New printer with print chip technology offers efficiency, productivity & cost savings

Epson America Inc. (epson.com) introduces the ColorWorks C7500 Label Printer with Just In Time Color™ (JITC) Labeling. Powered by PrecisionCore™ print chip technology, the durable, bench-top printer offers greater efficiency, productivity and cost savings – up to 50% in total labeling costs – for higher volume industrial and manufacturing applications. The C7500 system is designed to meet the needs of industrial manufacturers fulfilling high-mix label requirements and variable printing demands. Epson’s PrecisionCore technology enables the new printer to deliver speed, economy and print quality to manufacturers. The modular print chip merges enhanced print speed, image quality, ink durability and color resolution with the flexibility to cost-effectively scale up production as needed.

New shrink-sleeve labeling solutions for bottles and cans

Axon (axoncorp.com), powered by Pro Mach, launches craft beer shrink-sleeve labels and low-cost labeling machines and shrink tunnels, which will help craft brewers promote packaging brand image with distinctive and instantly recognizable bottles and cans. Automated Axon labelers drop the pre-printed film sleeves over bottles or cans, which then pass through a heat tunnel that shrinks the film to the unique contour of the package. Axon’s EZ-130 is a compact machine that automatically labels up to 150 bottle or cans per minute. The Thermodash is a compact, energy efficient heat tunnel that brings the precise shrinkage characteristics of steam to customers at a cost comparable to convective heat tunnels.

New range of Aroma-Can canisters debuts

Clariant (clariant.com) and its Healthcare Packaging unit introduce a new and improved family of Aroma-Can® canisters to enhance nutritional products by adding a pleasant scent to product packaging. Modeled after Clariant’s desiccant canisters for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical packaging, Aroma-Can canisters employ aroma technology that can give consumers a positive sensory experience when they open product packaging. The technology embeds food-grade flavors, such as vanilla, orange and lemon, directly into a plastic canister, which can be inserted easily into a container. The container’s new one-piece design reduces further process and assembly and contains more surface area, which improve the canister’s aroma profile.

Dual-lane hand-pack conveyor system unveiled

Multi-Conveyor (multi-conveyor.com) has built a dual-lane conveyor system with a center rail for a hand-pack line. The mild steel constructed conveyors will transport individual trays to be hand-packed into cases. The system is made up of four conveyor sections joined by seamless transfers. First is a straight running 24’ long conveyor with two lanes and a center divider to keep the trays separated. A 9’ long inclining conveyor was incorporated to elevate the trays from 30” to 42” for a desired hand-packing height to insert the trays into corrugated cases. The final section is a 20’ long plastic chain pack-table conveyor with a fixed end-stop along with two gravity roller conveyors running the full 20' length of the pack-table.

World’s first sealed paper packaging hits market

Bosch Packaging Technology (boschpackaging.com) and BillerudKorsnäs developed the world´s first sealed paper packaging using sustainable mono-material paper, which contains no additional polymer fractions, to enable production of dust-tight packaging for dry products such as sugar, grains, flour or powders. Swedish paper specialist BillerudKorsnäs contributed to the optimization of the mechanical properties of the paper, while Bosch proved its competence as a leading packaging technology provider. The paper packaging is produced on the first vertical form, fill and seal machine (VFFS) with the so-called ZAP-Module. The module allows coating with the sealing agent on a minimal surface area, preserving the paper’s mono-material character.

New disposable ready-to-serve accelerated cooking packaging

HAVI Global Solutions (HGS; havigs.com) has partnered with Manitowoc Foodservice Inc. to develop breakthrough, ready to serve accelerated cooking packaging. SIX500™ provides food processors, convenience stores and restaurant operators with an enhanced packaging solution that is said to withstand temperatures up to 525 degrees Fahrenheit for six minutes. Through an integrated approach of sharing perspectives from packaging and equipment, HGS and MFS were able to address a fragmented customer issue through the co-development of an integrated solution. SIX500 will be available for sale through HGS starting in September 2016 with additional enhancements coming in 2017.

LiDynamics line offers complete portfolio of lidding films

Flair Flexible Packaging Corp. (flairpackaging.com) announces the launch of its LiDynamics® program, expanding the company’s current offerings to include a complete portfolio of lidding films. Between Flair’s extensive stock offerings and the ability to custom engineer film structures, Flair positions itself as a leader in packaging solutions for lidding applications. The LiDynamics program offers a variety of seal types, structures and barrier properties, and can be custom rotogravure printed up to 10 colors. These high-clarity films work well for a range of products including prepared meals, dairy products, dips, spreads, salads, fresh vegetables and more.

Innovative spout pouches land in global market

Korozo’s (korozo.com.tr) spout pouches provide a flexible packaging option for liquid products. They are a safe packaging solution to ensure secure transportation of fluids in terms of convenience compared to plastic or glass bottles. There’s a range of different designs and a possibility to print 11 colors to suit any requirement, all available with a round or square bottom. A variety of material combinations can be used with PET, OPA, Alu, PP and PE. The package is eye-catching, easy to use and cost effective, plus it is very space efficient. This is a growing pouch type and a major growth segment in the packaging industry.