Branson's
experience in the packaging industry encompasses food and beverage,
consumer, and
medical packaging -- and we are continually broadening our horizons.
Branson has
helped many companies become more productive and efficient, and
would like to
do the same for you.
The ultrasonic process provides many benefits for packaging; it is clean, consistent, and reliable. And:
It is energy-efficient and economical. Energy is needed and expended only at the precise location and area of the bond site.
There is no warm-up time and no need for constant temperature maintenance. Unlike the RF process or heat sealing, ultrasonics does not generate excessive heat.
The ultrasonic process is up to four times faster than RF sealing. Bonding of the material usually occurs in milliseconds and requires no recovery time.
No costly, potentially contaminating consumables, such as adhesives, staples, or solvents, are required. The resulting package is environmentally safe and recyclable.
It can seal through contaminants (i.e., liquids, oils, powders) that may be present in the sealing area without compromising weldability.
Ultrasonic equipment and components can be easily automated and are compatible with material handling systems.
Microprocessor-based or customer supplied controls allow precise settings which can be changed quickly with parameter storage and recall capabilities. Advanced controls and alarm capabilities ensure optimum operation and output.
An acoustic tool called a horn transfers vibratory energy directly to the workpiece. The energy is transmitted to the joint area where it is converted to heat through friction that melts the plastic.
Based on end requirements, four basic modes of operation are used: plunge, shear, continuous, and scan. These methods can create an infinite array of packaging solutions.
Our solutions are not limited to ultrasonics. We also offer vibration and spin welding. Vibration welding is particularly useful for blister packages and works in situations where ultrasonics cannot. Spin welding is appropriate for welding fitments.
This table illustrates examples of common packaging materials (coated, laminates, and films) that can be processed with ultrasonics. The ratings do notrelate to the strength of the weld obtainable. We ask that you use this table as a guide only, since materials can vary from supplier to supplier. Since space prohibits the listing of all possible materials, it is possible that we can work with a material, even though it does not appear in the table. Our applications laboratory maintains a database containing over 1000 material combinations. It is likely that we have experienced your application and materials before - ask us
Material
Coated
Laminates
Films
Blister/Clamshell
Ionomer (SurlynR)
G
G
G
--
PET / PETE
--
--
--
E
PETG / RPET
--
--
--
E
Polyethylene
E
E
E
--
Polypropylene
E
E
E
E
PVA
G
G
G
--
PVC
G
G
G-P
E-G
Styrene
G
G
G
E
Urethane
E-G
--
E-G
--
Key: E = Excellent, G = Good, F = Fair, P = Poor -- = Denotes unsuitability of process for material!
Ultrasonic equipment is available in standard welder setups or specialized configurations, depending upon your application and production requirements. Branson understands the packaging industry and its special process needs. We have components designed for clean in place lines as well as for installation in automation. Sealing may be done in the plunge mode, or continuously as shown in the In-Line Packaging system below. Whatever your need, we can provide the solution!
Building an automated system? Check out our OEM components. Branson has components designed for aseptic and clean-in-place environments. Click here for details.
While
the most common method of
ultrasonically welding clamshell packages
is a manual plunge welding
system, which requires a bar horn and specialized
fixture, the Branson In-Line
Clamshell system provides processors with
flexibility and increased
processing speed by eliminating the need for
manual loading and unloading.
Parts are simply scanned through. Adjustments
for different configurations are
easily made.
Ultrasonics
offers immediate startup with no
preheating, and is thus a fast, clean,
reliable, and energy-efficient
alternative to heat and RF sealing. The
process seals despite product
residue, steam, or vapor, imparts no heat
to package contents, seals new
and reclaimed materials, and eliminates
consumables such as adhesives and
staples, and is itself contaminant
free.
To
view a short video clip of
Branson's In-Line Clamshell system, click
here (1.38 MB). To download a longer version, click here
(.ZIP file
38.9 MB. Winzip or similar utility is required to "unzip"
the file,
which can be downloaded from http://www.winzip.com)
QuickTime plug-in for your
browser is necessary to view these clips. This
is available from Netscape or Apple.
Variable speed rotary sealing anvil.
Conveyor adjustment: from 1" below sealing surface to 6-3/4" below sealing surface.
Branson offers several models of
Spin Welders for a range of spin welding solutions.
The SW200
welder features a precision
servo-driven spin welding system with accurate
control to within 1 degree. A
free-standing operator interface allows
for the following adjustments:
revolutions per minute (RPM), revolutions
per cycle (RPC), and hold time
(HT). The
controller also monitors RPMs, RPCs, and motor torque for quality
control
reporting. The SW200-G additionally incorporates an integral
reduction gear
which makes it capable of welding larger circular parts.
Both models
are easy to set up and operate,
and are designed for use in manual,
semi-automated, or
fully-automated environments. For more details on
Spin Welding, click here.
Are you wondering if there is a faster, more efficient, more environmentally-conscious way to seal your package? Many applications that employ heat or consumables can also be processed with ultrasonics. Although the majority of packaging applications use ultrasonic welding, Branson can also provide solutions utilizing vibration or spin welding, when those are more feasible methods. Whatever your application, and whatever your question, Branson has the answer!
An acoustic tool called a horn transfers vibratory energy directly to the workpiece. The energy is transmitted to the joint area where it is converted to heat through friction that melts the plastic. 
While
the most common method of
ultrasonically welding clamshell packages
is a manual plunge welding
system, which requires a bar horn and specialized
fixture, the Branson In-Line
Clamshell system provides processors with
flexibility and increased
processing speed by eliminating the need for
manual loading and unloading.
Parts are simply scanned through. Adjustments
for different configurations are
easily made. 
Branson offers several models of
Spin Welders for a range of spin welding solutions.
