New shrink Bundling System to be Introduced at Pack Expo 2006

July 22, 2006

July 2006 – Lantech will introduce its new SB-2030 shrink bundling system, featuring the energy saving, PLC-controlled ConvectAir™ shrink tunnel, at Pack Expo 2006. With its tunnel and wrapping module combined on a unitized frame less than 12 feet long, the SB-2030 is almost 25% shorter than conventional machines in its class. The machine shrink wraps up to 30 transport packs per minute with low energy consumption and consistent "bull's-eye" placement. It is ideal for any product shipped on corrugated trays, pads, U-boards or with film only, such as canned goods, beverages, ice cream, household chemicals and cleaners, and many others.

The belt-fed SB-2030 accommodates products up to 24"W x 12"H to any practical length. It utilizes a cradle-type film delivery system for convenient loading from the side without the need for mandrels. Positive film feed via nip roller allows flying splices from the end of one roll to the start of the next to virtually eliminate film waste.

The SB-2030 utilizes Lantech's Ever-Clean™ cross seal system for reliable, maintenance-free operation. The system cuts and seals the film at the same time. The cross-seal bar uses separate heated surfaces for cutting and sealing, operating at the minimum required temperature which eliminates melted film build-up and the resulting problems with seal quality.

The new ConvectAir shrink tunnel combines convection and radiant heating with a minimal flow of recirculating air produced by variable speed fan. The variable speed fan allows tunnel performance to be tuned to suit the type of film and packs being processed.

"Radiant and convection heat reduce the need for a strong air flow in the tunnel, resulting in an exceptionally even temperature throughout the tunnel," explains Jean-Louis Limousin, design leader for Lantech's shrink packaging systems. "Uniform temperature allows a shorter tunnel than conventional systems, just 5 ft. long. It also allows the tunnel to operate at a lower peak temperature, while minimal air movement results in consistent and precise bull's-eye formation. The less air movement in the tunnel, the easier it is for the film to do what it naturally wants to do without being pushed or pulled by air currents, which can cause the top to shrink faster than the bottom, or the film to fold onto itself. This can lead to a misplaced bull's eye and failure to achieve product containment."

The machine's touchsceen PLC control holds user-defined setups that specify conveyor speed, sealing temperatures, tunnel temperature and tunnel fan speed. Tunnel parameters are automatically adjusted by the PLC to maintain wrap quality as infeed rates change. The control has multiple levels of access, all password protected.

Safety systems include interlocked doors and guarding to deter access during operation. Options for the machine include side-mounted film rack, film cooling section, pre-spacing conveyor, casters and spare-parts kit.

Lantech's packaging and productivity solutions include semiautomatic and automatic stretch wrapping; automatic case handling; automatic palletizing; shrink packaging and pallet-load conveying systems. Lantech is the originator of stretch wrapping technology and world's largest manufacturer, with 55,000 systems placed around the world. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, with manufacturing operations in the U.S. and the Netherlands, Lantech products are sold and serviced by a network of 175 distributor locations. Visit the Lantech website at www.lantech.com for more product information.