18 Spray March 2020
configurations of steel and aluminum
cans.
• Dual 24-head gravity fillers: Having
dual fillers provides maximum
flexibility to fill complex formulations
and provides capability for a two-stage fill. For
products that only require a one-stage fill, Aerofil
can have the second filler prepped and ready for
the next product, reducing change-over time.
• Dual gassers: If a formulation calls for a blend of
propellants that Aerofil doesn’t carry in its 280,000
gallon propellant tank farm, dual gassers have the
ability to blend gases at high-speed in the gas house.
If only one gasser is needed, the second gasser is
prepped and ready for the next product.
• Clip-style waterbath: This provides the ability to
run steel, aluminum or plastic containers. The can
goes through an R.O. water rinse upon exit of the
bath, and then through a series of dryers to help
ensure a spot-free finish.
• Zero-pressure conveyors: The conveyor is
designed with line controls that create spacing
between the cans to help eliminate denting, scuffing
and scratching. The line controls speed-up and
slow-down based on the performance of each equipment
center on the line. Aerofil also installed two
zero-pressure accumulation tables to help ensure a
constant flow.
• High-speed labeler: An emerging trend in
personal care aerosol packaging is the use of labels
instead of the traditional printed can, said Aerofil,
who installed a high-speed Krones rotary labeler.
• Case erector/packer/sealer: This handles
four-packs at more than 200 cans per minute.
• Robotic Palletizer: A dedicated robotic
palletizer rounds out Aerosol Line 8 with a
frictionless rapid-packaging solution. While the
pallet magazine stages empty pallets for build, a slip
sheet feeder with redundant vacuum pumps robotically
loads each product into rows for frictionless,
rapid packaging. The dedicated overhead conveyor
system with incline and decline spiral conveyors
helps ensure products continuously load into the
palletizer. Pallets then go through an automatic
stretch wrap machine, yielding a ready-to-ship product
directly from the line.
Acquisitions, etc…
Fillers are on the move as PLZ Aeroscience Corp.
(PLZ), Downers Grove, IL, recently purchased Liquid
Technologies, Inc. (LTI) from private capital firm
Frontenac Co. LTI is a Chino, CA-based contract
formulator and manufacturer of professional hair and
skin care products. The company offers customizable,
turn-key product development, formulation, manufacturing,
filling and packaging for small, growth-oriented
startup brands. CEO Steve Dickstein and VP of
Finance Alan Docherty continue in their roles at LTI.
In August, PLZ acquired Precise Packaging from
an affiliate of Trive Capital. Based in Fall River, MA,
Precise manufactures small-format aerosol and liquid
products for the personal care, home fragrance and
over-the-counter end markets. CEO Shaun Gaus
continues to lead Precise.
Additionally, PLZ—in conjunction with the National
Aerosol Association (NAA), Western Aerosol
Information Bureau (WAIB) and Personal Care
Products Council (PCPC)—hosted an “Aerosol 101”
informational event for California Air Resources
Board (CARB) staff at PLZ’s plant in Chino on Aug.
28. The event included a plant tour, aerosol component
discussion and demonstrations of various
product formulations and propellants.
The events were to assist CARB staff in understanding
the technical challenges of reformulation
and ensure the industry’s commitment to work with
CARB to achieve environmental mandates during the
current rule-development process. Industry professionals
who participated included Roger Vanderlaan of
Shield Packaging (PLZ) and WAIB, Doug Raymond of
Raymond Regulatory Resources and NAA, James Jordan
of Henkel Beauty Care and Tom Myer of PCPC.
Quebec-based Knowlton Development Corp.
(kdc/one) acquired the manufacturing business and
assets of aerosol filling company Swallowfield plc,
Wellington, Somerset, UK, for £35 million ($57
million). Swallowfield’s manufacturing business has
560 employees, operates two facilities in the UK and
Expansions,
Mergers
and more…
Left to right: Aerofil clip-style waterbath.; gashouse/gasser.; zero-pressure accumulation tables and conveyors; robotic palletizer.
After a successful launch of Revlon’s
Root Erase and JUSTPUSH Hair Color
with the award-winning THE DUAL
packaging in the U.S. and Asian market,
Toyo & Deutsche Aerosol, Neutrabling,
Germany, recently developed a slimmed
down version called THE DUAL Mini.