Medical Device Link.

Labels

A direct thermal labelstock for warehouse and supply-chain label applications can maintain its original clean- white appearance for two years or longer, even when exposed to high levels of industrial lighting. Lightsafe 300 provides high scanning reliability for linear and stacked bar code symbologies and nonyellowing label appearance. The stock is suitable for long-term storage. The technology is UV resistant and has been tested using a QUV accelerated weathering tester. Appleton, Appleton, WI; 920/734-9841; www.appletonideas.com.

Tamp Labeler

A company distributes Re-Pack products. The Re-Pack Table Top Tamp Labeling System is a semiautomatic tamp labeling solution for containers that have unusual shapes or are otherwise difficult to handle. The labeling system’s standard features include removable tamp pads, adjustable product fixtures, and a choice of finger-switch activation or fixture-mounted microswitch product detection. The labeler is also available in a tamper-evident version with the tamp head mounted at an angle with a V-style application pad. The V-style pad allows for a small, tamper-evident label to be placed on two panels of a product simultaneously, 90° apart. Other options include a support base mounted on locking casters for use in mobile workstations and an x- and y-axis table for product fixture mounting. Griffin-Rutgers Company, Inc., Ronkonkoma, NY; 631/981-4141; www.griffin-rutgers.com.

Shipping Materials

A desktop machine for producing air-pillow cushioning occupies less than 2 sq ft of space and can produce 20 ft of protective air pillows per minute. The AIRPlus Mini plugs into any standard outlet, weighs 20 lb, and uses ambient air to produce air pillows on demand. The machine produces air pillows in 8-in. widths and lengths of 4 or 8 in. The pillow film, which comes in 1.4- or 2.0-mm thicknesses, is perforated for easy separation, and it can be preprinted with a company logo. Antistatic LDPE film is also available for electronics applications. The amount of air in each pillow can be adjusted to fit specific packaging requirements. Storopack Inc., Cincinnati, OH; 800/827-7225; www.storopackinc.com.

Slitter Station

A slitter makes clean, exact cuts in rolled materials, including paper, foil, film, plastic sheeting, and nonwovens. The Acu-Slit is designed as an add-on or replacement unit for moderate-volume web processing lines. It has a spring-loaded upper knife that can cut rolls up to 12 ft wide. The slitter can cut strips at a minimum of 3¼8 in. Slitters are available as either manual or motorized systems, depending on speed requirements. The Acu-Slit is also available with unwinder and rewinder modules that use a dancer arm or brake that maintains consistent tension for good winding and even edges. Azco Corp., Fairfield, NJ; 973/439-1428; www.azcocorp.com.

Thermoformable Films

A company manufactures a line of thermoformable blister films for liquid-packaging needs. The Peralux-Liquid line comes standard in a multilayer PVC/PVdC/PE combination. A UV-light barrier film, USP24, is also used. The films are available in various structures and thicknesses to meet specific requirements. Perlen Converting LLC, Island Heights, NJ; 732/929-0758; www.perlen-converting.com.

Shipping Pallets

Corrugated pallets for domestic and export shipping are designed to replace wood pallets. The Quantum Pallet provides vibration and shock absorption to prevent product damage, whereas a wood pallet can transfer and compound vibration and shock. Corrugated pallets are at least 75% lighter than wood pallets, which allows companies to reduce freight costs by shipping more product weight than pallet weight or by shipping less overall weight. The lighter weight also prevents injuries from jagged edges, exposed nails, and heavy lifting that can occur when handling heavier wooden pallets. Disposal costs are also reduced because corrugated pallets are 100% recyclable. These pallets are exempt from the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade (ISPM 15). PalletKraft, Dayton, OH; 800/513-7562;www.quantumpallets.com.

Bar Code Printer

An in-line bar code printer for corrugated shipping containers is designed for mounting on either side of a conveyor. The Sidewinder, which measures 19 in. wide × 24 in. deep, easily adjusts to last-minute print changes in data or to different case sizes. It can accommodate a wide range of conveyor speeds. A computer-generated printing stencil for bar codes, fine-line graphics, logos, and text allows for exact placement of high-resolution print anywhere within the printer’s 2 in. wide × 23 in. long print area. The precision printer guarantees readable bar codes and is suitable for average batch runs of 10,000. Multiple printers can be added to a conveyor line to print on other case panels. Iconotech, Clinton, CT; 800/521-0194; www.iconotech.com.

Leak Detectors

Nondestructive leak detectors quickly and accurately monitor packages through a water-free leak test of shipping cases or individual boxes containing OTC pharmaceuticals or other products packaged in paperboard, film, foil, or cans. The LeakMatic in-line and LeakPointer stand-alone leak detectors are equipped with sensors that trace CO2 gas to find leaks and then activate an alarm if leaks are found. Up to 16 different test programs can be controlled from a touch screen, and test data can be printed with the time and date or can be transferred to a PC for archiving. The detector can test up to six packages per minute. PBI-Dansensor America Inc., Glen Rock, NJ; 201/251-6490; www.pbi-dansensor.com.

Level Compensator

A device adjusts level differences when lifting materials with vacuum suction cups. The LC30 level compensator decreases the demand for exact vertical positioning. It can be integrated into any of the company’s vacuum products, including the VGS3010 (vacuum gripper system), or it can be mounted directly in the groove of an aluminum profile using a hexagonal screw and T-nut. The level compensator weighs 7.76 oz, excluding fixing screws, and can handle a vertical load of up to 157 lbf. It has a conical stainless-steel spring in a polyurethane bushing that allows for shock load at full stroke. The compensator is said to have excellent damping characteristics. PIAB USA Inc., Hingham, MA; 800/321-7422; www.piab.com.

Carton Erector

A company offers an all-servo carton erector and an end-of-line case packer. The AMI double-head servo carton former can erect cartons and trays in solid or corrugated board by lock forming or with hot glue at speeds up to 160 cartons per minute. The company also offers a fully automated, electronically linked packaging line. The in-line bar turner and phase feeder sends an accurately spaced stream of products into an Autowrappers FT120 Flowrapper. Bradman Lake Group, Bristol, UK; +44 117 9715228; www.bradmanlake.com.

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