Film shrink wrappers with in-line infeed

SK ERGON Series

SK 800 ERGON - Film shrink wrappers up to 80 ppm

The SK ERGON series is composed of automatic shrink wrapping machines for packing plastic, metal , cardboard or glass containers. Depending on the model chosen, they can make packs in film only, cardboard pad + film, tray only, cardboard tray + film.

The SK ERGON series packers can achieve an output up to 450 packs per minute (can packs in triple lane), depending on the machine model and on the product to be packaged. The pack collations can vary according to the container shape and size. In general, the most frequently requested collations are: 2x2, 3x2, 4x3 and 6x4.

All SK ERGON models are equipped with an electronic grouping device and are available with single or double lane, according to the customer’s exigencies.

SK 800 FSK 800 PSK 800 T
Speed (PPM)808080
Packaging TypeShrink filmPad + FilmTray + film
Tray only
Lanes101

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1In the machine infeed zone, a group of guides accurately lines up the loose containers carried by a conveyor belt featuring low-friction chains made of thermoplastic material. In the pack formation zone, the containers are clustered in the required format through electronically synchronized pins, operating in continuous motion.


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2In P and T models, a corrugated cardboard pad or blank is picked from the blanks magazine by a rotary picker composed of a group of vacuum suckers. The pad or the blank moves along the blank climb and places itself underneath the group of products in transit with the long side leading.


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3In the tray former, special mechanical devices fold the blank’s front and rear flaps. The side flaps are sprayed with hot melt glue and then folded, thus forming the tray.


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4The unwinding of the film reels, placed in the lower part of the machine, is controlled by a dedicated device ensuring the film precise and constant tensioning. Before the pack enters the shrinking tunnel, the film is wrapped around the container batch and overlapped at the base of the pack.


  • Machine bearing frame made of sand-blasted and powder-painted steel
  • Continuous motion pack formation
  • Product separation through electronically synchronized pins
  • For life lubricated bearings
  • Infeed conveyor with chains made of thermoplastic material featuring low friction coefficient and a motorized system of oscillating laning guides
  • Cardboard magazine placed underneath the infeed conveyor, with a capacity up to 800 cardboard blanks, equipped with a new ergonomic system for blocking the blanks in vertical position by means of a handle-equipped arm
  • Continuous motion rotary cardboard blank picker, equipped with suction cups
  • Curved cardboard blank climb, that allows a smooth transfer of flat blanks from the magazine to the working table
  • Easy Load ergonomic magazine for the loading of cardboard blanks, with additional modules for an even higher capacity (standard on double-lane models, optional on single-lane models)
  • Rotary device for folding tray flaps
  • Film unwinding by brushless motors (one for each reel) for the precise and continuous adjustment of the film tensioning
  • Possibility to handle a wide range of film thicknesses (50-80 micron)
  • Automatic centering system for printed film provided with marks
  • Blade cutting the film and device folding the tray flaps driven by direct drive brushless motors
  • The shrink tunnel can be equipped with a fiberglass chain (standard equipment) or a metal chain (optional equipment)
  • Interactive 15'' touchscreen display and operator panel mounted on an arm sliding on a rail

Modular structure

The adoption of ERGON constructive concept led to the reduction of the number of modules needed to produce the SK shrink wrapper: with just 4 modules it is possible to assemble the whole SK series, thus reducing by 20 % the variability of electrical and mechanical components.

Operational flexibility

These machines can package a wide range of products in several pack collations, so as to effectively meet the end user's current and future requirements. Moreover, each machine can be equipped with additional devices, which increase its basic functions and ensure a high level of customization of the final package.

High safety and ease of control

The machine is equipped with safety sliding doors in anodized aluminium that slow down during closing, thus eliminating the risks that the closure could cause to the operator. The doors can be controlled by the edges, as well as by the aluminium bar along the length of the door.

Easy and economic maintenance

The machine features a series of measures aimed at making maintenance operations easier: the rounded sliding doors and the consequent possibility of installing the motors on the machine edge, the use of devices controlled electronically and a presence of a very low number of mechanical components subject to wear are just some examples.

Smooth process and high quality of the pack

The continuous motion packaging system ensures a fluid production process and protects the containers from strikes, thus granting more reliability, a better quality of the pack and a reduction of mechanical wear.

Thermoplastic material dividing pins

In the pack formation zone, the use of dividing pins made of thermoplastic material, that last longer than those made of metal, reduces the machine noise and protects the fragile containers (such as glass containers) and their labels.

Precise film unwinding with constant tensioning

The film unwinding by brushless motors (one for each reel) ensures a precise and continuous adjustment of the film tensioning. Furthermore, a new film constant tensioning system, driven by a piston, allows quick and easy switches from single lane to double/triple lane.

