Compac has extended its box filling platform with the launch of its Gentle Box Filler+solution.
The New Zealand-headquartered company, which is part of the Tomra Food group,said the new-generation model has been developed specifically for delicate produce.
“It combines faster throughput with the industry-leading gentle handling that is the hallmark of Compac's original box filler design,” Compac said in a release.
“The significantly higher throughput translates into more added value for the packer's operation due to the greater productivity, efficiency and flexibility, as well as a smaller initial investment – with the gentlest handling.”
As its name suggests, Gentle Box Filler+ delicately places fruit into the bottom of a pack and uses vibrations to settle it into place, preventing damage during the filling process.
Paul Ramson, director of solutions architecture product management at Compac, said the solution is ideal for bulk packing of produce such as kiwifruit and stonefruit, which bruise easily, and for repacked and ripe produce, which is softer and more susceptible to damage in handling.
“Compac's GBF original design provides the gentlest loose filling available on the market, which explains its continued success,” explained Ramson. “Today, we have box fillers topping 1m boxes filled.
“The new-generation GBF+ builds on this experience. It is just as delicate in its handling of the fruit, and it works faster. For example, in a typical New Zealand kiwifruit application, it roughly doubles the throughput that can be achieved – with no compromise on the quality of the product. We have tested it extensively in-house and validated it in a ten-filler installation at a New Zealand packhouse.”
