Covington, LA - Allpax Products, a division of ProMach and the market leader in retort technology and retort room automation, has a new patented system for improving automated basket clamping during retort agitation. The patented system reduces wear on retort equipment, decreases maintenance time and cost, and improves overall throughput.
In most automated clamping systems, an air actuated plate pushes baskets down against transfer rollers. The pressure causes wear to basket tops, rollers, and rotors and can also lead to compound cut through and breakage of glass containers. Top-down pressure is not always sufficient to stop side-to-side movement during agitation. Side-to-side shifting causes damage to packaging, especially glass, and additional wear on retort components.
Allpax's patented clamping system utilizes inflatable energy tubes at the sides and underneath baskets to solve these problems. When inflated, the bottom energy tubes raise the basket against a fixed top plate, holding baskets securely top to bottom. Additional energy tubes are inflated on the sides of the baskets to eliminate side-to-side shifting.
This system protects the product, packaging, rollers, and rotors. Force across the top of the basket is evenly distributed. This enables very low clamping pressure and, in turn, eliminates compound cut through and glass breakage. As pressure in the retort changes, pressure in the energy tubes adjusts automatically for precise clamping control during the agitation process.
For more information on the patented automated basket clamping system and other Allpax retort technology and retort room automation, call 985-893-9277 or visit www.allpax.com. A recently completed white paper on retort room automation is available for download from the company's website.
About ProMach
ProMach is a family of best-in-class packaging and processing solution brands serving manufacturers of all sizes and geographies in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, and household and industrial goods industries. ProMach brands operate across the entire production line: processing, filling, bottling and capping, decorative labeling, flexibles and trays, pharma, handling and sterilizing, labeling and coding, and robotics and end of line. ProMach also provides systems and integration including turnkey solutions, design/build, engineering services, and productivity software to optimize production line design and deliver maximum uptime.
ProMach designs, manufactures, integrates, and supports the most sophisticated and advanced packaging and processing solutions in the global marketplace. Its diverse customer base, from Fortune 500 companies to smaller, privately-held businesses worldwide, depends on reliable, flexible, technologically advanced equipment and integrated solutions. ProMach is headquartered near Cincinnati, Ohio, with manufacturing facilities and offices throughout North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. For more information about ProMach, visit www.ProMachBuilt.com and for more information on ProMach Careers, visit www.ProMachCareers.com.