Live from Anuga FoodTec: Multivac demonstrates new traysealer for high performance food packing

27 Apr 2022 --- Multivac is presenting a new compact and fully automatic traysealer for food, supermarkets and large kitchen applications at the ongoing Anuga FoodTec 2022 trade show in Cologne, Germany. Michael Wolters, a product specialist at the packaging solutions provider, talked us through the T 305 machine’s performance, material and shape flexibility, and digital support capabilities.

The versatile all-rounder builds on the success of the T 300 traysealer and is designed for packing small and medium-sized batches in the food sector, and quick product changes. It has been developed to produce attractive MAP (modified atmosphere packaging) and vacuum skin packs and can be used for ready meals, convenience foods and snacks, meat, sausage products, cheese, fish and seafood, and fruit or vegetables.

“A main benefit of the T 305 is its small footprint while the customer has higher output. Also, it has an automatic loading system, so that the customer can build their own line step-by-step,” Wolters tells PackagingInsights.

“Multivac offers a smart digital system where the customer can control their production. This machine – one of the smallest machines possible – can connect to this system so customers can manage their production time.”

Limitless shapes and materials
The T 305 also boasts “practically no limits” in the tray shapes and materials it can run, including plastic and paperboard. With a maximum format width of 420 x 300 mm, it can run a wide variety of trays made of paper fiber or board, plastic, aluminum or foamed materials, and an extensive range of upper webs.The T 305 traysealer at Anuga FoodTec 2022.

More environmentally sustainable packaging materials, such as monofilms or Multicac PaperBoard, can also be used on the traysealer.

“We can use all durable materials on the market on the T 305,” reiterates Wolters. “Our construction department can adapt the shape during the hot die set design and design the pressure roles for trays with special shapes.”

“The customer will decide what material they want to use, and we have to make sure that we can seal that material. We have worked with all monomaterial applications and at the moment paperboard is a very high request from customers. We are also able to make paperboard in different sizes.”

Cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency
The robust 305 traysealer uses the latest technology to enable a high output level while providing optimal pack quality with gentle tray handling. It can be designed with up to four tracks for maximum output of small trays.Michael Wolters, product specialist at Multivac, speaking at Anuga FoodTec 2022.

The German company says the machine is “built around environmental sustainability,” with energy-efficient drive systems and a machine construction designed for durability. When the machine was being developed, special emphasis was also placed on ease of cleaning, user-friendliness and safety.

The T 305 is straightforward to operate via its IPC03 machine control with touchscreen, and its entire loading area can be completely flushed through with cleaning flaps. Necessary recipe and format changes can be performed in a very short time and with maximum process reliability.

Moreover, operators do not come into contact with hot die sets during their hectic everyday work. Due to the DT 305 die-changing trolley, format changes can be performed quickly, conveniently and safely. The new T 305 is also ideally prepared for use with the various Multivac Smart Services, future-proofing it for a digital future.

Flexible portioning line
At Anuga FoodTec 2022, the T 305 can be viewed as part of a highly flexible portioning line for retail packs. A GMS 400 portioning machine cuts steaks and lays them in a shingled pattern on a transport conveyor.The T 305 boasts “practically no limits” in the tray shapes and materials it can run.

The trays are “denested” in parallel with this conveyor and placed onto a second transport conveyor. Both conveyors converge just before the T 305 traysealer, and the portions slide into the trays.

This single-track product flow of filled trays is then diverged into two tracks by a diverger since the traysealer is designed as a two-track. The trays are packed under a modified atmosphere in the packaging machine.

Stay tuned as we bring you more coverage of the big themes and developments from Anuga FoodTec 2022 in the coming days.

By Joshua Poole, reporting from Anuga FoodTec 2022 in Cologne, Germany