New Age Industries offers Suprene TPR tubing for applications involving appliances, peristaltic pumps, foods and beverages, chemical conveyance, pharmaceutical processing, packaging machinery, ink and paint transfer. The tubing is produced with polypropylene thermoplastic rubber, offering low-temperature flexibility in a lighter weight than comparable sizes of rubber tubing, and providing resistance to tearing and fatigue from repeated flexing. It also offers excellent compression characteristics.

Suprene is available in both industrial and FDA grades, and all varieties are offered in 1/8 inch to 3/4 inch diameter in 50-foot lengths. It can be used with temperatures ranging from -60°F to 275°F. — New Age Industries, 145 James Way, Southampton, Pa. 18966; 800/506-3924; newageindustries.com

Omron Electronics has introduced modular extended-range proximity sensors that offer up to two times the sensing distance of standard sensing range proximity sensors. The extended range allows users to mount proximity sensors farther away from tooling and work pieces, eliminating collisions and subsequent damage to sensors. The new E2A sensor is available in more than 220 models, allowing users to choose the exact configuration. Modular construction allows the sensors to be assembled on demand for more effective cost containment. — Omron Electronics LLC, 1 Commerce Drive, Schaumburg, Ill., 60173; 800/55-OMRON; info.omron.com

Crown Closures has released the new SuperPlus closure, featuring a dual-material molded insert for glass packaging. SuperPlus metal closures provide twice as much tamper evidence by combining a vacuum button with a plastic tamper-evident band. The drop-down band eliminates the need for secondary packaging and can be colored to match the closure and label. The closures are completely recyclable through conventional systems. SuperPlus closures can run at high-speed capping rates of more than 1,000 caps per minute. — Crown Closures, 1 Crown Way, Philadelphia, Pa. 19154; 215/698-5100.

ITW Decorative Sleeves recently created new packaging for Firefly beverages using UV flexo technology. Because Firefly uses Polaroid-style black-and-white photography, the key requirement for sleeving was that it deliver a high-quality reproduction. ITW created sleeves printed in a combination of matte lacquer and gloss for high resolution and maximum definition. The resulting sleeve was applied by steam shrinking. — ITW Decorative Sleeves, Rollesby Road, Hardwick Industrial Estate, King’s Lyon, Norfolk, United Kingdom PE30 4LS

Wilkens-Anderson Co. has issued an 800-page, full-color Waco Laboratory Equipment catalog. It features product descriptions, pricing and other information on a wide range of laboratory apparatus, instruments, supplies, chemicals and glassware. The products are designed to meet the needs of all types of research and development and quality control laboratories, and include equipment such as balances, pH meters, ovens, incubators, spectrophotometers, pumps, refractometers, fume hoods, furnaces, hot plates, stirrers and water baths. — Wilkens-Anderson Co., 4525 West Division Street, Chicago, Ill. 60651; 800/847-2222; waco-lab-supply.com.

Softeon has released an integrated order management, fulfillment and delivery solution targeted specifically at the increasingly complex needs of beverage distributors. The system features a flexible, easy-to-order management system; powerful forecasting system; comprehensive inventory control capabilities; highly configurable warehouse management capabilities; and tools that automatically create optimized delivery truck plans. The modules can be implemented as a complete solution or as individual components, and be easily integrated with existing order management, financial and route accounting applications. — Softeon, 8133 Leesburg Pike, Suite 570, Vienna, Va. 22182; 703/356-8727.

Perfect Coupling Co. has introduced the W-Series wingstyle interchange couplings, specifically designed to optimize hydraulic system performance while minimizing pump damage and overheating of hydraulic circuits. The couplings are well suited for mobile applications such as sump trailers and walking-floor trailers. They also are designed with a strategically positioned elastomeric marker that remains visible and easy to identify, even in “dirty” environments and operating conditions. — Perfect Coupling Co., P.O. Box 790068, 332 Atando Ave., Charlotte, N.C. 28206; 800/839-8980; perfecting.com.

