April 2006

Press release

Title: Serac launches CRONOS, a product specifically designed for the Cosmetics and Pharmaceutical markets.

Serac proposes CRONOS, a filling and capping line specifically designed for the cosmetics and pharmaceutical markets.

CRONOS meets the 3 main needs of these markets: flexibility, precision, cleanliness.

With a wide range of rotary and linear machines as well as multiple filling and capping methods, this French manufacturer has, within only a few years, become a key player in the Cosmetics and Pharmaceutical markets.

CRONOS represents a combination of two Seracmachines: the HERA linear filling machine and the GAÏA multi-station capping machine linked with a closed-loop conveyor system. This combination fully satisfies the specific needs and expectations of the Cosmetics and Pharmaceutical markets.

1.  Flexibility and modularity:

Packaging professionals in the health and beauty sectors require a single machine which allows them to process a wide variety of containers, caps and product types.

CRONOS meets this need.

Multiple containers:

The scope of pots and bottles processed by CRONOS ranges from 50mm to 350mm in height and 5mm to 100mm in diameter. The containers may be transferred in fixed or adjustable dishes. Contract packaging professionals will certainly recognize the significant advantages offered.

5 capping stations enable the combination of all types of capping systems: screw caps, click-on caps, directed, pump, fretting, lid, spray, reducers…

The machine is modular and may therefore be used with only one capping station to begin with and the other stations may be added later.

Customized filling:

Volumetric or flow, the packaging professional selects the type of filling best suited to his products.

The technology developed by Serac in the volumetric filling sector is based on in-house patented processes which enable the filling cylinders to function totally independent of one another. The risk of overfills is therefore eliminated. Furthermore, each cylinder may fill a different product and thus enables the processing of multi-layer products (two-stage, three-stage).

Fast and easy changes:

Machine settings for a specific product/packaging pair are memorized and production change-over is therefore considerably accelerated. The new product to be filled is simply selected on the touch screen and the new filling parameters are entered automatically.

2.  Precision:

The filling stations are linked by the same simple drive mechanism which improves machine synchronization, precision and efficiency.

The bottom filling technology using a servomotor is more sophisticated and enables «intelligent» filling as the machine adapts the filling speed to the type of container used.

3.  Cleanliness:

Ever more «sensitive» products are being developed by the cosmetics manufacturers and cleanliness during the filling process becomes a major issue.

Serac has therefore chosen to guarantee the user a low initial contamination level.

Sealless filling cylinders which may be opened, washed and sterilized without removal, a filling turret which may be adjusted from outside the machine, a drive mechanism without actuators and an open machine surface are all factors which confirm our commitment to cleanliness:

If necessary, Serac is able to offer CRONOS in compliance with G.M.P (Good Manufacturing Principles) and ATEX standards.