Flowpack machine designed to meet strict hygiene demands
Engineering360 News Desk | August 07, 2020Packaging machine specialist Hugo Beck has launched the flowpack R, a compactly built, hygienically designed horizontal flowpack machine, capable of reaching speeds of up 300 cycles per minute.
Suitable for many fresh and frozen food packaging applications, the machine is easy to clean, simple to access and quickly adaptable for different product lines. All surfaces with the potential to come into contact with products are made of stainless steel with a surface roughness of ≤ 0.8 µm and all materials are fully approved for food contact.
Hygiene risks are further mitigated as the designers have avoided the inclusion of any bends and difficult-to-access areas that would normally act as dirt traps. This also further enhances the ease of cleaning, and a balcony design and high ground clearance facilitate wet cleaning at any time.
The machine is equipped with a rotating transverse sealing unit, enabling it to achieve up to 150 cycles per minute as standard, or up to 300 cycles per minute an optional feature. Faster machines are also being planned, enabling applications of up to 700 cycles per minute.
The balcony design ensures a strict separation of the drive technology and product transport areas, with drive systems and tooth belts located at the rear. The switch cabinet is also located on the rear of the machine, reducing cable lengths and distances and enabling more effective wet cleaning as well as helping remove any possible dirt traps.
As standard, all belts are blue and made of materials approved for contact with food. A range of options are available with the flowpack R, including detectable cable connectors and screw locks, ensuring that there is no risk of product contamination.
Each flowpack R machine is operated via an intuitive touch screen. With its easily exchangeable forming shoulders and tool-free operation, changeover times are significantly reduced, greatly improving the flexibility of production lines. Designed with a compact footprint, the flowpack R saves space and can be easily integrated into existing lines, making it ideal for the packaging of fruit and vegetables, sausage and meat products as well as cheese and dairy products. Frozen products, confectionery and bakery products can also be packed quickly and safely, whether individually or in bundles. Handling system options include cascade belts and robotic systems used for feeding, stacking and grouping products for packing.
The name reminds me of the 'wayback' machine.
Actually WABAC is the proper name for it.