The Latest in New Products

Moisture Detector
A radio-frequency imbed can detect moisture contamination. The HydroTracker radio-frequency imbeds are placed in critical areas of packages where moisture infiltration can cause damage. The subsurface imbeds are wireless and have no batteries or moving parts, hence their lifetime of 100 years, according to the company. The imbeds have electrical contacts like an ohmmeter, so when it is scanned by the radio-frequency field of the portable scanner it can report the conductivity of the surrounding medium. In minutes an operator can scan dozens of packages or product containers for the presence of moisture. Imbeds range in size from ½ to 2 in. in diam with sensing ranges up to 8 in. and function from –55° to 125°C; imbeds are in ultracompatible silicone or Teflon. Donald J. Geisel & Assoc. Inc., Clifton Park, NY; 518/371-5029.

Friction Feeder
A new feeding system can process a wide variety of material types, including sheets, plastic cards, forms, folded documents, and other items. The Impulse Friction Feeder offers customers increased productivity based on easy-to-use controls, minimal toolless setup, and quick machine maintenance for maximum uptime. The unit runs at speeds of 400 parts per minute (or greater based on the application) and handles products ranging in size up to 12 in. wide × by 12 in. long with a thickness up to 0.750 in. Options include double feed detection, low-level magazine sensors, batch-counting capability, stack light indicators, warning buzzers. MGS Machine Corp., Maple Grove, MN; 763/425-8808; www.mgsmachine.com.

Transparent-Hologram Seal
A seal provides reliable evidence of tampering and counterfeiting to ensure the safety of packaged pharmaceutical products. Developed in conjunction with the manufacturer’s sister company, the seal features a 2-D single–image design and dynamic special effects difficult to counterfeit. A heavy duty adhesive damages the packaging surface when the seal is lifted. Its transparency leaves variable data such as batch information legible and intact. The company says that the Transparent-Hologram Seal is economical for small-volume orders. The family-owned company provides specialty labels and label printing services to the biggest names in the healthcare market in more than 20 countries around the world, including Japan. Schreiner Medi-Pharm L.P., Blauvelt, NY; 845/848-9000; www.schreiner-medipharm.com.

Videoscopes for Inspection
Small, lightweight videoscopes can be used for a wide range of remote visual inspections of parts or structures where access is limited. The IPLEX LX and LT are the most compact and lightweight of the IPLEX systems, offering portability, ease of use, and durability. The LCD monitor is built into a main operating unit that is just 64 mm width excluding the handle. The IPLEX LX and LT comply with IP55 standards and with U.S. MIL-STD-810F, Method 510.4/506.4, for resistance to dust and rain, and with MIL-STD-810F, Method 516.5, for the 1.2-meter drop test. Almost every menu and feature can be accessed by a maximum of three presses of the quick-access buttons on the lightweight handset with power-assist TrueFeel scope articulation control. Color reproduction and clarity are provided on the 6.5-in. monitor that allows detection of very small defects. High-quality JPEG still images and MPEG-4 movies record directly to a removable USB flash drive. IPLEX Viewer-Plus software features image data management and precise object measurement in recorded images. The IPLEX LX will soon offer the advanced Olympus-pioneered Stereo Measurement technology that enables high-resolution image capture with two parallax lenses, permitting accurate measurement of almost any object from any angle. Olympus NDT, Waltham, MA; 781/419-3900; www.
olympus-ims.com.