An automated material processing system includes a frame having a longitudinal axis and a gantry movable along the longitudinal axis of the frame; a first belt extending along the longitudinal axis and moving about a cavity having a cavity opening within the gantry. A second belt supported by the gantry extends across the frame in a cross-frame direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and covering at least a portion of the cavity opening. A material treatment system to treat a material extends across at least a portion of the first belt and a portion of the second belt, and a vacuum system movable with the gantry and operatively connected to a manifold adjacent to both sides of the cavity opening.

The invention provides automated spacer processing systems and methods. The systems and methods involve at least one robot arm, at least one sealant applicator, or both. The systems and methods are configured to process spacers for multiple-pane IG units. In some embodiments, the systems include an IG unit assembly line, a spacer conveyor system, or both.

A structure and method of forming a metal foil-less liner, such that the entire liner can be recycled in a respective paper or plastic recycling stream. A separate application device is provided, which includes a metal layer, that is used to induction heat seal the liner to the container rim. The application device is removable, allowing a plastic closure cap to be applied over the liner sealed container rim, to provide the final product for sale to the consumer, who then removes the cap and peels off or pierces through the liner to dispense the product through the open mouth of the container. The application device is also reusable, i.e., it can be used to attach a subsequent liner to another container rim. The result is a liner that is fully recyclable in a paper or plastic recycling stream. In one embodiment, the entire container package may be recyclable, namely the plastic container is recyclable in a plastic recycle stream, the plastic container cap is recyclable in a plastic recycle stream (same or different than the recycle stream for the container), and the entire liner is recyclable in a paper or plastic recycle stream (which may be the same as one or more of the recycle streams for the container and cap). The result is also a sustainable packaging solution where the application device that generates heat for induction heat sealing can also be re-used.