Wrapping system boosts Ulma's share of UK poultry market

Spain-based Ulma Packaging says its wrapping system for whole fresh birds has given it a 75 per cent share of the UK market.

The company pinpoints its success to its development of a method that reduces the air left in the pack prior to shrinking. This results in a leak-proof pack and improved seal integrity, the comapny claims.

"The system offers a greatly improved on-shelf appearance together with a reduced risk of contamination fromleakage, keeping in line with the demands of supermarket buyers and consumers," Ulmastated.

Ulma developed the shrink-wrap method over two years in partnership with one of the UK's biggest producers of freshchickens. The new non -water shrink packaging method was developed using Ulma's Pacific SSF .

The method involves the use of an additional stretch and shrink film unit, combined with the vacuum systemused in the new Pacific SSF. The Pacific also has a modem link on the machine's electronics allowingUlma to diagnose faults when they occur through the Internet.

"Recent orders - including 10 machines installed at one major poultry company - have secured Ulma's positionas the industry leader, where it now believes it has around 75 per cent of the market for wrapping wholefresh birds," the company said.