Bosch Launches Pack 301 ID to European Market

For European manufacturers requiring hermetic sealing for products that are difficult to handle on a traditional upright flow wrapper, Bosch Packaging Technology, one of the leading suppliers of complete solutions in processing and packaging technology, launched the Pack 301 ID (Inverted Dwell) horizontal flow wrapper.

The machine combines two proven features in one machine to provide gentle, secure packaging and hermetic seals: the inverted machine design and the long-dwell sealing technology, which makes it ideal for soft, sticky, flexible or difficult-to-handle products that require hermetic sealing for a broad format range. Products like fresh produce, meat and cheese are particularly suitable to be packaged on the Pack 301 ID, which is also available in combination with Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP).

“As consumer focus on product safety intensifies, technologies like the Pack 301 ID for hermetic sealing are in demand,” said Leon Arkesteijn, product manager, Bosch Packaging Technology. “The machine’s longer sealing time coupled with TCO-enhancing benefits and operator-friendly features meet manufacturers’ needs for efficiency and product safety.”

Hermetic sealing for extended product shelf life
The long-dwell sealing technology allows for sealing times of up to one second, resulting in hermetic packages for extended product shelf life and safety. With the sealing time being independent of the machine’s speed, product waste is reduced and consistent seal quality ensured at all times, even during ramp up and ramp down periods. The independent temperature control on the top and bottom sealing jaws accommodates a wide range of film qualities and further contributes to high seal quality and consistency. Since the hermetic seals prevent any exchange of gases, the Pack 301 ID is ideal for applications that require MAP.

Secure product transport and minimal film waste
To ensure secure product handling and to reduce jams, the Pack 301 ID’s inverted design gently transports products on top of the film from the folding box through the cutting head. Its modular backstand with inverted film unwinder can be located in various positions relative to the infeed and wrapper, allowing manufacturers to select the optimal film path. The machine can be integrated with a variety of infeeds such as robotic, flighted and belt feeders, and can be configured to accommodate different floor space requirements.

One of the Pack 301 ID’s efficiency-enhancing features is its ability to detect products located between the cross-sealing jaws. This functionality ensures that the film remains unsealed and the respective packages are rejected automatically resulting in maximum uptime. It also prevents material built-up on the sealing jaws and therefore minimizes cleaning time while reducing product and film waste.

Simplified maintenance and changeover, maximum uptime
To simplify maintenance and maximize uptime, the Pack 301 ID has been designed based on the Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) concept. The hygienic and open design allows for fast cleaning and easy operation. Knives can be changed and cleaned without tools and the transport belt at the sealing station can be easily exchanged for cleaning and maintenance. Reproducible settings ensure a reliable and rapid product changeover as well as high flexibility. Furthermore, the intuitive Human Machine Interface (HMI) supports operator-friendliness.

The Pack 301 ID is the latest addition to Bosch’s Pack Series of horizontal flow wrappers built on decades of experience in developing horizontal packaging solutions including flow wrappers, distribution and feeding systems. Integrated in one of the two Module ++ Lines on display, which link the company’s proven standard modules for customized processing and packaging solutions, the Pack 301 ID has been showcased at Interpack 2014, Duesseldorf, Germany.

Source: Bosch Packaging Technology