Bags, Bagging, & Packaging Spotlight - July 09

Bulk Bag Hang-Weigh Filler
This bulk bag filler provides simplified portability for bulk bag filling operations. Traditional floor-mounted load cells pose problems and limitations if the filler frame needs to be moved. The load cells of the hang-weigh filler system have been relocated onto the bulk bag frames’ hanging hooks, thereby eliminating the problem. Bags can be accurately weighed as they are being filled, the filler can be easily moved, and filling can begin right away. There is no risk of damage to the sensitive load cells and no need for recalibration.
Hapman, Kalamazoo, MI 800-427-6260 www.ideasthatmove.com

Semiautomatic Bag Palletizer
The Model 72SA automatically lifts, positions, and loads bagged product from a low-level orientation table onto an awaiting pallet. This automation can increase the efficiency of production, while reducing the repetitive lifting motion associated with back injuries that result in higher insurance premiums. Bags are easily oriented upon soft touch ball bearing rollers by an operator. The operator slides the properly positioned bags over a low-friction roller transfer table to create complete layers. Once a layer is completed, the operator simply presses a push-button control to activate the machine. The layer is automatically lifted and deposited squarely upon the previous pallet layer and the transfer table returns to its original position for the next load.
A-B-C Packaging Machine Corp., Tarpon Springs, FL 727-937-5144 www.abcpackaging.com

Bulk Bag Filler-by-Volume
The Model CS Spirofil bulk bag filler is now available and offers bag filling by volume. Bags are inflated prior to filling to ensure that they are fully extended and without folds or creases that could reduce capacity, cause instability, or create discharging problems. Like other Spirofil bulk bag fillers in the Series C range, the Model CS filler-by-volume offers an efficient and economic way of filling bags for removal by lift truck in virtually any industry including chemical, food, dairy, pharmaceutical, animal feed, plastics, minerals, and aggregates. Filling rates are up to 20 one-ton bags per hour.
Spiroflow Systems Inc., Monroe, NC 704-291-9595 www.spiroflowsystems.com

Sanitary Bulk Bag Discharger
This discharger is designed for Class I, Division I service under a 108-in. ceiling height. It features sanitary Type 316L stainless-steel construction with round horizontal tubes, no tube penetrations, welded standoffs, and continuous TIG welds for easy, thorough cleaning. The system features a Seal-Master bag spout chamber with gull wing doors for easy discharge spout access, and a Sure-Seal actuated bag spout clamping system for dust-tight product discharge.
Material Transfer & Storage, Allegan, MI 800-836-7068 www.materialtransfer.com

Vibratory Filler
The Series 61S vibratory filler provides fast, clean, and accurate filling of a wide range of dry bulk solids. It is fed by a wide throat hopper with an integrated agitator that ensures consistent product feed. Product is metered into the package via an enclosed tubular tray that is driven by a multispeed electromagnetic drive. All product contact parts can be accessed and cleaned without tools and a complete dry clean can typically be accomplished in less than five minutes by two operators. The unit can fill bags, boxes, and drums using either a direct-mount spout load cell assembly or an NTEP platform scale.
Tech Pak, a div. of Shick USA, Kansas City, MO 816-861-7224 www.tech-pak.com

Electronic Air-Pressure Valve Packer
The Model A1000 electronic air-pressure packer utilizes a load cell and a user-friendly Model IDS440HS digital weigh indicator/controller for bagging fine, medium, and course dry materials. It offers production rates of 4 to 8 or more bags per minute with weight accuracy of ±4 to 5 oz, at proper fluidization and uniform control of head pressure. It features heavy-duty construction with simple operation, has a full bottom chamber cover for easy cleanout, dual filling speeds (bulk and dribble), a dust collection connection, and a quiet, low-pressure blower.
VIC Systems International Inc., Shawnee Mission, KS 800-255-0445 www.vicsystemsintl.com

Continuous Band Sealer
The S-CH-S sealer is designed to seal bags containing bulk products at speeds of up to 100 ft/min. Gusseted gauges up to 8 mil can be used. Applications include fertilizer, resigns, titanium dioxide, garden products, agricultural chemicals, and pet foods. The unit has two pairs of heating and cooling bars. All bars have a hardened surface treatment that reduces wear and an exclusive overtravel limit to reduce sealing band wear. Water cooling is standard. Full-length, 1-in.-wide neoprene timing belts grip the bag securely to provide positive bag-top control. The timing belt eliminates maintenance and wear.
Bosch Packaging Technology Inc., New Richmond, WI 715-246-6511 www.boschpackaging.com

Rotary Band Sealer
The Supersealer SB10 seals a wide range of bagged materials efficiently and at high speeds. The heavy-duty painted construction, in combination with proven band sealing technology and operatorfriendly controls, ensures continuous-duty performance in demanding applications. Features include: automatic reverse when sealer is out of temperature range; operator protected; quick release band change; small footprint; cost-effective/variable speed; and heavy-duty components.
OK International Corp., Marlboro, MA 508-303-8286 www.oksealer.com

