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.
Eurasia Showcase
For the past 19 years, Infinity Machine & Engineering Corp. has disrupted the automated tissue product packaging industry. With machinery in 20 countries across every continent except Antarctica, Infinity has established itself as an industry leader with massive global influence. Committed to serving, not selling, Infinity has built an industry-wide reputation on quality machinery pared with unparalleled service. Now, Infinity invites you to see our machines and services specifically tailored to the European and Asian tissue markets firsthand. From September 12 to October 14, Infinity Italia opens its doors for our first ever Eurasia Showcase!
This exclusive event will feature live runs of Infinity machinery including our newest release, the VISION G3 multipack poly wrapper.
Infinity’s Eurasia showcase will also feature a virtual reality demonstration of our Line Synchronization and Simulation service, which can synchronize production across an entire packaging line ensuring maximum equipment effectiveness.
European and Asian hygienic product manufacturers will not want to miss out on this limited opportunity to witness the latest innovations in automated packaging machinery. To reserve your spot at Infinity’s Eurasia showcase, email the head of our European sales team Daniele Cavallini at dcavallini@infinitymec.com.
We look forward to seeing you there!
18th Anniversary of Infinity's First Casepacker Installation
This summer marked the 18-year anniversary of the installation of the very first Infinity casepacker. The machine remains in operation at Green Bay Converting’s facility in Hobart, WI.
Infinity was originally founded by Scott Santaga, Jeff Cogswell, Tom Wegner, and Doug Wegner as a company that would specialize in the design and manufacturing of poly bundlers. However, Infinity quickly had to adapt to changing circumstances as the first machine order they received was for a casepacker.
Built in a 30ft by 50ft spare room at Scott’s brother’s converting facility, the team would have to dust the machine every morning before continuing the construction process as paper dust from the facility would cover the machine every night.
After months of problem-solving and troubleshooting, Scott, Jeff, Tom, and Doug were able to develop a design that was versatile as well as easy to operate.
Installed on June 4th, 2004, the casepacker is still in operation, with GBC employees referring to it as one of the most reliable machines in their facility.
The first Infinity casepacker was the genesis for what has become an industry leader in automated tissue paper packaging machinery. Expanding beyond casepackers, and the founder’s original vision of poly bundlers, Infinity has increased its product offerings to include poly wrappers, poly baggers, case sealers, conveyor systems, and servo diverters. Infinity machinery has gone on to be installed in 20 countries across every continent except Antarctica.
While a lot has changed since we installed our first case packer, infinity’s unparalleled commitment to quality and customer satisfaction has not. Whether it’s our 24-hour customer service, free CAD layout design, or our signature robust steel frame and guarding, we put serving the customer at the focus of everything we do. If you’re in the market for machinery that will still be running strong 18 years from now, look no further than Infinity.
Ssangyong Purchases A Full Packaging Line From Infinity
Infinity Machine & Engineering Corp. has further increased its footprint in the Asian tissue market as Ssangyong, a leading South Korean brand of hygienic products, purchased a full packaging line from Infinity for their facility in Jochiwon.
Infinity previously sold a full packaging line to South Korean hygienic products brand Monalisa. After the successful installation and operation of this line, Ssangyong was confident in investing in the proven Infinity machinery.
The Ssangyong packaging line features Infinity’s Eclipse T4 multipack poly wrapper, a conveyor with multiple product manipulation devices, and an EPXL poly bundler. All the line’s machinery is built with Infinity’s signature robust steel framing, ensuring that the line will have the durability to last 20+ years.
Infinity’s EPXL poly bundler features a liner servo movement knife and seal jaw, allowing the EPXL to correct misalignments and run registration accurately. The wide frame of the EPXL also allows for wide-format packs, which is essential for the Ssangyong line. Other key features on the EPXL include an integrated diverter and flight bar for simplified product collation, and an automatic poly pull-out cart for safe poly loading.
The Infinity Eclipse T4 multipack wrapper was selected by Ssangyong in large part due to its ability to run a wide range of product configurations. The infeed of the wrapper can run four to five lanes and the wrapper can produce packs five and six rolls deep.
