Announcing the launch of the machine at Anuga FoodTec 2012, Henning Jordan, senior sales manager, Bosch Packaging Technology, said: “The new TFC machine [pictured] was designed to meet the manufacturer’s need of producing multiple product volumes on a single machine without halting production for different cup heights and maintenance."
He added: “The result is a machine that fulfils the market demand for higher flexibility, reduced downtime, easier operation and maintenance and material savings.”
Changeovers during production
The TFC machine features a cylindrical thermoforming mould that can be automatically adjusted by the user, Bosch said, and synchronised with the labelling system, allowing the later to effect changeovers even during production.
A wraparound labelling system featured a central cutting blade, Bosch said, allowing the operator to adjust sizes by changing the label reel, minimising downtime.
“The system also consistently positions the labels so the front is always facing the outside of the multipack,” Bosch said, “making the package much more attractive to consumers at the point of purchase".
Older clean-fill machines had an operational height of 1.4m, Bosch said, whereas the film track of the TFC machine ran at only 1m high, which allowed operators of any height to clean and maintain all areas.
Servo-driven contact plate technology to heat plastic material also allowed for better energy transfer and reduced energy costs compared to pneumatic drives on similar machines, the company added.
Bosch stresses pouch promise
Bosch also announced the launch of its Sure Pouch reclosable, flexible pouches at Anuga, which are designed to be used with the firm’s new clean-fill machine series (SPC) – vertical form, fill and seal (VFFS) machines.
Pouch designs range from 100ml to 5l and application areas include dairy products, non-carbonated beverages and water, concentrates, soups, sauces and dressings, as well as dry bulk goods such as rice or coffee.
Dr Günther Burkhard, vice president of sales at Bosch Packaging Technology told journalists at Anuga that – since they were made of flexible material – the pouches offered high residual discharge levels and could be folded for easy disposal.
Since they were also made from lightweight plastics, Sure Pouch films were much thinner compared to cartons, metal containers and cans, he added, which meant that energy consumption during production and transportation was lower.
Asked by DairyReporter.com whether pouches could compete with cartons, metal containers and cans – given traditional regional consumer preferences in specific application areas, Burkhard said: “We believe there is a market, and we did intensive market research before the development phase.
“Feedback to us from the market showed that, yes, there was interest and demand in that area [pouches] both within retail and foodservice.
“Demand will not be for one type of pouch for the global market – there are markets that are more open to flexible packaging than others, but we have seen positive interest both before and during the show, globally, in a wide variety of applications.”