PTI Inspection Systems is displaying a range of packaging solutions, including packaging machinery and testing systems, at trade show Pack Expo in Chicago.
The Topack Model R52HG can complete 500 three-side-seal sachets a minute and has been designed to produce sachets for a variety of products, including seasonings, sweeteners, soups, teas and coffees and energy drink powders.
It can handle single packs, twin cut sachets containing two different products, double packs with centre perforation, and multi-perforation chain strips.
Form, fill, seal
Separately, PTI Packaging Systems, another of PTI's divisions, is showcasing supplier SmartPac's vertical form, fill, seal packaging machinery. The SmartPac SP200 can fill 100 sachets a minute with food products such as liquids, gels, pastes and sauces.
"Unit dose, flexible packaging formats, such as sachets, stick packs and four-side-seal pouches have been steadily growing and rapidly gaining popularity in many markets including food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and many consumer specialty segments," said Jeffrey Crangle, general manager of PTI Packaging Systems.
SmartPac multi-lane vertical form-fill-seal packaging machines could be customised from 1-20 lanes to form different shapes of stick-packs, sachets and four-side-seal pouches, said PTI Packaging Systems. Options include pour spouts, tear notches and easy-open systems.
In addition to these innovations, the firm is targeting food safety and quality with the launch of package integrity testing tools such as the E-Scan 625 high voltage leak detector (HVLD) Micro Leak Detection System.
HVLD involves a high voltage electric current being applied to a hermetically sealed package made of non-conductive material. If a pinhole or crack is present, the discharge current flows into the package through the seal imperfection. This is then detected by the differential of the current flow.
PTI Packaging Systems and Nikka Densok USA, a business specialising in HVLD leak detection systems, have teamed up to promote the technology for applications for liquid filled packaging.
Benchtop design
The compact, benchtop design was ideal for laboratory and research and development purposes, the company said. It featured a fast test cycle, produced highly repeatable results and was easy to operate, according to the firm.
Other benefits included quick changeover and test parameters that were easy to change to accommodate different products and applications, added Nikka Densok USA.
Another advantage was that the HVLD method could be easily moved from the laboratory to inline testing applications at high production speeds, the firm said.
"Pouches, in particular, continue to be the preferred package of choice by food manufacturers for many products, and as a result, there is a definite need for reliable non-destructive leak testing solutions that can be implemented in high volume, high output production environments," said Brian Ball, president of Nikka Densok USA. "Applications include food, beverage, nutritional and pharmaceutical grade products."
Detecting leaks
PTI also displayed the VeriPac 410/BL for detecting leaks in multiple cavity blister packs and low head space packaging and the VeriPac D-Series, specially designed for pouches and flexible packaging. The latter equipment is available in several configurations for the leak test instrument and test chamber capacity.
And it presented Waldner's Dosomat Rotary and Inline Pouch systems, which incorporate ultrasonic sealing from supplier Waldner. "A unique feature of the Dosomat pouch machine is the innovative pouch clamping system," said PTI applications engineer Julian Stauffer.
"The process of pouch opening. inward motion of the clamping system, top and bottom suction cups on both sides and airblast into the pouch occurs simultaneously in one rapid, efficient step."
PTI is the agent for several equipment manufacturers.