The conveyor system for the Ssangyong line contains multiple product manipulation devices including a Star Wheel capable of unending product at high speeds, an Itapack Handle applicator, and an Infinity Twist-Tipper. Infinity Twist Tippers can tip bundles 90 degrees or be put into a flat position for by-pass via adjustment handwheel. These product manipulation devices will give Ssangyong maximum versatility for bundle pack configurations.
Representatives from Ssangyong offered comprehensive customer input throughout the project and were present for an in-person machine check-out at infinity’s Green Bay, USA facility. Ssangyong’s investment in Infinity machinery ensures they will be able to keep pace with the industry’s growth and adapt to new trends in tissue packaging. The Ssangyong line is set to be installed and in production by the end of July 2022.
Infinity Poly Bagger redesign decreases machine footprint, increases machine production.
While not as conventional as poly bundles, poly bags have unique benefits and applications for tissue product packaging. While bundles are suitable for rolled product, folded product like napkins are too unstable and need to be packaged in poly bags. However, Poly bags are not only for folded products, they are also often used on industrial rolls as the bag end seals are easy to open and are better looking than bundle seals. While poly bags are versatile, the packaging machines that utilize them are not. Most poly baggers on the market today have a long, belted wicket in order to move poly bags to the machine loader. These wickets jut out from the side of the machine and are often 10 feet (3 meters) long. Because of the wicket’s large size and awkward placement, these machines take up a large amount of floor space and can greatly reduce the accessibility of a facility. In addition to this, the traditional belted wicket system has a limited capacity of bags that can be loaded at a time, reducing bagging efficiency.
However, Infinity Machine & Engineering Corp. has retooled their poly bagger to eliminate these major drawbacks. Infinity has developed a multi-shelf wicket system for their G10 and G20 poly baggers that eliminates nine feet of wicket length and simultaneously increases poly bag capacity. The new multi-shelf wicket system features seven shelves that can each be filled up to two inches high with poly bags. When one shelf is empty, the machine automatically retracts the shelf and replaces it with a full one. The switch cycle for the Infinity multi-shelf wicket system is also comparable to that of traditional belted wickets, as shelves are swapped and back in production in 15 seconds. Empty retracted shelfs are annunciated by an illuminated signal and can be restocked with bags safely and efficiently while the machine is in operation.
The compact design of the multi-shelf system eliminates a roughly three feet by nine feet section of machine, dramatically decreasing the amount of space needed to accommodate a poly bagger. The trays on Infinity’s new wicket system are also length adjustable, allowing the machine to run shorter poly bags at higher speeds. While Infinity has radically improved the design of their poly bagger, the new multi-shelf wicket system is still compatible with Infinity’s signature Infusion 3 in 1 modular system. The new more efficient poly bagging module can be seamlessly swapped in and out of a common infeed with casepacking and bundling modules, creating the pinnacle of packaging diversity. Infinity’s latest innovation in tissue packaging machinery has finally enabled poly baggers to be as versatile as the packing they support. To learn more about Infinity’s new multi-shelf wicket system, schedule a meeting with the Infinity sales team today!
Spanish tissue paper company, Manipulados Lisma, invests in Infinity Machinery
Growing Spanish tissue manufacturer, Manipulados Lisma, recently purchased three machines from Infinity Italia for its facility in Toledo, Spain.
The purchase breaks new ground for Infinity, as Lisma’s order includes the first VISION G3 multipack wrapper to be installed in the European Union, and the first Infinity Infusion modular system with an i18 bundler and C15 casepacker to be installed in the EU.
Infinity has long been a global leader in automated tissue paper packaging, and Lisma’s investment expands Infinity’s already growing influence in the European market.
Infinity prides itself on manufacturing machinery that is operator-friendly and capable of quick changeovers, two factors that are key to Lisma’s production line. The Infinity machines also have some of the smallest footprints on the market, allowing Lisma to more efficiently utilize space in their facility.
The VISION G3 multipack wrapper is the newest machine release from Infinity, and it features a multitude of new innovations. The machine can produce poly wrapped, paper wrapper, paper tucked, and facial tissue packs, giving Lisma ultimate versatility in production formats. The VISION G3 also features a unique telescoping poly unwind (patent pending), which allows for faster production and better pack quality.
