Lantech brings a unique productivity advantage to users of shrink packaging "lap seal" machines with the Pack-Expo introduction of the industry's first Self-Threader® forming head on the new SW-5000 shrink wrapping machine. The new forming head design delivers a perfectly centered lap seal without setup adjustment, and changes over in seconds with its unique quick-disconnect feature. Rated at 75 packages/min., the high-output SW-5000 machine is ideal for products ranging from food, pharmaceuticals and personal care/cosmetics to DVDs, video games, and books. "This machine breaks new ground in shrink packaging by eliminating operator intervention in setup of the lap-seal," said Jean-Louis Limousin, Lantech's Design Leader for Shrink Packaging. "You simply pull the web of film into the forming head, and that's it. The forming head automatically aligns the film for a perfect lap seal that stays that way." Designed as a zero-maintenance machine, the SW-5000 helps packagers reduce cost with its use of flat film – typically 8-13% less expensive than center-folded film – and elimination of film scrap. The machine comes with a static emitter and has an optional hot block available to close the lap seal. Lantech's Ever-Clean™ end seal system is reliable and maintenance-free with a seal bar that cuts and seals with separate heated surfaces. The separate sealing surfaces operate at minimum required temperature to prevent melted film build-up from compromising seal quality. The flight-lug infeed on the SW-5000 provides excellent control of products, and quick-change pins allow the entire infeed conveyor to be rapidly setup for new product dimensions. The SW-5000 accepts a minimum package size of 3"L x 1.5"W x 0.125"H to a maximum of 40"L x 15"W x 6"H. Product detection allows the machine to function equally well in intermittent or continuous motion. All setup parameters, including electronic film collapse and product spacing, are displayed in a single view on the color touch-screen LCD control, mounted on a swing arm that allows the machine to be operated from either side. Up to 16 setups can be stored in memory. The control has three levels of access, all password protected.Options for the machines include print registration, gated infeed, exit transition rollers and custom infeeds. The SW-5000 is designed for easy integration of collating and feeding devices. 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 50,000 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.