Automatic film cut

Film cutting unit equipped with direct drive motorization, that allows to easily carry out the motor maintenance, reduce the noise level, save energy and ensure high reliability and movement precision.

Cutting-edge shrink tunnel

Shrink tunnel features cutting-edge solutions, including: optimized adjustment of the air flows, static relays for the control of heat resistances, automatic lubrication, pneumatic system for packs evacuation in case of power breakdown (optional device) and energy consumption monitoring thanks to an external display (optional device).

"User-friendly" man-machine interface

The POSYC® control panel, sliding on a boom running the whole length the machine, is very easy to use, thanks to the intuitive interface, the touch screen and the diagnosis functions and real-time technical support on the POSYC®.

Motors with integrated driver

The new ICOS motors, installed on SK ERGON, are equipped with digital servo drives integrated on the motor edges. This solution enables to make the machine wiring easy, as well as to generate less heat inside the electric cabinet.

Automatic format changeover

The automatic format changeover system with machine automatic adjustments, installed as a standard device on F models and available as an option on P and T models, represents a great advantage for the operator, who can select the pack format directly from the touchscreen display. Furthermore, format changeover operations are simplified by a side handwheel that makes separation adjustments easier and by a device with an adjustable height, wrapping the moving products.

Easy-Load

Cardboard multipack sleevers with in-line infeed

The innovative “Easy-Load” system allows the automatic loading of the cardboard blanks magazine and features considerable advantages from an operating and functional point of view; in fact, the operator can easily load the cardboard blanks, stacked horizontally in uniform groups, because the feeding belt of the cardboard blanks magazine is positioned at the same working height as the packer's infeed belt, rather than under it.

More in detail, the new system patented by SMI is made up of a series of conveyor belts, fitted with motorized mats, which feed the packer's cardboard blanks magazine; the cardboard blank stacks are carried on these belts up to the area in which they are translated and then continue up to the collection system at case/shrink packer infeed.

Thanks to specific sensors, the layout and feed of the cardboard blanks on the conveyor belts fitted with the motorized mats and their loading into the packer's magazine is, in fact, fully automated.

Therefore, the innovative solution devised by SMI eliminates the disadvantages related to the traditional loading of the cardboard blanks magazine, which force the operator to bend his/her body continuously to place the blanks in the bottom part of the machine.

The technology used in the "Easy-Load" magazine also features the great advantage of ensuring fluid and constant picking operations with a wide range of cardboard blanks having a thickness between 0.5 mm and 5 mm.

TS – Tray stacker

Cardboard multipack sleevers with in-line infeed

The TS stacks on two or more layers clusters of plastic, metal , cardboard or glass containers both clustered in cardboard trays or pad and loose (this latter solution solely for fit-in type cans). This device can be installed on all SMI packers, with the exception of MP series.

It consists of an electronic stacking device operating in continuous motion, which achieves an output rate up to 60 packs per minute according to the machine model and to the product handled.

Pack collations can vary according to the container shape, capacity and size; in general, the most requested collations are: 4x3 and 6x4. It is available both for single and for double lane production.

After coming out of the trayformer, two or more packs are stacked by means of a Cartesian coordinate system.

Before the pack enters the shrinking tunnel, the film is wrapped around the products and overlapped at the base of the pack.

Easy-Open

Cardboard multipack sleevers with in-line infeed

The Easy-Open system can be installed both on the SK shrinkwrappers and on the CM combined packers. It consists of a device piercing the film during the cutting operation, in order to create the required mark.

It can pierce two types of marks, “I”-shaped and “H”-shaped, and is available both for single and double lane production. Thanks to the Easy Open system, the customer’s level of satisfaction is definitely improved, because of the easier opening of the pack.

Moreover, this application does not require any specific packaging materials and, therefore, allows to obtain eye-catching packs without additional costs.

Film welding device by heated blade

Cardboard multipack sleevers with in-line infeed

SMI customers can now upgrade their SK and CM packers with an innovative film welding device. The “film welding device by heated blade” joins the edge of the film reel about to end with the beginning of the new reel while the machine is running, with no need to stop production. The machine slows down and the film (printed or neutral with reference mark) is automatically joined; the machine is immediately back to running at full pace.

The new system allows dramatic cuts on energy and maintenance costs compared to traditional hot sealing method, as there are no more sealing rollers to be kept at a consistent temperature. The sealing precision of printed film or neutral film with reference mark is higher, with +/-10mm margin from the reference mark. The "film welding device by heated blade" can handle also no-collant film.

Images are for illustrative purposes and data are not binding, as they have to be confirmed by SMI according to the machine user's production conditions and technical specifications.