Krones Group demonstrated its redesigned Variopac tray shrinkwrapper at the Interpack trade fair in Germany recently. The machine can operate up to 100 cycles/minute. The frame has been made much higher to give easier access, and large sliding doors enable easier access for servicing. The company has also entered the very heavy load sector with its three axis rotary column robot, the 3A-R, which can lift up to 700kg. It has also introduced a layer designer to cope with different sized items. Another innovation is the Accutower dynamic buffer system, which has no back-up pressure and provides an option for gentle intermediate container storage. Containers pass through the device by the shortest route, unless there is a delay, in which case they start to be held in the spiral storage lines. This device won the 2005 German packaging competition. See: www.krones.de
