In order to upscale food packaging in as efficient a way as possible, it is important for food producers and packagers to invest in a food packaging machine to introduce automation to packaging processes. However, before choosing suitable packaging machinery, there are many considerations to be made around the packaging of food products and other perishable items.
Food packers must ensure that packing facilities are hygienic and comply with government regulations for food production and packaging. It is also important to consider that food products have a limited shelf life, and so this must be a key factor in choosing packaging material and food packaging machinery. Suitable materials must be chosen not only to extend the shelf life of products and reduce food waste, but also to protect products from external contaminants that could not only reduce shelf life, but make the food inedible.
There are several flexible food packaging options available, depending on the product benign packed. These range from sustainable packaging through to plastic packaging materials such as PET and polypropylene, along with a range of laminated aluminium foils. Once suitable food packaging materials are chosen, packaging methods and machinery can be considered.
Common food packaging machine choices
Pouch packing machine
Pouch packaging machines are amongst the most popular food packaging machine choices as they are a highly versatile piece of equipment, able to pack flat bottomed or sealed bottom pouches with a wide range of food products, including dry and granular products, small snacks, powders, pastes and liquids.
A wide range of opening options can be factored into food pouches, including resealable openings, including re-sealable caps, spouts and torsion screw systems to suit eating needs.
Flow wrap machine
Horizontal flow wrapping equipment provides an ideal packaging solution for solid foods, particularly pasties and snacks, fruit and vegetables and frozen food. This machine allows a lot of control over bag capacity and length, ensuring a tight seal around food and the exact volume packaged each time.
In addition to foods, flow wrap is also well suited to a range of other bagged products, including packs of tissues, scratch cards and technical products.
Sachet packaging machine
For a wide range of smaller volume products, including sauces, granules, seasoning and flavourings, sachet and stickpack packaging machines are an ideal choice, packing products in multiple lanes, with a range of pack lengths and widths.
VFFS machine
Vertical form fill seal machines, or vertical baggers are extremely popular in the food production and packaging industry as a result of their simplicity and versatility. A VFFS machine forms, fills and seals bags with a predetermined volume of product in one process. Various models are available to suit different volume requirements.
Other food packaging machinery considerations
In order to make the right choice of food packaging machine from the above mentioned, it is important to think about which packaging is best suited for your products. It may be that there is more than one possible choice, so other considerations must also be made about your packaging environment and the other equipment you will need to ensure your packaging processes are as efficient as possible.
Space
When you are seeking to install packaging equipment, you must have an understanding of the available floor space you have and which machine will best fit. In the case that floor space is very limited, although there may be more than one choice for packaging your products, the footprint of one machine may be too large.
Remember, as well as finding a space for machinery to sit, you should also ensure there is enough space to allow for safe moving space for your employees, as well as storage space. If you have a plan to grow, space to upgrade to another machine should be considered. You may also look to add ancillary equipment to your machine that could require more floor space.
Ancillary equipment
For an efficient packaging processes, where all steps are carried out on a single line, it’s important to consider if your machine of choice is compatible with ancillary equipment to meet your packing needs. For example, your packaging efficiency may be improved by additional equipment, such as:
- TIJ label printer
- Weight and scaling equipment
- Volumetric filling
- Conveyor belts and product transfer systems
Machine support
Whilst choosing a low maintenance machine will be a priority, there will be times when engineering or programming support is required to ensure your packaging processes continue to run smoothly. You should consider choosing a machine from a company that is UK based and able to provide the support you need.
Find a food packaging machine supplier
To make the right choice of machine for your food packaging needs, it’s import to find food packaging machinery UK manufacturers. Intamac Packaging Systems supply and provide support on flow wrap, pouch filling, VFFS and sachet machines.