chain needs it
RotaLube, part of the FB Group, has launched its ECO Lubrication Kit, claiming to bring the precision of its patented sprocket-shaped applicator to a handheld, easy-to-use format.
The system adapts the company’s automated chain lubrication system for ad hoc application using a handheld spray can.
“The automated RotaLube system, while effective, isn’t suitable for all customers, due to space constraints, low lubrication frequency needs or budget limitations,” says company director David Chippendale.
The kit consists of an applicator, mounting bracket, flexible tube, aerosol can adaptor, connectors and a restrictor to control lubricant release. It is compatible with chain pitches between 3/8” and 1.5”.
T
01254 311196
W www.rotalube.com
Automated settle plate changer cuts downtime and human intervention requirements in aseptic pharmaceutical filling
Syntegon has introduced a patented settle plate changing system for aseptic lling lines in the pharmaceuticals sector, automating a routine process that would otherwise cause machine stops, downtime –and potential contamination.
The robotic Settle Plate Changer (SPC) can be readily integrated into new and existing equipment, says the company, including machines and control systems from third-party suppliers.
Global product manager
at Syntegon Ste en Gröber explains the signi cance of this innovation. “Environmental monitoring is essential in aseptic manufacturing and has become even more Machine availability increases with the SPC
important in the context of EU GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) Annex 1,” he says.
Settle plates may be exposed to cleanroom air for a maximum of four hours, and must then be replaced to ensure consistent sampling in liquid lling operations. The enclosed, automated SPC limits the need for process disruption.
“Thanks to the SPC,
machines only need to be stopped once a day for viable monitoring, which results in noticeably higher machine availability of up to 300 hours per year,” says Gröber. Manual operator intervention in the process zone can be reduced by 80%, says Syntegon, pointing out that this type of reduction is recommended – along with robotic and automated alternatives – in GMP Annex 1.
T 01332 626262
W www.syntegon.com
Handheld
Thermal inkjet offers food-grade alternative for flexible packaging
Domino Printing Sciences
has a new thermal inkjet (TIJ) coder for exible packaging lines, presented as a cost-e ective alternative to thermal transfer overprinting (TTO), suitable for applications including food.
The system, from Domino’s Gx-Series range, has been tested at trial sites laying down the simple coding requirements currently served by existing TTO technologies. One spokesperson from a major food and beverage brand says: “Switching to Gx-Series printers has meant we have gone from changing consumables twice per shi to once every four days.” This has led to an increase in overall productivity.
TIJ coding can mean reduced costs
While delivering the same code quality as TTO, the TIJ alternative o ers up to 95% waste savings and 70% cost savings – from consumables and downtime – compared with standard TTO, says Domino. The system is suitable for plastics and metallised lm substrates, with a range of ink options to suit di erent needs, including non-direct contact food applications.
T 01954 782551
W www.domino-uk.com
Electro-Static Discharge (ESD)
New Machinery
Palletiser reduces risk of shipment being rejected
BW Flexible Systems has added the Symach 3500S to its palletising range, with a push-type design said to deliver superior high-speed handling of bags, bales, crates and cases, with the reduced risk of customer dissatisfaction claimed as a key bene t.
The company explains that the new system merges technology familiar from the Thiele Master 3500 with the Symach palletising platform.
“We’re excited by the many opportunities this innovation o ers for manufacturers looking for a more robust palletising solution,” says Jan-Pieter Grootendorst, global product line leader for bag lling & palletising. “The 3500S was designed to solve speci c palletising challenges, including the risk of rejected shipments, manufacturing footprint constraints and ease of operation.”
The stacking cage in particular is said to be much improved, containing bags more tightly within the
speci ed dimensions, reducing and preventing product overhang for a sturdier and more stable pallet. Squared pallets, BW notes, are easier to load and stack in the warehouse and truck.
“We understand that our customers’ customers demand perfect pallets and are known to reject shipments if any bag damage or overhang is detected,” says Grootendorst.
“Our Symach stacking cage eliminates that risk, ensuring
that customer relationships are in good standing, and out-of-scope costs related to product waste are minimised.”
The human-machine interface is said to facilitate communication with enterprise-level systems and other parts of the operation, and to o er easy stacking pattern creation. BW claims the 3500S has a more compact footprint than a robot palletiser.
T 0115 967 8787
W www.bw exiblesystems.com
Many industries stand to benefit
Robotic suction cup range will dissipate electrostatic charge
With the introduction of its ESD BX-P and B-XP suction cups, Piab has signalled its interest in the market for handling electrostatic discharge (ESD) sensitive components.
The company claims the range is “a game-changer” for industries such as electronics, semiconductors, and battery manufacturing.
Formed from Piab’s proprietary DURAFLEX material, these suction cups are said to combine the elasticity of rubber with the wear resistance of polyurethane.
The different materials used for the bellows and sealing lip provide them with contrasting levels of hardness, strength and flexibility, says the company. This means that the suction cups remain stable yet adaptable to various surfaces, including porous and textured ones.
Dissipative surface resistance is considerable, says Piab, with materials tested and compliant with the IEC 61340-5-1 standard. 01509 857010
T
W www.piab.com
Pizza topping slice-and-place machine handles pepperoni and other products for an output of 45 pizzas per minute
Grote Company has announced the arrival of its Ultramatic Pizza Topping Slicer, a pendulum-style slicer designed for high production volumes, slicing and applying a pattern up to 30.5cm across with a single stroke.
Grote, which prides itself on the reliability and quality of its food slicing and assembly equipment, says the system o ers frozen pizza producers an easier and faster way to slice and place toppings, especially pepperoni.
Chief executive Bob Grote says: “The Ultramatic provides an alternative to our Peppamatic Slicer, the machine on which our
company was founded more than 50 years ago.”
The new system can slice and place toppings, including pepperoni and other meats, at a rate of up to 45 pizzas per minute per lane, with three to four lanes of capacity. Featuring a compact footprint and ergonomic design, the machine requires only one
operator. Its pendulum slicing functionality features a gravity feed and Grote’s patented AccuBand blade system.
Grote quotes data from Grand View Research which projects compound annual growth (CAGR) in the frozen pizza business of 6.9% between 2023 and 2030.
“Grote Company will be there to help our customers meet the exploding demand,” he says.
T 01978 362243
W www.grotecompany.com
The new palletiser is designed to prevent product overhang when stacking
Research forecasts frozen pizza growth of nearly 7%
Sustainability in parenterals
Earlier this summer, Uhlmann Pac-Systeme launched its Parenteral Tray Centre 200 cartoning line, for packing ampoules, vials, syringes, pens and other devices in recyclable plastics or board trays and folding cartons.
This system o ers less resource consumption and lower CO2 emissions than many alternatives, says the company, as well as more exibility, e ciency and product safety. This innovation comes about as the requirements of pharmaceutical companies increasingly turn towards greater versatility and complexity, says strategic product manager for parenteral packaging at Uhlmann Werner Blersch.
“The aim of product development at Uhlmann is to make our packaging solutions highly exible so that our customers can process di erent parenteral product shapes and sizes, as well as di erent packaging materials and shapes, reliably and e ciently,” he explains.
“With the Parenteral Tray Centre PTC 200, this can be easily implemented, with a high degree of automation and digitalisation.”
Thanks to its modular machine concept, the PTC 200 is able to produce a wide range
of product con gurations with high e ciency, says the company. Items, accessories and lea ets are packaged using up to six feeders.
With settings optimised, up to 200 trays or folding cartons per minute are possible. An e cient stacking unit allows several trays to be stacked on top of each other and then inserted into a folding carton. This is said to make the PTC 200 particularly compact and e cient.
SUSTAINABILITY WINS
In the past, parenterals have typically been packed in sealed blisters or open plastics trays and then inserted into folding cartons together with the package insert. But the company has responded to demands for greater sustainability.
With the PTC 200, Uhlmann now o ers a exible ‘directin-carton’ option that can pack both in board trays and in conventional plastics blisters. The ability to handle a wide range of product formats and pack sizes means that pharmaceutical companies can adapt their production exibly to meet the requirements of the market. Changeover between batches is also intelligently-designed for speed, it adds.
T 01252 743120
W www.uhlmann.de
The PTC 200 incorporates up to six feeders for different items in the carton
Installation News
Water bottling in Georgia sees new processing and filling lines
Sustainable consumption of energy and water were key considerations in the design of a new bottling and packing plant for Georgiabased ller IDS Borjomi, located in the spa town of the same name, with KHS supplying three major lines including process and lling equipment.
Work on the €40-million-plus new plant in the Caucasus only began in 2020, with the nal touches – including logistics – due for completion later this year. As well as supplying a large share of the equipment, KHS has acted as consultant and contractor in the design of the facility.
“We have complete trust in KHS’ technological expertise when it comes to the lling of mineral water and carbonated so drinks,” says Gia Shatirishvili, industrial development director for IDS Borjomi.
Initially, KHS installed two turnkey lines: an InnoPET BloFill stretch blow moulder and ller block is being used
team as project leader on the installations
to ll PET bottles of between 0.5 and 1.25 litres at a rate of up to 30,000 containers per hour.
KHS experts played an active role in the redesign move from glass to plastics bottles.
The block itself features an Inno ll DRV ller, a Paramix C blender and an Innoket Neo
Flex 90 labeller – one of the rst with a swivel-arm HMI. With the help of four cameras, the three cold-glue paper labels on the body, shoulder and back of each bottle are aligned with the brand logo exactly as required.
The dry section ends with
an Innopack Kisters SP Advanced shrink-packer with a handle applicator, and the exible palletising technology of the Innopal PB N combines with an Innopal RG grouping system.
Up to 36,000 beverage cans per hour are lled on the second line. A er blending on the Paramix C, the cans are fed to the compact Inno ll Can C ller before travelling on to a Ferrum seamer, a KHS Innopro KZE ash pasteuriser and a tunnel pasteuriser.
In the dry section, an Innopack Kisters TSP for trays and shrink lm is used for packing. Innopal technology is again used for depalletising and palletising.
Clean-in-place (CIP) systems are key for these two lling lines, for the syrup room and watertreatment unit, says KHS. Construction of a third line is now underway. This will ll up to 36,000 1.5-litre PET bottles per hour, the supplier says. T 0121 713 6900 W www.khs.com
Coding, labelling and software lift productivity for French paint producer and dovetail with operation-level systems
French paint and coatings manufacturer V33 has seen signi cant improvements in its Overall Equipment E ectiveness (OEE), thanks to the introduction of primary and secondary coding hardware, continuous inkjet (CIJ), print and apply (P&A) systems and so ware, all from Markem-Imaje.
Using the supplier’s CoLOS so ware suite, the customer now manages its entire production site’s printer eet centrally, replacing previous
Codes now go directly on to plastics
so ware installed on each operator station, increasing e ciency while reducing the need for manual intervention.
Initially, V33 purchased
30 P&A labellers in the 2200 Series and several 9450-range CIJ printers, together with the CoLOS so ware and Cognex cameras to verify marking quality and precision.
The customer then challenged Markem-Imaje to improve the e ciency of its operations.
A slide system on the 2200 Series labellers means that changing consumables has become more ergonomic and faster than was previously the case.
The 9450 printers are now
used directly on plastic and metal product substrates. The proprietary cartridge system, Intelli’inks, is said to make set-up clean and automatic while maximising production uptime.
V33, based in the Jura region, employs 600 people, boasting over 20,000 product references and a presence in more than 30 countries. As well as paints, it is also known for its wooden furnishings and coatings.
T 0161 864 8111
W www.markem-imaje.co.uk
KHS has worked with the Borjomi
Potato line case-erector excels at longevity test
Endoline Automation has replaced one of its legacy case-erecting systems for a leading French potato supplier a er the machine had erected millions of cases over more than a decade, demonstrating both the longevity and durability of its engineering and the loyalty of its customers.
Pomliberty, which every year supplies thousands of tonnes of high-quality potatoes to wholesalers, retailers, and restaurants across France, had operated the 227 Fully Automatic Case Erector for 11 years.
Now, the company has replaced the system, like-for-like, to ensure the high quality and presentation of its cases was sustained, and before the ageing 227 required maintenance.
Only the most durable of cases can be used for potatoes, the supplier explains, given the weight involved. In these instances, twin-wall cases are o en used, but there is a high failure risk with many
case-erectors due to the heavy board construction.
Endoline’s 227 uses two vacuum systems for the consistent, positive opening of every case, as Endoline’s export sales manager James Ramsay explains. “The dual opposing vacuum technology overcomes problems relating to forming heavy-duty boxes, as it clamps to each side of the case during the forming process, applying the same amount of pressure to
simultaneously open it from both sides,” he says.
As well as the reliability of the system, Pomliberty praises the small footprint and high output speed of the new 227, while also commending Endoline’s strong service record.
The French company describes its investment in this technology as “transformative”.
T 01767 316422
W endoline-automation.com
thermal imaging on the line
Heat imaging raises production quality in laminate flooring
A vinyl flooring manufacturer has installed a second thermal imaging system from Identify Direct, allowing it to use a heat ‘signature’ to identify and eliminate areas around lowerquality joins.
The wood-effect seven-layer laminate is formed under pressure and heat, with the original web being cut into smaller sections. The continuous lamination process creates spliced joints, where the additional thickness can cause problems both on the manufacturing line and, aesthetically, once the flooring is laid down.
Identify Direct, which also uses the name Machine Vision Technology, has applied Flir infrared cameras to capture and analyse images in real time. This allows the exact pinpointing of the hotter band of each seam and its downstream removal.
T
01926 563000
W www.identifydirect.com
Flir
The latest 227 case-erector employs two vacuum systems in opening cases
Confectionery and snacks producer Bon Bon’s Wholesale has invested in an FR200 Flow Pack machine from Ulma Packaging in order to unblock production bottlenecks, make its operations less labourintensive, and provide greater exibility in handling the variety of packaging formats required for its diverse product range.
The FR200’s advanced technology, says Ulma, ensures e cient and highspeed packaging capable of handling increased production volumes. The machine’s precision and uniform packaging capabilities have also signi cantly reduced product damage and improved overall quality, it claims.
By automating the packaging process, the FR200 has minimised the need for manual intervention, leading to a re-deployment of labour. A heavy reliance on sta for this part of the process had increased costs and introduced a higher risk of
human error, according to the customer.
The machine’s versatile design has also allowed it to handle di erent packaging formats and sizes, says Ulma, making it ideal for Bon Bon’s diverse product range.
“The FR200 has transformed our packaging process, allowing us to meet growing demand while maintaining the high quality our customers expect,” says Kirsty Firth, joint managing
“The exibility and e ciency of the machine have been game-changers for our operations.”
The Yorkshire-based company is part of the Lanchester Wine Group. As well as customised products, it provides xtures and merchandising strategies for a range of independent retailers around the UK.
T 01909 506504
W www.ulmapackaging.co.uk
Coding
on
to
cables depends on no-clog high-speed systems
EP Connectors, Germany, is using IQJET printers from Leibinger to code cables for the automotive industry at its new plant, with 5,000km of cable needing to be printed with minimum interruptions – and with exceptional ink abrasion resistance – every year.
“From the original concept through to its successful implementation, we knew we could rely on Leibinger’s experience and expertise,” says Klaus Ciminato, head of cable production at the company.
“Reliability is imperative for us.”
The system had to be designed for speed, too, given the pace at which cable insulation lines run.
The printers are integrated directly into the production system, so relevant print text is loaded automatically, and have an anti-clogging sealing system.
