GN Thermoforming Equipment, Chester, N.S., has introduced a new high-speed robotic stacker for its contact-heat, in-mold-cut thermoformers.

Exhibitors at this year’s show introduced an assortment of new machines and upgraded models with designs incorporating the latest in mechanical, hydraulic, and electronic technologies.

Most of the developments will focus on in-line systems.

Shift from private to capital ownership give Tray-Pak a boost.

Making its U.S. debut at NPE in Orlando is the GN760 in-line forming machine from GN Thermoforming Equipment, Chester, N.S.

First-of-its-kind tooling technology from GN Thermoforming Equipment, Chester, N.S., provides a cost-effective way to form above and below the sheet line on GN’s contact-heat thermoformers.

Continuous in-line packaging systems headed up the K 2010 thermoforming news as suppliers launched a range of roll-fed systems with greater capacity, more flexibility, and improved automation.

There will be fewer thermoforming machines on display at NPE 2003 than at many recent NPEs.

Polylactic acid (PLA) resins are made from 100% renewable resources such as corn, sugar beets, or sugarcane.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: GN Thermoforming Equipment, Chester, N.S., has developed a tool-specific heater platen that is said to offer output rate increases up to 30% while improving product clarity and speeding tool changeovers.

WEB EXCLUSIVE: The GN DX series of contact-heat, cut-in-place thermoformers from GN Thermoforming Equipment, Chester, Nova Scotia, is a new line of servo-driven machines that provide significantly greater cutting capacity for making APET food packaging.

NPE had its share of innovations in thermoforming, notably a new machine that opens the small-bottle market to thermoformers. New trim stations offer more in the way of output and versatility. And more machines are now outfitted with off-the-shelf controls to facilitate servicing. A line of formers from Australia also arrived in the U.S. (Note: additional NPE thermoforming news appeared in May and June—see Learn More box.)

For thermoforming of both heavy-gauge sheet and thin-gauge packaging, the show will present new machines with unusual flexibility, able to form a wide variety of products and materials.

Continuous in-line packaging systems will be the main emphasis in thermoforming at K 2007.

After several fits and starts over the last decade, thermoforming IML appears ready for prime time, thanks to improvements in output and labeling technology. For now, the action is mostly in European packaging.

G.N.

Like many other NPE exhibitors, thermoforming equipment suppliers are taking less machinery to this year’s Chicago event.

Thermoforming innovations at K 2004 include several new trim-in-place units for packaging, the first in-line packaging system with an infrared scanner that automatically adjusts oven temperatures. and improved halogen heating that works better with preprinted sheet.High-speed packagingIllig of Germany will introduce the RDK 80, a high-speed automatic trim-in-place pressure former whose advanced servomotor control is said to allow very precise setting of variable platen strokes and speeds.

Thermoforming equipment displays at K 2001 focus on innovations in trim-in-place packaging, especially for PP food containers. There is also action in improving productivity of heavy-gauge industrial forming machinery.