Retail Ready Packaging
At PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2019, Packaging World Editor Emeritus Pat Reynolds reviewed the Douglas TriVex® SL top-load case packer during his Day One Podcast. Here are Pat’s comments regarding the retail ready case packer for pouches.
At the Douglas Machine booth, one especially intriguing machine on display was the TriVex SL top loader. This machine is designed specifically for putting pouches into retail ready cases. According to Steve Lipps, Senior Director of Product Management, the approach taken with this machine is similar to the one behind other robotic systems from Douglas, like the Contour 60-Series Shrink Wrap Multiwrapper. The Douglas-made SCARA robot is deployed in a way that simplifies machine design by eliminating the need for a separate robot controller and the need for additional mechanisms. Controls are all from Rockwell, so it’s a SCARA robot, but with Rockwell’s ControlLogix controller, Rockwell’s Panelview as the HMI and Rockwell drives and motors.
Benefits accrue to Douglas as the machine builder because the machine design is simplified, but the most meaningful benefits are enjoyed by Douglas customers. Complexity is out, footprint is minimized and they’re already well accustomed to the Rockwell controls.
Operating at up to 25 cases per minute and suitable for products like frozen vegetables, bakery mixes and confectionery products, the machine relies on two robots, each equipped with a bucket-like end effector. Each robot positions itself in front of an infeed conveyor to receive the appropriate number of pouches and then pivots to deposit the pouches into a waiting case as the other robot moves its bucket into position. If need be, the end effector bucket can be replaced with a vacuum cup pick up end effector.
Retail Ready Case Packing with Douglas
Douglas Machine’s TriVex SL top loader is designed to pack pouches and bags in a standup configuration into retail ready display cases with 1 or 2 product facings. With a quick & simple changeover it packs pouches and bags flat with 2 or 3 products per layer. The dual Scara robotic solution uniquely combines the functionality of a product infeed, pack pattern collation and case loading functions into one mechanism.
Our top load and product collation technologies ensure optimum interaction between product, packaging materials and machinery to create the most effective solutions for your applications. Ranging from bags, pouches, cartons, trays, cups, cans, bottles and retail ready display cases in flat or vertical configuration, Douglas’ Top Load Case Packing offers innovative loading solutions that accommodate a wide variety of unique package designs.
To learn more about our TriVex SL/SLi Top Load Case & Tray Packers, contact us and feel free to download the brochure. Connect with us today to discuss your retail ready packaging application. We would be honored to partner with you.