GEA delivers energy-saving confectionery packing with SmartPacker TwinTube launch
01 Apr 2020 --- Food packaging and processing solutions provider GEA has launched its SmartPacker TwinTube packaging machine to the European market. Ideal for packaging small-sized, on-the-go food products, the new high-speed system reduces both operational time, costs and energy across its vertical modules. GEA’s SmartPacker also allows users to switch out individual modules to adapt to ever-changing packaging demands while still using the same machine. This prolongs the lifespan of the system and makes for a “future-proof” investment.
“We’ve increased operator friendliness by introducing tool-less adjustment features, which help achieve shorter change-over times, with a proven and error-free setup of the machine. This includes printers, labelers and the vertical sealing unit. With these new updates, we’re able to meet our customers’ demands in terms of automated process control, less operator dependence, more uptime and operational efficiency,” explains Martijn van de Mortel, Product Manager Vertical Packaging at GEA. 
Pillow bag produced on GEA SmartPacker TwinTube.The TwinTube is a continuous motion vertical machine, suitable for packaging hard and soft candy, savory snacks, nuts and dried fruit in 60/145 mm pillow bags. It operates with two parallel forming tubes, achieving combined speeds of up to 500 bags per minute, weighing 10 to 20 g each. It is also possible to run a different film reel for each tube, meaning calorie packs of varying widths or designs can be simultaneously filled.
Automatic web tracking and easy labeling
The SmartPacker TwinTube is equipped with automated web tracking, which automatically corrects the direction of the film should it stray from its path. This safeguards the quality of the resulting bags while saving on downtime.
“The nicest thing, in my opinion, is the web tracking. There’s no hassle for the operator to check whether the film is running perfectly. The machine will do that itself,” says Jacques Timmermans, Application Specialist at GEA.
Moreover, its TiroLabel labeling unit delivers a speed of up to 180 labels per minute at a width of 150 mm and achieves millimeter precision during labeling. The label roll has a quick-release operation, which means it can be easily changed in seconds with minimal downtime.
The SmartPacker now also features the Jumbo Roll, which allows film reels of up to 100 kg per roll to be used for long production runs, which boosts operational efficiency. “We run two types of film on this machine. We offer plastic as well as paper. The machine will run the same bag with paper and plastic. After use, the paper can go to the paper waste stream,” Timmermans adds.
The SmartPacker is suitable to pack a variety of snacks and confectionery.Reinforced sealing for more flexibility
The SmartPacker features a new jaw-closing mechanism, optimized heating unit and a vertical rotational seal unit, which promotes robust packing performance and ensures tightly packed seals. Moreover, a low drop between the weigher and jaw head allows high speed and compact portion packing. “The jaw-closing mechanism offers more than triple sealing force as the previous one and can apply 6000 N. This facilitates the use of thicker films or films with more diverse characteristics in terms of sealing requirements,” the company maintains.
Due to the more stable suspension of the longitudinal seam unit and the reproducible and precise positioning by spindle and ruler, shorter change-over times are possible when switching formats or foils. “With this development, producers will be able to work with more challenging films thus able to give retailers and consumers what they are looking for in terms of bag quality with an even wider range of film materials,” concludes van de Mortel.
Edited by Anni Schleicher
