Can esthetics sell packaging machinery?
The assumption is yes at Epipack, a 15-year-old maker of pallet wrappers that is based in Slovenia. Clad in silver ABS, their machines are sleek, curvilinear, and futuristic (see image 3). PRB, a custom end-of-line specialist based in Bologna, Italy, was also emphasizing smoothly rounded forms on some of their machines. At Domino Amjet the talk was of laser coding replacing embossing on blister packs with much greater frequency. Laser-based printing devices are even beginning to play a role in reducing packaging materials inventory. For example, a carton can be customized on line with variable information, thus requiring fewer pre-printed materials in the warehouse. Also, RSS (Reduced Space Symbology) may be giving way to 2-D data matrix symbology. Previously, the cost of the scanners needed to read the data matrix codes was prohibitive, but that cost is coming down. Sidel showed its SBO Universal blowmolder for PET bottles. Said to be 12% faster and
