Krones launches space saving machines

Designed to meet the space saving packaging machines needs of food and beverage manufacturers', the Krones Group will preview shrink packer and bottle inspection machines at the forthcoming Brau Beviale show, in Nuremberg, Germany.

Aimed at smaller- to medium-sized companies, the machines have been designed to meet the niche market requirements that smaller operations might have to meet.

According to the company, due to its approximate 1,600 mm shorter building size, the new model Variopac compact tray shrink packer can be integrated into limited space conditions. The Variopac compact is available in the same models as its big brother, TFS (Tray-Film-Shrink), PFS (Pad-Film-Shrink), FS (Film-Shrink) and T (Tray). Shrink packs can also be processed in two or three lanes.

Krones adds that the Variopac compact film wrapping station also works by the overlap principle, which has a positive effect on the pack's stability as well as its optical appearance.

Unlike the Variopac servo container spacer, the Variopac compact works with a mechanical container spacer from the top by the flap principle. Due to the spacing from the top, it is possible to design the conveyor as one single, wide flush-grid belt. This, claimed the company, enables the processing of containers with different diameters without any time-consuming changeovers.

The new Empty Bottle Inspector Linatronic 713 M2 is smaller than its derivative, but has more functionality. The Linatronic functions without an own drive. To save space and maintenance, the machine acts just like a conveyor that is controlled by a downstream conveyor. Furthermore, the new CPU computer units, which collect the image signals, can simultaneously process the information of two camera stations, resulting in fewer inspection units.

The inspection accuracy, however, has been expanded. Instead of utilising the former NT Technology, the "small" Inspection System 713 now operates with the "great" IRIS Technology. Instead of 256 x 256 pixels, it now has a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. A dynamic camera with a12-bit technology can detect 4,096 different gray scales. With IRIS and the inbuilt modems there is now the possibility of teleservice, the company said.

Both machines will be shown at the BRAU Beviale, between 13 to 15 November, at Hall 7, Stand 616.