The international merger of two packaging powerhouses — Dublin-based Smurfit Kappa and Atlanta-based WestRock — creates a global supplier of sustainable paper and packaging solutions, operating in 40 countries with over 500 packaging converting operations and 63 paper mills. An official announcement of the acquisition was made September 2023. The completed deal was sealed with…

Expanding its service offerings, Duravant, an Illinois-based OEM of packaging, food processing, and material handling equipment, recently announced the launch of Duravant Lifecycle Services. Designed to support its installed base of machines and integrated lines, Duravant Lifecycle Services is a global network of aftermarket organizations structured to enhance local delivery of all services, from purchase…

Emerson has introduced the DeltaV Flex System, a subscription service that combines the DeltaV PK Flex Controller, term-based software licensing, and product support in a turnkey solution. The result, according to the company, is more flexibility for OEMs and process manufacturers that create small standalone systems, such as research and development labs, pilot programs, or…

Motion system designs run millions of automated food-manufacturing designs worldwide — including those in employed in grain milling, pasta making, and baking; fish and poultry processing; beer, wine, and spirit production; slaughtering and meatpacking; fruit, vegetable, and baby-food packaging, canning, jarring, and freezing; candy making; dairy and cheese making; and oils and fat extraction and…

Orion Packaging Systems has announced the promotion of Kelly Watterworth to East Coast Regional Sales Manager. Orion, part of the ProMach End of Line business, is a stretch wrapping and pallet unitizing machinery manufacturer of automatic and semi-automatic stretch wrapping equipment, including rotary turntables, rotary towers, and horizontal wrapping systems. In his new role, Watterworth will…

Industrial engineers spend a lot of time writing code for programs that will run machines in the plant, on the packaging line, or in a warehouse. The problem is, however, there’s no standard best practices for version control or disaster recovery. Copia Automation, a four-year-old start-up, is changing that by applying IT-based DevOps to the…

Doosan Robotics Inc., has unveiled its newest and most powerful P-SERIES (PRIME-SERIES) at Automate 2024, bringing to the world of robotics the longest-reaching cobot to date. Today’s P-SERIES announcement by Doosan Robotics was marked by a show floor unveiling of the new P3020 – the world’s most powerful cobot for palletizing in existence. The P3020…

To understand the future of flexible food packaging, you first must understand the history. No one knows that better than Tom Dunn, a 40-year veteran of the packaging industry who has developed flexible packaging products, processes, and platforms. Now, the managing director of Flexpacknology, he consults with manufacturers, material suppliers, and machine builders on how…

Middleby Corporation is the parent company to several OEM divisions offering equipment for commercial foodservice and industrial food processing, including bakery and packaging applications. TurboChef, which manufactures ventless, rapid-cook ovens, is part of the Middleby business portfolio. To gain more control over inventory management and improve on-time delivery, TurboChef is now working with LeanDNA, a…

When it comes to designing parts, it’s best not to reinvent the wheel. Imagine, as an engineer, spending hours, days, or even months designing a part, only to find out later that it already exists. Unfortunately, it’s all too common, especially in machine building and manufacturing facilities that have been operating for decades. The problem…

Packaging machinery uses cutting-edge automation, and it’s no wonder. Facilities that parcel products need to deliver high throughput, but modern consumers demand smart packaging in the form of no-fuss containers that protect everything from M&Ms to patio furniture. What’s more, there’s a continuous drive to customize packages and let consumer-facing companies wrap products for bulk…

By Stephanie Neil When designing packaging machinery for adaptability, it’s important to understand how the controls and components impact the way the machine moves, and even more critical to ensure those movements — and the machine itself — are safe. The obvious safety mechanisms include adding emergency stop (e-stop) buttons that will shut down equipment…

Remember that while U.S. food-regulatory agencies don’t directly regulate food equipment, they regulate its use to require cleanliness. As part of FSMA, the Preventive Controls for Human Foods Rule demands that all plants registered with the FDA prepare and implement written food-safety plans — or FSPs for short. These FSPs must identify and outline solutions…

One of the most common forms of labeling in the packaging industry involves affixing self-adhesive branding and designation stickers to discrete end units off a spool off said stickers. Though the applications for food and beverage products are most visible, this type of labeling is used in the pharmaceutical, petrochemical, electronics, and home goods industries…

Pick and place in the context of machines for packing typically involves the handling of discrete products (from the size of a cookie to the size of a sports-drink skid) by fixed cartesian arrangements, delta robots, or SCARA robotic arms. In fact, pick-and-place operations are excellent candidates for automation, as the work (if done manually)…

By Arne Valentin, Technology Manager – Machine Automation, SEW-EURODRIVE     Exploring the ways automation platforms — available with modular, preselected sets — promote throughput and efficiency in the packaging industry. Packaging operations are anything but simple. Every day, millions of food items, commodities, and other products must be packaged, sealed, transported, unloaded, mixed, stored,…

Emerson will exhibit its Floor to Cloud packaging solutions at PACK EXPO Las Vegas, September 11-13, 2023. As the future of automation, Floor to Cloud solutions empower smarter packaging lines and more efficient processes that make it possible for manufacturers to continuously improve plant productivity, sustainability, and safety. Visitors to South Lower Hall, Booth 6107,…

PACK EXPO is one of the most extensive packaging and processing shows in North America with over 44,000 attendees and 2,200 exhibitors. NORD DRIVESYSTEMS, a worldwide solution provider, is one of the exhibitors at this year’s convention taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada September 11-13, 2023. NORD’s drive solutions focus on reliability, flexibility, and high…

By Arne Valentin, Technology Manager – Machine Automation, SEW-EURODRIVE Exploring the ways automation platforms — available with modular, preselected sets — promote throughput and efficiency in the packaging industry. Packaging operations are anything but simple. Every day, millions of food items, commodities, and other products must be packaged, sealed, transported, unloaded, mixed, stored, recycled, and…

In keeping with industry growth, Pack Expo Las Vegas 2023 (Sept. 11-13; Las Vegas Convention Center) is on pace to be the largest, most comprehensive edition of this trade show since its inception. As the premier destination to explore cutting-edge packaging and processing solutions, Pack Expo Las Vegas will include more than 2,000 suppliers, as…

E-commerce has recently experienced an enormous rise in acceptance and success. At the same time, consumers increasingly value sustainability and avoiding the use of unnecessary packaging material. To address these trends Quadient, in Drachten, the Netherlands, developed a new packaging machine for the flexible, sustainable, and cost-effective production of customized corrugated cardboard packaging. This system…

To make sealing applications greener, ultrasonic welding offers many advantages compared to traditional heat sealing. Its precise, reliable capabilities and efficiency allow end-users to reduce energy consumption, confidently use biodegradable packaging, minimize product and packaging waste, and improve packaging recyclability and compostability. This sustainable technology can ultimately save energy by up to 25% and reduce…

Pack Expo attendees are being welcomed back to Las Vegas with a special treat that is fairly rare for live events – seeing a fully functional integrated packaging line that embodies ProMach’s vision of merging two or more of its product brands together into one streamlined solution. The integrated packaging line stars three of ProMach’s…

Live, in-person technology in action for the first time in 18 months is just one of the many features of the only comprehensive packaging and processing trade show in the world this year: Pack Expo Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO (Sept. 27-29, Las Vegas Convention Center). Show producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and…

The North American cheese sector, valued at $56,976 million last year, is expected to grow annually by 2.1% CAGR between 2020-2023. Dutch imports of the dairy product make up a significant chunk of the market share, with statistics reporting a value of nearly $88 million last year. For Vepo Cheese, which serves both national and…