The firm said packaging is changing every day so it designs machines that are not dedicated but can be modified by tooling to decide specific functions.
It cited the thermoforming machine at the trade show IFFA 2013 that was doing a three-web but can be used for shrink packaging, MAP, flexible film, rigid and others with minimal changeover times.
Double lane system
Martijn Scheffers, sales manager at Sealpac, explained to FoodProductionDaily.com about the A8 traysealing unit in double lane execution.
“We are sealing on a double lane system, long side leading, meaning the longest side of the tray is entering the machine first. We can do so due to our Sealpac patented snap gripper system, this allows more trays in the tool and combined with our InsideCut sealing where the film is smaller than the tray we can have quite substantial film savings.”
He added that it is a high speed line, about 100-120 packs a minute and multiple tray sizes are possible.
PacInspect unit
After the sealing in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) comes the PacInspect system, which is a multi-sensor inspection unit able to apply optical or mechanical checks or both.
“The Sealpac PacInspect system is a combination of mechanical and vision control of the pack, such as the label, printed film, or sealing edge in a 1200mm frame. There we achieve full traceability as we save the data of every pack up to one month of production. Also you can have full integration with your ERP, with your factory software.”
Scheffers also explained how the tip-up conveyor works as part of the integrated machine.
“Moving into the in-feed system, we have there our tip-up conveyor. This is basically allowing you to go through the line instead of having to walk all the way around the whole line which is handy for logistics inside the factory.”
The denester, loading system, lane divider, traysealer and packaging inspection unit are manufactured in-house which the firm said supports efficient production and smooth operation of the line.
He added that traceability was an ever growing issue, especially from the supermarket chains.
“People expect, actually, that you can trace back fully the packs and also for the producers on the other hand, it’s crucial that they can prove everything left their facility in the correct way.”
The firm also presented a joint concept called EasyLid, which is a rigid tray produced by Naber Plastic in the Netherlands.
It has a regular sealing edge and an additional ring sealed at different temperatures in one single process resulting in a hermetic seal and eliminating the need for a snap-on rigid lid.