With increasing demand for convenience foods, which are often difficult-to-fill, packagers are looking to upgrade equipment to improve efficiency, accuracy and food safety in plants. Utah-based Multi-Fill says its MPFMP-060 uses a vacuum to assist the flow of products, including cooked rice, cooked pasta, cut vegetables and fruit, salad, seafood and shredded meat. These can be dispensed into a variety of containers such as trays, jars, pouches and cups. The filler, which can run at speeds of up to 60 cpm, is suitable for low speed lines, contract packaging and pilot plant type operations, and requires one operator, the company claims. Multi-Fill claims the filler can replace seven workers and improve the filling accuracy of smaller operations. The filler is a mobile unit, capable of being moved and quickly cleaned for a product and packaging changeovers, claims the manufacturer. The stainless steel construction is complaint with international food hygiene standards. It can be positioned over many different conveying systems, continuous or intermittent, as well as horizontal or vertical bagging units. A proximity sensor in the machine activates the no container-no fill function, which prevents waste. Multi-Fill manufactures a range of automatic and semi-automatic filling equipment for the convenience and frozen food industry.
