Pack Expo 2023: IMA Dairy & Food US unravels automatization drivers at this year’s show

29 Aug 2023 --- IMA Group is addressing the packaging challenges of the food and dairy industry at Pack Expo 2023. Ahead of the trade show scheduled for September 11 to 13 in Las Vegas, US, we talk to Dan Margherio, business development manager for IMA Dairy & Food US, who tells us that the industry continues to witness a “hyper-competitiveness” for labor, partly driven by the ripple effects of the post-COVID-19 “Great Resignation.”

“Many workers are now seeking more overall flexibility, so they are less willing to accept traditional shift-centric manufacturing roles,” states Margherio.

“Encouragingly, maintenance-free high-speed filling lines are helping to alleviate labor and staff shortages. Specialization is another tool, with many multinational trade partners combating the increasing dearth of technical experience with specific and recurring training programs directly supported by suppliers and manufacturers.”

IMA Group – including brands Hassia, Gasti, Hamba, Fillshape, Corazza, Erca, AlphaMAC and Intecma – is offering solutions at the trade show with state-of-the-art form, fill and seal machines (FFS) for cups, portion packs, sticks packs and sachets, and fill and seal machines for preformed cups, tubs and bottles.

Standardization over customization
The company will highlight its capabilities to construct customized packaging lines for the food industry – and the dairy sector specifically. This includes mitigating labor shortage challenges through enhanced automation and achieving rapid return on investment via high-speed production. Zero Technology can be applied to all tools contained in a form, fill and seal machine.

“Customization has its benefits in some applications, but most food manufacturers prefer more standardized packaging machines (off-the-shelf solutions) as these tend to be more compatible with other equipment on conventional lines,” notes Margherio. 

“Standardized equipment also brings the benefits of quicker lead times and broader availability. In addition, standardization of parts is necessary for continuity and streamlined maintenance.”

Efficient use of human resource
One of the machines IMA Ilapak brings to Pack Expo is the Vision 2000, a suite of counting systems. It offers a flexible, accurate and low-noise alternative to conventional vibratory counters. Using advanced line scan camera technology, the Vision 2000 counts and feeds baked goods into boxes or the infeed of a vertical FFS machine. 

Other machines include dosing, wrapping and packaging solutions by brands Corazza and Benhil for paste and pressed soup cubes, butter and margarine and cheese. 

IMA acts as a technological partner and business advisor, supplying high, medium and low-speed processing, dosing and wrapping lines ranging from stand-alone machines to fully integrated, turnkey lines, including boxing and cartooning machines and end-of-line packaging in display and bulk containers.

“There are several benefits to enhanced automation and digitalization in packaging lines, including improved product quality, shorter lead times, increased production and higher throughput,” says Margherio.

“Automation and digitalization also allow organizations to take on more business by freeing human operators to handle more impactful and meaningful tasks.”

Monomaterial packaging for the future
According to Margherio, the biggest “push-pull” in food and dairy product packaging is increasing sustainability and recyclability without adversely impacting shelf life, product hygiene or customer satisfaction. IMA Dairy and Food Dosing, wrapping and packaging solution for butter and margarine.

IMA Dairy & Food recently introduced a set of tools called Zero Technology for food brands utilizing monomaterial packages. The tools are designed for manufacturers hoping to transition their packaging to more eco-conscious materials, such as PET, PP and PLA. 

“Zero Technology utilizes a patented punch process providing high-quality cutting and precutting of PET, PP and PLA. This allows for easily breaking multipacks into individual units – a notoriously cumbersome process that has limited the use of eco-friendly, monomaterial packaging materials in many applications,” details Margherio. 

The Zero Technology uses independent sleeves that allow cup design changes without the need to manufacture an entirely new thermoforming mold. The solution can be easily dismantled for hassle-free maintenance, extending the mold’s lifespan while maintaining peak performance. 

“Outfitting a formed cup with a PET lid and label creates a completely recyclable package for premium sustainability. In addition, transparent monomaterials make the product visible to consumers, enhancing on-shelf aesthetics,” continues Margherio. 

“For the customers we generally work with, environmental sustainability efforts largely revolve around transitioning to more recyclable plastics, as opposed to eliminating plastics. From our perspective, the future will likely heavily involve PET structures – we see many initiatives with trade partners heading in this direction.”

By Radhika Sikaria