Custom-designed process
Ross Systems and Controls (SysCon), a subsidiary of Charles Ross & Sons Co., offers Underwriters Laboratories (UL)-rated and CE-marked Control Systems custom-designed for industrial processes such as mixing, pumping, chemical dosing, dilution, heat exchange, separation, drying and waste treatment. The PLC-based controls contain a recipe sequencing program, calibration menus, trending screens, data acquisition (SCADA) packages, operator-friendly alarms and advanced safety features, the company says. Process variables are controlled and displayed from a responsive color touchscreen and can be automatically stored for seamless monitoring and reporting, it adds. Ross SysCon Control Systems conform to NFPA 79 standards.
Ross Systems and Controls, 34 Westgate Blvd., Savannah, Ga. 31405; 912/238-5800; mixers.com.
Help in the warehouse
UniCarriers Americas Corp. offers the Platinum RPX Series Walkie/Rider Pallet Truck, which performs well in a variety of working conditions including coolers, wet rooms and freezers as cold as -20 degrees Fahrenheit. The 5.2-horsepower, AC-powered pallet truck is available in 6,000- and 8,000-pound capacities and is suitable for manufacturing, grocery and other warehousing operations. The RPX’s fork design features a push-type linkage and rugged tie rods to absorb high-impact shocks caused by uneven floors, while alloy steel fork slides facilitate pallet entry and exit. The truck’s standard equipment includes sealed switches, thermal cut-back and shut-down, an epoxy-coated control board, and IP65-rated sealed controller, which allows it to operate across a variety of environments. The driver experience is enhanced with fingertip speed and directional controls; an ergonomic, padded high-speed handrail; smart electronic brake; and a large operator platform that includes a soft, anti-fatigue surface.
UniCarriers Americas Corp., 240 N. Prospect St., Marengo, Ill. 60152; 800/971-5438; unicarriersamericas.com.
Trapping steam
Spirax Sarco USA introduced its STS17.2 steam trapping station, a complete assembly consisting of an isolation valve, a steam trap connector with strainer and a check valve. The ready-to-install, single-piece body eliminates potential leak paths caused by multiple screw connections, the company says. The STS17.2 allows a steam trap to be changed in minutes rather than hours, reducing plant downtime and ensuring easy maintenance due to the system’s two-bolt connector, it adds. Other features include a leak-free body design that reduces carbon footprint, an ability to integrate the steam trap monitor for quick recognition of trap failure and pre-assembled construction for easy installation.
Spirax Sarco USA, 1150 Northpoint Blvd., Blythewood, S.C. 29016; 800/883-4411; spiraxsarco.com/global/us.
Lighting it up
Larson Electronics offers EPL-LP-48-LED, a 104-watt explosion-proof, low-profile LED light fixture that provides operators with a powerful and energy-efficient alternative to traditional location luminaries. The integrated LED light fixture provides 13,520 lumens of high-quality light while drawing only 104 watts of power, the company says. Instead of using diffused glass, optics or reflectors to distribute the light, two offset LED assemblies within the fixture allow the lamp to provide a 100-degree horizontal beam spread and 140-degree vertical beam spread.
Larson Electronics, 9419 E. US Highway 175, Kemp, Texas 75143; 800/369-6671; larsonelectronics.com.
Strengthening packages
Vacuum Barrier Corp. announced the launch of its new Nitrodose G2 Servodoser liquid nitrogen injection system, which provides the highest level of control in liquid nitrogen dosing with adjustable flow rate during discrete and continuous dosing without nozzle changes. The Servodoser is designed to discrete dose 2,000 containers a minute with a programmable motion profile dosing valve, the company says. The system includes a long-life servo actuator, dosing valve stroke verification and dose weight accuracy of plus or minus 1 percent. Nitrodose systems provide a drop of rapidly expanding liquid nitrogen into hot- and cold-fill packages before capping or sealing, adding strength to thin-wall packages and a longer shelf-life, it adds.
Vacuum Barrier Corp., 4 Barten Lane, Woburn, Ma. 01801; 781/933-3570; vacuumbarrier.com.
Flexible packaging
Rapak North America, a business unit of DS Smith’s Plastics Division, introduced Strivo, a twist lock, bag-in-box (BIB) connecting system that makes connecting BIB bags to dispensing equipment simple, efficient and leak free, the company says. Ideal for higher viscosity liquids, including smoothie bases and fruit purees, Strivo’s one-piece construction makes it an option for convenience stores and quick-serve restaurants because it is easy to clean and sanitize, the company says. It is available for aseptic and ESL applications in standard sizes of 0.5 and 0.25 inches and can be customized in additional sizes.
Rapak North America, 1201 Windham Parkway, Romeoville, Ill. 60446; 630/296-2000; rapak.com.
Splicing it right
Butler Automatic offers its 1000 Series Automatic Film Splicer for printing, packaging, building insulation, automotive air filters and other applications. Designed to run at speeds as fast as 1,400 feet a minute, the automatic splicer improves uptime for wide nonwoven substrates as much as 64 inches wide. The zero-speed splice technology allows for splices to be made without interruption to production, which results in increased throughput and profitability, the company says. The 1000 Series is designed to perform durable splices with its rolling nip-splice head, or optional heat seal butt splicing, and is available in a low-tension model as well. The machine features a roll-over-roll design for a small footprint, even with large-diameter rolls, and doesn’t require a pit for installation.
Butler Automatic, 41 Leona Drive, Middleborough, Mass. 02346; 508/923-0544; butlerautomatic.com.
