Bag packer designed for food sector

A new machine for the food sector operates at up to 120 bags per minute in a continuous mode, its manufacturer claims.

Automated Packaging Systems said its FAS Sprint BaggingSystem marks the company's entry into providing packaging machines for the foodsector.

In a bid to cut costs, more and more food manufacturers are looking to increase the speed of their processing and packaging lines. They are also automating tasks that were previously done by hand.

The company claims its research shows that FAS Sprint canhelp reduce labour costs by increasing productivity per operator up to eighttimes more than most manual load operations.

Automated Packaging claims its design for the machine bringsnew levels of speed and versatility to an industry that requires dailywashdowns. The machine can handle the packing of meat, poultry, fish and meatby-products, fresh and frozen produce and snacks.

Automated Packaging has introduced the product in the US andplans to start marketing it in Europe during the first quarter of next year.

The machine's rugged design incorporates acorrosion-resistant, stainless steel construction.

The FAS Sprint presents a conveyor of pre-opened bags thatare ready for immediate loading. It can be integrated with a variety ofautomatic infeed systems for semi to fully-automatic packaging of portion orbulk packs.

Bags are available in a range of materials that can bepre-printed. Thes include ones with reclosable zippers, resealable flaps,reinforced headers and tamper-evident perforations.