The start-to-finish PPMA show

According to a buyers' survey carried out by the PPMA (Processing and Packaging Machinery Association), UK industry will spend almost £1billion this year on new processing and packaging machinery. The range of planned investment was generally between £100,000 and £10million, with the majority spending in the order of £100,000 to £500,000.

Despite evidence in the survey of substantial spare production capacity in many factories, these figures auger well for the success of one of the stalwarts of the exhibition calendar. Over 260 exhibitors have committed to the PPMA Show and the organiser Reed Exhibitions is hopeful that over 10,000 visitors will turn out.

With processing equipment and end-of-line machines named as the most popular investment targets in the PPMA's survey, we focus on that element of the show. Well represented throughout the NEC's Halls 10, 11 and 12 is one of the basic processing functions, mixing and blending.

Silverson Machines, for example, is launching its new Ultramix mixer alongside a range of standard production scale batch and in-line high-shear mixers and Flashblend powder/liquid mixing systems. The company is also demonstrating the advantages of using high-shear, bottom-entry mixer units - typically used with stirrer/scraper units for high viscosity products - on lower viscosity mixes, particularly where hygiene is an issue.

Winkworth Machinery is also launching its new twin-shaft fluidising mixer, with a 500 litre working capacity unit on display. This machine is said to be ideal for mixing fragile products, with minimal breakdown and very rapid process times, or for any powder/granule/flake applications requiring short mixing times. Also on display is one of Winkworth's versatile processing vessels. These are available in working capacities from 65 to 4000 litres, with heating jackets and a variety of agitators to suit most applications.

Gentle blending

Another first time exhibit is Lindor's new 10 litre 'gentle-touch' blender. Displayed on the Orthos Engineering stand, this table-top machine has the same internal blending drum design as full-size Lindor machines of 70 to 14,000 litres. It gives mixing results that can be extrapolated and applied to the larger units. The horizontally mounted drum design is entirely free of separately moving parts such as mixing blades and impellers that can apply shear forces to the product, causing deterioration. Instead, the inner surface of the drum has integral tapered scoops that run the full length of the drum. These induce a non-degrading, three-dimensional figure-of-eight flow pattern in the product. The drum is free of dead spaces so that all material is equally blended.

Moving on from mixers, in every sense, Watson-Marlow Bredel Pumps has on display for the first time in the UK its new 520RC pumphead for the company's industrial range of peristaltic pumps for flow rates of up to 4.6 litre/min. The 520RC features an increased track diameter and large occlusion rollers that reduce tube stress and help prolong tube life by up to 20 per cent. Also on show for the first time is the new 700 series pump with LoadSure technology, designed for the food processing, chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

Another pumping system on show is Kecol Pumps' Articulated Powerprime system. This enables up to four 200kg drums on a pallet to be emptied without having to manhandle the drums into position. An articulated arm enables the pump to be positioned over each drum in turn. With a follower plate fitted, the system can pump high viscosity, semi-flowable products - such as fruit and tomato pastes.

Intermediate materials handling is always a feature of the PPMA Show, often providing the link between the processing and packaging regimes. Here Matcon, for example, is presenting a new range of 'small and simple' IBCs, specifically aimed at applications where small batches or low headroom is required.

Specialist in FIBC (flexible intermediate bulk containers) equipment, Flomat Bagfilla International (FBI) has on show an example of its comprehensive range, which includes the Model A30. This machine fills up to 30 lined or unlined FIBCs an hour.For production line filling requirements All-Fill International is showing a selection of its vertical, auger-based powder filling systems. All machines now feature PLC control with touchscreen HMI panels. These control all machine functions stored in memory against each product name for immediate recall. Completing the machines on show, All-Fill also has the AFI Series 1 micro-fill unit. This is an ultra-high accuracy, bench-top micro-doser that precision fills on to a Mettler balance.

Elsewhere Mettler Toledo itself is showing a range of checkweighers, metal detection equipment and a variety of statistical quality control equipment, including the new compact SQC16 system. Taking centre stage though is the Garvens S-Series range of checkweighers. Several new features here include a LogInServer data protection tool for a personalised traceable log of when and who accessed a particular checkweigher. Also on show is the recently launched Qi 'material transfer control solution.'

Packaging equipment inevitably takes up a lot of the space at any PPMA Show, but there are many examples of the various conveying systems required to get product from process to packaging lines and beyond on into the supply chain. The eponymous Conveyor Systems (CSL), for instance, is displaying a range of conveyors to demonstrate its bespoke materials handling capabilities. CSL has designed, installed and commissioned innovative handling solutions for many organisations, including a range of space-saving spiral elevators that provide smooth continuous flow and high throughput of product.

A new range of spiral conveyors is also being shown by Astec Conveyors. Available in stainless or mild steel painted finishes, these versatile units will transport cartons, cans, sacks, shrink-wrapped product and so on. Astec is also showing details of its modular pallet handling conveyor range and handling equipment that includes roller and chain conveyors, transfer cars, turntables, stackers/destackers and similar equipment.

A highlight of all PPMA Shows are the various exhibitors that manage to have on their stands complete working versions of often quite complicated machinery. Bosch Rexroth follows this trend with a fully operational production cell demonstrator, featuring the latest VarioFlow flexible chain conveyor system and an example of the new generation turboscara SR Plus robots. These are shown handling special packs of Belgian chocolates, a sweet note on which to end this brief look at what promises to be an interesting show.