Technological highlight on the Uhlmann PacSysteme stand is the new Blister Express Center 500, said to be the fastest single-lane packaging line in the world. The BEC 500 consists of a blister machine including the new MultiTab feeder, and a cartoner. Capable of packing solids of any batch size with maximum efficiency, this packing line can achieve an output of up to 500 cartons/minute with single-lane operation.
Special features include a travelling forming station. This guarantees a continuous forming process and ensures maximum process reliability because start and stop phases are eliminated. Prior to the forming process, the film is heated using infrared energy. The contact-free transfer of large quantities of energy in the shortest possible time via near infrared waves evenly heats up the continuously moving web.
The direct and continuous transfer of the blisters to the cartoner module of the BEC 500 is particularly gentle to the products. The new feeder, developed specifically for the BEC 500, feeds all common types and shapes of solids, even those that shingle, as well as products of special shape or with varying thickness tolerances.
Only good blisters are taken from the punching station and transferred to the cartoner - faulty blisters are recognised by a camera monitoring system and are punched with a different contour, which leads to their immediate rejection. Similarly, at the end of the BEC 500 a checkweigher integrated in the discharge conveyor ensures that only good, completely filled cartons pass through the outfeed.
In terms of efficiency, the new line also has the leading edge, says Uhlmannn. At the show it will be demonstrated packing shingling tablets in PVC-aluminium blisters at the maximum output of 500 packs/minute.
Another line comprising a B 1260 blister machine and a C 2155 cartoner, will be shown packing tablets in PVC-aluminium blisters using the high barrier film PERLALUX with integrated anticounterfeiting safety strips. Integrated into this line will be Uhlmann VisioTec's Visio4U air tightness testing system. Every single blister pocket is checked inline for tears larger than 20µm continuously, in real time and at full machine speed.
The third line in operation is a co-operation with Uhlmann's partner Harro Hoefliger and de4monstrates the fully automatic packaging of inhalant powder in blisters. In the first stage of the process, a B 1240 blister machine carries out cold forming of the blister foil as well as checking for tears and flaws. The OMNIDOSE powder dosing machine from Harro Hoefliger then fills the blisters in a protected environment and feeds them back to the B 1240. All the separate stages of this closed system meet the requirements of product and operator protection when filling powders that contain active ingredients.
Hall 3.0, Stand D1-G7