Lightweight Five-Gallon Plastic Container
The lightweight 5-gal 40BL container offers 19% better weight per gallon of storage capacity than standard heavier-weight 5-gal pails. It combines crack-resistance, compression strength, and environmental sustainability for worry-free stackability and shipping. The container is available in either high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene, with or without recycled content. Consumer-friendly lightweight lids are designed for easy removal and reseal.
Plastican Inc., Leominster, MA 978-728-5023 www.plastican.com

Bulk Bag Filler
The Model CS bulk bag filler fills bags by volume. Bags are inflated prior to filling to ensure they are fully extended and without folds or creases that could reduce capacity, cause instability, or create discharging problems. The unit fills bags for removal by lift truck in virtually any industry from chemical to food, dairy, and pharmaceutical to animal feed, plastics, minerals, and aggregates. Filling rates are up to 20 one-ton bags per hour. Bags are filled in a dust-free manner, without spillage, and to the desired level. Bags are filled to be erect and upright, making them not only aesthetically pleasing, but also stable for safe handling, storage, and transportation.
Spiroflow System Inc., Monroe, NC 704-291-9595 www.spiroflowsystems.com

Form, Fill, and Seal Machine
The Model 2090 form, fill, and seal machine is a high-speed, low-operator interaction machine for automating industrial bagging. It features a new main belt path, jaw, and top seal design that runs at speeds of up to 34 bags per minute. With less than half the moving parts of previous designs, and a reduction in operator adjustments by 90%, the unit provides consistent bagging operation. Bag change over time from large to small sizes can be completed in less than 15 minutes.
Hamer Sales, Plymouth, MN 800-927-4674 www.hamerinc.com

Roller Forks
RollerForks provide an efficient and cost-effective means of handling bagged goods without pallets. FIBCs or standard bagged goods can be placed on inexpensive slip sheets instead of pallets in order to reduce costs. The RollerForks offer added value to forklift fleets as they can also be used as standard forks since they do not require hydraulics and are virtually maintenance free.
Reachable Solutions LLC, Chesapeake, VA 757-548-4142 www.reachablesolutions.com

Bulk Bag Filling Stands and Systems
Engineered to provide a safe, reliable, and dust-free means to fill lined, reusable, and disposable (one way) bags with a wide variety of powders and difficult-to-handle dry bulk materials, bulk bag filling stands and systems are easily operated by one person, saving on labor and operating costs. A completely integrated system inclusive of the stand, a choice of weighing options, feeding systems, cutoff valves, digital control instrumentation for direct connection to a PLC or DCS, and motorized conveyor sections to remove filled bags from the bulk bag or bulk container filling stand can be supplied. A wide range of options are available to meet virtually any plant operating requirement or dry solids handling need.
Metalfab Inc., Vernon, NJ 800-764-2999 www.metalfabinc.com

Integrated Packer
A single Allen Bradley ControlLogix (or CompactLogix) PLC and PanelView Plus HMI control the Ingenious integrated packer. Previously, this had individual HMIs for four packers (weight controllers), ultrasonic sealer controls, automatic bag applicator controls, conveyor controls, printer controls, checkweigher controls, and miscellaneous integration signals. To make a full changeover, an operator had to adjust settings in as many as 10 different controllers. This job is now done with one menu selection button; the information is communicated via Ethernet to all integrated components. Previous manual adjustments of equipment have been automated. There is no need for an operator to enter the equipment cell to make a change-over. 
Stonepak, Salt Lake City, UT 801-595-6800 www.stonepak.com

Bulk Bag Unloaders
BulkBuster bulk bag unloaders empty large bulk bags and get material where it needs to go. Safety is always a primary concern when handling and maneuvering extremely heavy and cumbersome bulk bags. A heavy-duty framework provides stability and operator safety. Operator efficiency is also maximized due to the simplicity of the designs and ease of operation when lifting, positioning, and emptying every bulk bag. Every material has different handling characteristics; some materials gravity feed easily, but most do not. Many styles and proven designs help meet special process requirements.
Dynamic Air Inc., St. Paul, MN 651-484-2900 www.dynamicair.com

Pallet Dispenser
The Model 601 pallet dispenser features a side-clamp design that grips and lifts the entire stack to allow the bottom pallet to feed independently from the stack to the palletizing station. This dispenser runs pallets with protruding nails or loose boards, while minimizing further pallet damage and eliminating handling concerns during warehousing and shipping. This unit operates with any packaging machine requiring automatic pallet feed, including case, bag, and robotic palletizers, large tote, and super sack fillers. It can also operate as an empty pallet stacker/accumulator at the outfeed of case
or bulk depalletizers. The unit is designed to fit all palletizers and depalletizer styles, and is equipped with chain or roller pallet feed conveyor. Two versions are offered, for both small or large pallets.
A-B-C Packaging Machine Corp., Tarpon Springs, FL 727-937-5144 www.abcpackaging.com

Open-Mouth Bag Filler
The 4219T Vibraweigh open-mouth bag filler is designed to feed and weigh powdered products as a totally enclosed filler while maintaining exceptional product control and weighing accuracy. Filling rates up to four 50-lb weighments/min and accuracies of ±2/10 of a pound can be achieved depending upon product characteristics.
Chantland-MHS, Humboldt, IA 515-332-4045 www.chantland.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. This model offers production rates of more than 4 to 8 bags/min with weight accuracy of ±3 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 clean out, dual filling speeds (bulk and dribble), a dust collection connection, and an extremely quiet, low-pressure blower. The A1000 provides accurate weighing to eliminate give-away, lowers maintenance costs, and increases production.
VIC Systems International Inc., Shawnee Mission, KS 800-255-0445 www.vicsystemsintl.com

Automatic Bagging Machines
The 3CM-5 series automatic bagging machines are 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. This series includes the 3CM-52, 3CM-55, and 3CM-5U machine models with bagging capacities ranging from a maximum of 350 to 600 bags/hr.
American-Newlong Inc., Indianapolis, IN 317-787-9421 www.american-newlong.com

Bulk Bag Loaders
BEST bulk bag loaders feature state-of-the-art technology in weighing and loading systems. Simple-to-operate Model BBL loader fills bulk bags, bulk boxes, and fiber drums. Standard features include: pneumatic actuated, pillow-block mounted, pivoting bag support arms; natural gum-rubber inflatable fill head; control panel; and dust-collection outlet port with cartridge. Many options are available.
Metso Minerals Industries Inc., Brunswick, OH 800-827-9237 www.bestvibes.com

Bulk Material Packaging System
This integrated and automated bulk bag packaging system is made up of automated pallet dispensing, high-volume material feed, NTEP-certified, precision bag weighing, indexing and accumulation conveyors, and complete controls design and construction. NBE automation engineering and controls design enable a single operator, from a single HMI, to package up to twenty 4000-lb bags/hr. NTEP-certified hang weigh, base weigh, and weigh conveyors give packaging operations the assurance of consistently repeatable, highly accurate (±0.01%), finished package weights.
National Bulk Equipment Inc., Holland, MI 616-399-2220 www.nbe-inc.com

Robotic Bag Palletizing System
The TRP3000 robotic palletizing system has been engineered for precision high-speed/high-payload operation, user-friendly setup, and maximum reliability. Features include: direct labor savings and improved personnel scheduling and utilization; fast cycle time and high payload; high-performance motion yields fast cycle times and high throughput; flexibility to service multiple production lines; and requires minimal programming and maintenance.
Taylor Products, Parsons, KS 800-748-7000 www.taylorproducts.com