Infinity Machine Introduces The Palletizer

It is no secret that in recent decades manufacturers have pivoted toward automating the production process at a rapid pace. And as the cost of labor has steadily increased, there is no indication this shift toward automation will slow down anytime soon.

Tissue converters have been especially proactive in implementing automation into their production process as nearly every step of the converting process can and has been automated.

In 2004, Infinity Machine & Engineering Corp. was founded in response to the surge in automated tissue converting lines and has led the charge in automating the tissue packaging process ever since.

Already boasting the most comprehensive roster of automated packaging machinery in the industry, Infinity is further expanding their roster of automated machinery to cover the end of the production line with the R10SW palletizer.

Responding to consumer demand, the R10SW palletizer can be integrated with Infinity packaging lines, enabling Infinity machinery to automate every step of the tissue production process after the log saw.

A key aspect of the R10SW palletizer is its modularity. The R10SW is made up of modular palletizer sections that can be arranged into countless different layouts to accommodate production requirements, as well as facility limitations. The flexibility created by these palletizer sections makes it perfect for a multitude of product lines, from single products to large-scale, multi-line operations.

The palletizer segments offered by Infinity include automatic slip sheet placement, integrated labeling, and fully automatic, fully servo stretch wrapping. All are designed to provide extreme efficiency and versatility in a minimal amount of space.

The R10SW palletizer comes equipped with an articulated robot arm from FANUC, one of the world’s largest industrial robot manufacturers. The R10SW’s FANUC articulated robot arm is capable of quick cycle times and robust performance. The development of the R10SW palletizer has led to Infinity being an official “FANUC Authorized System Integrator”.

Extreme versatility is built into the design of the R10SW, either vacuum or servo gripper end effectors can be equipped on the palletizer, allowing for high-speed stacking capabilities on a wide range of products, including cases, bundles, and DRP.

The versatility of the R10SW is complemented by robust performance as the palletizer has a full unit load total height of 110 inches.

Infinity engineers prioritized operator convenience and safety in the design of the R10SW, resulting in a machine that is as safe as it is accessible. The palletizer features multiple safety zones, separated by access gates, allowing for safe up-close monitoring of production. Access to hard-to-reach areas of the machine has also been improved.

As tissue converters throughout the world continue to embrace automation, flexibility is as essential in the production’s end-of-line as it is in the converting and packaging process. The R10SW brings Infinity’s signature innovative engineering and robust build quality to the world of palletizing solutions, making the production end-of-line safer, smarter, and as flexible as the rest of your line.

See More About The Palletizer

Infinity Machine & Engineering Corp. to exhibit at Tissue World 2024

From January 31st to February 2nd, Infinity Machine & Engineering Corp. will return to the Miami Beach Convention Center to exhibit at Tissue World 2024.

The previous show, Tissue World 2023, took place in Dusseldorf and brought together tissue industry professionals across Europe. This year’s exhibition promises to draw representatives across the North American, Latin American, and South American tissue markets.

At this year’s exhibition, Infinity will officially launch their line of palletizing solutions, expanding the Infinity product line beyond primary and secondary tissue packaging.

Responding to consumer demand, Infinity palletizing solutions can be integrated with Infinity packaging lines, enabling Infinity machinery to automate every step of the tissue production process after the log saw.

A key aspect of Infinity’s palletizing solutions is their modularity. The unit is made up of modular palletizer sections that can be arranged into countless different layouts in order to accommodate production requirements, as well as facility limitations. The flexibility created by these palletizer sections make it perfect for a multitude of product lines, from single product, to large-scale, multi-line operations.

The palletizer segments offered by Infinity include automatic slip sheet placement, integrated labeling, and fully automatic, fully servo stretch wrapping. All designed to provide extreme efficiency and versatility in a minimal amount of space.

To learn more about the palletizing solutions offered by Infinity, as well as new developments among its existing roster of machinery, stop by the Infinity booth located at space B30.

 


Infinity Machine 20th Anniversary

In 2004, Scott Santaga, Jeffery Cogswell Thomas Wegner and Douglas Wegner founded Infinity Machine & Engineering Corp. with a simple guiding principle, to serve the customer. While a lot about Infinity has changed since 2004, the commitment to serve the customer never has.

Since the beginning, Infinity has been defined by the entrepreneurial spirit of its founders. What began as a company that operated out of a 9X15 square meter facility has grown to be the premier name in automated tissue packaging.