Bag Breaker
The BagBuster bag breaker is a compact system for manually opening bags in an efficient and clean manner. The system includes a self-contained exhauster, cartridge dust filter, and process hopper. A downdraft design is utilized to pull any dust-laden air generated during bag breaking away from the operator. The dust is then separated by the filter and dropped back into a process hopper, ensuring all material is used. The system lowers production costs and improves product yield. It can be combined with the Cruncher bag compactor to provide a simple and efficient method of reducing bulky, dusty, and discarded bags into a high-density bundle that can be easily handled and disposed of without the mess and dust normally associated with a manual bag-breaking operation.
Dynamic Air Inc., St. Paul, MN 651-484-2900 www.dynamicair.com

Bulk Bag Filling System
This bulk bag filling system provides 20,000 lb/hr high-volume material filling and high-speed package handling capabilities. Designed to be operated by one user, the entire processing operation is fully automated, including systemwide controls, communication, sensing, and monitoring. To ensure seamless integration, the company tied-in all legacy, upstream process operations to a single UL-listed HMI. Aggressive-duty cycles and processing of ignitable material required specific equipment design, engineering, and construction capabilities. At a material flow rate of 20,000 lb/hr, each bulk bag is filled to an accuracy of ±0.5% as weighed by an NTEP-certified hang weigh scale system.
National Bulk Equipment Inc., Holland, MI 616-399-2220 www.nbe-inc.com

Laminated Bags
These side- and bottom-gusseted laminated bags offer high strength and product protection, and provide total cost savings of up to 70% compared with various types of drums. The bags can be UN-certified and offer a high degree of barrier protection if required. Custom-made printed bags can be designed with many different features to meet both performance and economic requirements. Unprinted bags are available immediately.
Fres-co System USA Inc., Telford, PA 215-721-4600 www.fresco.com

Bag Filler
Smart-Fil models range from the basic—a manual design that can fill 50-lb bags at rates up to 100 bags/hr—to fully automatic systems that can fill, palletize, and shrink-wrap up to 480 bags/hr. The design is ideal for high-grade powders where weight accuracy, gentle handling, and a high degree of sanitation are critical. All models feature stainless-steel construction, easy-to-clean components, and excellent dust suppression during the filling process. Some of the more popular options include USDA models, gassing systems for perishable products, checkweigh and reject systems, metal detection, interconnecting conveyors, and de-aeration systems.
Nu-Con Equipment, Chanhassen, MN 952-279-5210 www.nucon.com

High-Speed Bag Palletizers
These robotic palletizers provide high-speed palletizing at 28 bags/min with the ability to handle open mouth, valve, and poly bags with zero change time and few adjustments. They contain few moving parts, reducing overall machine wear. Their simple design, high speed, and low maintenance ensure increased uptime and high reliability. The units are energy-efficient and feature a touch screen interface for user-friendly pattern programming.
Columbia/Okura LLC, Vancouver, WA 360-735-1952 www.columbiaokura.com

Internally Baffled FIBC 
The Clean Seal MaxSack container is an internally baffled FIBC with spread strap lift loop design. The Clean Seal cutting technology produces a smooth, clean edge that helps eliminate product packaging contamination. The double-coated baffle fabrication prevents product contamination due to fabric unraveling. The MaxSack baffled design can contain 25–30% more than a conventional Super Sack container of the same height. Designed to stay square after filling for maximum use of shipping and storage space, the container is stable and stackable. The unit is ideal for products with low bulk densities.
B.A.G. Corp., Dallas, TX 800-331-9200 www.bagcorp.com

Automatic Bagging Machines
The 3CM-5 series of automatic bagging machines is specifically designed for tight spaces. The baggers place an empty bag on the spout, fill it (typically 20–50 lb), and close the bag top (heat seal or sewing), all within the confines of the bagger. This system maintains bag top control through this process in order to achieve a high degree of consistency and deliver maximum throughput. The 3CM-52, 3CM-55, and 3CM-5U models feature bagging capacities ranging from a maximum of 350 to 600 bags/hr. 
American-Newlong Inc., Indianapolis, IN 317-787-9421 www.american-newlong.com

Seal Tester
The SealTester is a rugged instrument that checks packaging for air and gas tightness in-line, effortlessly, and accurately. A key advantage of the SealTester is saving in personnel costs compared with random physical sampling and testing. Another benefit is its high level of dependability and consistency when checking for air or gas leaks, without any loss of the product being tested. For further assurance, the unit is protected by both European and U.S. patents. It uses a powerful servo control to direct its six servomotors. The control manipulates three measuring belts in such a way that the flexible bags in the production line do not collide with each other or with the belts.
Sartorius Mechatronics Corp., Bohemia, NY 631-254-4249 www.sartorius.com

Compact Open-Mouth Gross Weigh Gravity Filler
The 4300 compact open-mouth gross weigh gravity filler provides fast, accurate filling of openmouth bags with free-flowing granular products such as seeds, grains, dry sand, rock salt, and plastic pellets. Design features include pneumatic flow control gate and bag clamps, electronic load cell weighing, bulk and dribble feed, display in lb and kg, auto tare, bag hold switch, auto hold for underweight bags, calibration routine, bag-in-place switch, bag clamp auto start switch, and dust pickup port. With bag weighs ranging from 20 to 110 lb, filling rates of 10–14 bags/min with accuracies of ±2/10 of a pound can be achieved, depending upon product characteristics.
Chantland-MHS, Humboldt, IA 515-332-4045 www.chantland.com