Ilapak launches ultra-hygienic vertical pouch maker for cheese producers

13 Jul 2018 --- With the trend for packing cheese in compact, convenience style stand-up pouches continuing to grow, Ilapak has launched a new ultra-hygienic version of its flagship Vegatronic vertical bag maker aimed at cheese makers. Whereas other systems might struggle to switch between different pouch formats, the Vegatronic 6000 SD can handle the full array of films and bag styles including complex EasyPack or FlexCan pouches; conventional block bottom and pillow packs; plus reseal options such as zippers, Velcro and peelable labels.

“Packing cheese is a marginal business and being able to increase productivity and switch between formats seamlessly is central to Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE),” says Ilapak Sales and Marketing Director Tony McDonald.

The Vegatronic 6000 SD can run off the full range of vertical bag styles with fast changeover. The modular machine uses a continuous film motion to form a bag from a single reel of wrapping material, unwound at a constant speed while filling and sealing the bag at the same time.

Thanks to its innovative box motion jaws that travel with the film, a longer seal time and higher sealing pressure can be achieved, resulting in lower leak rates, fewer pack rejects and more attractive finishes.

The Vegatronic 6000 SD USDA-compliant bagger has been designed to meet stringent sanitation standard operating procedures. In addition to incorporating a special Teflon coated finish on all the machine’s components, there are no cavities where sticky cheese can accumulate, reducing the risk of cross-contamination between product changeovers.

“Having installed over 500 systems for the cheese industry, Ilapak has unrivaled global experience in this sector. This latest development to our vertical form fill and seal range is testament to the importance of future proofing investments in automated bagging kit,” McDonald adds.