Snac World - February 2018 - 37

Heat and Control

PACKAGING INNOVATIONS

sizes have driven suppliers to produce both flat and
on-edge packages to provide different configurations. The PiCo machine from Cavanna Packaging
enables snack producers to run piles or stacks of
cookies or crackers in the same machine with an
electronic changeover. "By just going to the HMI,
they can do either," said Bill Kehrli, vice-president,
sales and marketing, Cavanna. "There is tremendous interest in that."
HMIs and other automated systems address a
big concern for many snack manufacturers: labor.
Automation solves some of those issues while enhancing speed and efficiency from packaging assets, Mr. Almond explained. "Another key driver for
Heat and Control/Ishida is the ability to integrate all
the equipment from processing through packaging
with seamless communication and optimized data
collection and training tools," he said.
Heat and Control is launching two systems from
Ishida at SNAXPO18: a snack food case packer
with integrated case erection and INSPIRA, a new
generation bagmaker.
"Flexibility, cost of ownership and efficient operation are key drivers. Our goal is to produce
machinery that is ergonomic, accessible, intuitive
and predictive," Mr. Almond said. "We also see
more companies moving toward automation to
leverage the capability of their vertical form and
seal equipment."
The latest generation of vertical form/fill/seal
(v/f/f/s) packaging systems has been designed to
support these requirements for flexibility and now
allow for quick former changes. These systems
accommodate any combination of jaw size or configuration - rotary single, double, triple or rotary flat
jaw - granting full flexibility of bag size and format,
film type, and application on a single system.
It's not enough to just aim for high bagging
speeds; it's also important to equip manufacturers
with smart technology that can deliver the highest
level of equipment effectiveness and is capable of
continuous improvement so it easily adapts to their
future needs.
"For food manufacturers, this proliferation of
products on our shelves and the constant need for
reinvention often means they need to process a variety of different bag formats, sizes and materials at
a single site - and in the same production time -
to keep up with ever-changing consumer tastes,"
Mr. Lozano said.
TNA introduced performance 5.0 last year, with
the launch of TNA ropac 5, a case packer capable of speeds of up to 300 bags per minute. The
second part of performance 5.0 will be presented
SNAXPO OFFICIAL SHOW ISSUE

at SNAXPO18
when TNA will
release its latest v/f/f/s
packaging system. The robag v/f/f/s
series can handle gusseted, block-bottom,
canoe-pack and quattro-seal formats and provides
ease-of-use when switching formats.

THE BEST OR NOTHING
Two of the main trends in packaging have been
premiumization and a demand for greater variety. In
particular, high-quality, gourmet snacks have risen
in popularity as these further enhance the sense of
indulgence and relaxation, Mr. Lozano explained.
"Today's consumers demand a much wider
choice than ever before. It's no longer enough to
have a great-tasting product," he said. "Snack manufacturers that really want to stand out also have
to take consumers' visual preferences and values
into consideration, whether this means the use of
sustainable packaging materials, an eye-catching
design or an innovative shape."
By adapting the packaging design and look of
products, snack manufacturers can update their
portfolio to ensure they maintain visibility and relevance in the marketplace without having to reformulate the actual product, Mr. Lozano added. First,
snack companies must match a product to the
proper packaging, and that requires considering
several consumer trends such as single-serve formats for convenience, portability and resealability.
At Pack Expo 2017, Cavanna Packaging showcased a project for gluten-free clean-label cookies.
Through a heavier-gauge film or gas flushing to
force oxygen out of the pack, Cavanna offers several solutions to create premium packages for diverse
sets of products.
Trends toward premium, portion-controlled
packaging will likely continue growing in 2018, and
packaging equipment manufacturers are already
researching and presenting ways to make improvements to meet the changing market.

Working with smaller,
more fragile products
makes it difficult to
increase packaging
speeds, but innovations
in gentle automatic
handling can help.

2018 SNAC WORLD

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Snac World - February 2018