Shrink wrap machine speeds up line, manufacturer claims

Packaging machines are becoming faster as food processors speed up their processing lines to gain efficiencies in a low margin market.

Companies are also looking for machines that can be changed over to different foods quickly to meet market demand for new products.

Spain-based Ulma Packaging launched its Ocean packaging machine earlier this year in Spain and Portugal and has now introduced it onto the UK market.

Derek Paterson, the director, of Ulma's subsidiary in the UK, told FoodProductionDaily.com that while the company is targeting the machine at the frozen fish market, it can also be used for other products.

The company has already sold the Ocean to a cheese manufacturer in the UK. Most of the sales have been in Spain and Portugal for wrapping frozen fish.

The Ocean has a reduced footprint, taking up less than four square metres of floor space, ideal for small packaging rooms, he said.

"It's quite fast,"​ he said in response to a question. "We have never seen any other on the market with this kind of speed."​

Another advantage is the stainless steel machine's cantilever design. Ulma has put the drivers and operating systems to one side of the machine rather than underneath.

The design eliminates food and dust traps, Ulma stated in a press release.

The Ocean uses a cross seal system, ensuring that maximum levels of production are achieved while keeping down costs and reducing wastage, Ulma claimed.

"The movement of products through the machine has been simplified - again ensuring that downtime is kept to a minimum,"​ the company stated.

The company's TRLX-200 high speed shrink tunnel is designed to meets the output of the machine, and its great shrink capacity at high speed gives a finish to the wrap.