Jean Marc Passemard, sales promotion manager for the France-based machinery manufacturer, said that the new VersaWrap surpasses the speed of the intermittent stop and go style of case packing equipment.
He told FoodProductionDaily.com that the machine can handle 65 cycles per minute, while it ensures that size changeover only takes 15 minutes, with no change parts being required.
“To illustrate further, on a 12 bottle case, the VersaWrap enables the wrapping of 46,800 bottles per hour, and in terms of a 24 bottle case, the continuous motion means 93,600 bottles can be wrapped in an hour,” claims Passemard.
Low wear and tear
He claims the continuous motion enables a fluid production process and less wear and tear on the equipment’s component parts in comparison to stop and go case wrapping, while full-length transparent doors allows easy access to all areas of the machine.
According to Passemard, upper brackets on the VersaWrap have been fitted with rubber cushions to compensate for the difficulties often experienced in case packing such as dimensional variations in products, and thus ensure that the final case is securely sealed.
The VersaWrap is targeted at large quantity manufacturers of bottled beverages, drink cartons, wine and canned food, and it can reliably handle wrap around cases or trays, he continued.
Passemard maintains that the versatility the machine offers in terms of product handling, packaging material and size range ensures it adapts to the supply chain and production requirements of a range of food and drink companies.
Pipeline developments
He told this publication that another Cermex case packer, the VersiCombi, will be coming on stream in the coming months:
“This equipment has been developed to be highly flexible in terms of material handling to take account of the manifold demands regarding secondary packaging that can arise in the supply chain from the type of material required to requests for a reduction in the amount of packaging used,” explained Passemard.
He stressed that companies looking to invest in the new equipment should evaluate the machinery in terms of the low total cost of ownership (TCO) both the VersaWrap and VersaCombi provide through high speed, dependable sealing, low maintenance as well as their flexible functionality to allow companies address market and sustainability needs.
Sustainability
Passemard said that Cermex is mindful of sustainability factors and its R&D developments have a strong focus on eco design:
“We are striving to ensure our new equipment cuts energy consumption significantly; in terms of the shrink tunnels incorporated into our new machinery, a ten per cent reduction in electricity consumption has been achieved,” he maintains.
Passemard added that Cermex has also teamed up with eco-packaging group, Clareo, to offer food and beverage manufacturers a consultation service that aims to enhance the sustainability of their packaging offering.