T
01858 461014
W www.atduk.com
3D vision enables depalletising robot to select parcels on the basis of size and weight at speeds up to 800 per hour
Two Ensenso 3D cameras from IDS Imaging Development Systems are ensuring that a robotic depalletiser (RODE) provided by AWL is able to destack parcels at speeds of up to 800 per hour for DHL in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
At DHL eCommerce, the intelligent robot-supported depalletiser automatically destacks any packaged goods such as cartons, bags or containers from pallets and speeds up their continuous processing, without delays
or downtime, even at peak times such as Christmas. This frees up sta for more quali ed tasks, and reduces the risk of injury.
“This intelligent robotic solution integrates AI image processing and hightech gripper technology,” explains Sander Lensen, R&D manager at AWL.
to ensure that the required long side is leading.”
“The system recognises products and can ip the items
RODE processes up to 800 parcels per hour with a maximum weight of
31.5 kg each, placing them on the corresponding sorting belt. The challenge lies in the robot’s picking of parcels of di erent sizes and weights, independently recognising the position of the objects in three-dimensional space and deciding which package to pick next. It then has to determine the best gripping position and avoid collision with other parcels or the machine.
T 01252 916656
W www.ids-imaging.com
director of Bon Bon’s.
Tough abrasion resistance is key
The FR200 flow-wrapper provides flexibility and reduced risk of human error
The two cameras are critical to the depalletising
Installation News
End load carton machine makes a splash in Hawaii
An SL903 End Load Cartoning Machine from Bradman Lake is now in production at Diamond Bakery in Hawaii, a manufacturer of cookies and crackers.
The SL903 supplied to Diamond Bakery is a fully automatic end load cartoning machine designed to offer efficiency and reliable operation, says Bradman Lake. It continuously erects end load cartons fed from a low-level inclined carton magazine. Equipped with features such as a servo main drive and a ‘No product –no carton’ function, it is said to ensure seamless packaging at speeds of up to 130 cartons per minute.
solutions can be tailored to meet unique customer requirements, resulting in efficient and reliable daily operation.”
“We are delighted to support Diamond Bakery with our SL903 End Load Cartoning Machine,” says Patrick Dwyer, president of Bradman Lake. “This is another fine example of how our innovative
Thermoformer
Additional features include: a three-head rotary carton feeder; a Nordson ProBlue Flex hotmelt adhesive jetting system; and an Allen Bradley control platform integrated with a PanelView Plus touchscreen human-machine interface (HMI).
Diamond teamed up with Bradman Lake after visiting its stand at a recent trade show.
Designed to meet the needs of the food industry, the system’s hygienic stainlesssteel construction ensures compliance with strict food safety standards, says the supplier. Additionally, its advanced-design guarding is said to allow easy access for maintenance while maximising operational visibility and safety.
Diamond was founded in 1921 by three Japanese immigrants to Hawaii.
T 01502 470500
W www.bradmanlake.com
Shrink-wrapped vitamins at BR
Shrink-wrap line has speed and reliability benefits for vitamins
UK-based vitamin producer BR Pharmaceutical has improved reliability and processing speeds in its operation with the installation of a new shrink-wrap line from Yorkshire Packaging Systems (YPS).
With one YPS line already packing products in another part of the company, BR wanted to extend the system to these small packs of vitamins, moving them from semi-automatic to fullyautomatic production.
The YPS team recommended and installed a Minipack side-feed sleeve-wrapper with a 500mm sealing jaw. This created an ideal fit between a small-footprint machine and the small product size.
“Having used YPS equipment before, we’re confident of how robust and reliable this new shrink-wrapping line will be,” says BR’s managing director Ziad Abu Sheikha. 01484 715111
T
W www.yps.co.uk
automates medical device packaging while producing a much more compact format with less wastage
US medical device injection moulding company BMP Medical has installed a 32-20 Rotary Thermoform machine from Shawpak to pack products including tissue grinders for clinical samples.
The company’s previous packaging method utilised pre-made pouches that were 350cm² in size and was inefficient in terms of materials usage and labour requirements.
BMP came across Shawpak at the MD&M West Pack 2024
show while seeking a smallfootprint thermoforming machine. Shawpak’s compact system proved to be the ideal fit for the company’s needs, offering the flexibility and efficiency required for its production process.
“A lot of the processes at BMP are automated with heavy investment in recent years in robotic cells,” says chief executive at the company Michael Faulkner. “Over the years we have looked at various thermoform
machines, but all were very large in footprint which prevented us from making the change.”
Shawpak’s application engineers worked closely with the engineers at BMP Medical to design a unique thermoformed package to best suit the product, while minimising material usage. This also means more packs per case, reducing the costs of sterilisation and shipping.
T 01332 579025
W www.shawpak.co.uk
The new pack is far more compact
Installation News
Polish sweets producer trusts in efficient quality inspection
Every food company, as it grows, reaches a point where protecting the brand, customer relations and consumer safety necessitates investment in reliable quality control equipment – and this was exactly the point Dobosz had reached when it started talking to Ishida.
The Polish confectionery company has since installed a multihead weigher, checkweigher and an x-ray inspection system, enabling it to increase packing speeds, reduce giveaway and implement improved detection capabilities. As a result, the company has maximised output and e ciencies while at the same time achieving higher levels of brand protection.
General manager Sebastian Wawrzycki casts his mind back to the rst few years of the company, which was set up in 1993.
“As a start-up business, in the early days we carried out many weighing and inspection operations
manually, but this was not sustainable as the business started to grow,” he explains.
“We therefore needed highperformance and reliable equipment and chose Ishida because of the company’s experience, technical support and reputation in the market.”
The Ishida machines are weighing and inspecting a variety of sweets in a number of pack formats, including cartons and pillow packs,
in weights from 200g to 4kg, as well as 20g, 30g and 50g bars. Dobosz was able to easily integrate the equipment with the existing packing machine, enabling the line to handle more product and deliver higher output.
In particular, the Ishida IX-EN-2493-S x-ray inspection system is ensuring product quality and providing peace of mind for this increase in production. The x-ray system
enables Dobosz to detect even the smallest contaminants, says Ishida. The integration of the supplier’s self-learning Genetic Algorithm (GA) technology means the system is able to o er maximum detection sensitivity and reliability.
“For us, the main bene ts have been improved product quality and customer con dence; and by reducing complaints and ensuring trouble-free production, our investment has paid for itself quickly,” says Wawrzycki. “And of course, the machines’ reliable and trouble-free operation also translates into valuable savings in the long run.”
The Ishida IX-EN can check for other quality issues. Speci cally for Dobosz, if the cutting machine on the bars line fails to operate and two bars remain joined together, this will be picked up and rejected by the x-ray system.
T 0121 607 7700
W www.ishidaeurope.com
Dobosz is home to 30 types of product including chocolate-covered plums
CHS is the new benchmark for packaging chocolate.
Super-flexible CHS: Save Investment ready to package!
Increasingly seasonalproduction, continual product development and evershorter product life-cycles are typical characteristics of theconfectionery industry – and crucialparameters for the security of your investments
That‘s why, with our newly developed CHS, Theegarten-Pactec is now setting new standards for synergies relating toperformanceand flexibility: With a rate of up to 1,800packaged productsper minute and 9 available wrapping styles, the CHS is extremely fast and incredibly adaptable. Discover the value-creation potential of our innovative and durable machines at first hand!
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Protected Twist Side Twist
Precious industry knowledge speeds up complete snack line
Italian private-label snacks
producer Preziosi Food has taken delivery of an integrated potato chip line, including washing, pelletfrying, distribution, seasoning and packaging, from TNA , enabling the manufacturer to almost double production capacity.
With cost-conscious consumers increasingly turning to budget snacks, says the equipment company, Preziosi was looking for a complete solutions partner able to deliver signi cant output increases within a very short 12-month timeframe. The resulting line took the company’s capacity from 17 to 30 million kilos of product per year.
“Preziosi had a very short amount of time to plan and execute the project,” says chief sales o cer at TNA Eric Geling. “Any delays would have impacted the company’s private label contracts.”
Working with what it calls the only global single-source solutions provider for an entire
Conveyors are designed to minimise product damage and increase speeds required creative thinking from both companies.
potato snack production line, says TNA, minimised any risk for Preziosi at the installation phase. The new line operates at up to 1,500kg per hour.
At the heat processing stage, the new pellet-frying system doubled line capacity to 600kg per hour.
President and chief executive at Preziosi Lorenzo Caporaletti says his needs went beyond “cutting edge technology”, and admits that managing the installation within a 12-month window, with minimal disruption,
“Despite a number of challenges, including the need to keep production going while navigating a complex installation process, with help from TNA, we managed to overcome these hurdles, while also achieving steady growth of over 20%,” he says.
The Italian company has over 300 SKUs across potato chips, pellets and extruded items. TNA says the supplier’s holistic approach and in-depth process knowledge meant that
its engineers could identify areas where maximum value could be leveraged.
As an example, the TNA continuous frying process includes patented opti- ow technology, which ensures batch-to-batch consistency and reduces rejects. Cutting the outfeed temperature of the oil in the fryer to 150°C via a double heat exchanger also cut acrylamide formation, says the company, while at the same time creating better colour intensity and crunchier product.
A er frying, TNA’s ro o vibratory and horizontal conveyors were installed to minimise breakage, while increasing distribution speeds. Multiple on-machine seasoning (OMS) systems now o er “seamless changeovers” and easy operation across a range of products simultaneously, the company explains. The installation also included ve new robag packaging systems.
T 0121 628 8900
W www.tnasolutions.com
Twin robots and 3D vision allow recognition and picking of randomly-spread metal parts for automotive markets
A combination of 3D vision, driven by so ware from MVTec, and two Kuka robots is enabling a Spanish manufacturer of automotive parts to pick randomlypositioned metal items and slot them into precise positions in a neighbouring container.
Automation specialist Tekniker, also based in Spain, came up with the automated bin-picking system, which uses ‘surface-based matching’ 3D vision technology, powered by MVTec’s Halcon
so ware, to ensure the components are recognised and handled correctly. The customer, Cikautxo
Group, produces components including vibration damping and uid-conducting systems for automotive clients.
The group’s automation and robotics area manager Kepa Laka says that palletising of parts had previously been a purely manual operation. “Our goal was to automate this process end-to-end in order to speed it up, increase
productivity and save costs,” he says. “In addition, our workers were to be relieved of monotonous, ergonomically unsound tasks, so they could devote themselves to more demanding tasks.”
One alternative would have been a mechatronic system. This was rejected as an option, since it would have been less exible, less reliable and noisier than the machine vision solution.
T 01730 233332
W www.multipix.com
The car components customer aims to cut costs
Installation News PPMA Show Preview:
The PPMA Show’s 2024 edition offers plenty of reasons to visit
With well over 300 exhibitors and a packed seminar programme to keep you busy, new ways to access the innovation on display and keep a detailed record of what you discover there, a visit to this year’s PPMA Show is hard to resist.
“At Automate UK, we don’t believe in standing still, especially when it comes to our agship event,” says chief operating o cer Scott McKenna. “With that in mind, we are very excited to announce a whole host of new features at this year’s PPMA Show, which will enhance the experience of exhibitors and visitors alike.”
Those features include the PPMA Show app, a networking reception and the live demonstration theatre. With their ‘Innovations 11’ theme, the live demonstrations will show key equipment in action, together with explanations from each supplier, and with daily innovation tours around their stands to provide select access.
If you need a break from the new equipment up and down every aisle, the sessions in the seminar theatre will yield plenty more to think about.
Keynote speaker Stefan Casey of Nestlé talks about digital transformation in consumer goods on the second day, and on the third day, fellow keynote Jennifer Sansom of Huel discusses the challenges of climate change.
There will be engaging roundtable sessions from the UK Automation Forum, debating uptake of robots in the food industry (more on this on page 47), and from BARA.
Also on the food side, there will be a presentation from Lincoln University, and another link into robotics from
BSI discussing standards in this area.
There will be lively updates from Sick UK on safety trends and from Make UK on future manufacturing trends. On the digital side, speci c presentations will grapple with AI, with cybersecurity and with harnessing the potential of LinkedIn.
Other sessions will whisk through the fast-moving area of smart packaging and, complementing the Huel keynote, automation to reduce carbon impact.
Beyond all of this, there will be plenty of opportunities for networking, and for those chance encounters that can lead to unexpected answers –sometimes, even unexpected questions.
PPMA Show director Richard Little has watched the event return stronger than ever a er the shutdown during the pandemic. “Of course, if you know exactly what you want, the internet may be all you need,” he concludes. “But if you don’t know, then there’s no better place to nd out than the PPMA Show.” Free registration could not be easier: W www.ppmashow.co.uk
Jessica Sansom is a keynote speaker
Stefan Casey from Nestlé is another
New Machinery
PPMA Show Preview
Depalletise and relocate pallets
Solent Automation will be putting its latest products through their paces, chief among them the SolCar autonomous mobile robot (AMR), plus its standard palletiser repurposed –via third-party so ware –as a depalletiser.
Developing SolCar, which allows customers to transport empty pallets around their site, was a natural step for the company, says Solent. The company has been automating packing and palletising lines successfully for some time, but the ipside is that there will always be emptied pallets that need collecting for reuse.
The new SolCar allows pallet turnover to progress without the need for any operator intervention. This dramatically increases return on investment (ROI) on a packing line, says Solent, and has other added features such as enhanced pallet-tracking and increased warehouse e ciency.
More innovation comes from its standard palletiser used
for depalletising. It is able to pick random boxes from the pallet and place them on an outgoing conveyor. Given that this uses its familiar palletising system hardware, the company and customers can be assured it is reliable and e cient, says Solent.
The company will be showcasing existing and new products in a simulated production environment, with moving robots, products, conveyors and AMRs.
STAND E90
W www.solent-automation.co.uk
Avoid mess and mixing in coding
Foenix Coding will present its line of printers, which it describes as being not only cost-e ective and innovative, but a “gamechanger” for industry, meeting all the demands of modern production environments.
“For years, manufacturers have grappled with the limitations of traditional continuous inkjet (CIJ) and thermal inkjet (TIJ) printers,” says managing director Fabien Colette. “These systems o en require frequent maintenance, involve messy ink handling, and can be costly to operate. The need for regular ink mixing and re lling not only interrupts production but also increases the risk of
errors and contamination.”
The newest addition to its line-up, the FX ONE PLUS, integrates the latest Seiko print head technology with wellproven reliability. Advantages, says Colette, include: low cost of ownership; low capital expenditure cost; low costper-print; free so ware and upgrades; and print height of up to 72mm.
Foenix manufactures in the UK, allowing it to ensure stringent quality control and also provide exceptional customer support, it says, with rapid response times and personalised service that sets the company apart.
STAND H78
W www.foenixcoding.com
Eco Turtle Pump: Air Saving Kit
VMECA’s Eco Turtle Pumps reduce energy consumption by up to 90%! This Eco version is electronic and automatically controls the vacuum level between two set points: high and low – these two points are manually adjusted on the Turtle Pump controls.
• AS-kit + vacuum switch + 2 control valves
• Built-in air saving function, blocking air consumption when vacuum is reached.
• Built in filter with blow back
• Easy and convenient wiring with M8X6PIN connector and wiring cable.
An early prototype of Solent’s AMR
The Seiko print head technology is well-proven in its reliability, says Foenix
PPMA Show Preview
Wet paper tape option on show Checkweighers boast new HMI
Endoline
Automation will present its 900 series Wet Paper Tape Case Sealing system at the show, along with a broader sample of its endof-line machinery.
It is a sign of the times that Endoline initially introduced a water-activated tape casesealer over 40 years ago. But, like most suppliers, the company transitioned to plastics tape.
