March 17, 2006
Hood Packaging is pleased to announce the addition of new automated pinch bottoming equipment at the multiwall converting plant located in Hamlet, North Carolina. The new machinery includes a state-of-the-art PB 2555 pinch bottomer, two TRANSYSTEMS automated material flow links, and two Arcomat 2 robotic palletizers, all manufactured by W&H Corporation.
The addition of this new machinery will give the Hamlet plant two completely automated pinch lines, with the capability to tube, bottom and palletize pinch bags in one operation. The resulting bags have mitered corners with an ultrasonic seal, featuring increased stability and an exclusive non-sift feature. The unique mitered bottom feature also creates a flat bottom bag shape resulting in more stable positioning on the pallet and improved graphics capability on the shelf display end of the bag.
Installation of the PB 2555, linked to an existing W&H 2140 tuber with one of the TRANSYSTEMS, will be complete and in production by late March. The second TRANSYSTEMS will link an existing W&H 2145 tuber with an existing W&H 2550 pinch bottomer. Installation for the second inline should be complete by mid-July. Both inlines will contain automatic bag straighteners that feed directly to Arcomat 2 robotic palletizers for incredibly well-stacked pallets.
The two new inline systems are complemented by three stand-alone pinch bottomers. The increased pinch bottoming capacity and automation will greatly enhance production capabilities at the Hamlet plant, allowing for more production capacity, better efficiency, and higher quality. Customers will love the improved performance of their bags, afforded by the features and benefits of this new machinery.