The sabre eXtreme concept provides an electronic converting solution for digitally printed webs and eliminates the need for expensive rotary tooling that can often delay the converting operation. Set-up times and waste are reduced through instant make-ready and the need to lift and store heavy magnetic cylinders and dies in the workplace is eliminated.
States Tony Bell, Sales Director, “Software and hardware technology has changed since the launch of our first laser system and we have made a number of upgrades to sabre eXtreme that enhance performance and operation. They include new user-friendly operator interface, faster operating speed and enhanced cutting accuracy.”
A new control system that includes a touch panel interface provides improved cutting at fast speeds through better z-axis coordination, gives detailed diagnostics, simple operating mode changes, and friendly registration adjustment. Upgrades also provide improved resolution for power level changes, and manual and prompt pattern changes with the ability to store millions of patterns. The Omega sabre eXtreme II can be networked to an art department or the Internet with newly created patterns immediately available to the operator.
Job changeover is faster since the next job can now be loaded while the current job is running. Larger die cut patterns can be loaded plus static pattern cutting for testing small lot material samples. Enhancements have also been made to engineering to compensate for changing web speeds including improved calibration accuracy, tension control and calibration of material files.Concludes Bell, “As with all our products, we will continue to upgrade saber eXtreme as new technology becomes available and in order to give printers and converters systems that meet the needs of a constantly changing market.”
Convenience in cans
Ball introduces resealable beverage can Ball Packaging Europe has developed the first resealable beverage can. The can, based on years of research, uses a resealable can end made of plastic and aluminium. The end incorporates a flat opening mechanism made of plastic and a simple rotating movement uncovers the opening. Both steel and aluminium cans using this end can be resealed after initial opening. As the total amount of plastic material used is very small, it doesn’t affect the recycling properties of the can. The end enables retention of the classic beverage can shape and its usual stackability. Ball foresee immense potential for this system. The Resealable End was jointly developed in collaboration with Bound2B, a company based in Netherlands, whose director Antonio Perra who invented the system.
The first product to use this new system will be Coca-Cola’s Burn, an energy drink that will be launched in 500 ml cans in France. Coke’s research carried out during the test marketing last year shows very positive response from consumers. Most of them cited benefits like convenience and suitability for on-the-go consumption.
New additive approved
Blended PET bottles for long shelf life
The USFDA has approved a new additive designed to strengthen PET bottles, give them glass-like clarity and provides high gas barrier. Conair, Philadelphia has developed Diamond Clear oxygen scavenging technology that delivers a strong monolayer container that can be used to package even sensitive products like tomato ketchup, salsas, sauces, jams, jellies and juices. These containers are sustainable, recyclable and lighter-weight alternatives to traditional glass packaging.
Old Spice dumps glass
Another packaging icon goes plastic
Procter & Gamble’s Old Spice fragrances have switched from their traditional glass container packaging to shatter-resistant PET bottles. A special feature of the new container is its high wall thickness that gives it the same size and feel of the erstwhile glass bottle and allays consumer apprehensions of receiving less product, a major problem whenever brands have switched from glass bottles to thinner-walled plastic containers. The containers were developed by Berry Plastics using a special PET resin from Eastman Chemical Company for high gloss and a glass-like feel.
Luxury Vodka
Luxury vodka bottle
OVAL has released a classic limited edition vodka bottle in the UK. Priced at a mind-boggling GBP 3,500, it will be available for sale only in exclusive London night clubs like Embassy, Dolce, Amika, Maya, Tramp, Maddox and Chinawhite. The bottle is studded with 7000 Swarovski crystals. The stunning bottle will be displayed at bars on a new invention called The Glorifier, which is a rotating LCD display unit.
Enable mPE
ExxonMobil’s film grade PE
ExxonMobil have introduced a new metallocene PE film grade material that claims to offer superior performance compared to conventional LDPE and LLDPE blends. Called Enable mPE, it is designed to be used as a single resin to replace complex LLDPE-LDPE blends; it can be run on conventional equipment and processed at lower melt temperatures thus providing energy savings, up to 20 per cent higher output and better bubble stability. ExxonMobil also claim that the film has superior mechanical properties enabling downgauging by more than 20 per cent.
Revolutionary thermoforming concept
Illig launch new bottle
At Interpack 2008, Illig introduced a new concept – thermoformed bottles consistent with a conventional fill and seal line. According to them, their BF70 machine makes thermoformed bottles of just half the weight of blow moulded versions and are visually indistinguishable from them. The process ensures an absolutely uniform wall thickness distribution in spite of a small original area and high depth of draw. It is a web-fed line with an inline punching station to separate the formed bottle from the web.
The material used is pre-stretched and pressure formed using sterile air with contact plates heating up the material step-by-step during several cycles. The line works at a speed of 25 cycles per minute and delivers an output of 30,000 bottles an hour with 20 bottles per cycle.
