FIPA gripper removes parts of any shape
End-of-arm-tooling maker FIPA GmbH says its Expander pneumatic gripper expands to fill any shape.
It can handle round holes, rectangular recesses or elongated holes, so the Expander can take parts out of mold that have a variety of recesses but few flat surfaces.
Traditional expansion grippers work with circular recesses, according to FIPA, based in Ismaning, Germany.
First, the Expander is directed into the part. Once inside, pneumatic pistons compress elastomer in the axial direction, so the gripper expands evenly. Also, by regulating air pressure, gripping force can be reduced to gently handle sensitive, thin-wall parts.
FIPA also is a major supplier of vacuum cups for the EOAT industry.
Tel. 49-89-962489-0, fax 49-89-962489-11, e-mail [email protected]
Enercon is offering heat-sealing system
Enercon Industries Ltd. of Buckinghamshire, England, touts its induction heating equipment that seals foil safety membranes on caps for packaging.
The induction liners are made from aluminum-foil membranes, coated with polymer and attached to a backing material using a wax bond. As the filled container passes under the induction heat, an electromagnetic field creates a low level of localized heat in the foil membrane, which melts the wax bond and the polymer coating.
Richard Bull, Enercon's managing director, said foil sealing reduces bottle weight, in addition to providing freshness and product safety.
Enercon's U.S. business is based in Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Tel. 262-255-6070, fax 262-255-7784.
Cereplast bioresins used for coffee mugs
Cereplast Inc. says its Compostables-brand resins are being used to make promotional coffee mugs by Quickpoint Inc. of Fenton, Mo.
Compostables are starch-modified polylactic acid and can withstand the high temperatures of hot beverages and are microwaveable, according Cereplast, based in Hawthorne, Calif.
``We collaborated with Quickpoint to design and develop a product that could be used like any other mug, but with the advantage of being nearly 100 percent bio-based,'' said Cereplast Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frederic Scheer in a news release.
Quickpoint offers the mugs - a traditional mug and a commuter mug - as part of its EcoAd line. The firm specializes in making a range of acrylic promotional items.
Tel. 310-676-5000, fax 310-676-5003, e-mail [email protected]
Presma demonstrates all-electric rotary unit
Italian press maker Presma SpA can mold wine corks on an all-electric, rotary-table injection molding machine called the Roto T2/48E, which also features new plasticizing screws.
The press can mold two corks per cycle. Some cycles can run two colors with two different materials. Cycle time range from 1.8 seconds to 2.2 seconds - or 3,000-4,000 corks per hour.
The machine feeds wooden or plastic inserts into the corks to product T-stoppers.
Another press, the GTS 200 BIC, can coinjection mold interior car door handles. The machine features a twin-screw plasticizing unit, which is incorporated into the transfer system, plus a patented coinjeciton nozzle.
A third press, the Modulo 2/100, also offers multishot molding. A takeout device moves the parts from one station to another.
Presma is based in Torba di Gornate Olona, Italy. Its U.S. operation, Presma Corp., is in East Brunswick, N.J.
Tel. 732-390-4599, fax 732-254-3509, e-mail [email protected]
Schutz makes drums via nanotechnology
Schutz GmbH & Co. KG, a global maker of plastic drums and intermediate bulk containers headquartered in Selters, Germany, is opening a 645,000-square-foot factory in Moerdijk, the Netherlands.
It will be the second-largest production site for Schutz, except for the company's headquarters.
The firm will install three- and six-layer blow molding machinery. The six-layer equipment will enable Schutz to make IBCs with barrier layers, and even electrically conductive containers. The factory also will make polyethylene drums as well as steel drums.
Schutz also has developed a conductive plastic drum using nanotechnology. The F1-Ex-Nano uses carbon nanotubes from Bayer MaterialScience AG of Leverkusen, Germany. Under the process created by Schutz, the drum is plasticized in three layers. The thin outer layer contains the nanotubes, making the drum conductive.
In the future, the company said, carbon nanotubes will be able to fully replace carbon black in the drums. Nanotechnology also improves the drum's resistance to cold and chemicals.
Tel. 49-2626-77992, fax 49-2626-77365, e-mail [email protected]
Polyvel concentrates eliminate fogging
Polyvel Inc. of Hammonton, N.J., has developed an anti-fog concentrate for use in polyolefin microwaveable food packaging.
VF150MW meets Food and Drug Administration requirements for exposure to boiling water for certain foods. The concentrate also is highly rated for visual performance for hot food packaging.