Lisma selected an Infinity i18 Bundler for their line because it is capable of producing large, “European” style bundles for B2B commerce. The i18 will also enable Lisma to run a diverse range of products, as the bundler can run tissue rolls, tissue packs, individual bathroom towels, individual household towels, boxed products, diapers, and industrial rolls.
Infinity’s C15 casepacker has long been a fixture of the tissue products packaging industry, boasting low maintenance and high performance all within a small footprint. Lisma will be able to complete product changeovers on the C15 in as little as 20 minutes, ensuring that they will have maximum overall equipment effectiveness.
While the i18 and C15 are impressive machines in their own right, their compatibility with Infinity’s Infusion Modular system put them in a class above the rest. Developed by Infinity engineers to increase efficiency in a reduced footprint to that of similar linear machines, the 3 in 1 Infusion Modular system incorporates fixed docking stations to create increased packaging flexibility. Bundler, casepacker, and even bagger modules can be attached and detached from a common infeed module, allowing for three different machine combinations in one.
For more than 35 years, Lisma has been a family-owned and operated company, committed to continuous improvement. Lisma has risen to prominence in the European Tissue industry, as it successfully opened in new international markets. Lisma’s purchase of Infinity machinery ensures that they will have the equipment to continue their expansion for many years to come.
WEPA Invests in Infinity Equipment for Multiple Locations
WEPA, a leading tissue product manufacturer in Europe, recently purchased seven machines from Infinity Italia for their facilities in Troyes, France, Swalmen, Netherlands and Piechowice, Poland.
Infinity is supplying two Eclipse T4 Wrappers and two i18 Bundlers for WEPA’s Troyes facility, one Eclipse T4 Wrapper, and one i18 Bundler for WEPA’s facility in Swalmen and in Piechowice, WEPA selected an Infinity C-15 Casepacker for their folded products division.
WEPA was drawn to Infinity’s equipment due to its unique combination of American ruggedness and Italian design refinement. The i18 Bundler is a perfect fit for WEPA’s facilities as it was designed specifically with European markets in mind. The poly bundler features an integrated diverter and flight bar system for easy product collation, as well as an automatic poly reel splice and poly pull-out cart for safe and quick poly loading. In addition to this, an active vacuum comes standard on the i18 Bundler. Excess air is sucked from the bundles’ pre-discharge resulting in a tight, crisp poly wrap.
Another advantage of the i18 Bundler is its compatibility with Infinity’s Infusion modular system. By utilizing the fixed infeed section, the i18 can be coupled with modules, such as an Infinity Casepacker or Bagger. The modules are moved in and out of the docking station which gives WEPA ultimate secondary packaging flexibility without taking up any additional floor space. The “industry original” Infusion modular system was designed by Infinity engineers to overcome the limitations of fixed linear machines while reducing capital investment. As trends in packaging are continuously evolving, Infinity’s innovation allows WEPA to quickly adapt to market changes.
As for primary packaging, WEPA ordered Infinity’s Eclipse T4, which is known as one of the most durable wrappers on the market. Infinity’s commitment to efficiency is on full display in the Eclipse’s overhead system. The Eclipse T4 utilizes a durable AT20 belt and only 24 trolley sections, this decreases the changeover time between different package configurations. Additionally, Infinity’s Eclipse T4 is designed to accept four lanes of infeed and can run an optional fifth. The infeed lanes also have wide diameter capabilities, ensuring the Eclipse will keep pace with new product developments in the Troyes and Swalmen facilities.
Infinity’s reach in Europe was further increased by WEPA’s purchase of the C15 Casepacker for their Piechowice facility. Infinity’s C15 boasts an extremely straightforward design which allows for a 20-minute changeover between case sizes and configurations. Although the machine’s design is simple, its build is robust as the frame and guarding are both constructed using steel. The C15 is also capable of speeds up to 300ppm per index arm, providing maximum efficiency at the infeed of the machine.
A defining feature of the C15 is the machine’s fully positive case erection. Vacuums are utilized on both sides of the case providing a consistent case opening. The positive case erection is perfect for large and small cases, cases with bad score marks as well as cases that are glued together. This design feature will allow WEPA to run at optimal efficiency.
