Lollipops are traditional favorites in the confectionery business. However, as a mature market competition is fierce. To stand out from the crowd, it is necessary to have products that not only appeal to consumers but also offer real benefits for the wholesaler and retailer.
Lollipops are traditional favorites in the confectionery business. However, as a mature market competition is fierce. To stand out from the crowd, it is necessary to have products that not only appeal to consumers but also offer real benefits for the wholesaler and retailer. So in addition to making the lollipops more fun with 3D shapes, multi-colors and other novelties, manufacturers are looking to packaging to help differentiate their products. Two recent wrapping innovations from GEA Food Solutions, the manufacturers of the GEA Aquarius forming, filling and wrapping solutions, are the moisture-proof OverlapSeal double-twist wrapper and the EasyOpen tear slit for opening lollipops.
One for the wholesaler and retailer…
Specially developed with the needs of wholesalers and retailers in mind, the OverlapSeal double-twist wrapper is a hermetically sealed twist wrap style that considerably extends the shelf life of lollipops, particularly in areas with high atmospheric humidity.
The double-twist wrapper is a cost-effective configuration that can use up to 30% less film than a single bunch wrapper, but in the regular execution, moisture can reach the sugar along the vertical seam. This inevitably limits the shelf life. By developing the OverlapSeal double-twist wrapper, GEA has produced a wrapper that simplifies logistics as well as keeping the products in top condition for longer. Even totally immersing the wrapped lollipop in water doesn’t allow moisture to get through the seal!
The OverlapSeal is a patented invention and can be specified on the GEA Aquarius TwistWrapper machine or retro-fitted to existing machines. It can be used to twist-wrap lollipops from diameter 16 up to 30 mm at a very high speed. Sealing is via contact less energy transfer and is temperature controlled on each individual sealing station. It is suitable for heat-sealable wrapping materials like cellophane, polypropylene, laminates and wax paper. There are two variations, a single inner side sealing layer with memory and a double sealing layer that seals inner and outer side.
…and one for the consumer
Of course, the OverlapSeal is appealing for the trade, whereas the kids are more concerned about getting to that delicious candy as quickly as possible! So by adding a simple v-shaped slit to the vertical seal, the lollipop can be quickly opened. Called the EasyOpen, it is even easier to open than a regular double twist wrapper. Again, it is available as an option on new machines and as a field upgrade for existing GEA Aquarius TwistWrappers.
Source: GEA Food Solutions