ITALIAN INNOVATION PAYS OFF
Innovation at Italian packaging machinery and packaging manufacturer the Sorma Group is driven by the produce industry’s need to communicate with consumers.
Following world-wide success, the Cesena-based company is introducing an extruded net and film pack, Vertbag, onto the UK market. It also supplies the automated machines BSV and BSK required to pack with it.
“Vertbag is an entirely recyclable vertical bag made of film and extruded net,” explained Sorma’s Rita Biserni. “It is designed to give maximum exposure to the product on shelf and at the same time allow plenty of space for printing requirements.”
Vertbag is produced in 3,000-bag rolls processed using Sorma’s BSV or BSK machines. Both machines use a mixed film and net spool that effectively envelops the product during packaging. “It allows a high degree of processing autonomy resulting in high speed in performance and automation,” said Biserni. Production capacity is 25-30 bags a minute and pack sizes can be changed, for example from 250g to 5kg by just replacing one tube.
“The result is high-impact packaging,” said Biserni. “That is why it has already proved successful on the continental European and the North American markets.”
The pack can be used to pack potatoes, onions, citrus, green beans, nuts and garlic among other lines. Its extruded netting helps avoid spillage of dirt or skin but also allows air to circulate enhancing shelf life.
MACHINES MEET DEMAND
A leading Irish potato supplier has turned to machinery to help meet growing demand from the market place.
Family owned Country Crest has integrated one of Sandiacre Packaging Machinery’s TGC350-RC reciprocating jaw vertical form/fill/seal machines into its new packaging facility in Rathmooney, Lusk.
The new equipment has been installed alongside a number of Sandiacre’s intermittent motion machines and was selected to satisfy an increase in demand for its main crop potatoes.
The new machine will play a vital role in packaging a high percentage of the 150 tonnes of potatoes which pass through the company on a daily basis.
The equipment will help minimise tuber damage through the combination of state-of-the-art motion control technology and a specially designed low drop former to ensure a softer catch of the product into the bag.
The TG350-RC’s ability to pack high volumes and high speeds, manufacture bags to a consistent length and handle both heat sealable laminate and polyethylene based films were all factors in choosing the equipment, said a Country Crest spokesman.
The machine, fed by a Newtec weigher, is being employed to pack two, two-and-a-half and five kilogram weights using a polyethylene based material.
The option to use heat sealable laminate materials is also built into the machine.
All potato packs utilise the same 350 millimetre diameter former, with bag length being varied to accommodate the different weights, so changeover is limited to the simple process of substituting the film reel.
Sandiacre said the full colour user interface menu system, using touch screen technology, has been hailed as user-friendly, much liked and easy to use.
Country Crest is currently running the machine, in pillow pack format at 35 to 40 2.5kg bags a minute for more than 13 hours a day. It says the new equipment is a significant improvement on the pre-made poly bag presenter system the TG350-RC has replaced.
POCKET SIZED ANALYSIS
The Witt Gas Oxybaby V mini gas analyser can now record packaging line numbers, the company said.
Customer feedback has resulted in Witt Gas Techniques, the Warrington-based gas safety, control, mixing and analysis equipment supplier, adding a packaging line/product type record capability to Oxybaby V, the hand-held gas measuring system for food packaging analysis on packaging lines, in warehouses or laboratories.
This new facility allows the user to not only identify and record oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, but also the packaging line number or the type of product from which the sample was taken.
The user can record up to 15 packaging line numbers or 15 different products on top of the value, date and time of up to 100 measurements.
Running on a re-chargeable battery, it measures the O2 and CO2 concentration using a minimum gas sample of 4ml. It weighs only 600 grams and is small enough to fit in a pocket, so ideal for random sampling.
The large graphic display makes reading results easy and takes a maximum six seconds to get a reading.
RUN LIKE A GAZZELLE
Record Packaging has launched a stainless steel flowrapper, specifically designed to support the fresh produce industry. The Record Gazzella Top Seal provides a solution to the perennial problem of variable size product and will comfortably wrap celery, leeks, peppers, asparagus, even lettuce.
The Gazzella features a box motion sealing head to cope with height constraints and to ensure a tight pack with Siemens technology providing a continuously self-adjusting cut off length to the pack. As a result optimum pack sizes are achieved with minimal film waste.
The machine offers a high integrity seal and the benefit of protective atmosphere packaging. Speeds of up to 60 packs a minute are achievable. The Gazzella also offers a bead seal alternative with trimmed longitudinal seal which, when used in conjunction with the optional shrink tunnel, can provide a shrink seal pack for products such as swede, cabbage and broccoli.