Tel. 609-567-0080, e-mail [email protected]
Polymics PBIs boast heat, wear resistance
Polymics Ltd. has developed stock shapes based on high-performance engineering polymer, polybenzimidazole.
Celazole PBI is available in a range of rod, plate, disk and tubular bar shapes. They are suited to extreme engineering applications such as semiconductor manufacturing, oil and gas exploration components, and aircraft/aerospace uses.
Polymics of State College, Pa., says PBI exhibits the highest strength and stiffness of any unfilled plastic at temperatures above 400° F. For short durations, the material can withstand temperatures as high as 800° F. Stock shapes exhibit high wear and load resistance at elevated temperatures.
Plate offerings measure up to 10.5 inches by 15 inches and are up to 2 inches thick. Rods are supplied in diameters up to 5 inches and lengths up to 15 inches. Tubular bars and disks are supplied with outer diameters of up to 15 inches.
Tel. 814-357-5860, fax 814-357-5863, e-mail [email protected] mics.com.
Sunoco touts clarity of its new PP resins
Sunoco Chemicals has introduced a family of UltraClear polypropylene resins with exceptional clarity and performance.
The new resins provide up to 50 percent reduction in haze in consumer products, housewares and other end uses where clarity is important.
The properties could open up new market opportunities and even allow cost-effective substitution for other polymers like polycarbonate, PET and polystyrene, according to the Philadelphia firm.
The resins are available in two melt flows, 12 and 35 grams per 10 minutes, respectively.
Tel. 412-208-8194, fax 412-208-8205, e-mail [email protected] inc.com.
Hasco offers various mold components
Hasco Hasenclever GmbH + Co. KG of Ludenscheid, Germany, introduced several mold-component products:
* Z1050 and Z1060 gate inserts that automatically separate the molding and the sprue during demolding. The gate inserts are easily replaced. Hasco said the inserts are especially suited for parts that are flat or have thin walls.
* A two-stage ejector, the Z1692, has an advancing single stroke and the automatic division of the ejection movement into two separate, consecutive strokes.
* New diverting adapters, Z8052 and Z8053, for cooling circuits in molds. The adapters easily installed, provide cost savings and don't need long connections channels.
Hasco America Inc is in Arden, N.C.
Tel. 828-650-2600, fax 828-684-7960, e-mail [email protected]
Vibration controls Brabender's feeder
Brabender Technologie KG of Duisburg, Germany, offers a DualTray, a vibratory mass-flow feeder.
The DualTray consists of a free-standing mounting base that holds a storage hopper, with a metering feeder mounted on its bottom. Vibration induces flow of material from two or more cylindrical feed modules.
Switching the vibration off instantly stops the ingredient flow.
Brabender Technologie Inc. is in Mississauga, Ontario.
Tel. 905-670-2933, fax 905-670-2557, [email protected]
ACI Laser offering laser marking device
ACI Laser GmbH of Nohra, Germany, has introduced a compact laser marking device, the DPLFortis Marker.
The company said the laser is suited for engraving time-critical production processes, thanks to its power and speed. Optional attachments include a laser protective housing and rotating axis, a rotating table and the foil-marking unit, FoilStar 300.
ACI Laser also introduced two new work stations that can be customized to specific applications.
Tel. 49-3643-4152-0, fax 49-3643-4152-77, e-mail [email protected]
Hekuma machine labels blister packs
Hekuma GmbH, the automation supplier from Eching, Germany, offers a stand-alone machine for labeling preformed PET and PVC blister packaging. It can handle curved blister packaging as well as flat and rectangular packaging forms.
The Blister Decorating Solution machine can apply three-dimensional labels and radio-frequency-identification-tagging labels.
It also allows products to move into ``intelligent packaging,'' by using labels that measure moisture- and oxygen-absorbent properties, labels that allow shelf-life identification and special labels that have been designed to prevent product copying.
Tel. 49-8165-6333-00, fax 49-8165-633-33.
Firm debuts system for web inspection
Erhardt+Leimer GmbH of Augsburg, Germany, introduced a web inspection system, Elsis, which the company said improves quality control and boosts productivity in film production and film processing.
Elsis mainly is used with optical films, pharmaceutical films and food packaging.
The company developed lighting systems, for example with light-emitting diodes, that capture even difficult contrasts, to point out defects. Elsis classifies defects according to type and size. A new generation of camera does roll zooms and offers single-roll protocols, extended statistical functions and the identification of repetitive defects.
The company's North American subsidiary is called Erhardt+Leimer Inc.
Tel. 864-486-3000, fax 864-486-3011, e-mail [email protected]