The paper-based tape can be stronger than plastics
Says Andrew Yates, managing director of Endoline Automation:
In the intervening period, Endoline has continually adapted its case-sealing technology to keep pace with industry demands. And today, sustainability and ease of recycling have become pressing priorities for all.
In fact, Endoline says the paper-based tape is stronger than the plastics alternatives and, when applied, creates a permanent bond with the case so any evidence of tampering is visible.
“The introduction of our Wet Paper Tape Case Sealer not only supports productivity and quality but also addresses the urgent need for sustainable packaging solutions.”
Endoline will display the 900 series with a semiautomatic random sealer, similar to the company’s established 714 semiautomatic machine, which will also be on show. The wet paper option will be available across Endoline’s entire case-sealing range.
STAND D90
W endoline-automation.com
Control and access to checkweighers is a key theme on the Minebea Intec stand, where the company will focus on its Blue HMI user interface, said to build in intuitive operation and maximum user-friendliness.
Whether operators need to introduce a new product, adjust line parameters or de ne a batch report, the HMI is said to make working with checkweighers easier and more e cient.
Thorsten Vollborn, head of product inspection & digital services, emphasises the advantages of this technology.
“The design concept of Blue HMI is based on what we know from our daily work with high-tech devices,” he says. “The user-friendly menu navigation and new work ows simplify operation considerably and shorten the familiarisation period.”
Data security and exibility also take centre stage on the stand. For administrators, Blue HMI o ers new and extensive setting options for user and group management. To enable ergonomic working on the system, all checkweighers - including the Synus, Flexus and EWK series – are now also available with a moveable display variant.
STAND B52
W www.minebea-intec.com
A cornucopia of confectionery wrapping styles is available from German supplier, with other applications encouraged
At the show for the rst time, Germany’s Theegarten-Pactec is presenting an extensive machinery range for wrapping small-sized confectionery items, with a focus on new feeding, distribution and packing options.
The manufacturer o ers more than 30 individual systems for the main product categories of hard candy and preformed products, so and hard caramels, chewing &
bubble gum (the cut-and-wrap method) as well as chocolate. Additional food and non-food applications are possible.
Theegarten-Pactec positions itself, not as a
pure-play packaging machine manufacturer, but rather as a competent system supplier o ering e ective solutions for complex challenges. Optimal con gurations for the company’s customers essentially depend on the combination of proven packaging machines with upstream and downstream systems for controlling, separating, feeding and storing product ows. The overall o er includes comprehensive
customer services across the full machine life-cycle, says the manufacturer, even for systems that have been doing their job for decades. The company not only takes care of spare parts, supplies, maintenance and the upgrading of existing facilities onsite, but also advises customers through its well-developed network of reliable representatives in local markets.
STAND H16
W www.theegarten-pactec.de
Working with checkweighers is easier
PPMA Show Preview
Equipment range is from liquid filling to cartoning
Acer Machinery will be exhibiting an array of equipment from three leading packaging machinery manufacturers: Mespack, Tkmatik and UET Bernd Siebler.
Mespack, a Duravant company, will show its exible packaging machinery, including horizontal and vertical systems to produce sachets, pouches and stickpacks from the reel, along with horizontal pre-made pouch machines.
speciality here, as are its automatic palletising systems.
The Spanish company’s secondary packaging equipment covers e cient case-packing for wraparound cases/trays or other styles. Compact machines are said to meet high production capacity requirements and are lowmaintenance. Also available are product-handling systems for primary packaging, including counting, grouping and transfer to erected cases.
Turnkey systems are a
From Polish company Tkmatik, Acer Machinery will show liquid lling options, including multi-format lling. These systems are capable of running with a wide range of jars and bottle formats in a broad array of shapes and sizes, up to 2000ml.
Filling systems also include a monobloc machine frame integrating capping and sealing. These are servocontrolled, compact machines supporting a variety of capping possibilities.
Versatile product handling
from Tkmatik means that its adaptive dispensers cope with a wide range of viscosities. A key feature is quick disassembly for easy cleaning, with no tools needed.
For compact, exible cartoning, Acer can supply systems from UET Bernd Siebler. These machines are said to accommodate a large carton size range and can be con gured to run with a variety of formats, including reverse tuck, aeroplane tuck, cartons with a euro hanger and hotmelt closures.
STAND F12
W acermachinerysolutions.co.uk
Parts, tracks, guides and more produced in different plastics
Leeds Plastic Engineering will be demonstrating its expertise in CNC machining and turning of engineering plastics and non-ferrous materials, supplied to a range of industries.
The company says it can produce anything from simple wear strips to complex 3D components in an extensive range of materials including, not limited to: nylon, polypropylene, acetal, Delrin, UHMWPE, HDPE, PTFE, PEEK, acrylic, PET, Tufnol, PVDF and polycarbonate.
It is happy to manufacture and quote for components using anything from 2D hard-copy drawings through to 3D CAD models and can also reverseengineer from existing parts.
Launched as a business in 2015, the company produces items including: chain tracks; wear strips; guides; change parts; sprockets; starwheels; conveyor parts; and metal-detectable components.
The company says it has experienced rapid growth, and continued to invest in new machinery to expand its capabilities and capacity in precision CNC machining.
• Flexible • Energy-e cient • Operator-friendly • Compatible with recyclable, biodegradable & compostable films • Simple product changeover • Easy maintenance • Customisable – From hand fed to fully automated high speed feed systems • Gas tight packs for M.A.P
PPMA Show Preview
The Takeaway Scales are ideal when multiple ingredients have to be portioned
Verify the recipe and weigh items
Marco aims to boost e ciency and productivity in customer facilities, with visitors to its stand able to witness rsthand the capabilities of its Recipe Veri cation Stations, Takeaway Scales and Combination Weighers. Recipe veri cation runs all the way from the Bill of Materials (BOM) to nal mixing. Operator-friendly workstation weighing scales, with clear visuals, guide users through formulation, while barcode scanners ensure accurate ingredient, pre-mix, and sub-batch identi cation. This system strictly adheres
to a First Expired, First Out (FEFO) use-by date policy.
Marco says its Takeaway Scales are perfect for convenience food and readymeal preparation, where multiple ingredients are portioned to make the nal product. Designed to streamline operations, these scales make a signi cant contribution to e cient nal product creation. An intuitive tra c light indicator provides clear guidance, it says, reducing product handling, maximising yield, delivering exceptional product consistency and ensuring precise pack weights.
STAND H66
W www.marco.co.uk
Vacuum gripper in the spotlight
Piab will showcase its piCOBOT Electric vacuum gripper, along with products from its vacuum conveying division, such as the piFLOW p SMART Conveying Cycle Optimiser.
The piCOBOT Electric is designed to enhance productivity with its plugand-play capabilities, intuitive operation, and energy e ciency, says Piab, and is ideal for collaborative robots, o ering precision and reliability in handling a wide variety of objects.
It adds that its experts will be on-hand to provide
insights and demonstrate this and other key technologies, including the semi-automated piFLOW p SMART Conveying Cycle Optimiser. This focuses on conveying one material within a stable environment and allows for pick-up of material directly from a barrel with a feed nozzle or pipe. Fewer cycles are needed to convey a certain volume of product to packaging, sieving, milling, or dosing, says Piab, as it maximises the use of the system capacity with each new conveying cycle.
STAND C72
W www.piab.com
Exhibit will feature AMRs that learn on the job, software and goods-to-person robot picking to multiple locations
The Bowe Group will show its latest smart automation and IoT innovation, including the TUGBOT autonomous mobile robot (AMR), so ware options such as RFID, WMS and ASPECT, and its Goods to Person Robot Picking technology.
The AMR is said to be both compact and e cient, with so ware that allows it to be integrated quickly and exibly into warehouses organised in a wide variety of ways, says Bowe. It can play a role
in anything from simple transport applications to pointto-point transport, or a goods-to-person approach, up to full automation in an integrated overall system. Bowe emphasises its intelligence and its ability to learn. It can navigate along a prede ned path but can also learn a new one by following a person.
ASPECT is described as a powerful tool designed to integrate seamlessly with both Bowe and thirdparty products, o ering
a comprehensive view of business data from multiple sources.
The Goods to Person Robot Picking area is equipped with specialised racking, each rack double-sided with 10 individually identi ed locations per side and unique rack IDs. These racks can store multiple SKUs. The system will integrate seamlessly with a Warehouse Management System (WMS), says Bowe. STAND G44 W www.bowe.com
The capabilities of the piCOBOT Electric are designed to enhance productivity
Bowe’s AMR can be easily taught a new route
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Expert Insights
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PPMA Show Preview
Fast on-demand colour label printer premieres
For the rst time anywhere in the UK, Epson will be showcasing the new ColorWorks C8000e industrial on-demand colour label printer alongside the rest of the ColorWorks range, while for automated labelling, a SCARA GX8 will feature on the stand.
The ColorWorks C8000e is designed for in-house, on-demand colour label printing at high speed, signi cantly reducing the costs and waste associated with traditional analogue label production processes, Epson says.
“The new, compact, top-of-the-range ColorWorks C8000e is built to deliver high-speed, high-quality colour labels on-demand for a rapidly-growing industrial labels market,” says David Spratt, head of business systems sales at Epson UK. “It’s clear that the future for industrial colour label production lies with on-demand printing, and Epson is proud to o er
best-of-class technology with this latest addition to its ColorWorks range.”
The C8000e incorporates Epson’s PrecisionCore printhead technology, said to produce detailed, consistent high-quality, and accurate colour labels on-demand. It supports a variety of media types, including matt and gloss paper, lm, and synthetic, and can print label widths from one to four inches.
The company notes that demand for its ColorWorks range grew signi cantly between 2019 and 2024. Other models in the range on show will include the C6500, C4000e, and C3500.
For automated labelling, a setup including a SCARA GX8 robot, a smart camera, and two C6000e ColorWorks printers will be displayed.
STAND A52
W www.epson.co.uk
Robotics integrates ultrasonic cutting to meet portion targets
Newtech Intelligent Automation will feature a range of equipment for the food manufacturing industry, including robotic handling, ultrasonic cutting and wider automation, with its core customer base in the bakery, dairy, food-to-go and protein sectors. The Robosonic inline system combines ultrasonic cutting with the flexibility of robotics, Newtech explains. Using high-frequency vibration, the technology reduces friction between the product and the blade even when processing delicate, soft or crumbly products. This means less product build-up and no damage to the item. Throughput can be up to 400 ppm, depending on product, and portioning to 1% of target weight. Also shown will be pick-andplace equipment for simple, bespoke food applications.
STAND E130
W www.newtech-ltd.co.uk
Small-batch mixers will include newly-introduced system to bridge gap between laboratory-scale and large-scale ranges
Silverson Machines will show a range of new, low-output mixing equipment, including the FMX10 small-scale mixer for powders or liquids, launched to bridge the gap between the laboratory scale FMX5 and the larger Flashmix product range.
The FMX10 is said to provide a simple, e ective and hygienic means of mixing on a small scale, with a batch size of up to 50 litres, depending on viscosity. Featuring the same
pumping rotor design as the HV model, the FMX10 is able to process higher viscosity mixes. The option of a highspeed motor, capable of 9,000rpm, and of a ameproof speci cation makes this model even more versatile, says Silverson.
Launched alongside the FMX10 will be a range of small-scale inline mixers. These new mixers include the 150 UHS In-Line, designed for ultra-hygienic applications, the 088/150
UHS, a small-scale multistage inline mixer, and the UHS-HV for mixing high-viscosity products. Again, each is suitable for batches of up to 50 litres, depending on viscosity. This makes them ideal for applications in the pharmaceuticals sector as well as other ‘clean’ industries such as food and cosmetics, says Silverson. The entire range will make its debut at this year’s PPMA Show. STAND F70 W www.silverson.co.uk
Silverson’s
Giveaway can be dramatically cut
The ColorWorks C8000e label printer targets in-house, on-demand needs
Packaging solutions for food, beverage, dairy products, and dairy alternatives
IMA serves the international industries with the best platforms and machines, consistently providing tailored technologies for the packaging of cheese, butter, margarine, dressings & sauces, sweet spreads, yoghurt, desserts, UHT milk and more. From stand-alone machines to fully-integrated solutions, our advanced technologies and expert consultancy ensure tailored support for every need, from primary to end of line packaging solutions.
Make the most, with us.
IMA Dairy & Food UK Ltd • ben.todd@ima.it ima.it/foodanddairy
Installation News PPMA Show Preview
Forum panel will discuss reticence to adopt robotics
What would make UK food businesses adopt more robots?
This is the question that food industry and automation experts will be answering during a panel discussion organised by the UK Automation Forum. The debate takes place on the second day of the PPMA Show, at 11am on 25 September.
The panel will discuss the positive impact that adopting automation can have on the food sector, while also sharing top tips and learnings that help to ensure successful outcomes.
This will be the sixth event run by the UK Automation Forum, the brainchild of PPMA Show organisers Automate UK, that has a remit to bring together industry experts, end users, policy makers and suppliers from across the industry, to discuss various topics and challenges relating to the adoption of automation technology in the UK.
The Forum events have covered a wide range of topics over the year, starting with: How greater adoption of automation will bene t the UK; What the Government must do to drive manufacturing growth in UK PLC; Why a change in culture will bene t productivity in this country; How do we bridge the skills gap in UK manufacturing; and How to open doors to nance in manufacturing.
There have been many learnings and takeaways from these events, which is why the discussion at the PPMA Show should provide useful information for visitors from the food industry wishing to adopt automation.
Delivering a strong voice
The expert panel at Automation UK discussed ideas on how industry can bridge the skills gap, and included:
(L-R) Oliver Selby of Fanuc, Chris Rooum of the MTC and Mike Loughran of Rockwell Automation
Employees buy-in to new automation projects is central to making projects successful
At the rst event, the panel tackled the myths surrounding robot usage that are o en barriers to their adoption. A key learning was that robots don’t replace jobs, they ll vacancies. Make UK estimates that there are 60,000 vacancies in manufacturing in the UK at the moment. They do, however, replace dirty, dangerous, and demanding jobs which o en gives employees the chance to be retrained into other, more rewarding areas in a factory.
Other learnings from events have included how the Government could facilitate the adoption of automation by helping to make nance more available, and cheaper, across hardware, so ware and engineering support while also helping to adjust the attitude of educators and parents to what manufacturing
rms look like in 2024 and the opportunities they o er.
Meanwhile, it was felt that education must adapt to the needs of current manufacturing businesses which can be addressed by educators themselves, as well as individual rms engaging with local schools and colleges on a regular basis. Indeed, manufacturers should engage with many local groups to become a valued part of their communities, and therefore an attractive place to work.
Finally, it was agreed that the workforce is central to technology adoption and are the key to making the best of automation. At the same time, a more diverse workforce is also critical to the manufacturing sector’s success in the future.
T 020 8773 8111
W www.ukautomationforum.com
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PPMA Show Preview
System offers improved quality for case-coders
Engelmann & Buckham (E&B) is set to launch the UC22, the latest inkjet coder from Norwix, which it claims will transform the landscape of case-coding, removing the need for labels, and instead o ering quality direct printing.
Print-and-apply onto cases and cartons is traditionally plagued with quality issues, says E&B. The UC22 addresses these issues, o ering e ciency, exibility and reliability, while also greatly reducing the initial and ongoing costs. This makes high-quality coding accessible to all, it claims.
New regulations for trackand-trace, such as ‘Sunrise 27’, loom on the horizon, E&B points out, and the demand for impeccable print quality and robust performance is greater than ever. The UC22 rises to meet this demand, it says, o ering a comprehensive solution designed, developed, and manufactured in the USA, and powered by HP’s cuttingedge TIJ 4.0 thermal inkjet technology.
