ABCO Automation Inc. announces Stingray, a low-profile modular belt conveyor that employs micropitch plastic belts. Stingray is powerful yet gentle, providing reliable product transfer, smooth transitions and product accumulation, making it ideal for delicate, small footprint or unstable products that may be damaged by a conventional conveyor.

When the pace of sales overwhelms the pace of production, the immediate response is often to increase packaging line speed, usually by buying the latest machinery. But before investing in high-speed tablet counters, desiccant inserters, cappers and neck banders, consider how a faster machine may affect the other steps in the packaging line. Here are some tips before deciding to invest in the latest automated machinery. 

Duravant LLC, a global engineered equipment and automation solutions provider, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Key Technology Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of digital sorting, inspection, conveying and processing equipment. The transaction significantly extends Duravant’s reach across food processing with new complementary products and applications.

Greg Masingill will be taking over as Executive Vice President at Schneider Packaging. Masingill has integrated experience in corporate strategy, sales, marketing, logistics and product development, and worked for Seneca Corp for 15 years. 

Videojet recently surveyed engineers and plant managers in North America about both their understanding of remote capabilities and the benefits of using them. The results point to the need to clarify what remote capabilities are and how they can help keep lines and plants running more smoothly and predictably by today’s standards and the growing trend toward the IoT.

 As costs decline for implementing automation, even small to medium sized consumer packaged goods companies (CPGs) are beginning to see the value in taking steps toward automating operations, according to the 2017 Evolution of Automation industry research report by PMMI.

Determining when it's time to automate your packaging line doesn't have to be difficult, but research needs to be done to make a decision on where to begin and what will provide your business with the biggest return. 

Automation is big these days – the simpler, faster, more cost-effective and compact it is, the better off the line will run. Or will it? Thankfully, there will always be a need for packaging line workers.