Stick packs are hot!

Ropak Manufacturing introduced its 14-axis Intelligent Servo Module-equipped Stik Pak system, offering unprecedented changeover flexibility for the immensely popular single serve format. Stick pack lengths are fingertip selectable from 4” to 8” and diameters can be changed by plant personnel in just a few hours with minimal change parts. Good for sustainability: stick packs use less material than comparable sachets or pouches.

Pro Pack Systems rewrote the book on case erecting/bottom sealing with its modular, recipe-driven, Intelligent Servo Module equipped, print-on-demand Pro Print™ EBS 15 machine. The company reported very brisk inquiry activity among packagers requiring frequent changeovers per shift performed by unskilled operators.

It prints all four sides of the case before it is erected, delivering far better print quality and higher resolution than printing cases after they are packed. The base model can be field upgraded in just a few hours to fully automated servo changeover.

Fallas Automation’s R700 Adabot™ modular case packer got its name from the ability to add up to four robots using a single a single ELAU PacDrive™ automation controller – hence, “add” a ‘bot. It also picks product on the fly.

This year, the highly rigid carbon fiber robot arm can handle 5 lb. payloads at up to 40 cpm in addition to 2 ½ lbs. at up to 60 cpm and payloads of 2 lbs. or less at up to 80 cpm. Adabot excels at difficult to grip and collate flow packed deli foods, bagged snacks and the like into various pack patterns and deep cases.