Ilapak has launched a new, electronic flow-wrapper to pack unsupported fresh produce such as tomatoes, avocadoes, kiwis, peppers, leeks and spring onions. The versatile Carrera PC1000 reduces packaging materials waste and weight by eliminating the need for an acetate tray, enabling producers to dramatically cut packaging costs, while maximising production line efficiency.

The new Carrera 1000PC is based on Ilapak's Carrera 1000PC model and has been re-engineered to create a packaging solution tailored to meet the requirements of a product that is traditionally difficult to handle.

The Carrera 1000PC is specifically designed to delicately handle unsupported fruit, while dramatically reducing the extent that the fruit moves around throughout the packing process. Even if there is a wide variation in the size of the fruit, the Carrera 1000PC's specially designed product control system allows the packers to effectively use its standard no-product-no-bag, misplaced product detection features and a 64 programme memory for maximising fruit packing line efficiency, in additon to the packaging cost and weight savings.

A colour touchscreen ensures that the machine is easy to operate while speeds of between 15 and 120 packs a minute can be achieved, depending on the size and type of product.

Pack presentation is another important advantage and the Carrera 1000PC produces an attractive, high-quality flow-wrapped pack with considerable shelf appeal, while automatic pack gusseting also helps to produce tight, neat seals to further enhance presentation.

Ilapak managing director Guy Levy said: “The new Carrera 1000PC is another example of Ilapak working closely with producers to create packaging solutions for specific types of products. In this case, we've addressed the problems often experienced by fruit and vegetable packers using increasingly flimsy acetate trays which can jam machinery and halt production. By removing the need for the tray, we've not only solved this problem but, as a result of our excellent product control, we've also helped packers dramatically improve production efficiency, while also achieving considerable cost savings by removing the tray. From the perspective of the consumer, fruit and vegetable packers can now also create a more appealing pack for the environmentally conscious segment of the market and achieve a dramatic reduction in packaging waste.”

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