FKI Logistex recently redesigned the Accuzone 24-volt motorized roller accumulation and transportation conveyor. Changes to the Accuzone design include the standard control system, now a stand-alone and programmable DeviceNetT networked controller. Additional changes to Accuzone include the optimization of merge and divert module sizes, and the addition of a plastic side frame cover to encase wiring and controls. The Accuzone is available in a variety of belted configurations. — FKI Logistex North America, 9301 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, Mo. 63132; 877/935-4564; fkilogistex.com

A-B-C Packaging Machine Corp. offers a partition opener and inserter that solves the problem of handling lightweight chipboard partitions by using servo-drive technology to efficiently feed, open and place the partition into the shipping tray or case. The Model 70 partition opener/ inserter’s Intelligent Control electronics provide continuous motion action from partition feed through opening and inserting, ensuring smooth operation and maximum line efficiency. The machine automatically opens and inserts lightweight partitions with six, 12, 24 or 48 cells into RSC, HSC Tablock cases, and half- or full-height trays at speeds of 35 cases per minute. — A-B-C Packaging Machine Corp., 811 Live Oak Street, Tarpon Springs, Fla. 34689; 800/237-5975; abcpackaging.com.

ITW Hi-Cone has introduced a new 2x6 quick-chilling 12-pack beverage carrier, and Pittsburgh Brewing has become the first company to use the carrier on its Iron City and IC Light beers. The plastic ring carrier has a handy lift-top handle, and is ideal for space-saving refrigerator storage.

Pittsburgh Brewing is marketing the package under the trade name Rack Pack, and says it is “advantageous to the consumer because it allows the beer to chill faster in the refrigerator since it is not surrounded in a paperboard container, and is more cost-efficient to the retailer.” — ITW Hi-Cone, 1140 Bryn Mawr Ave., Itaska, Ill. 60143, 847/705-1802;

NJM/CLI offers the new Corner Tool for its Model 400 Labelers. The tool applies front labels, leading corner or top-leading corner labels to cases on the production line in a continuous motion. It also allows the Model 400 P&A Labeler to be fit directly to a case taper, reducing capital costs and floorspace requirements. Ideal for high-speed lines or where equipment must be minimized, the new corner tool eliminates the need for the labeler to be integrated with a stepper motor conveyor. It also allows the Model 400 Labeler to operate continuously, increasing line speeds to as fast as 20 cases per minute. — NJM/CLI, 56 Etna Road, Lebanon, N.H. 03766; 800/432-2990; njmcli.com.

Lantech has introduced a new touchscreen control for all its automated stretchwrap systems, providing advantages such as five pre-programmed wrap patterns that can be quickly changed by the user. The control readily accommodates custom-wrap patterns with separate settings for film overwrap as standard. It includes a new ANSI-compliant signal light and horn for alarms, a complete alarm history, animated help screens keyed to faults and combination starters for all motors to eliminate fuses.

The new control eliminates the need for a laptop PC to change standard program timers or monitor the PLC I/O for troubleshooting, while free PLC programming software for Lantech allows full access to the control’s code for in-depth changes. — Lantech, 11000 Bluegrass Pkwy., Louisville, Ky. 40299; 800/866-0322; lantech.com

ChevronTexaco recently added Computex MMS, to its reliability solutions portfolio. Computex MMS is a fully scalable, Web-based Computerized Maintenance Management System, which focuses primarily on preventive maintenance through lubrication best practices. Computex MMS offers customers three service levels: Basic, Intermediate and Advanced.  — ChevronTexaco Corp., 6001 Bollinger Canyon Rd., San Ramon, Calif. 94583; 925-842-1000; chevrontexaco.com

Videojet Technologies Inc. has introduced the Marsh 8000 large- character ink jet printer. The Marsh 8000 is a versatile, modular, large-character ink jet printing system that prints high-resolution large characters and bar codes for outer-case coding on shipping containers and corrugated cartons. The system is capable of line speeds as fast as 200 feet per minute. Featuring a color touch-screen, graphical user interface and a controller housed in an IP-54 (NEMA 12)-rated stainless steel enclosure with an optional IP65 (NEMA 4x) kit, the Marsh 8000 also offers ethernet and RS-232 connections. — Videojet Technologies Inc., 1500 Mittel Blvd., Wood Dale, Ill. 60191-1073; 800/843-3610; videojet.com

InkJet Inc. has launched the EZ Jet nozzle for use on all Videojet Excel series coding and marking systems.  The innovative EZ Jet nozzle features field-replaceable components that can easily be cleaned or swapped out by in-house operators. The EZ Jet nozzle accepts all orifice sizes used with Videojet Excel series printers from 36 micron to 120 micron. — InkJet Inc., 11111 InkJet Way, Willis, Texas 77378; 936/856-6600; inkjetinc.com

