Innovative robotic handling solutions, automation technologies, and sustainable system concepts

Syntegon, a leading global provider of process and packaging technology, will present its versatile portfolio of processing and packaging solutions at Pack Expo in Chicago, US, from 23 to 26 October 2022. 

Visitors can expect insights into innovative robotic handling solutions, automation technologies, and advanced and sustainable system concepts for primary and secondary packaging. 

One of the highlights will be the official launch of the new intelligent, direct handling (IDH) pick-and-place system for cookies, crackers and biscuits. 

The packaging experts will showcase their comprehensive system competence with displays of the RPP robotic pick-and-place platform in combination with a MEC end load cartoner and an SVE 2520 Doy Zip vertical bagger with an Elematic 3001 case packer. 

“We not only unite our renowned brands such as Kliklok, Doboy, Elematic, Makat, Woodman, Osgood and Sigpack under a common Syntegon umbrella. We offer various technologies that cater to different needs and facilitate the shift towards future-proof and sustainable packaging processes for our customers,” said Brad Baker, sales director of North America at Syntegon. 

Syntegon is an expert in integrating robotics and has been engineering pick-and-place systems for many years. Following the ongoing trend toward automated handling solutions, the packaging and processing experts will present the newly developed IDH for the flat handling of cookies, biscuits, crackers, or chocolate for the first time at Pack Expo 2022. 

The advanced pick and place concept uses linear motor technology (XTS) – the smooth movements of the linear motors ensure gentle handling of the sensitive products. In addition, the IDH ensures increased production speeds as it can pick up many products simultaneously and place them in infeed chains or trays in one step. Also, it allows for high-pack style flexibility on a compact footprint. The IDH will be integrated with a Pack 202 horizontal flow wrapper to form an efficient and flexible system for packaging cookies into trays which will be overwrapped.

Another example of Syntegon’s robotic expertise on the Pack Expo booth is the recently launched Syntegon RPP pick-and-place platform – the robotic solution will be shown together with a Kliklok MEC end load cartoner for automatic feeding and loading of pastry products such as toaster pastries. 

The RPP picks the manually loaded products and places four flow wraps, each holding two toaster pastries, into up to 80 cartons per minute. The downstream MEC is also equipped to handle different speed ranges and format sizes – thus offering manufacturers a future-proof automated solution.

To remain competitive in the future, companies in the food industry rely on flexible equipment that allows them to react quickly to dynamic market trends. One such solution will be on display at the Pack Expo stand, consisting of an SVE 2520 Doy Zip vertical bagger and an Elematic 3001 WA wraparound case packer. 

The system packages chocolate buttons into re-sealable Doy Zip bags that keep the confectionery products fresh. The highly flexible machine also processes all other common bag formats and feeds them to the Elematic 3001 WA. 

The case packer is known for its format flexibility and easy changeovers, placing the bags in corrugated cases. Manufacturers looking for a top load solution for RSC cartons can take a closer look at the Elematic 1001 TL – the case packer boasts a large format range and groups products into various collations before placing them into corrugated or solid board cases. Both case packers can easily be integrated into complete system solutions.

In addition, Syntegon will exhibit the continuous band sealer CBS-D for vertical and horizontal formats from its Doboy brand. The bag sealer can flexibly process various products, from food to non-food and medical items, and can be added to existing packaging lines. Its advanced sealing technology ensures tight, high-quality seals – even for hermetic sealing applications.

With the Kliklok ACE carton erector, the Syntegon brand offers customers from the food industry complete format flexibility for cartons and the option to create sustainable cookie trays. Thanks to the innovative lock-style technology, the ACE folds glue-free trays made of paper, enabling manufacturers to replace conventional plastics with a recyclable alternative. “By integrating automated systems and sustainable technologies, we support food companies that need to react to dynamic market trends quickly,” explained Baker.

When it comes to sustainable packaging, the new coffee packaging machine PMX from Syntegon contributes its fair share – in a digital presentation, visitors to the booth will be able to learn more about the modular design of the machine that processes recyclable mono-materials and aroma protection valves for coffee bags. Moreover, the PMX features condition monitoring to reduce energy and material consumption. Visitors can observe this multitude of sustainability firsthand while enjoying a cup of freshly brewed coffee from the booth barista.

While the exhibited SVE vertical bagger stands out due to its pack style flexibility, the SVC impresses with its hygienic design features. The machine is suitable for harsh environments and washdown cleaning, avoiding cross-contamination, and keeping products and consumers safe.

When it comes to hygiene, manufacturers of liquid foods, in particular, need to comply with the highest industry standards as their products are sensitive and spoil quickly. The liquid filling machine LFS from the Syntegon company Osgood is available in clean and ultra-clean hygienic executions and packages liquid and viscous products into preformed containers. Its modular concept allows for individual configurations to meet various product requirements, for example, by adding a disinfection station using UVC or pulsed light for chemical-free disinfection.

Experts from Makat will offer to consult on producing a variety of high-quality sweets, such as jelly or candy. Makat kitchen and depositing solutions are highly precise and handle products gently from ingredient preparation to product finishing – the result is high-quality confectionery products. The latest innovation is Makat’s starchless depositing turnkey solution, catering for the growing demand for functional and medicated sweets.

The experts at the Stand will also talk pharmaceutical manufacturers through the latest industry innovations and present the complete portfolio for developing, producing, and processing liquid and solid dosage forms. Visitors can expect a live demonstration of the Range Manual Assembly (RMA) machine designed for small batches and clinical trials of MedTech devices like auto-injectors and pens. The assembly machine processes up to 300 devices per minute, while the automatic infeed and outfeed can be fully integrated with upstream and downstream equipment.

While machines are essential to high-quality manufacturing, they are not the only thing brand owners want. Syntegon’s Services and Digital Solutions play an equally important role, which is why the company will present its latest service developments at Pack Expo. Revised Service Agreements on different levels cover maintenance, spare parts management, remote service, and training at a fixed price. 

The Service Agreements include Synexio, a cloud-based software solution that monitors and evaluates machine and production data. Syntegon customers can use the generated real-time information to streamline their maintenance processes and enhance their overall production efficiency.

The Covid-19 pandemic led to the country-wide lockdown on 25 March 2020. It will be two years tomorrow as I write this. What have we learned in this time? Maybe the meaning of resilience since small companies like us have had to rely on our resources and the forbearance of our employees as we have struggled to produce our trade platforms.

The print and packaging industries have been fortunate, although the commercial printing industry is still to recover. We have learned more about the digital transformation that affects commercial printing and packaging. Ultimately digital will help print grow in a country where we are still far behind in our paper and print consumption and where digital is a leapfrog technology that will only increase the demand for print in the foreseeable future.

Web analytics show that we now have readership in North America and Europe amongst the 90 countries where our five platforms reach. Our traffic which more than doubled in 2020, has at times gone up by another 50% in 2021. And advertising which had fallen to pieces in 2020 and 2021, has started its return since January 2022.

As the economy approaches real growth with unevenness and shortages a given, we are looking forward to the PrintPack India exhibition in Greater Noida. We are again appointed to produce the Show Daily on all five days of the show from 26 to 30 May 2022.

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