The buzz at PACK EXPO Las Vegas?

Packaging systems that print clearer bar codes, support sustainability, change over faster, bring greater visibility to the packaging floor, reduce footprint, add robotic flexibility to packing, meet the latest trends in consumer packaging and simplify validation.

Purdue University announced a much-needed mechatronics engineering curriculum for its Calumet campus during a conference presentation featuring a panel of education proponents.

Z Automation Company (interpack Hall 16, Stand B35, co-exhibiting with PRB) president Zoran Momich operated a cartoner in their exhibit remotely from Chicago—by internet and web cam—using software newly introduced at the show. Visitors saw the machine start, change speeds and stop with no one at the HMI panel.

A new 6-servo wrapper from Pester Pac Automation (interpack Hall 6, Stands D61/D73) doubles throughputs by dividing collated packages into two parallel lanes and wrapping them simultaneously. Two sets of dual film unwinds allow non-stop operation. New England Machinery didn’t display their flexible new capper with servos on the spindles and capping heads—because it shipped to an eager customer prior to the show. Adding ELAU’s servo modules to the spindles give it the flexibility to select various container heights, shapes and even dip tubes from the operator panel.