Originally, Infinity was founded as a company that would design and build poly bundlers, however plans changed when Infinity’s first order was for a casepacker. Infinity’s founders adapted to the needs of the customer and designed a casepacker that was flexible and operator friendly. The first Infinity casepacker is still in operation today, a testament to its design and build quality.

Throughout its 20-year history, Infinity has continuously pushed the boundaries of what tissue packaging machinery can be capable of. Debuting in 2005, Infinity’s signature Infusion modular system utilizes interchangeable packaging modules and a fixed, common infeed unit. This revolutionary design allows for casepacking, bundling and bagging to occur all in one place, providing unmatched flexibility for converting lines. The Infusion modular system has become a global success with systems installed across North America, Europe, and Asia.

In 2010 Infinity added the talents of Italian technical specialist and sales staff with the creation of Infinity Italia. With the addition, American and Italian engineers combined their expertise to develop Infinity’s first poly wrappers. Among these wrappers was the Solo 250, a single roll wrapper capable of running production speeds of 250 rolls a minute. Since expanding the product line, nearly 200 poly wrappers have been installed, making them an iconic part of Infinity’s product mix.

Infinity has not been limited to innovations in machinery, the company also responded to their customer’s desire for more environmentally conscious packaging solutions. In 2020 Infinity partnered with Little Rapids Corp. to develop and test Ecova, a 100% plastic-free paper overwrap made from recycled materials. Since the debut of Ecova, Infinity has continued to prioritize sustainability with continual investment in ecologically focused research and development.

With machinery installed in over 20 countries, across every continent except Antarctica, infinity has established itself as the international industry leader in automated tissue packaging machinery. From France to South Korea, Infinity customers know that Infinity provides quality machinery and unparalleled customer service.

To accommodate the company’s rapid growth, Infinity’s headquarters has been expanded twice since it opened in 2008. The most recent expansion, which took place in 2020, increased the size of the facility to 16,000 square meters. Infinity has also increased its staff to over 200 employees between its Italian and American operations, nearly doubling in size from the total five years ago. However, the success of Infinity cannot solely be measured in facility expansions, or employee growth, it is also measured in the pride Infinity employees have in building the best tissue packaging machinery on the planet.

Infinity has undergone a multitude of changes throughout its 20-year history. However, through multiple expansions to its roster of machinery, continuous increases in international sales, and breakthroughs in ecological packaging, one thing has remained constant, Infinity’s commitment to serve its customers.


Serbian Tissue Manufacturer Invest in Infinity Machinery

Drenik ND d.o.o. a Serbian manufacturer of hygienic paper products and one of the largest cellulose manufacturers in Southeast Europe, has purchased six machines from Infinity Machine & Engineering Corp. The sale was completed in collaboration with Impex Continental.

To keep up with their increased production demands and maintain their strict quality standards, Drenik selected Infinity’s most recent machine releases, the VISION G3 multipack wrapper and the Optic M1 poly bundler. The two VISION G3s and four Optic M1s will be installed at Drenik’s facility in Belgrade, Serbia. These machines will continue the trend of Infinity’s recent rapid growth in Europe. In the last six years, Infinity has more than quadrupled its machine presence in Europe, supplying nine European countries with automated tissue packaging machinery.

Infinity’s VISION G3 multipack wrapper boasts an array of new innovative features. A patent pending telescoping poly unwind enables faster production speeds while improving pack quality. The Vision G3 can also produce poly wrapped, paper wrapped, paper tucked and facial tissue packs, providing Drenik with unparallel packaging versatility.

The Optic M1 poly bundler is a perfect fit for Drenik’s line as it is designed to produce large format bundles, common in the European market. The unique interchangeable upender and flight bar units on the Optic also appealed to Drenik as they allow for the creation of both “core up” and “core down” pack configurations.

When looking for the right partner for their largest investment of the year, Drenik was drawn to Infinity in large part due to their shared enthusiasm for success and innovation. Founded in 1995, Drenik started as a company that solely manufactured diapers and sanitary pads, however, the company soon expanded into bathroom tissue and household towel rolls. Today, Drenik produces over 100,000 tons of tissue a year and employs over 800 people between its facilities in Serbia and Hungary.

Throughout Drenik’s growth, they have been a company driven by sustainable practices, this drive goes hand in hand with Infinity’s expansive sustainability initiatives. The Optic M1 and VISION G3 can be equipped with IE3 and IE4 rated motors, which operate at a higher efficiency while using less power. The VISION G3 can also wrap rolls in paper, reducing plastic consumption and promoting more ecological packaging.

Drenik’s investment in Infinity machinery ensures that they will have the flexibility to meet any possible market need, while promoting sustainable practices.


