Equipment Round-Up: Packaging

Skin-tight meat packs

Automated FormShrink thermoform-fill-seal systems allow marketers of meat, poultry, cheese and many other food products to create skin-tight packaging inline rather than with pre-formed pouches. Packages are produced on the R550 and R250 rollstock machines, both developed specifically for the process. Roll-fed films capable of shrinking up to 40 percent form the bottom web to specifications. After the product is loaded, the top web is applied and sealed. The package is then shape-cut and passed through a steam shrink tunnel, activating the unique properties of the film to render the final customized look.

Multivac Inc.; Kansas City, Mo.
800-800-8552; www.multivac.com

Small bottles

The High Speed SB (Small Bottle) Series is designed specifically for high-speed, high-volume, single-serve dairy, food, juice and liquid yogurt applications for containers 200-500ml. A smaller clamp has been added to handle bottles sizes as small as 80ml. These machines are economical, extremely simple and can be built with up to 60 cavities to run up to 30,000 bottles per hour depending on the container. Like larger machines, the extrusion rates and layer configuration can be designed to match any application such as white-black-white or barrier bottles.

Wilmington Machinery; Wilmington, N.C.
910-452-5090; www.wilmingtonmachinery.com

Chicken nuggets

The new dual-indexing bulking and batching system is designed to optimize meat and poultry packing operations. Whether packing chicken tenders, boneless breasts, drumsticks, wings, leg quarters or chops, the automated system delivers versatility, durability and cost-savings. The system is equipped with a “smart” conveyor that automatically indexes product containers following the bulk/batch cycle. Dual load cells improve settle time and increase accuracy and throughput. And it’s integrated with the company’s DataMan online, real-time reporting system for data collection.

Gainco Inc.; Gainesville, Fla.
770-534-0703; www.gainco.com

Five-station can seamer

The 5K Can Seamer is for seaming larger diameter cans such as the popular 603 diameter No. 10. It incorporates a can spin machine design with driven lower lifters and five seaming stations that provide higher quality seams, longer life for component parts and superior machine performance for processors looking to improve canning performance. Seams are produced at 50 to 500 cans per minute. The machine accommodates a wide can size range from 307 to 701 diameter and 306 to 1000 heights. Can heights are easily adjusted by raising the seaming turret.

Angelus Sanitary Can Machine Co.; Los Angeles
323-826-1220; www.angelusmachine.com

Improvements to palletizer

Design and interface options are new on the vendor’s A-780 case palletizer. They dramatically increase the machine’s capacity for low- to mid-speed palletizing applications. Particularly suited for single-line applications, the A-780 uses high-level infeed and right-angle pattern formation to achieve outstanding pattern flexibility. Close-center rollers and a bi-parting apron handle a wide variety of case and pallet sizes. Its compact footprint is ideal for existing facilities where space is at a premium. A recirculating row pusher is one of several new options. This feature improves case flow and allows higher palletizing capacities with rates up to 45 case-feet per minute.

FKI Logistex; St. Louis
314-993-4700; www.fkilogistex.com

Three machines in one

The Model 156 decaser/single filer is now equipped with an intelligent control package that automatically monitors container flow and adjusts the decasing speed to ensure a continuous fill rate. This new feature is designed to optimize line productivity by ensuring harmonious operation regardless of line speed variations. The Model 156 can take the place of three machines. Operating at speeds to 50 cases per minute, it opens the case flaps, uncases and single files the containers, and uprights the emptied cases for conveying to case packing. The machine runs a variety of bottle or container styles, including glass and plastic, and offers quick changeover requiring no change parts.

A-B-C Packaging; Tarpon Springs, Fla.
800-237-5975; www.abcpackaging.com