Sudpack aims to meet trend for thinner films

The company said that the machinery works more effectively than any others they have previously employed and added that the equipment enables the use of less energy and fewer resources, while having higher output capacity.

“It’s our answer to a changed market situation, in which cost and price pressures, as well as the call for sustainable production, are just a much a focus for our customers as they are for us, “​ said Johannes Remmele, managing director of Sudpack.

He explained that the higher extrusion accuracy on the new line allows thinner films than before to be run, so that the company can produce more films using the same amount of raw materials, while not sacrificing on the material’s performance:

“The trend towards ever thinner films is continuing steadily; with our new machine, we are able to satisfy this demand without our customers having to put up with a loss in quality,”​ continued Remmele.

He said that films with a total thickness of between 40 and 350 microns can be produced, while control technology and optimised film thickness measuring ensure that the distribution of layer thicknesses remains completely constant.

Food applications​

A spokesperson for Sudpack told FoodProductionDaily.com that the new films will be released on the market in April next year, and are suitable for all food products that are packed in flexible multilayer films – either under modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) or vacuum packaging.

"The big fields of application we see are for bread and bakery products as well as fish, meat and cheese produce,”​ she added.

She said that these thinner films enable price advantages for both food producers and retailers in that they need less storage space, transportation costs are reduced and waste management costs are significantly lower.

She said that the films are initially tested in Sudpack’s technical service centre, where tests on thermoforming machines determine which parameters are ideal and allow the technicians to analyze the films’ behaviour.

“Based on those results the films are optimized, and in the next step we work together with some of our long-time customers to test the films during their usual production process,”​ said the spokesperson.

Ampac's goals​

And Ampac Flexibles is also claiming that increased output and greater packaging flexibility will result from the installation of a new Windmoeller & Hoelscher extrusion system at its Washington site.

The Varex extruder is said to increase Ampac’s multilayer film capacity and to help improve services to the fresh and frozen food markets as well as providing quality sealant webs to the converter industry.

“Our new W&H line is the latest state-of-the-art technology in blown film production providing high quality film and outstanding ergonomics​,” said Dan McFarland, president of Ampac’s Performance Printed Films group.

“It also fits Ampac’s sustainable goals with high efficiencies and short start-up and change-over times resulting in reduced material waste and higher productivity,” ​he continued.

According to W&H, the Varex blown film extrusion system can be tailored to specific roles with applications from 8 micron PE-HD liner film to 9-layer barrier film.

In addition to the new line, Ampac has also upgraded the existing extrusion system that was installed in 2004. Commenting on the investment, Sal Pellingra, the company’s innovation and marketing director said:

“We are committed to meeting our customers’ increasing requirements for high quality extrusion and flexible packaging at a price and delivery that will keep them competitive in a quickly changing market place​.”