“At E&B, we are committed to nding the best case coding solutions for our customers,” says managing director Michael Lindsay. “The UC22 represents a signi cant leap forward for the packaging industry.”
Also on the stand will be: Volpak standup pouch and sachet machines; Senzani equipment, from its range of cartoning, case-packing and end-of-line systems, with a view to streamlining packaging operations and
enhancing productivity; and Trascar automated warehouse technology, with its ability to transform storage and retrieval processes, and its focus on e ciency and accuracy.
The custom-engineered IntegraCON conveyor will be shown integrated with the UC22, and IntegraMATERIALS will show a range of sustainable packaging materials.
STAND C60
W www.buckham.co.uk
Materials handling and transportation for bulk materials
Volkmann will be using the show to demonstrate a variety of equipment, both operating and static, dedicated to the transportation and handling of bulk materials, typically using vacuum conveying.
The company says it offers customers from the chemical, food processing and pharmaceutical industries, among others, high-quality solutions using industry-recognised standards for individually-planned and -produced systems for the safe, hygienic, and user-friendly handling of powders and bulk materials.
Volkmann boasts a professional and creative team, it says, and consistently produces new and better solutions for itself and its customers which can be manufactured with the company’s modern machinery and lean manufacturing principles.
STAND K10
W volkmann.info
Vacuum conveyors will feature
The UC22’s quality will transform the landscape of case-coding, says E&B
PPMA Show Preview
Tried-and-trusted is best proof of quality
Bradman Lake will be giving pride of place to established and proven packaging technologies at the show: the FT120 Flow Wrapper and SL903 End Load Cartoner, enhanced with the latest updates.
The SL903 is a fully-automatic end-load cartoner capable of handling a wide range of cartons and products, including lower-grade carton materials, with easy, fast and repeatable size changes. It is available with various product infeed and collating systems for total automation with upstream equipment. The machine can also be equipped with outfeed conveyors to seamlessly integrate with case-packing, shrink-wrapping, and palletising, also provided by Bradman Lake Group.
A wide range of optional features, including a low-level carton hopper, are available to enable the machines to be readily adapted to meet the customer’s speci c requirements.
The FT120 Flow Wrapper will be in action on the stand, now featuring the latest integrated sealing module designed for horizontal sealing. This enhancement elevates the standards
of sealing precision, says the company, and improves overall performance when working with both paper and eco-friendly recycled packaging lms.
Features include a robust end-crimp sealing module that provides hot or cold seal options. Changeover is said to take less than 15 minutes and requires only a single operator, making the system simple to operate and maintain, with the ability to accommodate a wide range of product sizes.
Unique to Bradman Lake is the So Jaw technology, which prevents misplaced products from jamming in the end seal jaws. Automatic reel-to-reel splicing is another standard feature of the machine. STAND C100 W www.bradmanlake.com
Project management firm celebrates 20 years of operations – and success
Engineering project management company FEG Global is marking 20 years in business this summer, and will be celebrating this anniversary, and a selection of its successes, at this year’s show.
Based in the North East of England, the business provides engineering and project management services to a variety of sectors across the globe, including food, manufacturing, power, pharma and chemicals & plastics. It has delivered projects for companies such as Chemviron, Kimberly-Clark, McVitie’s, Mölnlycke and The Centre for Process Innovation.
Managing director Chris Williams says the business started as just a small team of
A Liquid Gas Contact Scrubber addressing odour
The SL903 end-load cartoner
Dutch equipment supplier is underlining board’s benefits
Boix Europe will be demonstrating its tray- and box-forming – as well as box-closing –machines, and highlighting how they can produce customised board packaging perfectly tailored to product dimensions.
The company says the flexibility of its systems allows for processing various packaging formats at high outputs, and explains that they can be installed in-line or in standalone automatic operation, maximising efficiency and adaptability.
Tray assembly is quick and accurate
Companies that have integrated its machines have experienced significant benefits, says Boix, adding that its advanced systems are designed to automate and optimise the packaging process. They are faster and more accurate than manual methods, it says, minimising the risk of product damage and downtime. Boix also supplies machines with automated changeover, depending on the model and size, eliminating risks to do with lost production.
Boix Europe is a subsidiary of Spanish machine manufacturer Boix Maquinaria.
The Dutch-based equipment supplier offers other options, including a fully-automatic board pallet machine producing lightweight board units able to support dynamic loads up to 1,200kg.
www.boix.com/en
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PPMA Show Preview
Stretch film will deliver benefits VFFS and HFFS in first for UK show
Excelerate will be showcasing its latest innovations in the stretch lm market, aiming to demonstrate how a simple change in materials can revolutionise packing and production processes.
Using the company’s stretch lms can mean signi cant cost reductions, it says, while simultaneously enhancing e ciency and product quality, especially utilising its ExcelAir perforated stretch lms, allowing products to breathe.
The team claims to have invested heavily in research and development, and to understand the challenges that come with packing and production, re ecting this in its innovations, which are tailored to address these issues head-on.
The company’s experts will be on hand to provide detailed demonstrations, answer any questions and o er insights into how integrating its products into a given work ow can lead to immediate and long-term bene ts for that business.
Whether end users are looking to improve the capabilities of a manufacturing operation, increase load stability or streamline entire packaging process, Excelerate says its stretch lms o er a comprehensive solution that meets a wide range of needs. The end result can be packaging and packing operations that are more e cient, more cost-e ective and more reliable, it claims.
STAND C101
W www.excelerateltd.com
PFM will be celebrating its sixtieth anniversary by showing two machines for the rst time in the UK, one vertical formll-seal the other horizontal, while also presenting its broader range across owwrapping, bag-making and multihead weighers.
The new RQ700 bagmaker is capable of producing pillow, block-bottom, Steelo (four-corner seals) and Doy-style packs on the same machine. Changeover times have been drastically reduced to approximately three minutes thanks to the Quick Release Module (QRM) system, says PFM. The QRM sealing unit is simply pulled out of position and replaced with a second unit already
equipped with all the necessary components for the next bag format.
The RQ700 will be displayed with an MBP-14C2 multihead weigher.
On the horizontal side, the PFM Scirocco BA is specially designed for wrapping meat and other di cult-to-handle products at high speed. When equipped with the new-design n seal assembly comprising four sets of fullyadjustable sealing wheels, the Scirocco has greater control of sealing pressure and temperature. This is especially important when working with the latest sustainable wrapping materials to produce hermetically-sealed packs.
C20
www.pfmuk.com
Excelerate’s perforated stretch films
The RQ700 bagmaker from PFM
your gluing solutions partner your gluing solutions partner your gluing
Micron+ range guarantees the best melting efficiency with advanced usability thanks to its 4.0 control and its full connectivity options.
Installation News
Weighing expertise and traysealing fill the stand PPMA Show Preview
Exhibits on the Ishida stand will include the “topof-the-range” CCW-AS multihead weigher and the “unique” Fresh Food Weigher (FFW), says the company, as it turns the spotlight on the versatility of its weigher ranges, along with the recentlylaunched IX-PD x-ray inspection system and QX-500 traysealer.
“Our PPMA stand will highlight our diverse capabilities across all areas of weighing, packing and quality control, and our experts will be on hand to discuss speci c automation requirements as well as how our equipment can be integrated to deliver ‘wall-to-wall’ solutions,” says general sales manager for the UK Paul Hitchin.
A
high-accuracy CCW-AS multihead
while maintaining close to 100% weighing accuracy and consistency.
The recently-introduced CCW-AS multihead range helps manufacturers achieve the highest weighing speeds, Ishida claims,
The range is designed with powerful, highly responsive radial feeders which provide more conveying power than conventional feeders to increase speed and accuracy, and reduce product giveaway, says the company. Compared
with previous models, there is a 20% reduction in energy consumption.
The IX-PD x-ray inspection system incorporates new sensor and image processing technology to achieve the highest level of detection sensitivity, says Ishida, and can accurately identify both low-density and very small size foreign bodies, such as bones in sh llets and stainless steel wires.
A er winning the Innovative Packaging Machinery category in last year’s PPMA Awards, the QX-500 traysealer makes its debut at this year’s show. It delivers a 66% increase in cycle speed, and major cuts in pack size and energy consumption.
STAND B50
W www.ishidaeurope.com
Servo denester can handle plastics and board tray material
The handling skills of the twin servo C Series denester, combining rotary and intermittent pick motion, will play a lead role on the Partners in Packaging (PiP) stand.
Using the latest Mitsubishi servo technology, the versatile C Series-twin enables a wide range of board, foil and plastics trays, pots, tubs and lids to be denested.
“We work with our customers together with their tray suppliers to overcome any issues prior to machine delivery,” says Duncan Macintyre, director at PiP.
Also shown will be PiP’s A Series reciprocating motion denester, available in a range of standard widths and configurable to suit most applications.
STAND E122
W partnersinpackaging.com
Fresh options include predictive maintenance toolkit and vision systems from sensors to modular 3D smart cameras
Ballu will have a range of products to show, from sensor technology – including the latest fork sensors – to vision systems, RFID, IO-Link and options for automated inventory management and predictive maintenance.
Today’s manufacturing processes increasingly depend on predictive maintenance, where Ballu has its all-in-one Condition Monitoring Toolkit (CMTK). The CMTK can be easily retro tted to any machine
Multiple products will be on display
or system, says the supplier, and includes everything needed to monitor machines or processes.
When it comes to vision, Ballu o ers its latest Vision Sensor with integrated industrial image processing. The key advantage, it says, is its ability to perform multiple detections simultaneously and make complex brightness and shape distinctions.
Meanwhile, Ballu ’s 3D Smart Camera is equipped with a powerful GPU, and allows on-board stereo processing and the option to extend it with application-speci c modules. With these modules,
pick-and-place, palletisation and 3D environment scanning can be achieved.
Also on the stand will be Ballu ’s wireless handheld RFID scanner, able to read and write RFID tags as well as read 1D/2D barcodes, all within the familiar shape of a smartphone.
A full range of sensors and connectivity, including a variety of robust IP67 fork sensors, will be on show.
STAND H40 W www.ballu .com
Twin servos drive the denester
PPMA Show Preview
Process options include UV light
Sycamore Process Engineering, specialising in dairy, food and beverage processing, from CIP, pasteurisation and membrane ltration to import and export and other custom systems, will use the show as an opportunity to present its partnership with ultraviolet (UV) innovator Lyras.
The UK company describes Lyras as having reinvented pasteurisation by using UV light to deactivate microorganisms in opaque liquids. The technique combines the UV light with a turbulent ow. Compared with standard alternatives, Sycamore says
this technology can reduce energy consumption by 60-90% and water usage by 60-80%, while increasing product quality.
Collaborative partners Wa lin Systems specialises in the seamless integration of membrane ltration technology into Sycamore’s wider systems, and will be showcasing a new membrane ltration pilot plant which can be used to determine optimum speci cations.
Meanwhile, Au2mate will be present to discuss automation of end-to-end processes. STAND D60
Print labels and apply them, too
Alongside the new Epson ColorWorks C8000 industrial colour label printer and the A nia X350 digital roll-to-roll label press, AM Labels will be showing a selection of LabelPack applicators, including the Panda print-andapply system.
Among LabelPack systems on show will also be the fully-automatic Label X JR applicator as well as the innovative Panda. Visitors can learn how the range of wipe-on applicators can support businesses in accelerating operations and increasing e ciency, says AM. A linerless option from Arca will also feature.
1 to 4 inches, when compared to the C7500G.
Working demonstrations can also be o ered on the A nia X350, which boasts a user-friendly 21-inch touchscreen interface with cloud-based RIP so ware,
LabelPack’s Panda print-and-apply unit
The Epson C8000 o ers enhanced print quality, says the company, which allows for the production of vibrant, high-gloss images, and increased exibility by supporting print widths from
meaning it is ideal for complex label designs. With a print speed of 18 inches per second, AM claims it boosts productivity. The roll width of 350mm and the easy-to-use interface provide exibility for a variety of applications, it adds.
STAND A23
W amlabels.co.uk
Visitors will see compact MAP traysealer in action, with its augmented reality tool, along with flange-free seal option
In the spotlight on the G.Mondini stand will be the Cigno modi ed atmosphere (MAP) gas- ush traysealer, alongside speci c capabilities such as the INSeal ange-free sealing system for reduced plastics consumption.
The Cigno delivers unrivalled exibility with no compromise on performance, says Mondini, with a compact footprint, plug-and-play setup, essential engineering and simple operation. The ergonomic design ensures
downtime is kept to an absolute minimum, it adds, thanks to the die change systems which
can be converted quickly and easily to accommodate multiple pack formats.
There will be live demonstrations of the Cigno throughout the show.
The system is further supported by Mondini’s innovative augmented reality (AR) tool, said to combine virtual reality with reality to deliver remote assistance capabilities, among many other bene ts.
INSeal is designed to minimise plastics waste
without the on-costs o en associated with this type of strategy. By eliminating the ange distortion during both the loading and sealing processes, it o ers an aesthetically-pleasing presentation of products on retail shelves, says the company, while cutting down on plastics usage compared to traditional packaging. Samples will be available to view on the stand.
STAND D74
W www.gmondini.com
An installation at Arla Foods Taw Valley shows Sycamore’s end-to-end skills
The Cigno is a highly flexible system
New Machinery
PPMA Show Preview
Join in with their
25th anniversary
Leicestershire-based food and dairy machinery supplier Machinery World Group (MWG) is inviting customers old and new to visit its stand at the PPMA Show this year to help celebrate 25 years of trading.
It began life in 1999, initially with just one member of sta – founder Paul Crowter – with a strong belief in building relationships face-to-face. It was one of the rst machinery companies to develop a website.
“The website gave us
Riggs MU M-J 2022
the opportunity to match customers with the best machinery for their individual needs,” explains Crowter. MWG also acted as the UK agent for overseas suppliers.
In 2007, MWG launched its own branded processing machinery range, which now accounts for over a quarter of its business. Five years ago, it diversi ed its range to better serve wider food processing beyond dairy, where it started.
STAND C64
W www.machineryworld.com
Spiral system and ultrasonic cutting
As the UK agent for 10 di erent leading industrial machinery suppliers, Quest Equipment will be showing the latest systems for processing and packaging in sectors including bakery, confectionery and pharmaceuticals, with two pieces of equipment on the stand.
From intake and storage of raw materials, through mixing, processing and wrapping, the company says it can supply complete turnkey lines.
The Doeinghaus Ultracut Filou will be in operation on the stand, demonstrating ultrasonic cutting technology. According to Quest, this cuts cleanly and precisely through so , multi-layered or frozen products. Round and square items can be cut into individual portions, including triangles, with adjustable speeds to suit speci c requirements. The company
says it can o er multiheaded machines to increase capacity.
Quest will also be displaying Tecnopool’s spiral system, which o ers solutions for the processing of food products from -40 to +300°C and can be used
pasteurising, proving, baking, and product handling. Since it is not centrally drum-driven, says the company, this allows very exible layouts with low infeed and outfeed and a very highly compact footprint.
STAND A20
W www.questequipment.co.uk
On-stand demonstrations will span a wide range of systems
Ulma Packaging will be ring up a crosssection of what it says is the most comprehensive range of packaging machinery available in the market, and which includes ow-wrapping, vertical formll-seal (VFFS), traysealing, thermoforming and wider process automation.
Managing director James Couldwell is looking forward to highlighting Ulma’s latest technical progress.
“Our live demonstrations will provide a unique opportunity for visitors to see the e ciency and quality of our machines in real-time,” he says.
