We promised some follow up on the Shark Tooth blade a little while back…

York Saw and Knife recently assisted a major consumer products, pressure-sensitive adhesives and materials producer in creating a new cut-off knife for a Winder/Rewinder machine.

The company developed a new, very tough film that typical knife designs could not cut cleanly and completely, resulting in a shredded, undesirable edge. Aware of York Saw and Knife’s free test cutting a perforating services (of flexible films utilizing a plunge cut with a straight, serrated edge blade), the company contacted York Saw and Knife and we quickly started to tackle the challenge.

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Apple has the iPod nano. An Indian car maker (Tata Motors) launched its Nano this week.

Related, there’s buzz building re: nanotechnology in some of the industries York Saw & Knife serves. But, it’s only buzz, and it’s only building.  Packaging World notes a January report on nanotechnology in packaging by the Swiss Center for Technology Advancement TA-SWISS.

From PW, the Swiss group noted nanotechnology:

“…is already incorporated into some food packaging, for example in films, nano-silver layers or layers in PET bottles to improve barrier properties. They even cite greenhouse gas reductions associated with ‘nano-PET bottles.’ The study recognizes that th

ere is a huge market potential for nano-materials in packaging.”

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All across food processing, materials conversion and packaging, folks are trying to cut costs to meet these challenging economic times.  John Henry, Certified Packaging Professional (CPP), suggests looking for ways to increase production line changeover efficiency. Henry notes,

“How much can you save via reduced changeover times? …The lowest number I’ve seen, from a pharmaceutical packager, is $13,500 an hour. A distilled spirits bottler calculates it at more than $32,000 an hour.”

Better quality changeovers, Henry argues, will lead to increased performance and efficiency, going straight to the bottom line. (more…)

In the latest Food & Beverage Packaging (they’re welcome for the free pub), there’s an interesting roundtable featuring some of the heavyweights of food and beverage packaging (including one – Steve Gaeta of Unilever – who shares the same last name as this mutineer on Battlestar Galactica).

Anyway, the discussion centers on the industry outlook in 2009 and the challenges in creating an aesthetically pleasing, handy package that can be developed economically using principles of sustainability and (preferably) green materials.

Adaptability, flexibility and the openness to new ideas were common themes. The round table discussed the development and implementation of new designs, processes and materials with an eye on value and sustainability.

It’s an interesting read. The article made us consider how well-positioned YSK is to work with the packaging industry and OEM manufacturers. Want to know how? Email us!

Pack Expo 2008 is in the books and York Saw & Knife is back from the Windy City. We really enjoyed the show – and it seemed Pack Expo enjoyed the YSK booth! More attendees visited our booth than any other Pack show we’ve been involved with!* So congrats to the Pack Expo organizers and our own YSK team who coordinated our show participation and staffed the event.

York Saw & Knife blades not only deliver proven results, but they also get a lot of attention. People regularly stopped at the YSK booth to take a look at the wide variety of leading edge York Saw & Knife blades displayed. Among the favorites of the Pack crowd were the packaging knives, straight knives and circular knives.

* Maybe it was the peppermint patties!

For attendees that swiped their card at the YSK booth, we will be sending out information soon!

The Pack Expo 2008 is underway and business is brisk at the York Saw & Knife booth (E-7827). We are definitely enjoying catching up with past and present customers, and meeting many potential new customers interested in the YSK line of high quality blades.

Please enjoy a few pictures from our first days at Pack 2008:

In a little over two weeks, York Saw and Knife is hitting Chicago to take part in the 2008 Pack Expo. We’ll be there November 9 – 13. We’re currently finishing our final preparations for the show – crossing t’s and dotting i’s.

Pack is an event devoted to the packaging industry, serving suppliers and buyers of packaging machinery, materials, components and services. This year, the show is held at McCormick Place and co-located with the Process Expo and Converting & Packaging Printing (CPP) Expo.

We’re looking forward to Pack, and the opportunity to visit with past and current customers and vendors, and meet some new people. If you’re attending Pack, Process or CPP, stop by the York Saw and Knife booth (#E-7827) to say “hi” and see our full displays of leading-edge cutting tools.

Many customers in the packaging and converting business are exploring new types of plastics and polymer materials and experiencing difficulty in using their existing knives to cut these new, progressive materials. York Saw & Knife has developed a test cutting machine to help design engineers and plant personnel solve their cutting problems. The machine is designed to test rectangular or straight knives.

It is an easy 3 step process

1] Call one of our sales engineers at 800-233-1969 and discuss your particular application, what you are trying to achieve or type of problem you are trying to solve. We need to know what type of cut edge geometry in your material is acceptable for your application like a straight cut,”V” shape on the cut edge commonly found on candy bar wrappers, potato chip bags, etc. – or a wavy edge.

2] Send us a sample of your material either by shipping it to us @ York Saw & Knife, 295 Emig Road, Emigsville, PA 17318 or by mail to: York Saw & Knife. P.O. Box 733, York, PA 17405

3] We will test cut your material using different cutting edge geometry’s and tooth designs. V-teeth, scalloped edge, and beveled edged configurations all can be tested. We will return your sample test cuts to you and inform you which knife configurations used the least amount of force to cut your material.

Our test cutting service is free of charge and an excellent way for you to narrow down the optimum cutting edge for your particular application.

“Rubes (R) cartoon used with permission.”

Leigh Rubin points out just how complicated our lives could be in a world without perforations. Fortunately for all of us there is York Saw and Knife who can design and manufacture just about any type, size, or shape of perforating knife you may require for your particular application. For over 100 years YSK has been the leader in the design, manufacturing, and application of machine knives for all types of applications from Food Processing, Packaging, Foil, Film, Plastics…you name it we’ve been there and have had experience in it. Get in contact with us for your special application and how we can help you clean up your mess.