Start-up thermoformer taps into trend for smaller batch sizes

A new entry-level thermoforming machine has a compact design, is easy to operate and taps into the trend for small batch-sized packaging for fresh foods, said Mulitvac.

The company said it will be unveiling the R 095 thermofomer at the Interpack trade show, which takes place in Dusseldorf, Germany in mid May. The system is a thermoforming packaging machine for manufacturing vacuum packs and MAP packs from flexible film.

The start-up model standout features include its ease of operation, compact size, with a length of 2.10m and it eliminates the need for any service connections.

“This opens up the way for previous users of other packaging technologies to the high-quality thermoform packaging of food products,” declared Multivac.

The R 095 has been designed for manufacturing fresh and sales pack-aging, such as those usually seen at the food counters in supermarkets or at the butcher's, added the Germany-based firm.

The company said the machine had been developed in response to current packaging trends, namely “the demand for high-quality fresh packaging in small batch sizes for the refrigerated counter”.

The machine was small enough to be used in-house at such sites, it said.

Compact footprint

Multivac said it had employed innovative design techniques to minimise the machine footprint.

“Forming the web takes place in the machine room,” explained the company. “As a result, the R 095 has a spacious insertion area which also provides sufficient space for loading the thermoform packaging manually, despite its compact design.”

The system also achieves high energy efficiency and low operating costs by using electrical drives for the lifting unit and cutting. The R 095 also does not need any air pressure or cooling water connections thanks to the employment of the company’s e-concept technology, which has replaced all pneumatically driven components with electrically powered ones.

The model targets companies aiming to produce fresh packaging for the food sector in small batch sizes. Pack design flexibility is maximised as the system has a thermoform height of 40mm. Manufacturing the packs with inert gas also enables the shelf-life of the product to be optimised according to requirements, said Multivac.

It can be equipped with an interface for installing cutting machines – meaning a line with automatic cutting and loading can then be implemented in a very limited space, added the company.