Multiple demonstrations are planned
Among machines operating on the stand will be the versatile VTI 528 vertical bagger, designed for the packing of a wide variety of products such as frozen foods, snacks, fresh produce and many other products. In addition, Ulma will be showcasing one of its high-performance tray sealers, the TSA 680S, capable of producing MAP and skin packs.
Demonstrating its horizontal ow-wrapper range, Ulma will be running a rotary jaw FR 200, a box-motion Sienna running paper and an FM 300 X. Completing the line-up is the versatile TFS 200 MSV thermoforming machine.
Sustainability and Ulma’s WeCare initiative will also gure prominently.
STAND B20
www.ulmapackaging.co.uk
Installation News
PPMA Show Preview
Multiple facets of smart, fast and efficient automation will impress
Industrial automation specialist Omron will be presenting many facets of a smarter, faster, more e cient future of manufacturing at this year’s show, with events and demonstrations to run over the three days highlighting how data, traceability, and robotics can be utilised to build 21st Century manufacturing practices and processes.
Regional general manager at Omron Industrial Automation Europe Sam Tilley argues that exible manufacturing is ushering in the biggest shi in industry since Henry Ford imagined the assembly line, making this an extremely exciting time.
“Automation, robotics, and data analytics are all playing a crucial role in this transformation, and it is imperative that we understand how these technologies can work synergistically to build the agile, customer needfocused future,” he says.
Visual demonstrations on the stand will include
examples of how roboticdriven exible manufacturing can enable rapid format changes with high levels of quality control and traceability. Others will show how capturing and analysing manufacturing data can provide traceability, enhancing quality control and generating actionable insights for informed decision making, says Omron.
On the arti cial intelligence (AI) side, equipment set up on the stand will illustrate how
AI visual inspection can work in lockstep with Digimarc digital watermarking. This can help to prevent mismatched components and mislabelled products, says Omron, while increasing production speed and e ciency, and streamlining the distribution and ful lment of packaged goods.
Separately, the company will show how AI visual inspection can detect defects in uniform background objects, enabling automatic,
human eye-like quality control without complicated setup.
In terms of product demonstrations, Omron says it will have its highspeed Delta robot working on the stand, showing what it calls its “pioneering” conveyor-tracking functionality for faster and more exible picking and packaging applications.
Omron says it will also host a schedule of talks and lectures from some of the leading experts in its eld across the three days of the show. The main topic areas will be exible manufacturing and AI in manufacturing. All talks will be displayed on the 85-inch screen on the stand.
The company says its team will also be on hand throughout to provide information and answer questions about the range of products, and how they t into the evolution of manufacturing.
STAND B34
W industrial.omron.eu
Strapping and wrapping equipment will respond to every requirement from recycled paper to pallet stability needs
Gordian Strapping will be demonstrating a veritable battery of strapping and wrapping equipment at the show.
This will include the StraPack SQ-800 running 100% recycled paper. This, says Gordian, showcases the company’s commitment to sustainability. The system is known for its high-speed operation and reliability, it
adds, making it the ideal choice for ecofriendly businesses. For semiautomatic pallet strapping there is the D-53PLT2B, described as being e cient, reliable and user-friendly while improving the security of pallet loads.
Shown for the rst time in
the UK will be the StraPack NBS Tandem, which increases throughput and minimises downtime, and is said to be ideal for high-volume packaging environments.
Designed for even the most demanding applications, Gordian has the robust OMS 08 strapping machine, which it says is engineered for durability, precision and –once again – reliability.
As a more automated option, the company has its PKG Discovery A, which is said to
o er exibility and e ciency, suitable for a wide range of packaging needs and sizes. Finally, in another ‘ rst’ for the UK – and Europe –the PKG Discovery will be shown with the Zephyr automatic lm hooking system, which uses air for the application of the lm at the start of wrapping. There is no need to manually apply the lm to the pallet, making it safer and easier to use.
STAND G30
W www.gordianstrapping.com
The SQ-800 will run recycled paper
Equipment on the stand will demonstrate how digital watermarks operate
PPMA Show Preview
Three-way valve means better flow rate control
On the Schubert & Salzer stand, the spotlight will fall on the rst three-way ball sector valve for optimum control of the ow rate of liquids and gases.
In many industrial processes, three-way valves perform the important function of mixing or splitting owing media, says the company, claiming to have a ‘world rst’ in this type of three-way ball sector valve.
Head of mechanical design and development Reiner Wolf explains the bene ts in terms of the ow volume measured through a fully open valve (Kvs).
“Our approach of using the ball sector design for threeway valves is completely new,” he says. “In this way, we achieve about 20% higher Kvs values than three-way valves with a conventional design.”
These high ow rates are achieved through the special design of the ball sector and the valve body, he explains. The resulting straight ow in one direction and the minimised ow de ection
in the other result in the very high and almost identical Kvs values.
According to the company, superior control accuracy is ensured by the optimised contour of the ball sector and its backlash-free bearing, together with the actuator and positioner. The positioning angle of 90 degrees enables a very large control range to be achieved. The rangeability is 300:1.
The three-way ball sector valve hits high flow rates
The forces of the owing media are completely absorbed by the bearing sha s of the three-way ball sector valves, it adds.
The actuator can be attached to the upper or lower sha end. This results in a particularly high degree of exibility in adapting to di erent installation situations.
STAND G70
W controlsystems.schubertsalzer.com
Linerless labelling for food products will debut at show
Bizerba will be exhibiting a comprehensive range of critical control point (CCP) equipment at the show, with a lineup that will include advanced x-ray systems, metal detection units, checkweighers, and combination systems, all compliant with the latest retail Codes of Practice. The company says it will also showcase its multi-tasking vision systems, designed to detect and reject incorrect, missing, or poorly-applied labels, incorrect data, poor seals, and leaking packs.
New at the show will be Bizerba’s Linerless Labelling System, which the company believes will be a game-changer for the food industry.
The company says its labels are of the highest quality and “proudly produced in the UK”. STAND C94 W www.bizerba.com
X-ray inspection will be on show
UV laser with inkjet coding
Macsa id UK will be highlighting a wide range of advanced coding and marking equipment, including the high-speed SPA2 NANO UV laser and its idTIJ thermal inkjet printer.
The company says the UV laser system o ers high-contrast, damage-free operation, clean and uniform marking, making it suitable for di cult substrates including exible packaging lms.
The compact and lightweight system is simple to install, Macsa claims, and boasts digital galvos and drivers which, together with a new dual processor, facilitate easy integration in the most demanding production lines.
MATERIAL-AGNOSTIC
The laser can mark multiple materials with similar parameters, reducing the need for operator intervention and increasing line uptime and e ciency. It is capable of generating greater contrast for more appealing aesthetics and improved readability of 2D codes. Through suppressed heat e ects, burns and yellow tinting are eliminated, the company says.
The spot size can be
narrowed if required, allowing high-resolution marking when space is limited. Instead of the more common analogue scanner, the NANO UV uses a digital scanner which enables a new approach to control, and incorporates QuickFont. This is said to allow faster marking without loss of quality across the 330mm x 330mm coding area. Operation is via a touchscreen terminal.
There will be live demonstrations of a conveyormounted model of what it says is its low-cost idTIJ thermal inkjet printer. The company highlights its ease-of-use and low-maintenance bene ts, saying it is aimed at fast, high resolution applications.
The idTIJ accurately and consistently reproduces barcodes, alphanumeric texts, 2D codes, dates, logos and graphics on to virtually any porous or non-porous surface, it reports, including cardboard, blister packs, PE and HDPE. The system incorporates an intuitive 10” colour touchscreen.
Macsa’s a ordable SPARK small character laser coder and Fiber laser coder for marking aluminum beverage cans will also be on show. STAND E52
www.macsa.com/uk
The UV laser on show can use similar parameters over multiple substrates
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PPMA Show Preview
Integrated x-ray offers many new advantages
Unveiled for the rst time at the PPMA Show will be Fortress Technology’s latest response to food safety concerns, the Icon X-ray inspection system.
This is a fully-integrated system equipped with internal view cameras and an automatic reject device to optimise oor space. The innovative features of this high-speed system are designed to signi cantly enhance processing e ciency, consumer safety and contaminant detection in hygienic, high-care food production facilities, says Fortress.
“The Icon is truly an inspection gamechanger,” says sales director Phil Brown. “It adds a new level of food safety and traceability now no longer reserved for the most elite food brands.”
and immediately address any operational bottlenecks, says Fortress.
Processors can utilise optional transparent high-density windows on the sliding access panels that fully shield operators from x-rays as they observe the inspection process. The 6mm-thick stainless steel cabinet comes equipped with proper shielding, mitigating the costs associated with post-purchase safety modi cations.
Inspecting and rejecting packaged chilled, baked and confectionery products, the Icon X-ray deploys Fortress Technology’s proprietary IA+ algorithm. This gives the machine what the company calls its “unmatchable processing and detection power” to adapt to variable-density products that present with metal, ceramic, glass and high-density plastic contaminants. IA+ also enables food processors to add future machine-learning features.
Prioritising user safety, and with a constant inspection throughput of up to 200ppm, depending on product size and application, the Icon X-ray features internal cameras to monitor product status
Robust, hygienic and easy to clean, the Icon X-ray also includes a fully-enclosed, maintenance-free air-cooled generator. As well as maximising detection sensitivity, this generator is said to signi cantly extend the lifespan of the x-ray generator. Fortress highlights the Icon X-ray’s “ultrahygienic” design, with bevelled, easy-clean surfaces to promote water run-o , speed up drying time and prevent cross-contamination. Fully-contained panels ensure that no cables are exposed to dust and other particulates. As a result, the Icon’s framework can withstand repeated, high-pressure, hightemperature jet sprays, washdowns or steam-cleaning procedures. The electrical panels are also dust-tight and safeguard components from moisture damage.
Additional time-saving sanitation features include easily-removable magnetic x-ray curtains, a quick release tight- tting conveyor and IP69k-rated sensors.
The Icon X-ray incorporates internal cameras to monitor throughput and to identify any bottlenecks
The stainless steel is 6mm thick
PPMA Show Preview
Supplier offers thermal inkjet expertise and skilled support
Rotech Machines, which sees itself as a pioneer in thermal inkjet (TIJ) technology, will be presenting its range of printers and o ering insights into what it says in an increasingly popular coding technology, along with the feeder systems that help to make them e cient.
Rotech emphasises the bene ts of its long experience in TIJ, and its willingness to discuss the challenges related to late-stage product customisation. “Our expertise lies in the correct application of TIJ technology to meet customer needs, from printer and ink selection to installation and interfacing,” explains general manager Richard Pether. “Acquiring a printer is easy; getting it to work to its maximum advantage takes expertise.”
Not every supplier of TIJ systems has this level of knowledge, or the necessary a ercare provision, as sales manager Steve Ryan explains.
“Although we all agree
that the technology is an excellent choice for various applications, when not installed correctly, or not supported by a knowledgeable team, it could easily be labelled with the same negativity associated with more expensive, servicehungry and unreliable technologies,” he says.
“This is where Rotech excels. We have industryleading knowledge, extensive experience with installing and supporting these systems
across an array of di erent industry sectors and can provide a full range of system options.”
With over 1,000 UK installations under its belt, Rotech says it rst recognised the potential of TIJ in the packaging industry more than two decades ago. Since then, it has been advocating its bene ts: clean operation, maintenance-free functionality and the ability to produce excellent quality print.
The evolution of TIJ technology took a signi cant leap forward around 2008, the company recalls, with the development of inks that adhere well to standard packaging materials. Rotech was at the forefront of development, implementing some of the rst installations for printing on blister pack foil and ow-wrap lms.
The Rotech stand will also feature a selection of feeding systems designed and built in the UK, used for applying variable information to packaging o ine.
These feeders are manufactured to handle a variety of at-form substrates with ease, says Rotech, o ering a high-speed, coste ective way of coding away from the main production line. Products will include the entry-level RF Lite feeder and the newly redesigned RF Auto, a heavy-duty feeder capable of handling products of varying thicknesses.
STAND A31
W www.rotechmachines.com
Polybag case-liner for bulk products eliminates the need for pre-made bags and teams up with hot air bag-sealing
OK International Corporation will be focusing on two pieces of equipment: the Superliner SL220 Case Liner, as part of polybag-in-box inserter systems for bulk packing lines, and the Supersealer SS2-TS hot air bag-sealer.
The company explains that its bag-inserter machines eliminate the need for pre-made bags, resulting in a more e cient packaging line and fewer waste products, claiming they make it easy to scale operations as a
The Supersealer SS2-TS will feature
company grows.
The SL220 forms bags from a roll of gusseted polyethylene tubing or handles pre-sealed
bags on a roll, places the bag into a case, crate or other container and cu s the bag over the edges. This creates a hygienically-lined container ready for bulk lling with a variety of food and non-food products, says the company. The machine is available in several versions including a servo design suitable for speeds of up to 24 cases per minute, depending on the application.
The company’s Sealer Division will show the Supersealer SS2-TS, its new rotary hot air bag-sealer. With its stainless-steel construction in combination with advanced air ow and touchscreen PLC, it is said to ensure excellent performance in demanding applications. The bag-sealer will run up to 80 feet per minute, says OK, and will seal materials up to 10 mils.
STAND A76
W www.okcorp.com
Single print-head TIJ coding for form-fill-seal sachet material at Kings Seeds
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In the UK, over 10 million tonnes of food waste are produced annually, worth an estimated £21.8 billion. Households account for 60% of this waste, but food manufacturing is responsible for 13%, equating to 1.4 million tonnes valued at £850 million each year.
This waste not only represents a signifi cant environmental impact but also a substantial fi nancial loss. With greater awareness and tighter regulations, the pressure is on for food manufacturers to adopt more sustainable waste management practices.
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Are you ready to transform your approach to waste management? Book a free waste review with us today or call us on 01438 745307. Discover how we can help you save money, protect the environment, and turn waste into a resource.
Visit us at stand J34 at the PPMA Show and meet our team of experts. Let’s work together to make your business greener and more profitable.
PPMA Show Preview
Nitrile gloves among items now part of detectable plastics range
BST Detectable Products counts itself a trailblazer in the concept of plastics detectable in both metal detection and x-ray inspection for over the past 40 years or so, and will be showcasing innovations at this year’s event including nitrile gloves.
As managing director John Teasdale explains, any accidental introduction of these items into food can be swi ly identi ed and removed.
“The introduction of our new detectable nitrile gloves marks a signi cant advancement in our product o erings,” he says.
“These gloves not only enhance food safety by being easily detectable but also provide a safer and more comfortable alternative for workers in the food industry.”
In fact, over the last twelve months alone, the company says it has expanded its product portfolio with seven new items.
Specialising in metaldetectable, x-ray-visible, shatter-resistant, and antibacterial food-safe products, BST says its innovative products are trusted worldwide by food industry experts to help mitigate the risk of foreign body contamination.
Its extensive product line includes detectable stationery, tools, scrapers, jugs, scoops, and more. STAND J40
www.bst-detectable.com
New products have joined the range
Installation News
Thermal processes open up multiple new options
In today’s competitive landscape, Holmach says it will be empowering manufacturers to achieve more with less at the show, with a range of thermal processing technologies helping manufacturers extend product shelf-life and improve product quality, while minimising unit costs and meeting ambitious sustainability targets.
“At PPMA 2024, we expect to see a strong focus on trends that empower manufacturers to be more e cient and meet evolving retailer and consumer demands,” says managing director Christopher Holland.
“This includes a surge in shelf-stable ambient products, allowing for wider retail distribution and reduced costs compared to their chilled and frozen counterparts.”
