Pouch perfect

A complete pouch packaging range, from FFS machines to palletizer, is in line with this trend POUCHES are enjoying widespread popularity in the food, beverage, and non-food sectors. Several factors that benefit the producer, the retailer and the consumer are contributing to the trend towards this type of flexible packaging. For brand owners, one significant aspect is certainly the great attractiveness of the pouch style of packaging with its broader field to enhance the appeal and the brand message. It is additionally possible to incorporate convenience aspects such as special sealing systems or devices for maximum opening convenience that appeal to consumers. What is more, pouches in particular match the lifestyle of the consumer and are popular both as single as well as family packs. For the retailer, the pouch itself takes up only a small amount of space ?a perfect solution, particularly from the logistics standpoint. Ready to meet the growing worldwide trend toward pouch packaging, KHS has become a turnkey supplier to the pouch packaging market with its new Innopack CMP packing system demonstrated at the interpack 2008 this April. Ranging from form-fill-sealing machines through packing systems to the cartoner and palletizer product range ?all are now available in the KHS portfolio. Designed to handle any eventuality Versatile enough to cater to every popular product size (and manufacturer size, for that matter), the pouch packaging system is designed to process at outputs from 60 to 250 pouches/minute with pouch sizes ranging from 90mm wide and 100mm high up to 200mm wide and 250mm high. Since the maximum possible number of cartons filled with pouches is up to 30 cartons/minute the output for filling each carton with six products, for example, is 180 products/minute. Other packaging sizes are also possible and each individual case will be analyzed on request. With this new design concept, KHS is prepared for all eventualities when it comes to the pouch infeed. Whether the pouches enter the machine horizontally with the wide side first, horizontally with the narrow side first, or upright ?the system responds accordingly. The pouches remain equalized as they are conveyed, suspended in compartments by conveying cartridges. Pouch packs filled with powdery or chunky products, the products are gently equalized before they are pushed into the transport cartridges. For less sensitive products, equalizing is handled in the infeed area. Servo technology is used to position the conveying cartridges exactly above the secondary packaging readied by the cartoning station. The pouches slide with utmost accuracy into the carton where they remain in an upright position. This has the advantage of making optimum use of the space on the one hand, while increasing considerably the display effect in stores versus pouches displayed flat on the other. The system is also able to pack mixed packages if required. The Innopack CMP can respond to most future demands required by the market. If other types of pouch to be packed need to be taller, wider, heavier or lighter, spindles are used to adjust the plates in the cartridges to adapt to the new circumstances, provided the number of planned pouches per carton remains constant. Even then, changing the required number of pouches to be packed in the carton versus the previous requirements is fairly simple: it only involves replacement of cartridges. Quick-release locks are used for fast installation and removal of cartridges. Additional cartridges can also be incorporated into the system to increase the machine output. Owing to its small footprint, the system can also be integrated perfectly into existing lines and technical solutions. Overall, the Innopack CMP is a technical solution designed to meet the demands of the market. It advantages include gentle product handling, continuous motion operBrowse All Brands