Multivac targets snacks with thermoforming packaging machine
By Bruce Geiselman
Multivac’s new F 286 machine makes vacuum packaging and modified-atmosphere packaging (MAP) for snack products, a growing market.
The German equipment manufacturer unveiled the thermoforming packaging machine last year, saying it was developed in response to increasing demand for snack packs, such as those for beef jerky, small sausages, dried or roasted duck portions and tofu.
The machine can produce packs from a variety of plastic films — including multilayer films — and aluminum. The aluminum packs are generally preferred in Asia because they offer a longer shelf life, according to Multivac.
“Due to the worldwide demand for healthy snacks, we are also expecting great interest in this model from other regions,” Dominik Eberhard, team leader for product management for thermoforming machines at Multivac, said in a press release.
Multivac said the ideal customer for the F 286 is a small- or medium-sized business that wants to get into thermoforming packaging for the first time, or a company that wants to pack smaller batch sizes, Eberhard said.
“The machine is also designed for [food] processors, who package their products today in film pouches on rotating filling and sealing machines,” Eberhard said. “By moving to thermoformed packs, they can avoid high pouch costs, as well as increasing their personnel efficiency."
The F 286 can produce up to 240 thermoformed packs per minute with a forming depth of up to 20mm, according to Multivac.
Thanks to its loading area that can be flexibly extended to up to 9.85 feet, it is possible to achieve high pack outputs, even though the machine can also fit in confined working environments.
The unloading area can be extended to allow for the positioning of an inkjet printer for printing product information, such as an expiration date or QR codes, on the thermoformed film.
Bruce Geiselman, senior staff reporter
Contact:
Multivac Inc., Kansas City, Mo., 816-891-0555, www.multivac.com
Bruce Geiselman | Senior Staff Reporter
Senior Staff Reporter Bruce Geiselman covers extrusion, blow molding, additive manufacturing, automation and end markets including automotive and packaging. He also writes features, including In Other Words and Problem Solved, for Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing, Plastics Recycling and The Journal of Blow Molding. He has extensive experience in daily and magazine journalism.