Echoing WEPA’s industry 4.0 efforts, the transaction with Infinity didn’t end with the machine purchase. Emulation engineers from Infinity offices traveled to Swalmen and will be traveling to Troyes to provide Virtual reality training to WEPA employees. This included a fully interactive VR machine changeover, which allowed WEPA employees to become familiar with their machines weeks before they arrived at their facilities.
Infinity also equipped the machines with a data collecting and remotely accessible eWON device. This enables WEPA to track production times, faults, and speed. This information will be accessible remotely through email notifications or web browsers. The Troyes facility will also have light annunciation on their i18 Bundlers to provide changeover assistance. The light annunciation illuminates change-over points on the adjustment scales.
WEPA’s recent investment reflects Infinity’s growing reach in the European market and is further proof Infinity is the global leader in automated tissue paper packaging machinery.
Ora di nuovo sulla scena mondiale
Infinity Machine and Engineering Corporation, leader globale nelle apparecchiature automatizzate per il confezionamento di tissue, è entusiasta di presentarsi ancora una volta sulla scena mondiale.
A causa della pandemia di Coronavirus, molte fiere ed eventi del settore sono stati sospesi. Tuttavia, mentre il mondo passa alla fase successiva di gestione della pandemia, molti eventi del settore sono tornati in programma.
Infinity sarà presente Tissue World Miami dal 16 al 18 marzo Tessuto e carta Bangkok il 14-16 settembre e terminano il loro tour mondiale a Lucca in Italia al MIAC il 12-14 ottobre. Infinity sarà presente allo stand B30 al Tissue World Miami, allo stand D10 al Tissue and Paper Bangkok e allo stand 27M al MIAC.
Mentre il mondo sembrava essere in pausa negli ultimi due mesi, gli ingegneri di Infinity hanno lavorato duramente per sviluppare le ultime innovazioni nel confezionamento automatizzato dei prodotti in carta igienica. L'apice di queste attività e l'obiettivo principale del tour mondiale di Infinity 2022 è il loro nuovo involucro multipack VISION G3.
Capace di produrre pacchi larghi cinque corsie, alti tre strati e profondi sei file, VISION G3 ridefinisce la versatilità per le incartatrici multipack. La VISION G3 può anche produrre confezioni in polietilene, confezioni in carta, confezioni incartate e confezioni di fazzoletti per il viso.
Anche gli ingegneri Infinity non hanno sacrificato la velocità per questa maggiore versatilità. Grazie a un design telescopico rivoluzionario (in attesa di brevetto) sul poli svolgitore, il VISION G3 è in grado di raggiungere velocità maggiori e una migliore qualità del pacco.
Tissue World Miami, Tissue and Paper Bangkok e MIAC sono l'occasione perfetta per saperne di più sul VISION G3 in prima persona dall'esperto personale di vendita di Infinity. Tuttavia, se non sei in grado di partecipare a questi eventi del settore, VISION G3 sarà disponibile per la visione presso le strutture Infinity di Green Bay, Wisconsin e Bologna, in Italia, durante la loro vetrina all'aperto e in qualsiasi momento online all'indirizzo infinitymec.com/vision-g3-wrapper.
LSS ti dà il controllo totale
On a production line, every second counts. Any disturbance, like a bottleneck or a jam can cause a reduction in Overall Equipment Effectiveness, resulting in lost time, and lost revenue.
It may sound cliché, but in production lines, time is money, and it was for this reason Infinity developed Line Synchronization and Simulation software.
Infinity’s LSS, gives operators the ability to control the speed of the line and harmonize the downstream system as a single unit.
LSS is able to accomplish this by monitoring downstream machine process data, the accumulator level and the line’s target speed. LSS sets the target speed for the line, based on individual bottlenecks, and then controls speeds for all the equipment.
This is essential in tissue converting lines as they need the ability to feed enough product for wrappers to continuously run, while the downstream equipment needs to be able to run faster than target speed when there is a backlog.
