A current trend among food manufacturers has been the adoption of high speed production methods. New technology has enabled processors to produce goods faster than ever before, without compromising standards.
New solutions are being tested on the market all the time. For example, Swedish-based packaging firm Tetra Pak has launched a new product, Film Wrapper 68 - Speed, which is the latest addition to the firm's speed packaging line. The wrapper has been designed for Tetra Pak aseptic carton high speed packaging lines and film wraps.
The film wrapper can be ordered in either stretch or shrink versions and is currently available in clear film. The company plans to release a printed film version in the near future.
The system is also in line with current efforts to achieve greater energy efficiency. The machine itself runs at a normal capacity but it makes use of an innovative communication system, called Genius, which allows the machine to communicate with the rest of the packaging line in order to better manage the whole process. This allows manufacturers to operate at a high capacity without dramatically increasing energy consumption.
"By using our Tetra Pak stretch technology on Film Wrapper 68 - Speed, we are currently able to offer customers the lowest cost per 1,000 on the market. The savings come from lowest material and energy consumption," said Niclas Ekström, commercialisation manager, value segment, Tetra Pak carton ambient.
The machine includes a discharger system, which automatically slows the machine down and then rejects any fallen packages and a measuring ruler to simplify any adjustments that the operator needs to make when changing packing patterns. These two added features serve to increase machine efficiency and decrease changeover times.
It also includes an operator panel, as standard, to make operation easier. The company believes that from a maintenance point of view, the system is simpler to access than conventional wrapping machines.
Each Film Wrapper 68 - Speed can run with a variety of packing patterns and changeover times are much quicker, according to the company. Changing TBA 200 B film from 3x1 to 3x2, for example, takes around 20 minutes.
Film Wrapper 68 - Speed can handle all packing patterns with a single machine installation except for packing pattern 3x1, 4x1 and 5x1 where two machines are needed. Despite the need for two machines, Tetra Pak claims that the cost per thousand with a double machine installation is still the lowest on the market due to unique low film consumption in the stretch version.
The machine was just one of many food production innovations to have been displayed at the recent WorldWide Food Expo 2003 in Chicago, USA. The event, the largest global food technology event of the year ended last Saturday. Tetra Pak hailed the event a success.
For further information about the Film Wrapper 68 - Speed please contact Gabriella Tomolillo at Tetra Pak.