Infinity Debuts New Pivoting Servo Merge Diverter

Infinity Machine & Engineering Corp. is proud to release the newest addition to its line of servo diverters, the Pivoting Servo Merge.

Specifically designed for facial tissue converting lines, the PSM diverter merges two layers of product into one layer, or one layer of product into two, ensuring a balanced, precise output for production.

The PSM features fully automatic guardrails, ensuring changeovers between flat tissue packs and cube tissue packs are simple and quick.

Another aspect of the PSM that puts customer convenience at the forefront is the machine’s ability to operate with its own individual PLC, or to be integrated with an existing PLC. Whatever a converting line requires, the PSM can be incorporated with ease.

Infinity’s newest diverter also features electronic gearing, allowing the operator to have complete control over the gap size between packs, and in turn, control over product orientation. With the PSM, product is merged, distributed, and controlled all in one compact space.

The PSM diverter from Infinity is the perfect distributor to make facial tissue lines faster, smarter, and more versatile.


Infinity’s Optic M1 poly bundler offers unmatched versatility and unmatched performance.

Since our inception in 2003, Infinity Machine and Engineering Corp. has been committed to reshaping the Tissue packaging industry. With a focus on superior build quality, and devoted customer service, Infinity has become a trusted name in packaging machinery throughout the world. We have been privileged to install our machinery in over 20 countries across every continent except Antarctica. With our eye on the global community we serve, Infinity is proud to announce the release of our Optic M1 Bundler, designed from the ground up with the needs of the international market in mind.

The Optic M1 Bundler can produce a wide range of bundle configurations and reach speeds of over 20 bundles per minute, giving it the versatility and speed to disrupt the tissue bundler market. Other key advantages of the Optic M1 are its small footprint, robust steel frame, auto splice poly unwind, active vacuum lance, quick change knife and modular capability.

At the Infeed of the machine, the Optic M1 features an integrated two-stage choke belt diverter, with hand wheel adjustment for pack width. The Optic also features the same Infeed as our Infinity casepackers, creating the added benefit of common parts and common machine knowledge for maintenance technicians. Also, the only wear part on the infeed of the machine are the infeed belts, further reducing machine maintenance.

The Optic M1 features Flight Bars that are synchronized with the indexer, enabling maximum take over speed. The additional flight bar on the Optic M1 is the perfect tool for stacked, “core up” roll configurations. However, to allow for maximum versatility, the second flight bar can be removed and an upender can be swapped in. The upender enables the machine to bundle rolls stacked on ends, so that the Optic M1 can bundle a vast array of configurations between the two roll stack orientations. Furthermore, both the second flight bar and the upender units are on casters allowing for quick and easy swaps between the two. 

The Unwind of the Optic M1 is servo driven to ensure easy poly position adjustment. Poly can also be wound from the front or back of the reel, simplifying the loading process. A Poly pullout cart is also featured on the Optic M1, simplifying the process of poly loading and unloading.

A ubiquitous feature on Infinity bundlers is our standard vacuum lance. On the seal jaw of the bundler, the vacuum lance sucks out excess air from the bundle, creating crisp, tight bundles every time. The Seal Jaw also offers a quick-change knife and seal jaw replacement, reducing machine down time.

Infinity engineers have prioritized reducing the time and cost of machine maintenance in the design of the Optic M1, resulting in a machine with very few wear parts and many automatic adjustment features. The only manual lubrication axes are the top/bottom seal jaw, cassette width adjustment and the cassette raise/lower, all bearing are lubed for life. The only wear parts of the machine are the indexer belts, Cassette/Flight bar timing belts and seal wire. The Optic M1 also features only one valve bank with ethernet feedback, and only three manual adjustments. Most adjustments on the Optic are done automatically by utilizing adjustment motors. Celling height, exit guides and cassette backstop are all adjusted automatically.

A defining feature of the Optic M1, that truly sets it apart from other bundlers on the market is its modular capability. Since 2005, Infinity has manufactured bundlers with its industry original Infusion modular system. Designed to overcome the limitations of fixed linear machines, the Infusion modular system allows for different machine units, such as a bundler, bagger or casepacker to be attached to a common infeed module via fixed docking stations. This process can be completed in a half hour and gives our customers the ability to reduce their capital investment and more efficiently utilize floor space.

Accessibility was at the forefront of our engineer’s minds while designing the Optic M1. The pusher on the machine is on a vertical adjustment, which keeps the working height of the machine low, while also increasing the number of pack configurations the machine is capable of. The vertical adjustment also allows for a simplified change to a casepacker module if desired. The modules on the machine feature a French door design, which increases ease of access to machine components. And the discharge of the Optic M1 features a tip down exit gate, improving worker mobility around the machine.

