New requirements, new technologies, new solutions: The packaging industry is becoming increasingly dynamic and diverse. Product cycles are short and new products are being launched in quick succession. Sustainability is also becoming an important trend. As a result, tubular bag packaging is clearly gaining favour with consumers.
For suppliers of handling products such as FIPA, this requires a high degree of flexibility and new solutions. Torsten Eifler, Director Business Unit Packaging at FIPA, an internationally active company specialising in the development and sale of quality products and innovative system solutions for handling processes in the packaging industry, among others, provides information on the Trend towards pouch packaging and the new Variopack®-bag vacuum cleaner.
pj: Mr Eifler, what challenges do you see in the packaging industry?
Torsten Eifler: Buzzwords such as digitalisation and environmentally friendly packaging are on everyone's lips. Customised packaging and personalised products are becoming increasingly popular. Nevertheless, in the packaging industry and especially in the food sector Very high volumes the rule. In the mass market, the more output, the more cost-efficient production becomes.
The high throughput requires a Maximum process reliability, to ensure stable pick & place and realise fast cycle times. Extremely dynamic applications place special demands on the handling of goods.
pj: As a provider of handling solutions, how do you respond to these challenges?
Torsten Eifler: The automated handling of packaging for mass-produced products requires reliable and durable components for short cycle times and therefore high acceleration rates. FIPA has one of the world's largest Range of suction cups, Can be combined with countless vacuum components, so that all types of packaging can be gripped securely.
In the packaging industry, our combination of suction cup geometry, flexibility and process reliability of the Vacuum cups. The silicone used in our suction pads for the food and packaging industry complies with EU1935/2004 and FDA guidelines. This means that the new Variopack®-Vacuum cleaner free from harmful additives.
pj: What was decisive for the development of the Variopack®-vacuum cleaner?
Torsten Eifler: The market share of pouch packaging is growing dynamically. Also known as Flowpack flowpacks are often used for food, care products, cosmetics and in medicine. Especially as refill bags, flowpacks contribute significantly to material savings.
However, handling tubular bag packaging is tricky as the bags are not dimensionally stable, especially if liquid moves in the bag. They must selectively raised This results in heavy creasing. Normal flat suction cups often leak, causing them to detach from the packs very easily. With clearly negative consequences: The bag falls down - and the result is a belt stoppage.
The demand from our customers for a suction cup that delivers greater process reliability has been growing steadily. In line with our motto „Challenge accepted“ we developed a corresponding solution and thus closed a gap in our product range. The series name of the new flat vacuum cleaner is SL-FP, the registered name is Variopack™.
pj: What are the main advantages of the new flat vacuum cleaner?
Torsten Eifler: The Variopack® has an extremely thin, supple lip that moves with the pack when it is folded extremely tightly, thus enabling stable pick & place. The suction cup adapts perfectly to the different surfaces of the packaging. The inner support structure provides maximum hold. Support bars ensure maximum stability. This clever combination ensures that the flowpacks are picked up and placed securely. This results in a high degree of process safety and reliability.
pj: Who was the SL-FP developed for, and how does it perform in practice?
Torsten Eifler: The suction cup is for high-speed packaging processes with flowpacks designed. The customers are industries such as food, beverages, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
For applications in the Food sector EU or FDA conformity is often mandatory. Materials are required that have a long shelf life and also do not release any substances into food. Our new suction cup fulfils all of these requirements. The suction cup is therefore also suitable for handling fresh fruit, vegetables, confectionery and baked goods.
In the Pharmaceutical sector for example, the suction cup is designed for handling infusion bags. In cosmetics applications, it is suitable for refill packs of liquid soap and shampoo.
pj: Are further variants planned?
Torsten Eifler: We keep our eyes and ears open to our customers and are very responsive to market needs. In line with our company philosophy, we always respond to the needs of the packaging industry in order to meet our customers' challenges.
Have tests been carried out and are any results already available?
Torsten Eifler: Among other things, we check which accelerations the end product can withstand, maximise tests and slowly approach the final product. Optimum on. This tells us how fast the cycles can be. We then pass this information on to the end customer with a recommendation. In addition, we are currently running some Practical tests with various customers.
[infotext icon]Since 1985 FIPA Specialising in vacuum, gripper and lifting technology. At its headquarters in Ismaning near Munich, the company develops and sells quality products and innovative system solutions for all aspects of material flow. Corporate groups and medium-sized companies from various sectors use the products worldwide. <br />With their own design teams and extensive application expertise for the development of industry-specific solutions, the experts are competent partners when it comes to customised solutions through future-oriented automation. [/infotext]