Imaje has introduced the 2000 Series printer and label applicator. Featuring a modular design for a variety of production requirements, the 2000 Series also offers 4-inch or 6-inch print head configuration, 200- or 300- dpi print resolution, and thermal transfer or direct thermal printing. The Imaje 2000 Series also offers a built-in keypad and display, and stand-alone or online operation. — Imaje USA, 1650 Airport Rd., Kennesaw, Ga. 30144; 770/421-7700; imaje.com

Linpac Materials Handling has added non-sequential folding sidewalls to its Ropak 4048 reusable collapsible container, offering users more convenience as well as improved material handling efficiency. When empty, the containers collapse to a fraction of their height for compact storage and shipping. Because the sidewalls do not have to be collapsed in a specific order, users no longer have to travel around the container in a pre-determined sequence. The 4048 also features side-drop doors with articulating hinges, allowing the door to lie flat against the side of the container for tighter, safer storage and increased application versatility. — Linpac Materials Handling, 120 Commerce Court, Georgetown, Ky. 40324; 502/863-5500; linpacmh.com.

Cat Lift Trucks recently launched a new series of 3,000- to 6,500-pound capacity cushion tire lift trucks. The eight models in the series feature three fuel configurations (gasoline, LP and gas/LP), which meet or exceed Environmental Protection Agency standards for reducing carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide. The PurePower engines use two-stage fuel injection. The trucks also feature a drive-by-wire throttle control, a three-way, cloth-covered, full-suspension seat and a memory feature on the tilt-steering column. In other company news, Cat Lift Trucks was recently named official lift truck provider for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. — Cat Lift Trucks, 2121 W. Sam Houston Pkwy. N., Houston, Texas 77043; 800-CAT-LIFT;  cat-lift.com

Sato has launched the GTe Series of Sato’s speed-enhanced industrial thermal printers. Featuring the exclusive Sato Embedded Basic Language (SEMBL), the series offers users the flexibility to create and load customized stand-alone programs into the printer. With SEMBL, the GTe can directly interface with external devices such as keyboards, barcode scanners, scales, or input/output modules, and process received data in stand-alone mode, without any connection to an external PC. In addition, the GTe also features a print speed of 12 inches per second at 305 dpi and an automatic detection system for printhead changes. Printheads are available in 203 dpi, 305 dpi and 609 dpi. — Sato America Inc., 10350A Nations Ford Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28273; 704/644-1650; satoamerica.com

Wulftec/M.J. Maillis Group now offers the Smart Series semi-automatic stretchwrapper. The Smart Series allows customers to select components from as many as eight models of low-profile and high-profile turntables, multiple wrap heights, powered pre-stretch and no pre-stretch carriages, as well as various control panels offering basic or highly flexible wrapping patterns. The wrapping functions of the machine can be changed by upgrading the control panel. The Smart Series features AC variable frequency drives and motors, steel construction, and warranties, including a lifetime warranty for blue pre-stretch compound rollers. — Wulftec International Inc., 209 Wulftec, Ayer’s Cliff, Quebec J0B 1C0 Canada; 877/985-3832; wulftec.com

PakTech recently released newly designed handles for bottles and jars with a shoulder and standard neck finish.  The new handles for multi-pack straight, cylindrical canisters feature webbing of the handles to allow straight-sided containers to be seated tightly together, providing an alternative to paperboard or shrink-wrap packages. If a UPC label is required, the handles can be designed with a flap to allow for the label while maintaining the close-fitting spacing. Two 8Pak designs are available for smaller cans such as those used for energy drinks, and plastic or paperboard frozen juice concentrate canisters. All PakTech handles can be applied manually or automatically using PakTech’s application systems. — PakTech, 1680 Irving Rd., Eugene, Ore. 97402; 541/461-5000; paktech-opi.com

For load applications requiring precise, efficient linear movement, Duff-Norton has introduced the Ball Screw Actuator. The new 1-ton capacity ball screw actuator has a standard 23.1 percent efficiency rating, can be driven at maximum horsepower, and is available with top plate, clevis or threaded end mounts. The ball screw actuators can be used individually, in tandem or as part of a larger mechanical system. With lifts up to 20 feet, they can be used in many standard models or custom designed for any application up to 50 tons. — Duff-Norton Co., P.O. Box 7010, Charlotte, N.C. 28241; duffnorton.com.