Featuring a more accessible design, versatile performance, and Infinity’s signature robust steel framing, the optic M1 poly bundler is our most advanced poly bundler yet. Look no further because the future of packaging is staring you in the face.


Infinity Servo Diverters Enable Ultimate Line Optimization

As the tissue-converting industry continues to experience increased growth, flexibility is no longer a goal of converting lines, it is a necessity.

Converters need to offer lines with optimized speed and diverse products to keep up with consumer preferences and demand. Infinity’s line of servo diverters meets and surpasses this need for flexibility.

All four models of Infinity servo diverter can act as the central brain of a converting line, efficiently balancing incoming product to the required downstream machinery while ensuring a steady, even flow of product.

Infinity diverters also help reduce the need for excess conveyors and additional floor space by utilizing precise, variable control. The diverter’s ability to merge, distribute and control makes them the smartest, most flexible diverters on the market.

Each of Infinity’s diverters can accommodate unique needs for different converting lines. The Telescopic Servo Merge diverter, or TSM, is specifically designed to balance converting lines from four lanes to three or two lanes.

The Quick Switch diverter is similar to the infeed indexers that appear on most of Infinity’s casepackers and bundlers. It is offered as a one, two, or three-arm diverter that usually takes packs or roll products and distributes them to the necessary lanes.

Infinity designed its Single Roll Laner diverter to be the perfect fit for lines with a multipack wrapper and single roll wrappers. The SRL diverter sets the industry standard for diverters that distribute four lanes to five, six, or even seven lanes.

Featuring a unique servo-controlled pivoting system, Infinity’s C2L diverter is a great fit for lines with dual packaging legs and one log saw. The C2L diverter can take four lanes and distribute to two layers of four-lane conveyor.

Some additional key features that make Infinity diverters the best on the market are a discharge lane selection on the HMI as well as a toolless changeover.

With four unique models of diverter, Infinity Machine & Engineering can provide the perfect solution to make your line faster, smarter, and more flexible.


Infinity Increases its Sustainability Initiatives

Consumer research indicates that more and more people strongly consider the ecological impact of the products they buy when making purchasing decisions. As environmental awareness increases amongst consumers, product packaging faces increased scrutiny.

Product packaging can disincline ecologically motivated consumers due to an often heavy reliance on plastics and other materials that lack a green reputation.

However, the push for more sustainable packaging is not being led solely by consumers. In the tissue industry, many corporations have recognized the benefits of packaging solutions developed with a focus on the environment.

As the number of consumers and corporations that prioritize sustainability increases, the packaging industry must also prioritize innovative ecological packaging.

Infinity Machine and Engineering Corp. has been on the forefront of innovating sustainable packaging solutions. In 2020, Infinity partnered with Little Rapids Corp. to test and develop ECOVA paper overwrap, a 100% plastic-free, heat-sealable paper wrap, made from 100% recycled fiber. Since then, Infinity has increased its sustainable packaging efforts and prioritized ecological design in its machinery.

One focus for Infinity engineers has been to pioneer more sustainable packaging for individually wrapped tissue rolls. While primarily used as away-from-home tissue in North America and Europe, individually packaged bathroom tissue rolls are very common in the South American consumer sector. Due to the increased amount of packaging material needed to wrap rolls individually, Infinity has designed its single roll wrappers, the S250BRT and the S250HT, to wrap in paper as well as plastic.

However, Infinity’s commitment to sustainable packaging goes beyond primary packaging. Infinity’s C15 Casepacker is capable of loading rolls into corrugated trays. This not only provides stable secondary packaging for tissue products, but it also reduces the amount of material needed for packaging as a tray often uses less than half the cardboard of a standard case. The C15 can also package some tissue roll products directly into corrugated cases without the need for any additional packaging, cutting down on material cost, and material waste.

While prioritizing sustainable packaging is a positive step for the tissue industry, Infinity has taken it a step further by also exploring new ways to reduce the environmental impact of tissue packaging machinery. Infinity machinery can be equipped with IE3 and IE4-rated motors, which use less power while performing at a higher efficiency. Infinity is also trialing monitors on its new Vision G3 multipack wrapper that track the machine’s power usage and air consumption. The information that is collected will be shared with the purchaser which will allow ecological opportunities to be identified and implemented based on the recorded data.

