Extrusion International 5-2025-USA

18 Extrusion International 5/2025 18 INDUSTRY NEWS Latest Welding Advancements at Pack Expo International 2025 Rinco Ultrasonics will showcase its latest lm sealing equipment for the packaging industry at Pack Expo International 2025 (Booth SU- 30019) September 29-Oct. 1 in Las Vegas. Rinco’s newest equipment advancements which improve per- formance and raise productivity in- clude the FPA4500EM servo-driven pouch sealer and the new Micro-35 packaging actuator. The FPA4500EM system is the in- dustry’s rst fully servo-driven, ul - trasonic pouch sealer. It raises the bar in the packaging industry by de- livering signi cant sustainability ad - vantages with reduced energy use along with enhanced productivity bene ts, according to Bill Aurand, sales manager for Rinco Ultrasonics. The servo system has the ability to dynamically manipulate key param- eters such as vibratory amplitude, weld force, and stroke velocity dur- ing the weld cycle, ensuring the best possible weld strength and the fastest possible cycle time. By elimi- nating the use of compressed air to develop seal force, the servo-driven welder signi cantly reduces energy consumption. The advanced servo system moni- tors the force and position of the sealing tools, and can detect folded and missing pouches. Historically, the lling machines have been re - quired to prove pouch presence before welding to prevent damage to the ultrasonic tools. Eliminat- ing the need for these sensors will simplify integration into pouch ll - ing machines. Meanwhile, the new Micro-35 packaging actuator is de- signed speci cally to meet the needs of continuous n sealing and zipper crushing applications for the packag- ing industry. The new actuator can be easily integrated into n sealing and zipper crushing applications, de- livering speed and energy ef ciency, thus helping manufacturers meet today’s demanding productivity re- quirements, says Aurand. “We’ve developed a highly adaptable ultra- sonic system that is repeatable, user friendly, and safe,” he said. Ultrasonic n sealing is an eco - nomical way to create continuous, hermetic longitudinal seals on ex - ible packages. Rather than pulling lm between two heated jaws, the lm passes between ultrasonic seal - ing tools. Ultrasonic zipper crushing is an effective way to facilitate her- metic side seals on standup pouches that contain zippers. Rinco’s Micro-35 actuator is the smallest n sealing and zipper crush - ing system in the industry. The ultra- compact design enables integration into tight spaces. Furthermore, the lightweight system makes it viable for continuous movement zipper crushing applications where the ac- tuator must move with the lm. The 35-kHz frequency is optimal for continuous seals, delivering high power using proven standard components. The resulting process is extremely reliable and al- most completely silent. The Micro-35 has a robust, inte- grated positive stop to pre- vent damage to the tools if the lm is not present and the integrated air-cooling ports ensure the ultrasonic sealing process remains stable. Among the advantages of ultra- sonics is that sealing does not rely on radiant heat but on ultrasonic energy which can melt lms almost instantaneously. Energy consump- tion is signi cantly reduced due to the high ef ciency of ultrasonic sealing systems. Thermal n seal jaws draw up to 10 times the watt- age of a typical ultrasonic unit. In terms of productivity, common heat seal jaws can take 10 to 15 minutes to warm up at the beginning of a shift or after servicing. No warm-up time is required with the ultrasonic process, which enhances machine productivity. Ultrasonic welding is also a more sustainable process with the capabil- ity of sealing recycled and bio-based lms as well as many paper-based materials. Many of these newer ma- terials don’t respond well to thermal processes and can result in a leaky or wrinkled bond area. Ultrasonic seal- ing delivers unparallelled process control. Thermal sealing processes are blind and often affected by am- bient conditions and are unable to con rm seal quality. Intelligent ul - trasonic systems provide a high level of process data, offering insight into the sealing process. In terms of safety, ultrasonic seal- ing is a maintenance-friendly pro- cess often requiring little to no op- erator adjustment. Rinco Ultrasonics www.rinco-usa.com New: Micro-35 modi ed FPA-4500-T-Actuator with Pouch