Packaging innovations from acquisitive Bradman Lake
robotic top load cartoner for throughputs of up to 300ppm, an
innovation that the group hopes will build on its international
reputation.
The company says that the new HS2/60 Lock Former, medium speed LJ300 robotic collator with ABB pick & place multiple loader and Compact R right angle lugless closer with flexible carton control will be linked by an electronic motion control system.
Feeding the cartoning line will be a Flowtronic 120 from Autowrappers, a new member of the Bradman Lake Group. Along with fellow UK-based firm Europack, Autowrappers was acquired earlier this year by Bradman Lake as part of its strategy of achieving better global coverage. As a result, Bradman Lake is now an international enterprise with sales of €45 million.
The two acquisitions also managed to bring flow and roll wrapping, shrink-wrapping, corrugated case packaging, filling and capping experience to Bradman Lake's existing expertise in top and end load cartoning machinery. Indeed one of the purposes behind the acquisitions was to create a single source to provide initial line design, specification of equipment, installation and control systems to major packaging firms.
"Autowrappers and Europack machinery naturally complements the Bradman Lake carton erecting, loading and sealing range," said Graham Hayes, chief executive officer of the Bradman Lake Group.
"Our customers are increasingly searching for a fully integrated, comprehensive packaging solution from a single source - and that's exactly what we can now offer. Very few enterprises are able to deliver the range of technologies and products we now have, together with the level of support we offer as the original equipment manufacturer."
Bradman Lake is tapping into a potentially lucrative market. The use of flexible packaging to transport, distribute and market products such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and foods has expanded rapidly over the past decade and this trend is set to continue to rise.
The packaging industry is increasingly recognising the role of automation and effective system integration as the key to successful industrial bag filling and handling. Optimising speed without compromising accuracy and reliability is a multi-functional task, relying on critical sectors of the overall line to work in harmony.
Pack Expo will also see the launch of Bradman Lake's fully automatic, 185cpm, SL904 end loader. Up to fourteen separate servo motors offer the option of continuous or intermittent running, synchronised by an industrial PC and controlled by touch screen. The product will be available with robotic or barrel cam product loading.
Bradman Lake is a global group with some 3000 machines installed in over 50 countries. It has manufacturing plants in Britain, the United States and Germany. The company designs, manufactures and markets advanced top and end load cartoning machinery, creating fully automated lines and control systems for high speed unit and multiple packaging.