Infinity is also prioritizing sustainability in its research and development department. With about 15% of annual revenue invested in R&D, Infinity has the resources and commitment to developing new machinery and packaging with the planet in mind. Infinity is currently testing ecological materials and new machine designs that will disrupt the current tissue packaging industry and make way for a more sustainable future.

As converters and consumers alike continue to explore a more sustainable future of packaging, Infinity Machine & Engineering Corp. will be with them every step of the way.


Eliminating Machine Maintenance Downtime

With around-the-clock automated operation quickly becoming the global norm in production lines, the negative effects of unscheduled machine downtime become increasingly more pronounced.

High-quality machinery is no longer enough, production lines need reliable customer service and quick turnarounds. This is why Infinity Machine & Engineering’s technical services are designed not just to resolve unplanned maintenance issues but eliminate them entirely.

Infinity prides itself on offering a range of preventative maintenance plans to keep machines and the companies that own them at optimal performance. A fixture of these plans is onsite machine audits performed quarterly, semiannually, or annually. These audits include a thorough inspection of all machines, documented service reports with recommendations after each visit, and additional machine training after the audit’s completion.

However, Infinity’s preventative maintenance begins before the machine leaves the facility. Every machine built by Infinity is put through a rigorous factory acceptance test, testing the customer’s exact specifications, and often running the customer’s actual product. This process ensures the machine is ready for installation and operation as soon as it is delivered. Furthermore, Infinity’s staff boasts a combined 65 years of packaging machinery installation experience, ensuring machine installation time is reduced to a minimum.

Another customer-focused technical service Infinity offers is operator and maintenance technician training. Technician training can be customized based on customer needs, including mechanical training on the customer’s existing Infinity
equipment, and electrical and E&I training. Offerings for Mechanical training include mechanical prints, parts search, rebuilding of assemblies, maintenance inspections, and lubrication routes. Electrical training covers electrical prints, parts search, PLC troubleshooting, replacement parts, and inspections.

To accommodate the round-the-clock production schedule of our customers, Infinity provides 24/7 on-call customer service. Field services techs can be at a customer’s mill within 24-36 hours after a call. Furthermore, Infinity does not charge extra for weekend work from their field service techs, whereas other
companies often charge double time on Sundays.

Another facet of Infinity’s technical services is an extensive spare part inventory. Between their Bologna and Green Bay facilities, Infinity has 20,000 spare parts on hand. There is also a dedicated expedited shipper for emergency situations so
crucial parts can be ordered at a moment’s notice.

Infinity takes consumer convenience in spare part offerings to the next level with predictive maintenance part kits. Through engineering, parts research, and mechanical knowledge of equipment, these kits are designed to maintain full runnability without unplanned downtime. Infinity’s predictive maintenance part kits are customized with common wear parts for all Infinity machine models. These kits also include a parts breakdown list, mechanical prints, and a standard procedure manual to assure the work is done to OEM spec. These give technicians the proper paperwork and parts to ensure the job will be completed properly and in a timely manner.

Infinity was created with a simple vision, to serve the customer, and the technical services offered by Infinity embody that vision. Machine audits that identify issues before they happen, a dedicated 24/7 customer support team, and an extensive spare part inventory all contribute to making this vision reality. When you buy Infinity, you buy peace of mind.


Infinity Euro Expansion

Since 2017, Infinity Machine & Engineering has more than quadrupled the number of machines it has supplied to European tissue plants.

While the American/Italian packaging machinery company has had a large presence in North America for over a decade, as of 2017, its sales in the European market were limited to several machines throughout Italy, Russia, and Slovakia. By the end of 2022, Infinity is scheduled to install over four times the amount of machinery it previously had in Europe, while also expanding sales into six additional European countries: France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Infinity’s recent rapid growth in the European tissue packaging industry can be attributed to a variety of factors, chiefly among them, the global positioning of the company and the recent increase of Infinity’s manufacturing capabilities.

Infinity is uniquely situated to serve the global market as it has facilities in the two global hubs for tissue paper production, Green Bay, USA, and Bologna, Italy. Infinity’s Italian operation specializes in sales and technical servicing, making Infinity an extremely desirable supplier of machinery for the European tissue industry.

Furthermore, in 2020, Infinity completed the construction of an 8,900 square-meter expansion of its Green Bay facility, allowing for Infinity to offer increased manufacturing capacity to their customers.

Combining Infinity’s global positioning and increased production capacity with the signature build quality and customer service that has made Infinity machinery famous worldwide, it is no surprise that Infinity is one of the fastest-growing suppliers of automated tissue packaging machinery in Europe.