Companies operating in emerging markets, low volume producers, and pilot plants need such a system, which offers a compact and flexible low rate packing process to meet their special needs. Likewise, with their diverse portfolios, raw material producers need to be able to adapt their packaging solutions in a versatile way.

The modular system offers maximum flexibility

With more than 100 possible variants, the GEA SmartFil M1 can be configured to suit almost any application from dry, fine powders to coarse granular products. The new machine offers a nominal filling capacity of 120 bags per hour or three tons per hour at 25 kg product size. Depending on the product being packaged, the packaging system features configurable product metering options, including vertical auger and horizontal vibratory feeder. An optional deaeration probe may be added for improved consolidation of the product if required.

Customers can choose to pack into open-mouth bags, boxes, or drums of varying sizes. Closing is configurable depending on the packaging type. Continuous heat sealing with glue reactivation or with sewing is available for open-mouth bags, whilst impulse sealing is offered for hermetic sealing of plastic packaging. The built-in height-adjustable conveyor system makes packaging changes fast and simple, whilst allowing the operator to work at an ergonomic height. The integrated control panel makes it easy to reconfigure the process to activate the new functions as needed.

Food ingredients

Powdered food ingredients that require a carefully controlled auger metering system will benefit from this option on the GEA SmartFil M1. The vertical auger design with integrated shutoff is well-proven technology that is adapted from other filling systems in the GEA range. With an optional integrated deaeration probe, this filling system will enable food ingredients manufacturers to safely and reliably fill powdered products into bags, boxes, or drums. With a continuous heat-sealing configuration, the SmartFil M1 can consistently produce finished products into 25kg open-mouth bags with either glued closure or sewn closure if required. Alternatively, the impulse sealing option is ideally matched with plastic bags that are commonly used with boxes or cartons.

Coffee and freeze-dried products

Coffee and freeze-dried products tend to be fragile or friable and therefore demand a gentler approach to filling. For these applications, a vibratory feeding solution can be employed to finely meter the product for high accuracy filling. This type of feeding solution eliminates rotating or close contact parts from the product stream, thereby reducing the risk of product breakdown.

To ensure the integrity of the finished product, these types of products are typically filled into flexible plastic bags inserted into cardboard boxes. For this application, a dust-free bag clamping system was chosen. Once filled, the neck of the plastic box liner can be easily inserted into an impulse-type sealer for hermetic sealing. The integrated height-adjustable conveyor enables simple and quick adjustment to suit the selected box/drum size, allowing the operator to work at an ergonomic height. A pivoting conveyor can be added to compensate for height adjustment when the GEA SmartFil M1 is connected to an optional integrated downline.

Dairy ingredients

Small scale dairy plants requiring a hygienic powder filling solution in a compact form can select the GEA SmartFil M1 with auger feed, deaeration (option), and continuous heat sealer with integrated fold-over. This is a cost-effective, high-quality solution for their powder packing operation. When integrated with a downline bag handling system, this cost-effective semiautomatic solution provides high-quality, accurate filling and closing of open-mouth, multi-wall bags. For aluminum foil bags, the sealing system can be changed to an impulse-type sealer as required.

Pet food

The GEA SmartFil M1 can be configured to pack granular products, such as dried pet food, into laminated paper/polypropylene sacks that require a sewn closure. The vibratory feeder provides a gentle metering option, which can be coupled with the sealer/sewing system for effective closure.

Safety first

Product safety is important to all food/pet food processing companies. The GEA SmartFil M1 is certified according to current hygiene standards. GEA integrated technology elements, which secure product safety focused on special areas of the process.

Being a semi-automatic operation, it is important that the filling system is easily accessible for cleaning. This was part of the design concept. Low height, accessible components make maintenance and cleaning operations easier, thereby minimizing potential machine downtime and lost production.

The post GEA Presents the New SmartFil M1 Powder Packaging System for Dairies, Food and Pet Food Producers appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

“Demand for laser marking systems is rising sharply. While packaging has to provide growing volumes of product information for end customers, it also has to ensure that products are fully traceable at all times. Applying a QR code with a laser is a solution with plenty of advantages,”

says Volker Sassmannshausen, Senior Product Manager Thermoforming at GEA in Wallau, Germany.

The GEA technology experts take an end-to-end approach to designing individual solutions. That includes overseeing everything from selecting the laser supplier and initial film test to optimally positioning the laser in the packaging line.

Lasers – the swift, sustainable solution

The complex codes can encode large amounts of data on a very small area. They can be applied to the packaging by laser at high printing speeds. The bundled light creates long-lasting markings on the top film that are impervious to external influences, including heat, abrasion, and water. As lasers don’t require consumables such as labels and ink, they have impressive sustainability credentials. Lasers are ideal as marking systems in the food and beverage packaging industry since they work just as well in dusty and moist operating environments.

Flexible laser placement

Different packaging processes require different approaches. Depending on production batch sizes, it’s possible to either mark the top film feed in advance or once it has passed through the thermoformer’s sealing station, but before the finished packaging units are cut apart.

For instance, a food industry customer opted for a laser marking system from Videojet to accompany its GEA thermoforming packaging machine. The chosen CO₂ laser solution was integrated at the GEA PowerPak system’s sealing station to print the top film before it is joined to the bottom tray. Despite the additional processing step, there is no increase in production time because labeling is accommodated within the integrated production process cycle.

Increased efficiency thanks to fewer film changes

When packaging similar products, using a laser can significantly boost machine efficiency since the only changes necessary are the ingredient lists, which can be accessed in the database. This means there is no need to switch to previously marked films in each case. Thanks to the reduced number of film changes, setup times are cut down. And that’s not all. The cost of consumables also decreases because they can be ordered in large quantities.

“Seamless interaction between components is the source of packaging machine efficiency. Given that the laser marking system and our thermoformer are engineered to be a perfect fit, they meet high throughput, quality, and product safety requirements,”

says Volker Sassmannshausen in conclusion.

The post GEA Integrates Laser Marking Systems into its Thermoforming Packaging Machines appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

While we can not see you in person at the Annual Ploughing Championship, Abbey Machinery is celebrating our customers by offering a special upgrade package free of charge.

When purchasing a Standard VF 1500T Diet Feeder the following will be added to the machine resulting in a customer savings of €842 (£741). This promotion is a limited offer and will only be available while stocks last.

Upgrade Bundle includes:

• OE0136 Wide-Angled PTO Shaft (T60) IN LIEU of standard
• 0E0045 Hydraulic Folding Chute
• Nutrition specialist consulting
• 3-year warranty*
• Financing available

The Standard VF 1500T was selected because of these key features:

• Low horsepower requirement
• Minimum loading height
• Ability to work in narrow feed passageways and low sheds
• Superior mixing ability and even distribution resulting in a top-class mix
• Future proof technology
• Two vertical 15mm augers
• Digistar weighing system
• Comer heavy duty gearbox
• Four-point weighing system

Source: Abbey Machinery

The post Abbey Machinery offers a special upgrade package appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.