He adds: “Based on our recent projects, we’re also expecting to see a rise in artisan producers seeking solutions to extend shelf
life while maintaining that ‘homemade’ quality.”
Due to rising factory space costs, the trend is moving towards versatile technologies that can adapt to di erent product types and packaging designs, Holland says, maximising production e ciency within a limited footprint.
Examples include Roboqbo’s universal processing system. This is a versatile, compact and powerful tool that can be used to create a wide variety of products from pesto sauce
and risotto, through to mascara and face cream. It can cook, cool, concentrate, knead, re ne, cut, mix, homogenise and pulverise in one single unit.
Leading food manufacturers are looking to Per nox’s end-to-end Per process solutions for cooking, cooling, CIP, and rapid heating and cooling, says Holmach, while Mengibar’s multi-stream swirl ll technology is said to be ideal for premium cosmetics and personal care.
STAND C30
W www.holmach.co.uk
Adapter grommets will snap into most keystone modules
The show will see cable management specialist icotek launch its new AT-KS-AK adapter grommets designed for keystone modules and equipped with a protective cover to ensure compliance up to IP54. The component is based on the proven icotek KT cable grommet and enables the easy snappingin of almost all modules based on the keystone system. The polyamide body provides a stable and secure base for the modules used, says icotek. A cover protects the interface and can be sealed for additional security. If necessary, the modules can be unlocked using a screwdriver. This makes the AT-KS-AK a versatile solution that can be used to route pre-assembled cables and interface connectors.
E34
www.icotek.co.uk
High-speed box-motion machine takes centre-stage among latest flow-wrap equipment, buffering and infeed systems
Exclusive distributor of Fuji’s horizontal ow-wrapping equipment in the UK and Ireland, Paramount Packaging Systems is returning to the PPMA Show this September with its latest machinery from the Japanese company’s Alpha 8 packaging series.
The FW3410B and the FW3710BS/B both operate with an ‘attachless’ infeed conveyor. The company invites visitors to explore how they provide versatile and e cient solutions for diverse packaging needs.
The Alpha 8 range boasts a number of di erent models, each designed with a common electrical system, easy-to-use human-machine interface (HMI) and equipped with six completely computercontrolled servo motors for precise control. This series is engineered to accommodate various product types and packaging requirements across
all industries, ensuring a perfect t for every application, says Paramount.
Key highlights of the Alpha 8 range include the 3-side seal,
4-side seal, and the highspeed box motion machines. The high-speed box-motion model can achieve up to 400 hermetically-sealed packs per minute, says Paramount, claiming this makes it the fastest boxmotion machine currently available on the market.
To complement the Fuji owwrappers, Paramount o ers an extensive range of infeed and bu ering systems.
STAND F20
W paramount-packaging.co.uk
An Alpha 8 machine
A seal on the cover is an option
Many different heat process options will be present on the Holmach stand
PPMA Show Preview
Examples of workflow systems will be online
TaCards Direct is back at the PPMA Show a er a long hiatus, this year celebrating its 60th year of providing simple, cost-e ective work ow systems.
Most companies are familiar with the manual T Card Board for planning and coordinating tasks, and T Cards Direct has been at the forefront of providing bespoke systems for clients. Having a ‘Go to Board’ at your ngertips can help sta get on with their day-to-day business and assist with customer service.
Over the past 15 years, T Cards Direct has developed a simple Online system designed to be used like the tried-and-tested manual system. Clients o en need a clear and precise status of work, and this does exactly that but with all the bene ts and analysis tools available digitally. The latest release for T Cards Online is being showcased and will include some exciting new features.
On the stand, we will
demonstrate examples of how to manage work ow utilising simple tools such as daily, weekly planners or dedicated KANBAN boards keeping track of the status of tasks. In particular we will be showcasing the new table feature which forms part of an array of features that makes managing parts, job times and other key components
of projects simple, clear and easy to understand. In addition, the new Mirrored Cards feature will also be demonstrated, showing how di erent departments can view the same data in di erent processes.
The company is o ering a no-obligation 21-day trial.
STAND A55
W www.tcardsonline.co.uk
Anything from spare part to turnkey line from one-stop shop
As a leading supplier to the process industry, exhibitor Moody Direct says it takes great pride in providing customers with a comprehensive, ‘one-stop shop’ solution for all their processing needs. Those needs might involve a single spare part or a complete turnkey project. Officially representing some of the best-known original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the industry, Moody Direct will be displaying a small range of the broad spectrum of processing equipment it can supply, service, maintain, test, and encompass within a project.
Its technical sales and service team will also be available to discuss a customer’s individual requirements to find the right solution for that process.
As Moody points out, the PPMA Show provides its visitors with the chance to network and source new ideas and solutions with suppliers and technical experts all under one roof. Equipment supplied includes pumps, valves, liquid fillers, conveyors, pipework, tanks and vessels, heat-exchangers, pasteurisers, pipework and fittings.
STAND E12 W www.moodydirect.com
Broad range on display includes latest model of rotating cleaning nozzle for precisely-tuned kinematic operation
Lechler will be showing the latest addition to its already large portfolio of nozzles, the MeshClean+ rotating cleaning nozzle, which is said to reach every spot in the tank or area where it is installed.
According to Lechler, the system not only impresses with its uncompromising cleaning power but also sets new standards in terms of hygienic design, process reliability and service life.
The rotating cleaning nozzle of the MeshClean+ series is
The new nozzle is especially hygienic
designated cleaning e ciency class 5, designed to remove persistent soiling in small-tomedium-sized equipment, and
typically applied to the food and beverage, chemicals and pharmaceuticals industries.
The system works with specially developed solid jet nozzles, one of which directs a small amount of liquid towards the cleaner and ensures that even soiling on the MeshClean+ is reliably removed.
The cleaning liquid drives the spray head of these gear-controlled high-impact tank-cleaning machines. A patented spur gear ensures
not only the right speed but also su cient torque. Downtime is said to be almost a thing of the past.
With its precisely-tuned kinematics, the MeshClean+ generates a 360° impact and leaves no spot uncleaned, says Lechler. It achieves its optimum e ciency at low pressures, and is compatible with the HygienicFit adapter and rotation-monitoring sensor.
STAND F30
W www.lechler.com
The online system is simple to operate but offers additional analysis tools
The new product VisioPointer® is one of ree new Vision Inspection products from Minebea Intec and fur er enhances e already popular inspection portfolio. It is also one of e key products at helps drive automation wi in food production and manufacturing. Combined wi e Automatic Weigh Price Labeller WPL-A customers can automate eir entire end of production line where labelling plays a significant part of e manufacturing.
The new product VisioPointer® is one of ree new Vision Inspection products from Minebea Intec and fur er enhances e already popular inspection portfolio. It is also one of e key products at helps drive automation wi in food production and manufacturing. Combined wi e Automatic Weigh Price Labeller WPL-A customers can automate eir entire end of production line where labelling plays a significant part of e manufacturing.
Vacuum reactor builds efficiency
The show will see Fazendas Stainless Steel Engineering proudly present its advanced Vacuum Reactor, along with an introduction to its new website tailored to the needs of the food industry.
According to the Portuguese company, the Vacuum Reactor exempli es its dedication to manufacturing excellence.
Designed with precision from high-quality materials, it says, this reactor integrates stateof-the-art features that elevate e ciency, reliability, and safety in processing applications.
While meeting the needs of pharmaceuticals and food manufacturing customers, it ensures strict compliance with regulatory standards and maximises productivity, Fazendas says.
In what the company calls “an immersive experience”, visitors will see rsthand how the Vacuum Reactor transforms processing capabilities. Its team of experts will provide detailed insights into design principles,
The experience is an immersive one
operational advantages, and customisation options available with its products.
The new website will be a comprehensive resource for industry professionals seeking innovative solutions in food processing equipment, the company claims, re ecting its dedication to providing accessible technologies that enhance operational e ciency and compliance.
Fazendas has over 20 years’ experience in engineering, designing, producing, and installing process equipment for the pharmaceuticals and food industries.
STAND D94
W fazendas.pt
Drying machine is set to be unveiled
Secomak will launch a new drying machine which it says is the result of listening to customers and focuses on four key aspects: e ciency, ergonomics, economics and drying expectations.
Key account manager Rory Scapens believes the system will be a major success.
“Our new drying solution, developed from the ground up, addresses current market demands and enhances drying technology,” he says.
“With no part of the design featured in our previous machines, we’re set to deliver our customers energy savings and sustainability.”
The new dryer will feature
another innovation: a direct-driven version of the company’s existing 587 Turbo blower. This centrifugal fan o ers unrivalled performance and e ciency, says Secomak. The new direct-drive version is 60% smaller and virtually maintenance-free, it adds.
The company is also unveiling a signi cant upgrade to the 587 Turbo blowers used in its DryGuide machine. A er years of development with SKF Bearings, it has redesigned the impeller and bearing housing concept for centrifugal fans. Bene ts of the new Long Life Bearings include increased lifespan and 35% faster operation.
STAND A92 W www.secomak.com
An impeller using Long Life Bearings
Array spans transfer pumps and depositors covering many needs
Riggs Autopack is exhibiting a selection of its depositors, lling machines and transfer pumps, with options for manufacturers across a range of output volumes.
The Lancashire-based company designs and builds its depositors and lling machinery at its 50,000-square-foot factory, which incorporates the latest computer technology and CNC in design and production.
On the stand will be a range of Model 1000 depositors and transfer pumps, designed for hot or cold liquids, semi-liquids and products containing particulates.
Depositors cover a wide output range
The Model 1000 depositors are designed for artisans and start-ups planning to use a semi-automatic depositor for the rst time, through to companies using automatic depositors with conveyor systems, VFFS or rotary pot machines.
The Model 1000 transfer pumps are designed for small, medium or large-scale producers. These hygienic pumps keep production running and remove the need for an operator to manually ll depositor hoppers.
Riggs supplies primarily to the UK food sector, but also to other industries such as health and beauty, and pharmaceuticals.
A broad range of containers can be lled.
PPMA Show Preview
Four machinery brands span process and packaging needs
S3 Process will be demonstrating how it supplies process equipment, packaging technology and project support to customers in the UK and Ireland through its partnership with machinery manufacturers Christ, Aranow, Frewitt and Ystral.
The company says it plans to show a comprehensive suite of products designed to meet the highest standards of e ciency, precision, and reliability in a variety of industrial applications.
From cartoning and lmwrapping to case-packaging and palletising, Christ Packing Systems provides customers with exible, customised, secondary and end-of-line packaging systems, says S3. Located in Germany, it manufactures modular, standard machines that can be tailored to t perfectly with a speci c product and process. The FilmTeq series collates products and packs them in lm, using an innovative sealing system that
ensures products stay cool. The machine series boasts a tool-free format with a changeover time of under ve minutes, S3 reports.
Aranow’s sachet and stick pack machines are aimed at industries such as dairy, cosmetics and chemical, food and beverage, where accuracy and hygiene are paramount. Specialising in single-dose, stick-pack, at sachet and complete line packaging solutions, its packing machines can deal with any
type of product, S3 claims, of any texture (including viscous) and meet the protocols and safety standards of any sector. The UK company challenges visitors to nd a product that its technical team cannot put into a single-dose packet.
Frewitt supplies highquality milling systems, it says, as well as sieving, homogenising, deagglomerating, conveying, dosing and lling systems for powders, granulates and suspensions of every type.
The company’s conical sieve mill, rotary si er and hammer mill are said to be ideal for milling dried items, including for example probiotic nutritional supplements.
Ystral, meanwhile, is described as a leading manufacturer of mixing and dispersing technologies, focusing on high-shear mixing and powder-induction systems. Its mixing and dispersing technologies are designed to improve product homogeneity and stability, and are said to be ideal for the food and cosmetics industries. According to S3’s estimate, more than 5,000 di erent powders are currently being dispersed into liquid form by Ystral equipment around the world. By bringing together these leading brands, S3 Process aims to provide customers with the ideal solution for their processing needs, improve productivity and ensure compliance with stringent standards.
STAND F95
W www.s3process.co.uk
Group of three companies covers wide range of packaging technologies from flour bagging to bag-in-box carton lines
The Packaging Group (TPG), which brings together German machinery brands Fawema, HDG and Wolf, will be showing equipment from all three companies.
Fawema supplies fully automatic, high-speed packing lines working with both paper and plastic packaging materials. In the UK and Ireland, its machines are traditionally found in most of the our mills packing retail-size bags, says TPG, as well as in a great many sugar
factories and pet food plants. HDG is billed as the
manufacturer and supplier of its “high-end” horizontal RB packing machines for a wide variety of products such as food powders, nuts, dried fruits, chocolates and sweets, breakfast cereal, pet food treats, ground co ee and many more besides. Both at pouches and stand-up ‘Doy’style pouches can be formed, with or without zipper closures.
The company also has the BFL-300 machine for lling and sealing pre-made pouches.
Finally, Wolf supplies
continuous and intermittent bagging machinery to a range of food and non-food sectors, as well as vertical and horizontal bag-in-box cartoning equipment, the latest being the HCM160, adding to the systems already available. TPG likes to think of itself as a ‘one-stop shop’, and has as its slogan: ‘If you can think it, we can pack it.’
STAND B94
W www.fawema.com
W www.hdg-packaging.com
W www.wolf-packaging.com
Stand-out branding for every show
Multilane Aranow flat sachet filling
A hammer mill for dried items
PPMA Show Preview
Crate-erector offers universal capability
End-of-line automation supplier Lan Handling Technologies will be demonstrating its latest innovation, the Lan Universal Crate Erector, with no changeover process required between crate formats.
• Gentle - segregation and damage free
• Dust free transfer
• Conveying rates up to 6.000 kg/hr
• ATEX approved
• Quiet, hygienic, reliable
• Free on-site trials
VOLKMANN UK Limited
Unit 4 Anglo Of ce Park, Lincoln Road, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP12 3RH, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0) 1494 512228
mail.uk@volkmann.info
The Lan Universal Crate Erector is designed to optimise and simplify the packaging process, the company explains. With a capacity of 18 crates per minute and compatibility with both full-size and half-size crates from well-known brands such as IFCO and EPS, this machine is said to o er unprecedented e ciency.
A key advantage of the Universal Crate Erector is its elimination of changeover time when switching between di erent crate types, avoiding interruptions to production. Featuring the machine at the show highlights its relevance to the growing trend of collapsible crates in the UK, says the Dutch-based company.
“UK supermarkets are increasingly adopting various types of collapsible crates, requiring extra manual labour for opening - a challenge, given the repetitive work and di culty in hiring and retaining workers,” says Dino Boot, technical sales manager at Lan. “Our Universal Crate Erector o ers
an e cient solution to streamline this process and adapt to this trend.”
In addition to the crate-erector, Lan Handling Technologies will present its extensive range of end-of-line automation solutions. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the company’s innovative systems and services, including solutions for product-handling, casepacking, and palletising.
Quite apart from being able to talk visitors through the crate-erector demonstrations, the company’s experts will be on hand, says Lan, to discuss the latest trends and how the company can assist in optimising production processes.
STAND C92
W www.lanhandling.com
Conveyor systems sit alongside parts and accessories – with expertise, too
Arnott Conveyors says it will be returning to this year’s PPMA Show with a greater presence and a broader o ering, including a higher pro le for sister company Arnott Handling.
The Northamptonshire-based company will have its team of design engineers and systems experts on hand to o er advice on conveyor and handling challenges that visitors may wish to discuss, as well as showcasing its bespoke design, build and installation services.
