ALL SET FOR PACK EXPO LAS VEGAS
PACK Expo Las Vegas is just around the corner and we can’t wait to demonstrate for you the newest version of ReadyPack. If you aren’t attending the show, read all about it in our special PACK Expo issue of Retail Ready Magazine. We also delve into the technologies and explain how some new markets are using our machines. Read the latest Retail Ready Magazine.
CUSTOMERS HAVE THEIR SAY IN RETAIL READY MAGAZINE
New industries are prospering after installing their new SOMIC secondary packaging machines. Major corporations representing pet products, snack foods, supermarket retail and others have installed ReadyPack and the 424 series on their floors, and others have placed orders.
Read the how and why in issue 2.
SOMIC to showcase new secondary packaging developments at PACK Expo Las Vegas
July 13, 2020 – SOMIC America will demonstrate its newest version of the SOMIC ReadyPack for retail-ready packaging applications at PACK Expo Las Vegas (booth SL 6460), to be held September 27-29 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The compact, fully automated machine made its North American debut at the last PACK Expo event in Las Vegas two years ago.
Since then, the number of different products and packaging tasks for food, non-food, healthcare and other market segments has grown and increased in various ways. Some companies in these industries are now reaping the cost-effective benefits and taking advantage of ReadyPack’s custom-designed simplicity, flexibility and user-friendliness.
“As the leader in two-piece, retail ready display packaging, we’ve made exceptional progress since the last live PACK Expo event to help our customers solve their secondary packaging needs,” said Peter Fox, Senior Vice President of Sales for SOMIC America, Inc. “We’ve made strides with decision makers to understand there isn’t only one packaging machine for every situation. ReadyPack is proving to be the right solution for some of our new customers who wanted to test the waters with an entry-level machine.”
Available as a tray or wraparound packer, ReadyPack collates, cartons, and closes like other SOMIC mechatronic units, but at a slower rate by design. It provides output of up to 160 products per minute, with a cartoning capacity of up to 18 units per minute as a tray packer, and 12 per minute for a wraparound unit. Customers also love its space saving small footprint, which requires just 6.5m2or 70 square feet of floor space.
“We are very excited about re-engaging with the industry in person, and showing our latest innovations for end-of-line packaging systems,” acknowledged Fox. “ReadyPack exemplifies the versatility of all our equipment and is the perfect choice for companies that need a flexible packaging solution for items like stand-up pouches, flowpacks and rigid bottles. That’s what this machine will be running online at the show in Las Vegas.”
Interested parties can schedule a booth appointment with Mr. Fox by emailing him: p.fox@somic.us. Learn more by visiiting the website at www.somic.us.
Hartz Mountain opens new production line with SOMIC wraparound case packer system
January 25, 2021 – One of the oldest and most respected companies in the pet industry has completed installation of one of the newest retail ready, secondary packaging machines in North America. The Hartz Mountain Corporation began running a new production line in mid-December to handle pet care products at its production facility in Pleasant Plain, Ohio, with a versatile SOMIC America 424 case packing system.
In only a few weeks, company officials are impressed with the early results of the space-saving machine’s design, performance and flexibility.
“The equipment is exceeding our expectations,” indicated Jake Wojtkiewicz, Hartz’s Engineering Manager who has been with the company for nine years. “We chose the SOMIC machine due to the flexibility of the case format and the design. We worked with three additional companies on the packaging solution before deciding on SOMIC. From the time we uncrated the machine to entering production, it took about seven days until we were able to run full production.”
The decision to bring production back to the 250,000 square-foot facility on the eastern fringe of Cincinnati comes at a time when the pet care industry is experiencing growth in spite of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. Hartz has been in the pet care business for 95 years dating back to 1926. They offer 14 well-known product brands for dogs, cats, birds and fish, ranging from toys and treats to grooming aids and flea and tick sprays.
Overall, seven different bottle formats and two case styles – standard wraps and Shelf Ready Package (SRP) trays with corrugated covers – are run on the SOMIC 424. A total of 65,000 bottles are processed in one shift, five days a week. Wojtkiewicz says that depending on the product, they do either 5,400 12-pack cases or 13,000 SRP cases bundled as a 5-pack.
“The case packer runs at a rate of 150 bottles (12.5 cases) per minute for the SRP 5-packs,” he said. “We do not plan to increase the rate of the machine, but we did build this production line with the expectation of adding future shifts to cover increased demand and distribution.”
He indicated his initial impression of the machine was it was well thought out for ease of access and maintenance. It’s clear the SOMIC 424’s design is having a major impact on the production floor.
“The design of the machine is novel. I’m used to conventional case packers that use a lug bucket chain for the case transport with rotary tucking and folding tooling. The design eliminates that and replaces it with contrast folding tooling and a simple vacuum belt,” explained Wojtkliewicz. “This makes maintenance of the machine significantly easier. It also reduces the noise level of the equipment while in operation and the overall footprint.”
The folding tooling is one specific feature Wojtkliewicz especially likes.
“The primary folding of the case takes place at a single station. We’re used to this operation happening while the case is in motion utilizing several servo controlled tucker/folders,” he said, alluding to the machine’s high functioning mechatronic control platform that incudes the latest automation.
“The design eliminated the need for the complex timing adjustments necessary with more conventional case packers. The Human Machine Interface is well thought out and provides full motion and timing control for all machine functions,” summed up Wojtkliewicz.
“The open design is great and makes it very easy for maintenance, changeovers and cleaning. My operators have a full, unimpeded view of the equipment when it is running. This allows for better troubleshooting and adjustments since we can clearly see what is happening inside the machine.”
SOMIC America debuts new secondary packaging machine at Pack Expo Connects
November 23, 2020 – The versatility of SOMIC America’s high-speed, retail ready packaging systems was on full display at PACK Expo Connects, November 11-13. The virtual event featured a new 424 series machine that originally was to be demonstrated live at PACK Expo in Chicago before the show was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was far from ideal given the circumstances, but we did the next best thing and brought our new machine to the PACK Expo audience via their computers and smartphones,” acknowledged Peter Fox, Senior Vice President of Sales for SOMIC America.
“This virtual event provided us not only with an opportunity to demonstrate the flexibility of our compact, end-of-line case packing system, but we also were able to showcase our incredible manufacturing facility and its capabilities. All in all, we received a good amount of positive feedback about our virtual video.”
The seven-minute video delivered an up-close perspective on how the SOMIC 424 series serves as a starting point for all of the company’s customized, high performance packaging solutions. Most are configured to run stand-up pouches, flow packs and other flexible material packages. This compact machine, to be installed next month at Hartz Mountain Corporation’s manufacturing facility near Cincinnati, is configured with Rockwell automation controls to handle a variety of blow-molded bottles.
“I’m very impressed with this machine because it demonstrates the flexibility we have to create a unique secondary case packing system for any type of package,” said Fox. “As we show in the video, this machine enables end users to package a variety of products in standard wraparound cases and two-piece display trays with covers. Designing a machine that packages pre-bundled rigid bottles with flip top closures, finger pumps and trigger sprays represents a new element for us in North America, one that we are truly excited about.”
Fox is also happy with the early results of a new 16-page Retail Ready magazine he introduced in the week leading up to the virtual event. The inaugural issue, assembled by his marketing agency Drucker Group, provides in-depth and informative news about SOMIC and the various industries where the machines are producing results. A free subscription is available by clicking hereto register.