Versatility, velocity dominate packaging development


TwinHead a smart option

Bosch Packaging Technology’s new TwinHead double-twist wrapping machine for filled and fragile hard candies uses a gentle packaging technology. This installation has fewer interfaces than traditional twist-wrapping machines. Two heads are performing the entire wrapping process rather than having to transfer candies between infeed, chain and transport head. A gripper integrated with the first head lifts the candy directly from the infeed disk to the second head, which packages the product using double-twist wrapping.

For the gentle handling of delicate products, the TwinHead has a large disk infeed which minimizes the centrifugal force as much as possible. Gentle handling is enhanced by the absence of brushes, distributor or deflector plates. In addition, confectionery producers are profiting from simple cleaning procedures and minimum downtimes. Thus, when product damage is kept to a minimum, there is less chance for contamination from product residue.

This high-speed machine produces up to 1,800 items per minute. The TwinHead’s ability to change from double-twist to basket or single-end fold quickly offers added flexibility.

www.boschconfectionery.com

Packaging ideas realized

Altendorf, Germany-based LoeschPack unveiled a broad range of flexible high speed solutions at interpack under the “Packaging your Ideas” motto. The latest generation of machines and new developments included a new LTM-DUO fold wrapping machine for chocolate bars with special folding facility. The format range has been expanded and the capacity increased to up to 180 packaged bars per min.

In addition the  LTM/2-G, the world’s first dual-lane, fold wrapping machine for chocolate bars with sealed inner wrap, was exhibited. Manufacturers can double the output with two parallel processing lines. In combination with the LTM-K-SA multipack machine for carton packaging of prepackaged articles, the unit can handle up to 360 individual articles per minute and up to 130 multipacks per minute.

www.loeschpack.com

Bagger ratcheting speeds up

tna, a leading supplier of turnkey, integrated packaging and processing solutions for food production companies worldwide, displayed a robag 3 180 rotary triple jaw (RTJ) vertical form, fill and seal (VFFS) bagger for confectionery applications at the recently held interpack 2008.

The unit, which is one of the fastest confectionery machines available, can reach speeds of up to 300 bags per minute when producing 180mm pillow bags.

It has four servo drive motors to provide more flexibility of control as well as more control of the operation for the confectionery manufacturer. The company has maximized the performance of this system by fine-tuning the product transfer to the bag maker. Specially shaped chutes are used to efficiently concentrate the product to ensure less string out and increase speeds.

“We’ve had much success with the robag 3 in the confectionery markets and these new improvements will allow the machine to reach even higher speeds,” said Shayne De La Force, group marketing manager, tna. “Its ability to package even the most fragile of products at high speeds is unbeatable for confectionery applications.”

The robag 3 fx 180 RTS unit is integrated with a 314 Delta scale, metal detector and date coder. The Delta scale has the comparable capacity weigh out product for complete accuracy and precision to ensure bags come off the line on target.

www.tnasolutions.com

Wrapping up chocolate

As a wrapping option for chocolate tablets, OPM Group (part of the Sympak Group) exhibited a FIMA-TFW wrapping machine at the most recent interpack show. The unit is designed to wrap tablets with carton sheets, cardboard cases previously cut and stored in a pile.

The TFW can either wrap using pre-cut sheets or by foil (single or double) from a reel and can also overwrap tablets that are already packed by a primary flowpack wrapper, thus improving hermetic sealing and appearance.

www.sympak.com

Packaging partners

Also at this year’s interpack, Gerhard Schubert GmbH unveiled its new TLM-PK machine: PK (the German abbreviation for “Partner Component”), which represents a new strategy of integrating components from partner companies into TLM machines in the future. Visitors to the show will be able to appraise the Fuji form fill and seal machine integrated into a TLM line for packaging chocolate bars. This means that customers will now be able to order a Fuji form fill and seal machine as a fully integrated part of a Schubert packaging line.

www.gerhard-schubert.de

Twistin' and wrappin'

Carle & Montanari provides complete versatility with its V-pack 2 CD/CB-4 wrapper, which is capable of handling portfolio, envelope/portfolio, envelope with glue, bunch and double-twist wrapping styles. Changeovers from one style to another take less than 10 minutes. The unit is engineered for delicate handling of the unwrapped product at the feed stage and during all wrapping stages even at maximum speed. A brushless servo motor controls the unwinding of the wrapping materials. The unit’s top wrapping speed reaches 600 pieces per minute.

www.carle-montanari.it