“With almost 40 years of experience, the Arnott name is synonymous with quality conveyor systems that are attuned to the unique needs of each sector,”
says managing director Graeme Jones. “From food and pharma to cosmetics, logistics, and industrial applications, we understand that every production environment is unique.”
SISTER COMPANY ON-HAND
New for 2024 will be an increased focus for sister company Arnott Handling – which Jones describes as one of the UK’s premier manufacturers and suppliers of parts, components and accessories for conveyor and handling systems. It is the o cial UK distributor for Movex and NGI Hygienic parts.
STAND B90
W www.arnott-conveyors.co.uk
UK supermarket use of collapsible crates is said to be growing
Boost Efficiency and Sustainability with Specialist Perforated, Sustainable Pallet Wrapping Solutions
In the fast-paced food and beverage industry, maintaining product quality while maximising operational efficiency is a constant challenge. At Excelerate Ltd, we’re here to help you tackle these challenges head-on with our innovative perforated pallet wrapping materials. Our solutions are designed to elevate your operations, safeguard your products, and support your sustainability goals, making us the perfect partner for your business.
Investing in your pallet wrapping operation is often overlooked; yet the benefits can be game-changing for your business,
Eliminate Condensation, Preserve Product Quality
Maintaining the freshness and quality of products is crucial in the food and beverage industry, where any compromise can lead to spoilage, waste, and unhappy customers. Traditional pallet wrap often traps moisture, causing condensation that can damage temperature-sensitive goods.
ExcelAir perforated pallet wrap can offer amazing benefits. With strategically placed perforations, our materials allow air to circulate freely around the pallet, preventing moisture build-up and eliminating condensation. This means your products—whether they’re food or beverages—arrive at their destination in peak condition.
Beyond moisture control, the enhanced airflow provided by ExcelAir helps maintain consistent temperatures within the pallet. This is vital for products that require specific storage conditions, ensuring that quality and freshness are preserved throughout the supply chain. By using our perforated wraps, you’re protecting your goods and your reputation.
Increase Operational Efficiency, Reduce Energy Costs
In an industry where every second counts, efficiency is key. Our perforated pallet wrap is not just about protecting your products—they’re designed to streamline your operations too. Where chilling, freezing or thawing products is required, ExcelAir can reduce the time spent by as much as 50%.
This has a huge impact on the speed of product despatch, the energy costs of running cold-stores and increases production capabilities as pallets can leave your facility much quicker. No more standing pallets, freeing up valuable space and capacity.
Embrace Sustainability with Excelerate Ltd
Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword—it’s a must.
At Excelerate Ltd, we’re committed to helping you reduce your environmental footprint. Our sustainable stretch films are made from recycled materials and are fully recyclable, offering an eco-friendly alternative without compromising on performance. By investing in your pallet wrapping materials, your business can reduce costs by as much as 80%, but also support your sustainability initiatives, providing market-leading results.
Book a Free Technical Audit
Ready to see how Excelerate Ltd can transform your operations? We offer free technical audits to help you identify opportunities for improvement and tailor our solutions to your specific needs. Our experts will work with you to optimise your pallet wrapping process, ensuring you get the most out of our innovative products.
Visit www.excelerateltd.com or call 01604 644100 to learn more. Let’s work together to create a future where efficiency, quality, and sustainability go hand in hand.
Our perforated pallet wrap can be used across a multitude of industries with amazing benefits
Installation News
PPMA Show Preview
Traysealing combines with data automation
JBT Corporation companies
AutoCoding Systems and Proseal will be exhibiting together, demonstrating their expertise across traysealing, case-packing and more.
As Proseal commercial director Sandra Driver explains, the company will
in reducing manual handling, the CP range’s quick release tooling capability also means that job changeovers are more e cient, says Proseal.
This question of improved and e cient work ows through automation, including changeover, is an
a fully-integrated end-to-end primary packaging line.”
He adds: “Our AutoCoding so ware, which connects to packaging line equipment, controls the automatic set-up of the production job, ensuring that variables such as weight, date codes
be highlighting its GT2 traysealer, which can run at speeds of up to 120 packs per minute.
“We’ve had great feedback from our customers and there is a lot of interest because of our ability to process sustainable packaging,” she says. “We’ll also be showing our CP3 case-packer, which is ideal for snack manufacturers as it can handle both trays and pots.” As well as its bene ts
A fully-integrated tray line
seamless integration at the touch of a button,” he says.
“Now with Proseal as a sister company, we’re able to show
Mini VFFS teams up with onboard inkjet alongside flow-wrap
Equipment on the Intamac Packaging Systems stand will include the IPS-420 mini vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) machine, fitted with the IntegraJET inkjet system, and the Swing 600 multi-function flow-wrapper.
The IPS-420 is designed to handle a variety of packaging types, including more sustainable paper materials. This compact machine is perfect for dispensing small doses of liquids, powders, and granules into pillow packs, says the company.
Working with the VFFS machine, the IntegraJET inkjet is said to ensure precise printing on both paper and laminate materials.
The Swing 600, says Intamac, is versatile enough to wrap a wide range of products, including snacks, cosmetics, baked goods, stationery, and hardware.
www.intamacmachinery.com
Zero-pressure accumulation will add to hygienic conveyor system for food engineered to IPX5 waterproof standards
‘Clean’ is the theme on the Interroll stand, where the materials handling equipment manufacturer’s Special Hygienic Conveyor (SHC) will have a prime position.
The modular platform is an easy-to-integrate option for crates, cartons, packaged food and small boxes, and one that can be deployed in environments where stringent hygiene requirements are in place.
Built from stainless steel for durability, corrosion
resistance, and easy cleaning, all components of the conveyor system are also waterproof to at least IPX5 certi cation.
Many of the components making up the system –including the hygienic drum motors – are also available to other OEMs looking to create lines for food production.
Efficiency combines with hygiene on the line
“Like all manufacturing sectors, increasing process e ciency impacts the bottom line for food manufacturers,
but this can’t come at the expense of the highest hygiene standards,” says Hilton Campbell, managing director of Interroll UK.
“Our SHC gives food factory
operators the opportunity to deploy a highly-e cient materials-handling solution in their plant with high levels of exibility and no compromise on food safety.”
The SHC includes a zeropressure accumulation feature, which the company calls “a rst for the food sector”.
According to Interroll, the modular design makes it quick and easy to create custom systems.
The IPS-420 mini VFFS machine
PPMA Show Preview
Company will display 20 machines on four stands
Across a quartet of stands, Autopack will exhibit as many as 20 systems, chie y for lling rigid and exible packaging with liquid, powder and solid products.
Stand J20 will have jar and bottle equipment including a bottle unscrambler and rinser, as well as the F4 hygienic sauce ller with complementary jar and bottle capper. The other liquid line set up on the stand will be a 1-10 litre four-head A4 ller in conjunction with an automatic in-line capper. Also for the rst time on this stand, Acepack will present a range of end-ofline case-packing and robot palletising equipment.
On the exible side, stand K30 will show a range of semiautomatic equipment including bag-in-box lling equipment, the SV30 industrial bag, pouch and Doypack sealer, linear weighers as well as a powder and granule ller for 10g-10kg lls.
For automatic exible packaging machines, stand J32 will host three Technosys
VFFS machines: the budget A100; the stainless and hygienic A300; and the A400 quad with printer, labeller, and valve applicator. These will be complemented by the MH110 horizontal sachet machine with powder ller and the MH25 fully-automatic pre-made pouch and
The F4 filling machine will be on one of four stands
Doypack machine. New for this year on stand K20 will be bucket machinery by Van Rijn, o ering complete lines or individual elements such as de-nesters, llers, and sealers for square, round or oval buckets, with or without a handle. Also new for 2024 will be Side, presenting a range of blow moulders.
STAND J20, J32, K20, K30
W www.auto-pack.co.uk
Hygiene in weighing and semi-automatic add-ins will feature
Multipond will be highlighting the benefits of its MP14-1000400-J system, said to be its most hygienic weigher, ideal for small weights such as ready meal components, nuts and confectionery.
The 14-1000 offers high accuracy, it says, for weights from fractions of a gram to 500g, subject to bulk density, at speeds of up to 150 weighments per minute.
Visitors will also be able to view the Semi-Automatic Radial (SAR) weigher which, when positioned to the side of a Multipond weigher, allows additional items such as sachets, spices, and condiments to be added to the main body of the product going through the weigher, giving greater control, speed and reduced labour. STAND C40 W www.multipond.com
Process engineering specialist has range of products and services
from spares and software to turnkey installation
S4 Engineering will be focusing on a range of its products and services across liquid and powder processing, including the provision of equipment, spares, and consumables to the food, beverage, brewery, bakery, dairy, and pharmaceutical industries.
On the stand will be a cross-section of processing equipment, including two industrial cooking kettles, a clean-in-place (CIP) set, and a vacuum reactor.
The company will also highlight its extensive range of spares, electrical and so ware capabilities, and advanced 3D scanning technology, which it says ensures precision and e ciency in various applications.
S4 says its extensive experience shows that the key challenges clients face
include enhancing plant performance, achieving operational e ciency, and minimising costs. To address these challenges, the company
says it has developed a customer-focused, integrated approach that combines strategic partnerships and comprehensive turnkey solutions.
“With S4 Engineering, you gain a partner dedicated to providing the expertise and support necessary for your business to thrive,” says marketing and business development consultant Brogan Lawes.
STAND E110
W www.s4engineering.co.uk
The SAR can dose additional items
The company is experienced in improving efficiency
Filling,
Packaging, Secondary Packing & Automation
VFFS specialists toast 40th year
Gainsborough-based GIC will mark four decades in business, with celebrations on its stand during the show – and plenty of vertical form- ll-seal (VFFS) machines to admire.
Nearly 1,000 GIC machines have been installed since 1984, and some of the biggest names in fresh produce, confectionery, snacks, frozen foods, aggregates, and hardware rely on the company’s VFFS machines to pack their products.
GIC explains that its current directors, Andy Beal and Luke Murphy, assumed control
of the business through a management buyout in 2006. Since then, the pair have re ned the range of intermittent and continuousmotion machines to cover a greater range of pack styles and sizes.
GIC has joined Rockwell Automation’s Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Gold Partner Programme, integrated the latest sealing technology, and developed the unique Leaf Salad Assisted Drop feature, opening up new markets in the process. STAND C50 W www.gic.uk.net
Forge a waste and recycling strategy to suit your needs
Waste Mission will be demonstrating how it can help companies prevent waste and increase recycling, proposing single-supplier strategies tailored to the needs of the individual business.
According to the company, government data shows the UK generated an estimated 40.4 million tonnes of commercial and industrial (C&I) waste in 2020, of which 33.8 million tonnes (84%) was generated in England. The latest estimates for England alone indicate that C&I
waste generation was around 33.9 million tonnes in 2021.
Every year, says Waste Mission, UK businesses can spend between 4–10% of their average annual turnover on waste disposal.
It works to transform waste into revenue, boosting sustainability credentials and ensuring compliance with industry standards. This year also saw the rollout of a customer portal. STAND J34
No fewer than 1,000 GIC machines have reportedly been installed since 1984
Off-the-peg cobot palletiser has benefits for smallest businesses
Denmark’s OnRobot has teamed up with UK-based robotics company Applied Automation to introduce an o -the-shelf collaborative palletiser designed for small businesses, launching it at the show along with its same-day installation, lack of programming requirements and ability to re-deploy within minutes.
“With so many cobot manufacturers coming onto the scene, we recognised a need for a reputable manufacturer that could provide all the complementary physical hardware required,” says chief commercial o cer James Taylor.
Changeover can take just minutes
According to the company, the missing piece of the puzzle was D:PLOY by OnRobot – described as the rst automated so ware platform for building, running, monitoring, and re-deploying collaborative applications.
The AA:PAL cobot will be shown running with D:PLOY.
Typically, in businesses with high-mix production lines and multiple case sizes, most palletising has been done manually, says OnRobot.
“With D:PLOY, changeover can now be reduced to a few minutes, making automating tasks with robots achievable and a ordable since the application cell can automate multiple palletising tasks,” Taylor explains.
Feature: Net Zero & Sustainability: intro
Technology can be the di erence for reaching Net Zero
Anew study from Siemens Financial Services (SFS) of the sustainabilityenabling features o ered by the global top 50 production machine builders to their manufacturing customers found that 75% were actively promoting this type of feature.
Energy e ciency, which was promoted by 77% of top machine builders is, of course, a core component of decarbonisation and resource e ciency. Around half of machine builders analysed were also promoting circular economy features, in the form of Retro t or Refurbishment (54%) and Remanufactured Parts (45%), says SFS.
Other features included enhanced productivity through digitalisation, low-footprint product development through digital twins, through to waste, raw materials, water usage and pollutant reduction.
At Omron, regional general manager Sam Tilley also focuses on intelligent energy management, and the way in which some factory managers – understandably –take an ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t x it’ view of machinery redesign.
“However, reducing Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the order of magnitude necessary to meet 2050 targets will entail the modi cation of many existing plants and processes – even those that are working perfectly,” he points out.
FOSSIL-FREE ALTERNATIVES
“Luckily, we do not need to start from scratch to achieve our goals,” he says. “Intelligent energy management, or the optimisation of energy use within an organisation, can help identify potential areas of improvement, and guide the adoption of practical, feasible ways to decarbonise operations.”
A single forkli , he states, generates around 2,640g of carbon
Cutting waste and emissions
Omron says sound energy management can help companies along the road to decarbonisation
dioxide (CO2) per litre of diesel combusted, resulting in between 5,280 and 7,920g of CO2 emissions an hour. He contrasts this with autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), which are battery-powered, providing a fossil-free alternative for in-plant transportation.
Meanwhile, increasing numbers of processing and packaging equipment businesses are laying out their own plans for decarbonisation. So, for example, as part of BW Packaging, BW Flexible Systems (BWFS) aligns with the overall platform’s commitment to reduce GHG emissions by 25% by 2030, using 2021 as the baseline.
The impact starts with its team and operations, says BWFS, through more green initiatives in its buildings and encouraging a culture of sustainability. But this commitment also bene ts customers, it says, by improving the energy e ciency of equipment and expanding the responsible materials that can run e ciently on its machines.
Nestlé is among those
brand-owners to have recently set ambitious timelines for reaching Zero Waste to Land ll. But as QCR Recycling Equipment points out, there are growing legislative pressures, too, in this direction, applied across the supply chain.
In a step towards reaching Zero Waste, the Welsh Government earlier this year implemented new legislation to improve the quantity and quality of recycling from workplaces. The new rules require all businesses in Wales to sort their waste for recycling and apply to food, paper and board, glass, metals, plastics – even textiles and small items of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Although the rules only apply to Wales at present, many believe similar legislation could be rolled out across the whole of the UK in the future, the recycling equipment company warns. Over the next few pages, both QCR and BWFS present their di erent approaches to materials in the supply chain (pp84-85). Enjoy this – and the rest of the feature. n
Feature: Net Zero & Sustainability
Materials innovation is always at the heart of packaging sustainability, and the interface with equipment is receiving more attention than ever in pursuit of e ciency, as well as environmental bene t.
BW Flexible Systems (BWFS) notes that many consumer packaged goods companies are struggling to meet their 2025 sustainability goals. Despite signi cant e orts, industry leaders including Unilever, PepsiCo and Colgate recently announced they will fail to hit their targets for packaging. The machinery supplier does not attempt to explain this, but says its best advice to brandowners seeking to implement sustainable packaging is to involve original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as itself in the process early on and o en.
Attempting new materials assessment without OEM assistance can lead to product quality concerns, reduced run speeds, additional costs, and customer frustration, BWFS warns. When it is time to qualify sustainable materials on a bag- lling or ow-wrapping line, the company advises following a three-step process.
