Auckland, Wednesday 6 July 2016 - We have in New Zealand a problem that can strike small packaging companies.  Where they can be  running several blown film lines and just  not have  the money to put a gauge on each line. But they still need to see what they are making, especially when expensive co-extrusions are being made. Between a rock and a hard place stuff really!  

Now NDC Technologies make a transmission gauge for measuring various co-extrusions on-line to reference accuracy. These gauges usually sit on scanning frames and control the films as they are being made. Now the problem with a lot of blown film lines is doubling the measurement at the lay flat or paying a fortune for a rotary scanner on the bubble. But a customer wanted to measure all his lines with one gauge at-line rather than on-line.

So I saw David Aucamp at Innopak in Auckland to design and make a mechanism that would scan a strip of sample. An operator simply cuts a strip from the film and puts it on the winder. This scans the strip and gives a full running analysis of the co-extrusions. This data is kept as a record and the operator can adjust the die bolts to correct any unders or overs. One centrally placed winding system is far less to buy than a gauge system on each line. Innopak make the scanning frame. This gauge system works brilliantly and is now well proven

If you are a blown film packaging manufacturer this level of control opens things out significantly for you because you can now confidently make products that previously you would probably never have attempted. You can set the lines up to make products automatically the way your customers customers want them. And that gives you a quick return on investment. The ability to control what you make is paramount and really does have a positive effect on the bottom line.

If the above applies to you then please don’t hesitate to come through to me. You can reach me on 09 428 3426 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and the other part of the solution; I do have finance options available for you to consider that can help make the whole exercise a positive one.

From Simon Ganley of Ganley Engineering