Edward Murphy, Record Packaging managing director, said: “The Gazzella is an ideal machine for fresh produce suppliers, offering a high volume solution, where traditionally variable bag length has been an issue. The Gazzella is already proving popular in Europe and we are looking forward to demonstrating its attributes in the UK.”
The Gazzella compliments the existing range of Record Flowrappers, Jaguar, Panda and Scorpion and Record believes it will be competitively priced in the UK marketplace.
ZIPPING ALONG
Elba, a leading Italian provider of bag-making equipment, is launching a newly enhanced, zipper-capable version of the SA V20 flexible packaging machine.
The new technology enhances production speeds and efficiency by allowing for the production of two pouches from a single web and by making it possible for converters to produce a three-side weld, stand up pouch and Doy Pack packages on the same machine with a minimal changeover downtime.
The latest generation Elba SA V20 is compatible with Zip-Pak press-to-close zippers, making it easier for converters to integrate a value-added resealable feature on a variety of different package formats, said the company.
Available globally, the diversity of bag types that can be produced with SA V20 makes it ideal for various powder, meat, cheese, bakery, frozen food, snack, and pet food applications.
“Our customers demand machinery capable of producing a wide variety of flexible packaging platforms with minimal changeover downtime and with the option of incorporating cost-effective value-added features,” said Antonio Vennettilli, sales and marketing manager at Elba. “Zip-Pak zippers simultaneously meet consumer demand for the convenience of resealable packaging and converter demand for enhanced packaging efficiency.”
Robert Hogan, director of sales and marketing at Zip-Pak, said: “Zip-Pak is committed to the development of resealable packaging solutions that add real value and can be cost-effectively applied to packaging at production-line speeds.”
“Through partnerships with OEMs like Elba, brands around the world will be able to add the benefits of consumer preferred resealable packaging to their products.”
In addition to reducing changeover downtime, the SA V20 ensures consistent performance and minimal maintenance downtime with features such as robust design and an intuitive, user-friendly interface featuring top-of-the line electronics.
STEAMY BUSINESS
BMA Nederland BV was, with its K+K and Florigo divisions, one of the very first designers and manufacturers of steam peeling technology.
The company said many of the systems available now in the market originate from its original design.
In the early 80's Florigo and K+K merged and so did the steam peeling technology of both companies, nowadays divisions of BMA.
Over the past decades steam peeling technology has evolved considerably. Driven by increasing capacity and competitiveness in the potato processing industry, the steam peeler systems of today are more efficient.
As a result BMA has invested heavily in its steam peeling technology.
The company’s latest model offers improved homogeneity of the peeling process, increased peeling efficiency, low maintenance and high reliability.
TEAM STICKS WITH IT
A leading machinery provider has teamed up with packaging and adhesive suppliers to develop a new system.
Sandiacre Packaging Machinery, in conjunction with packaging suppliers Amcor Flexibles and adhesive giants the Nordson Corporation, has developed a retro-fittable system for its vertical bagging machines to produce reclosable bags from standard reel stock material.
Sandiacre was selected by Amcor to design, test and prove a system capable of producing its patented Amcor Tape Top reclose concept on vertical form, fill and seal machines.
The novel approach utilises film material that is slit from the original material reel.
A Nordson hot melt gun is used to apply a thin coating of pressure sensitive adhesive to the rear of this strip.
This is then re-positioned onto the film web, providing a removable reseal strip on the back of the finished bag.
The whole process takes place in line without any disruption to the form, fill and seal process.
GO WITH THE FLOW
Reliability and practicality are the main aims for Norwich based machinery producer Redpack.
One of the UK’s leading flowrapping machine manufacturers, Redpack is gathering a growing reputation for producing extremely reliable, trouble free machines.
The company has certainly gathered praise for its machinery’s abilities under tough conditions, as one customer, a major Cambridgshire salad grower, stated: “I have used many flowrapping machines, but Redpack’s are the only one that you can rely on onboard a field rig.”
A spokesman for Redpack said: “Reliability is fundamental to any business to ensure machines purchased are fit for purpose. This is particularly the case for flowrapping machines because once integrated into the production line, any breakdown means processed product remains unwrapped and unprotected from contamination.
“There is also the aspect of lost man hours as line operators wait for the machine to be put right.”
The company said it ensure reliability from the beginning through detailed discussions with customers with technical sales representatives. Once the machine has been built, comprehensive training session will then be held at the customer’s premises.
If problems do occur, Redpack have an extremely experience team of field engineers on hand to help.
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