The LSS software continuously monitors downstream machine process data including the machine speed and material status. Then LSS adjusts the line to compensate for any changes that arise. These adjustments could be anything from increasing the speed of a leg, to letting an accumulator fill to a certain level or even slowing down the line to clear a disturbance.
The data used by LSS is controlled by the master programmable logic controller which can be shared with another machine PLC or a dedicated PLC.
Identifying bottlenecks, and altering line speed in accordance with upsets ensures that machines are operating at their maximum uptime and least mechanical stress. By reacting to line irregularities, LSS can resume full production quickly, resulting in increased OEE.
However, Infinity LSS doesn’t just react to changing circumstances, it also anticipates them. LSS can account for changes in raw materials on a machine, the speed of the machine can be increased to create a time buffer for the change in material.
In addition to this, LSS can also anticipate disruptions by monitoring for a presence or absence of products in a certain area. If there is an irregularity in the flow of a product, we can pause the line for a conveyor jam.
Since different products and different configurations can change the target speed, requirements, or overall objectives of a line, LSS is completely customized based on a consumer’s unique requirements. Features like output path adjustments, accumulator level monitoring and log distribution can all be tailored for a consumer.
Another key component of Infinity’s LSS is the simulation service. By using Emulate 3D software, Infinity emulation engineers can create a functional three-dimensional virtual version of the product line. This allows customers to see their line in action, test different product formats, check photo-eye positions, speeds and production data, all before installation.
In essence, our LSS program allows our customers to have confidence in their purchase by giving them a virtual check-out.
The LSS service also offers customized Human Machine Interfaces that display the entire packaging system. The LSS HMI gives the operator a visual of the states/faults of the conveyor section, and also allows them to change drive section controls from automatic to local.
From the top down, Infinity LSS was designed with efficiency in mind. This unique service allows for maximum OEE, pre installation testing and personalized, user-friendly HMI. To learn more about our LSS services, reach out to your nearest Infinity Sales office.
Monalisa investe in una linea di confezionamento completa di Infinity.
Infinity Machine and Engineering Corp., a world-wide leader in packaging machinery for the tissue industry, will supply Monalisa, located in Nonsan-si, South Korea, a full packaging line. The line will be installed by June of 2021.
Infinity is supplying all the equipment on the packaging line between the log saw and the palletizer. The packaging line includes one (1) Eclipse T4 wrapper, one (1) EPXL bundler, one (1) ItaPack handle applicator (integrated by Infinity) and the conveyor system. Monalisa chose Infinity for this project because they required a system that was flexible for their changing market and they desired robust equipment that will last the next 20+ years. All equipment being provided is built with Infinity’s notable machinery characteristics like rugged steel frames, oversized bearings and overall top-of-the-line componentry. In addition, all machinery uses a SIEMENS processor.
The Eclipse T4 wrapper on this line will be able to run everything from single roll bath tissue to larger bath tissue pack options like 30-packs and 48-packs. The Eclipse T4 wrapper has become a tissue industry staple during the last four years with over 100 wrappers now in production throughout the world.
Not only will the Eclipse T4 wrapper provide more packaging options but so will the bundler on this line. The bundler is called the EPXL. It has a wide product range and can make small and large bundles. The EPXL bundler has a continuous motion design with linear servo movement of the knife and seal jaw. This allows Monalisa to fulfill their current bundle demands, but also gives them the ability to make bundles
with graphics applied to the poly. Since this bundler is continuous motion, it is able accurately follow registration marks and auto correct for misalignment. Other features of the bundler include an integrated diverter and flight bar system for easy product collation, automatic poly reel splice and poly pull out cart for safe poly loading.
Finally, the conveyor system on Monalisa’s line plays an important role in the creation of the product. The system is equipped with an Itapack Handle applicator and every turning, tipping and knock-down device. This allows Monalisa to apply handles to the packs in any orientation and position the packs into the bundle in any orientation as well.
Infinity’s line that has been delivered to Monalisa was designed, built and tested with extensive customer input throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Monalisa was able to see weekly progress through Teams meetings and check the line out virtually. This project truly represents what Infinity stands for robust, flexible, custom and customer-focused tissue packaging solutions. The line will allow Monalisa to offer new packaging options to their customers and will give Monalisa the ability to do this for years to come.
