Equipment and materials

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Polypropylene film now available

Proplene a polypropylene packaging film that is reported to be an excellent barrier to grease and oil as well as to offer excellent folding endurance, machinability, printability and long shelf life is commercially available from Ludlow Papers. The company reports also that it is introducing other unsupported thermoplastic films made by a modified extrusion process, called Flex-L, that is claimed to produce outstanding clarity and gloss, and improved film properties through biaxial orientation. Ludlow's Proplene which can be used in overwrap, bagmaking, blister-packaging and skin-packaging application-�is made from Hercules Powder Co.'s "Pro-Fax"� polypropylene. Ludlow Papers, Inc., Needham Heights, Mass.

Wax-impregnated corrugated board

A wax-impregnated corrugated board with excellent resistance to moisture and humidity is being offered by Hinde & Dauch. Designated M/R, the board is suggested for use in the manufacture of shipping cartons for fruit, produce or other perishable foods that are cooled with water or ice during shipment and

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storage. The accompanying photo illustrates a laboratory test conducted by the company to determine the moisture resistance of its new board. A standard corrugated shipping container and one made of the wax-impregnated board were submerged in a fish tank, with the former weighted down by one 32-lb. cement block and the latter by two blocks of the same weight. After 9 min. submersion, the standard carton, thoroughly saturated, began to crumple. The wax-impregnated carton (right) showed no signs of weakening after more than an hour of submersion, the company says.

Field tests have also been conducted. These tests, in which mature peaches were packed and shippd for long distancs in cartons made of the strong, protective board, showed similar good results, the supplier says. Hinde & Dauch, Div. West Virginia Pulp & Paper Co., Sandusky, 0.

For protection of fragile or scuffable items

Designed for the protection of fragile or scuff-prone products during shipment or other handling is 3M's "Scotch-Tred,"� a non-marring, skid-resistant material with a pressure-sensitive adhesive base and a resilient, bonded-particle surface. The flexible material (45 to 50 mils thick) is suggested by the company for use as re-usable divider cushioning, applied to critical areas of such products as major appliances to minimize in-crate surface damage. It also can be applied to nested fragile items, such as ceramics, to prevent nicking or scratching, the supplier points out. Its pressure-sensitive adhesive base is protected until use by a thermoplastic-film backing that reportedly serves as an effective barrier against moisture. The

fire-resistant material is available in three color-�beige, black or gray. Designed also for use as a floor or wall covering, it comes in ¾-by-24-in. strips, 96-ft. rolls ranging from 4 to 36 in. wide, and 9-by-9-in. tiles. Custom shapes can be provided. Minnesota Mining & Mfg. Co., 900 Bush Ave., St. Paul 6.

New line of single-station aerosol fillers

Available from Arthur Colton Co. is a new line of three singlestation machines for small-lot production and laboratory crimping and gassing operations on aerosol containers. Illustrated is the Colton - Alpha Model 1401, a gasser and tester designed for use with nitrogen propellents. In operation, a hose connection is made to the nitrogen pressure vessel. A crimped container and valve assembly is placed on the work base and a handle on the side of the unit is pulled down, causing a valve adapter to engage the container valve. Both gas valves (under the pressure gauge) are opened and the container is filled with propellent to the proper pressure level. After closing the valves, the handle is raised and the lower valve is opened and closed to bleed the pressure gauge to a reading of a few pounds under expected can pressure. Then the handle is lowered again to engage the container and the lower valve is opened to test in-can propellent pressure by reading the pressure gauge. The other two units in the company's new line are the Model 1302 air-operated vacuum crimper and the Model 1501 gasser and shaker for use with carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide propellents that are mixed into the product. Arthur Colton Co., 3400 E. Lafayette Ave., Detroit 7.

Non-curling foil label stock

Cochran Foil is marketing a laminated aluminum-foil label stock that is claimed to eliminate the curling problems associated with printing, cutting or applying foil labels. According to the supplier, its new "Kurl-Kure"� label stock stays flat over a wide range of temperature and humidity conditions. Cochran Foil Corp., Sub. The Anaconda Co., Louisville, Ky.

Stable packaging adhesive

An adhesive for bonding paperboards, claimed to have increased stability when agitated by machinery glue rolls (thereby avoiding balling and adhesive breakdown), is available from United Shoe Machinery. The resin-based adhesive, designed for use in carton-forming machines, reportedly produces a strong, fast-setting bond under pressure. Other cited features of the adhesive, which is shipped dry for mixing with water, are: absence of unpleasant odor, good resistance to moisture, "invisible"� drying and easy clean-up. United Shoe Machinery Corp., Packaging Dept., 140 Federal St., Boston 7.

All-steel bag-packaging machine for foods

A stainless-steel bag-packaging machine, designed for packing such products as meat, poultry, cheese and frozen foods into thermoplastic-film bags or pouches, is offered by Errich International. The company's Model 813 accommodates bags 4 to 9