The German-based company said that its new flagship B 610 belted system, launched at the IFFA trade show last week, had a number of standout characteristics that help cut downtime on the processing line.
System features
Its large volume chamber can comfortably accommodate whole cheese or large pieces of meat from the cutting plant. The 1500mm sealing bars, sized to match the chamber, allow either very large pouches or several small pouches to be processed simultaneously. The 800mm spacing between these bars has been designed to ensure optimum use of the chamber, said Multivac.
“It is one of the biggest machines of its kind on the market and has great potential for primary meat cuts,” head of corporate marketing Valeska Haux told FoodProductionDaily.com in Frankfurt.
The largest belted machine in the Multivac portfolio, the B 610 boasts cycle speeds of up to 2.5 processes per minute. It can also use more powerful vacuum pumps than the company’s B 310 model. Thanks to its heavy-duty design and high-quality components, it is very reliable. An automatic progressive ventilation system “ensures a gentle packaging process even with sensitive products” and the system produces exact double-seam sealing, said a company statement.
The equipment comes equipped with what the company calls a “groundbreaking” new user interface. The HMI 2.0 system has a 12-inch touch screen display which is clear and easy to use.
“Status displays are given in plain text, as graphics or even video sequences,” added Haux. “It is very straightforward to use and even inexperienced operators without computer expertise can learn how to use the machine quickly.”
The system can store up to 200 individual recipes and users can select from 30 languages.
Hygienic design
Hygiene has been designed into the machine thanks to its sloping stainless steel surfaces that have no recesses or sharp edges. These help it resist contaminants and are easy to clean. Furthermore, the hinged side panels can be folded up and removed, as can the conveyor belt. A reduction in the number of components in the machine lid and its tilting design also promote ease of cleaning.
The system can also be expanded into a fully integrated packaging line - with a discharge conveyor, shrink machine and dryer.
Optional extra parts include a fully automatic facility that allows the sealing height to be adjusted to that of the product. A cutting device for use with excess pouch material and pouch residue extraction is also available. A possible combination with a separate infeed conveyor enables a continuous process with just a single operator.