Produce Packaging is working in partnership with Potatopak Ltd to promote a range of biodegradable packaging manufactured almost entirely from potato starch.
The product can biodegrade in anything from two weeks to two months, depending on the various mixes that are available. Potatopak has two different types of raw material mixes, although modifications are being made all the time.
Mark Tierney of Produce Packaging, explains: "The dry mix is used in the manufacture of catering disposables such as fish-and-chip trays, and allows the trays to break down completely in as little as two weeks.
“The wet mix has been developed specifically for the fresh produce industry. It means that produce can be packed onto the trays and distributed through a cool-chain system without the tray starting to break down. This mix extends the life of the tray from two weeks to two months.
“However, the product will only start to break down once in ideal composting conditions with the correct mix of heat and moisture."
Tierney says that the Potatopak products go a long way to offering a more sustainable alternative to conventional packaging materials. He says: "In a market with ever increasing volumes of pre-packed fresh produce and fewer ways of disposing of the waste, matched with growing financial penalties for producing waste, Potatopak provides a viable solution."
Potatopak products are the only UK-made biodegradable starch-based packaging material available for the fresh produce industry. All other options are manufactured either in mainland Europe or the Far East and then have to be shipped to the UK for packing. Tierney says: "Potatopak is working with a number of UK potato producers and the British Potato Council to look into the feasibility of using waste potato starch from UK potato processors and even growing potatoes in the UK for starch for the trays."
MOLINS MOTORS
Rose Forgrove and Sandiacre Packaging Machinery - both part of Molins Packaging Machinery - have recently launched new products.
Rose Forgrove has revealed its high speed, high seal integrity Integra HS Flowpak™ flow wrapper which offers increased output, reduced set-up times and reduced waste.
Steven Moore, sales manager at Rose Forgrove said: "Integra can be used for a variety of pre-packed salads. The system has always performed well in meeting its hygiene criteria. But it is now able to deliver its requirements at much higher rates.
“Speeds of 150 units a minute will be achievable at pack sizes of 160mm long. This will be of great benefit to many sectors of the packaging industry. The combination of seal integrity and high product throughput will be especially appealing to those involved in modified atmosphere packaging."
Meanwhile Sandiacre Packaging Machinery has a new high speed TG250-RC continuous motion vertical form/fill/seal machine offering flexibility with low maintenance and reduced set- up times. It is ideal for use in the fresh produce market. Both polyethylene and heat-sealable materials are readily accommodated with either hot air or rotary-band back seals being employed for the vertical seal.
SLIDER ANSWER
Since the 1950s, Zip-Pak has been developing and producing resealable zipper solutions which keep food items fresh.
The company has recently launched a quick-zip slider™ which is ideal for fresh fruit and vegetables. The mechanism slides easily across the zipper for reliable opening and closing. It is an economical, high-performance slider for low-density polyethylene bags.
"There has been a rise in retail demand for larger, lower-density bags that incorporate resealability to create products that stay fresh throughout multiple servings," explains Robert Hogan, director of sales and marketing at Zip-Pak. "Our new quick-zip slider™ is a reliable and economical way to reach out to consumers seeking greater convenience."
The company has also launched EZ open strip™ which facilitates quick and safe opening of food service packages without the use of a knife for those working in the food-services industry.
The tear-off strip, which features an encapsulated perforation, enables users to open a package in one quick motion, providing easy access to the product inside. Hogan says: "In the fast-paced food-service industry, chefs and food expect convenience products that will maximise efficiencies.”
TALKING THE DISPLAY TALK
Leading Edge offers a host of innovative solutions which aim to solve problems and help address some of the issues encountered within fresh produce.
Joint Managing Director Ian Barwick says: "We have developed a range of products which take "traditional" fresh produce packaging a step further."
The first of these are on-pack attachments. This unique type of label allows product samples such as sachets to be applied to the outside of other products. Barwick explains: "These labels are an effective means of cross-sampling or trialing products and ideal for samples which are unable to be inserted inside of product packaging. For example, a sachet of cheese sauce can be attached to the outside or bottom of pre-packed cauliflower."
Following further R&D, Leading Edge has recently created a patented Peel & Re-seal wine glass, which is ideal for netted products such as onions, garlic, shallots or stone fruit. Barwick says: "These innovative labels have been created to have only two substrates which make them more cost effective to produce. They are ideal not only for communicating essential product details, but also recipes, serving suggestions or even a promotional message or additional branding.
"This new type of label has been well received and we have just had a substantial production order from a major multiple to produce labels for this season's peaches, nectarines and plums."
Following feedback from customers, the company developed a range of point-of-sale (POS) display-talkers. Barwick says: "These have been created to highlight promotional messages or offers for loose products. This unique form of POS has recently been developed one step further to effectively help eradicate retailer issues over implementation. On arrival in stores, products are simply unpacked and merchandised and POS implemented by flipping the display-talkers over."
TNA’S ROBAG REWARDED
TNA Europe has launched a new range of Robag® 3 machines, including a stainless-steel rotary double-jaw machine, which is suitable for packing fresh produce such as salads and vegetables.
The machine is capable of handling up to 220 bags a minute, which is 100-150 per cent faster than conventional bag-makers. It boasts efficiencies greater than 95 per cent and a has reject rate of less than 0.5 per cent.
Greater production speeds are achieved with the capacity to perform rapid film and former changes in less than a minute. Jaws, knives and drive belts can each be changed in 60 seconds.
The machine also offers a great deal of flexibility. It can produce bags from as narrow as 40mm to a width of 420mm at virtually any length. It also offers many optional enhancements such as block bottom, Quattro pack, string, sachet and multi-packs, while still being able to pack the more common pillow-pack formats.
The unique film spindle and single action film threading capacity of the new machines make it easier to work with than previous Robag® models. The advanced servo technology allows machine specifications to be pre-programmed and automated, saving time spent on set-up and product changeovers.
The innovation of the latest machinery was recognised at the Total Processing & Packaging Exhibition 2004. TNA won two prestigious awards. The company received the Processing Packaging Machinery Association’s Design and Manufacture Overseas Supplier award, which recognised innovative design or application of machinery built outside the UK.
TNA Europe was also honoured to receive the Institute of Packaging’s Starpack Machinery Award 2004.
GREAT WESTERN STEAMS IN
The Great Western Packaging Co has won an award in the National Packaging Council's 2004 design and construction competition.
The company, based in Cricklade in Wiltshire, designed a hexagon-shaped presentation pack for national flower delivery firm World Flowers and the pack took the bronze award in both the corrugated and protective packaging categories.
World Flowers uses the new series of boxes for a range of bouquets which are supplied to customers of Tesco.
Great Western's more flexible and streamlined packaging design for Tesco's Flower Direct range also included establishing a uniform box size with universal fittings and improving the overall look with high-quality graphics.
Ian Cook, managing director of Great Western, said: "Our design meant we could simplify the manufacturing process by introducing a common size as well as adding a premium appearance to the packaging by printing onto the boxes after production.
“Our expertise has provided a packaging option which not only offers good protection for the fragile contents and looks good, but has also brought reduced costs."
