Packed and processed: IpackIma part 1

FoodProductionDaily took to the show floor of IPack-Ima this week to source the latest news and views from the expo in Milan.

Below is the latest from RPC, Ammeraal Beltech, Milliken Theegarten-Pactec and others – all wrapped up in a package for easy-reading.

RPC work for Fox’s Biscuits

RPC Superfos Blackburn has created a custom container for Chunkie cookies from Fox’s Biscuits.

The firm, whose parent company RPC exhibited at the show, worked with Fox’s to produce a tamper evident item that could be produced on the existing container line.

The 1080ml resealable container, produced in black polypropylene (PP), minimises food waste and encourages portion control.

Alison Reilly, brand manager – cookies at Fox’s Biscuits said: “We needed a pack which protected the contents and made sharing easy, and once again RPC Superfos Blackburn came up with the perfect solution.”

Ammeraal Beltech bought

Before the show, Advent International said it had agreed to buy Ammeraal Beltech, from Gamma Holding, a company owned by Gilde Buy Out Partners and Parcom Capital Management.

Ammeraal Beltech, of the Netherlands, makes, distributes and services conveyor belts for use in light industries, including food processing.

Michael Vogel, CEO of Ammeraal Beltech, said the investment marks an important milestone in its history.

“Their experience and knowledge of the industrial sector, coupled with their international footprint and hands on approach to value creation will be of great benefit to the company as we continue to consolidate and build our competitive position.”

Clear PP from Milliken

Milliken showcased Ultra Clear PP thermoforming grades at the trade show. Ultra Clear PP clarified with Milliken’s Millad NX 8000 series makes PP comparable to glass-clear materials addressing the trend for efficiency and consumer appeal.

It overcomes traditional undesirable milky appearance of PP in thermoforming, creating transparency similar to PET for sheet and thermoformed applications such as meat trays, clamshell containers and lids.

“Ultra Clear PP based food trays can be recycled, unlike multi-material or multi-layered PET trays which are normally not recycled and therefore end-up in landfills or incinerators,” said Sami T.K. Palanisami, marketing and sales manager plastic additives.

Updated chocolate machinery

Theegarten-Pactec demonstrated its CWM2 packaging machine for chocolate products with an updated design to provide easier access and improved ergonomics for maintenance and cleaning work.

Modular construction also simplifies the changeover between wrapping styles and formats, said the firm at the stand of its sales agent, Opessi.

The infeed belt of the CWM2 now has a separate servo motor to enable easier speed adjustment after changes of format and the machine has an output of 500 packaged chocolate articles per minute.

Sitma and Easysnap

Sitma presented WM-PACK, a flexible packaging machine capable of wrapping different products with a variety of films and sealing processes and WM60, a packaging machine with side sealing which it launched last year.

With the WM-PACK customers may select different product presentation, such as Zipper Closure, Flow Wrap, Magazine Finishing, Film Wrapping with Header Banner or Shrinking on the machine which goes up to 9,000 products per hour.

The WM60 line is equipped with infeed conveyor, shrink tunnel and delivery conveyor and has a mechanical speed of up to 3,600 cycles per hour.

Easysnap unveil its STAR Plus, the machine designed and certified for Easysnap unit doses in the food industry. It produces up to 240 sachets a minute on six lanes.

Easysnap is a patented monodose packaging concept (portion pack from 1 to 25 ml) targeting the replacement of conventional sachets in the food industry.

  • Stay tuned for part 2 to run next week featuring Markem-Imaje, Altech, Akro Flex, Sealed Air and others.