The rst step for this machinery company is to evaluate new materials at its own technology centre. The testing focuses on machineability and sealability, and helps to identify potential risks for further evaluation.
A second stage involves on-site machine testing, to assess the performance of new materials on vertical form- llseal (VFFS) or ow-wrapping machines. This testing validates earlier observations and identi es real-world risks before full-scale production.
Finally, there is a material quali cation con rmation when BWFS provides con rmation that the sustainable material
Taking on materials
Equipment suppliers can help to ensure sealability, runnability – and recyclability – across all materials
can run e ciently on a given type of equipment. Alternatively, it can provide speci c advice about machine upgrades or collaboration with material suppliers.
FLAWLESS FLOW-WRAP
Advice does not get much more speci c than the latest recommendations from ultrasonic sealing innovator Herrmann Ultraschall as it introduces the latest-generation version of its longitudinal seal module (LSM).
The new LSM, it says, ensures reliable longitudinal seals for applications like
pillow bags, even with the narrowest of process windows. Regardless of variations in the speed of ow-wrappers or other packaging machines, the LSM is said to create seals with a visually awless appearance.
Critically, the new guiding unit for the LSM o ers a solution for the increasing requirements of sustainable materials. It allows for more precise control of central sealing parameters, such as the force applied during the sealing process. This is especially bene cial, says Hermann Ultraschall,
for challenging materials like monomaterials or paperbased packaging.
The company claims that packing lines can achieve these results with the LSM regardless of line speed. Unlike with thermal sealing processes, the speed can be exibly adjusted from standstill up to a maximum speed of around 120m per minute, without a ecting the quality of the seals or the packaging contents.
Companies gain additional exibility thanks to the modular construction of the system, the supplier adds.
Hermann Ultraschall says its LSM reliably seals even the most demanding materials thanks to tight process control
Functional elements can be individually assembled or retro tted separately, allowing the LSM to be optimally adapted to the customer’s speci c applications.
The LSM is said to be particularly suitable for products that need to remain free from thermal stress.
Common applications include pillow bags and chain-sealed bags used for packaging confectionery, baked goods, medical products, and wet wipes. Existing modules can be quickly and easily substituted with the new generation of the LSM, says the German-based company.
But in each factory producing packaging machinery or materials – or using both – those materials only occupy one end of the sustainability spectrum. Equally important is the way that inbound materials are managed, and waste to land ll avoided.
QCR Recycling Equipment supplies waste-balers and compactors for plastics, board and other materials, from glass-crushers and metal drum-crushers to de-watering equipment and polystyrenecompactors. As sales director Neil Holland points out, bales of good-quality, uncontaminated recyclable waste have a high recyclable value.
“The manual compaction of cardboard boxes for placing into bins and skips is still surprisingly common in the UK manufacturing sector,”
he says. Despite more e cient equipment being on the ‘wish-list’ of many production managers, sometimes new equipment for managing
waste is overlooked.
“Luckily, the team at QCR o er a free waste audit service to help all types of businesses nd a more cost,
time and space-e cient solution for their waste.”
W www.bw exiblesystems.com
W www.herrmannultraschall.com
W www.qcr.co.uk
Ultra Premium Efficient Drive Systems
• Flexible, modular range of high e ciency, robust gearboxes with output torques up to 250kNm.
• Motors with e ciency levels up to IE5+.
• Intelligent frequency inverters with PLC onboard and parameter
Feature: Net Zero & Sustainability
WDS Components is showing how to respond positively
As the urgency to tackle climate change intensi es, so does the pressure on business to respond, and for the past three years, WDS Components has focused on energy savings, recycling, and operational changes to meet Net Zero goals.
As a manufacturer of standard parts and machine accessories, WDS says the national Made In Britain Green Growth Programme has been integral to its sustainable business strategy, with a target to improve the company’s score year on year.
Made in Britain is a membership organisation, and this programme o ers members free assessments on sustainability criteria.
With a commitment to reducing gas and electricity consumption by 5% over the nancial year, and water by 40%, the company says it is exceeding its targets. Quality, health, safety and environment (QHSE) manager Darren Hall says this year’s gas consumption is already lower than last year’s.
“We are yet to roll out all the initiatives from the sustainability team,” he says. “Our electricity consumption is less than last year; we also saved on the previous year. In the rst four months of this nancial year, our water usage is less. Improved manufacturing methods and waste reduction have also contributed to leaner processes, allowing WDS to o er a larger range with a stock guarantee.”
RECYCLING TARGETS MET
The ‘stock guarantee’ promises that over 98% of the company’s range is on hand, and can be shipped the same day from its global distribution centre in the UK using best-in-class couriers.
WDS is proud of its 97.8% recycling rate on outgoing waste. Three new recycling areas have been created, processing
Climate need and suppliers
The WDS range of parts and accessories is supplied across Europe and worldwide
everything from food containers to bulk materials. Hall explains: “Only 2.2% [of our general waste] has gone to land ll. The target is 5% so we’re far exceeding the target.”
Suppliers are also making a contribution to the company’s sustainability goals. “We’ve contacted our suppliers and asked them to keep packaging at a minimum,” he says. “Most suppliers are onboard. We also require our suppliers to use packaging containing 30% or more recycled materials. While our desire to achieve Net Zero has largely been focused internally, we’re now pushing that to our supply chain.”
WDS is committed to passing these improvements on to customers. “We’ve recently changed our plastic bag packaging to materials in excess of 50% recycled plastic,” Hall reports. “We’ve moved from standard packaging tape to paper packaging tape.”
He admits, though, that there are obstacles on the route to Net Zero. “It’s o en cheaper to throw items away, rather than recycle them, which can make recycling nancially unattractive,” he says. “Fortunately, we have a supportive management who are happy to contribute nancially to do the right thing for the environment.”
WDS says it will continue to innovate with clever solutions to recycling dilemmas. For example, it is working to repurpose inbound cardboard as lling for outbound packages and, where possible, reusing boxes. All of this is a new way of utilising resources through their entire lifecycle, without creating additional waste.
Hall concludes: “Customers sometimes comment that the look of our packaging has changed. We’re focused on doing what’s right for the customer, and helping the environment.”
T 033 3043 5443
W www.wdscomponents.com
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No single route or hero on the road to Net Zero
Equipment suppliers are each working towards their sustainability goals and allowing their customers to do the same in surprisingly varied ways
The pursuit of Net Zero or other environmental goals can take a number of o en very di erent approaches, all of which will have value, even if the impact can vary; and at the same time, of course, the focus has shi ed to the wider supply chain, rather than the individual business.
The Adelphi group underscores the pivotal role that suppliers play in its Net Zero and B-Corp vision, and the importance of the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) policy it is developing.
Strategic buyer for the group Glen Smith explains the concept. “EPP involves intentionally selecting products and services that have a reduced impact on human health and the environment, when compared to competing goods or services that serve the same purpose,” he says. “For sustainably and ethically-minded businesses,
adopting EPP principles can lead to signi cant environmental bene ts, cost savings, and enhanced brand reputation.”
In terms of suppliers, the start of this process can take the form of rationalisation.
Adelphi decided to slim down what was originally a list of over 1,200 suppliers.
“Using our Supplier Code of Conduct standards, over the past six months we have been able to reduce our approved supplier base to just over 600, with further reductions to come,” says Smith.
But sustainability cannot trump quality.
“In precision-machined components, only a handful of suppliers can supply to the exacting standards we require,” he says.
“We would not compromise the quality of our own products by moving away to a supplier
who provided lower-quality components, even if their environmental policy was strong.
At the sealer division of OK International, the sustainability focus is directed downstream in the supply chain towards bene ts for customers.
One example of a customised bag-sealer installation at a large poultry producer illustrates the overlap between bottom-line bene ts and
OK Sealer’s equipment has increased output by 66%
sustainability wins. In this case, the OK systems increased production output by 66%, says the company. In fact, it claims to have “reimagined the customer’s supply chain” in ways that no other supplier did.
OK Sealer was also able to supply a system that met the IP69k electrical speci cation standard for dust, high temperature and highpressure water ingress.
Senior marketing manager Eva Rydholt admits that the primary focus with the line was on price, productivity and e ciency.
“However, the customer was able to maintain their sustainable packaging with their bags and boxes,” she says. “Our equipment was able to seal the bags with no problems and they could still reuse their current boxes.”
It was important for the customer, she says, to be able to cover the ‘5 Rs’, that is: reuse; reduce; recycle; renew; and redesign.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing addresses the growing consumer demand for greener choices and supports broader corporate social responsibility
Dutch-based Boix Europe passes packaging-related sustainability benefits down the supply chain in other ways. The company, which specialises in board trayforming and closing systems, says a switch to board packaging and its own technology can have a number of positive impacts. It makes the point that the road to Net Zero carbon emissions is not a straight line, and that it requires innovation, collaboration and commitment to continuous improvement. It emphasises ways of using fewer resources and generating less waste. With its board tray systems, it says, customers can minimise their reliance, firstly on plastics packaging, and secondly on transportation. Its lightweight board trays reduce transport costs and fuel consumption, Boix points out. There are also efficiency benefits from automation in reducing space requirements, while increasing capacity.
Boix Europe is a subsidiary of Spanish machine manufacturer Boix Maquinaria.
PACKAGING AND FOOD
Even more than packaging materials, food waste can have a huge environmental impact. Sealpac UK is now collaborating with Hygienic Transport Systems and Technology (HYTT) and supplying its closed-pipe vacuum transport system. This is based on a centralised vacuum system, which reduces overall energy consumption compared with other alternatives, aligning with Sealpac’s goal of reducing carbon footprints. The system facilitates the collection, recycling and repurposing of by-products in food production, allowing them to be transformed into animal feed or bioenergy, and so supporting circular economy principles.
HYTT’s approach integrates
sustainable practices into operations, says Sealpac, helping clients move closer to achieving Net Zero emissions and broader sustainability
goals. Their technology aligns with the principles of reducing energy consumption, minimising waste and enhancing hygiene and safety
– as well as efficiency.
W www.adelphi.uk.com
W www.boix.com
W www.oksealer.com/uk/
W www.sealpac-uk.com
BLH Series
EZS Series
AZ Series
CVK Series
BLE2 Series
KIIS Series
DGII-Serie KIIS
Gearboxes ideal in precision use
New from Apex Dynamics is the MG/MGK and MGH/MGHK series of high-performance planetary gearboxes, optimised for rackand pinion use, with potential applications spanning industrial and mobile robots for tasks including assembly, welding and materialshandling, and in packaging machinery for the movement of conveyor belts, cutters and sealers.
The gearboxes can be for rack-and-pinion use
The high-e ciency MG and MGH ranges are said to come with optimised moment of inertia, long service life, best backlash of ≤ 3 arc per minute and long-term persistence of low backlash.
“With more than 50 gearbox series in our portfolio, our expert team works with each customer to nd exactly the right product to meet their speci c needs,” says UK managing director Mike Gulliford.
The high-precision MG and MGK gearboxes come with a ratio of 4 ~ 10,000, high torque and high torsional rigidity, says Apex, and are suitable for high-end applications, as are the MGH/MGHK and MGHC/ MGHCK gearboxes. The latter series o ers higher torque, typically 25% more than the MG/ MGK range, with a ratio of 4 ~ 5,500.
Other applications include printing presses, where accurate control and alignment are required.
T 0121 227 5340
W www.apexdynauk.com
Sensor performs dual gas function
The SFAM sensor from Festo saves time, space and cost, it says, by combining pressure and ow monitoring of gases in a single compact unit.
Equipped with IO-Link, the SFAM sensor enables datadriven insights and reduces the number of components required. Its built-in pressure sensor and temperature measurement combination is said to o er a wide range of options for process monitoring and control. For example, the SFAM can measure compressed air pressure, ow and consumption to provide complete insight into an entire system using a single device. Fluctuations and anomalies in compressed air consumption can be conveniently monitored via IO-Link to optimise energy e ciency and machine performance.
The sensor also makes leakages easier to identify, even in large systems with high ow rates. The data insights provided by the SFAM mean that energy
Gas leakage can be easier to identify
and CO2 consumption can be evaluated at plant level, contributing towards a more e cient, sustainable and safer system. In addition to compressed air, the SFAM is capable of measuring argon, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
Depending on the model speci ed, the SFAM can reliably measure ow rates up to 15,000 litres per minute.
T 0800 626 422
W www.festo.co.uk
Dark field lighting option will allow ring light users access to better-quality
Lighting system provider for machine vision TPL Vision has introduced a new Dark Field accessory compatible with its existing Modular Ringlight, adding to the product’s exibility and unlocking new application opportunities.
The Modular Ringlight o ers a standardised platform for ring light functionality, says TPL, empowering users to optimise their illumination setup with unparalleled exibility.
machine vision surface defect inspection
With just one concept, it can cover various applications requiring di erent lighting techniques, including bright eld, dome, low angle, and now also dark eld lighting. This adaptability not only saves time spent on testing, it claims, but also reduces operating costs through its robust and versatile design.
This latest option introduces specialised dark eld illumination, enabling users to improve surface inspection applications by accentuating
The modular system is standardised
details and highlighting defects such as dot peen markings and surface defects, even on a shiny nish.
The Dark Field accessory
transforms the Modular Ringlight into an indispensable tool for a wide range of vision applications, TPL says.
From dynamic automation scenarios requiring exibility to AI-driven projects seeking optimal illumination, it helps to achieve the highest contrast for maximum precision.
The company is a global supplier of LED lighting for identi cation, robotics and machine vision applications.
T 01738 310392
W www.tpl-vision.com
MACHINERY FINDER
AFTERMARKET SPARES & SERVICING
T: 01460 270600 E: enquiries@stellartechnik.com www.stellartechnik.com BELT DRIVES
Unit 4 Anglo Office Park, Lincoln Road, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP12 3RH Telephone: 01494 512228 Email: mail.uk@volkmann.info Website: https://uk.volkmann.info/
Unit 4 Anglo Office Park, Lincoln Road, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP12 3RH Telephone: 01494 512228 Email: mail.uk@volkmann.info Website: https://uk.volkmann.info/
Adelphi Group Mill Green Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1XQ T: 01444 472300 W: www.adelphi.uk.com
Unit G, Pentagon Park, Lodge Farm, Northampton, NN5 7UW T: 01604 591120 E: eh.uk.sales@piab.com www.tawi.com
Volkmann UK Ltd Unit 4 Anglo Office Park, Lincoln Road, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP12 3RH Telephone: 01494 512228 Email: mail.uk@volkmann.info Website: https://uk.volkmann.info/
www.the-packaging-group.com a.beverley@the-packaging-group.co.uk TPG The Packaging Group If you can think it, we can pack it! Tel: 0121 222 5370 Mob: 07490 410 381
Leaders in Labelling Machinery. Nationwide Sales, Support and Service Weber Packaging Solutions MacmerryIndustrial Estate, Tranent, East Lothian, EH33 1HD
T: +44(0)1502470500 E: sales@bradmanlake.com From Process to Pallet www.bradmanlake.com
9 Archers Park, Branbridges Road, Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 5HP, UK Tel: +44 (0)1622 872 907 Email: technicalsales@brillopak.co.uk Web: www.brillopak.co.uk Cama Group Robotics and Packaging Machines UK Subsidiary Swindon, Wilts, SN3 4TG T. 01793 831111 E. cama-UK@camagroup.com W. www.camagroup.com
Cap Coder Ltd
Monument Business Park, Chalgrove, Oxford, OX44 7RW T: 01865 891466 E: sales@capcoder.com www.capcoder.com
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