Selig Group is pleased to announce its largest range of flexible packaging, liners and vents is on show at Fachpack 20022, offering manufacturers even more choice. From Selig’s Ecoflex highly recyclable flexible packaging and newly available in Europe PreVentorTM Press-Fit vents to the expanded range of foam liners, there is a packaging solution for every requirement.

Selig Ecoflex flexible packaging

On stand is Selig Flexibles’ highly recyclable solution, Ecoflex, that is proving popular with baby food, confectionery, snacking, and pharmaceutical manufacturers alike. A range of trials were run with customers in 2021 that have resulted in them making the switch to more sustainable packaging. Selig’s Ecoflex flexible solutions are made from a PP single-material packaging material for recycling (cold seal applications), that is made of recyclable polypropylene and that provides an excellent barrier against oxygen, water vapour and most mineral oils.

Ecoflex can be processed at high speed on most packaging equipment and thermal damage is avoided, due to the cold seal application. The packaging also offers very good puncture resistance, and thickness differences in overlap seams are well compensated. In addition, the printed packaging is detectable in most sorting plants in Europe and can be assigned to the PP recycling stream and recycled. Thus, valuable plastic is recovered from the packaging material.

Expanded range of liners

Following recent acquisitions, such as MGJ – a leading supplier of foam-based liners worldwide, Selig Group, now offers one of the most extensive ranges of primary seals, induction seals, glue applied, induction bond and vented sealing solutions. On stand at FACHPACK are the company’s oenosealÒ, tresyleneÒ and Uni-FoamÔ liners. Oenoseal offers wine producers the ability to seal screwcap bottles cost-effectively, whilst helping the wine to age to perfection. Tresylene, an expanded polyethylene foam coated on each side with a polymer film, can be tailored to suit the specific the barrier requirements of the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and agrochemical markets. Uni-Foam, a robust, non-absorbent expanded polyethylene lining material, is compressible and resistant to microbial growth. It offers a highly efficient and reliable barrier to aqueous, acidic, or oil-based liquids.

Pushfit vents

Selig has begun stocking the company’s highly successful push fit PreVentorTM Press-Fit vents in Europe. The range has been developed to allow containers to breathe and equalise pressure, without risk of leakage or contamination. Developed around Selig’s world-class package venting design, the vents not only resolve off-gassing problems but can be used to lightweight packaging.

Holger Alvensleben, Sales Director at Selig Flexibles, comments: “We are bringing our biggest range of packaging solutions to this year’s Fachpack. Producers can now resolve their sustainable packaging, sealing and container bloating and paneling issues more easily and quickly.”

As part of a press conference at Fachpack, Hans-Joachim Boekstegers, Director and CEO of Multivac, gave an overview of the current development of the business, as well as the packaging trends at Multivac and just some of the company’s many product innovations on the exhibition stand.

With a turnover of around 1.1 billion euros, the Multivac Group was able to achieve in 2018 a growth in turnover of 7.7 percent over the previous year. The number of employees increased to 6,400 worldwide. “Despite many economic and political uncertainties, we are expecting a slight growth in turnover for the current business year,” explained Hans-Joachim Boekstegers.

Investment in the worldwide production network

The continued expansion of production capacity has a high priority in the future as well. A new Center of Excellence for slicers and automation solutions is currently being built at the company’s headquarters in Wolfertschwenden, and this is due for completion in 2020. Its floor space of approx. 17,000 square metres will also create 180 high-quality office workstations, as well as conference and function rooms, which will be capable of being used very flexibly. As regards the Multivac subsidiary TVI, production and administration facilities will be concentrated on a greenfield site of around 9,000 square metres at the Bruckmühl site. A new Center of Excellence for meat portioning machines is also currently being built there, and this will similarly be put into operation in 2020. The highlight of this is an Application Center, which is specifically designed for the needs of customers. The company is also currently planning to manufacture packaging machines and peripheral components in Taicang (China). In addition to manufacturing, the facility will also have development and design departments. The start of production is planned for the end of 2019.

From machine manufacturer to supplier of complete solutions

With the takeover of the Fritsch Group in August 2019, Multivac is complementing its range of solutions, so that in future it will also be able to offer complete production lines from one source to the bakery industry as well. Fritsch is a manufacturer of bakery equipment with its headquarters in the town of Markt Einersheim in Lower Franconia. The product range consists of high-performance equipment and groundbreaking technology for dough forming and processing – from tabletop units to industrial-scale systems. “This acquisition is another important step in expanding our range of integrated solutions for processing and packaging food products,” explained Hans-Joachim Boekstegers. “It is our aspiration to always be able to offer our customers the most efficient total solution.”

Sustainability concept

“When it comes to sustainable packaging solutions, we are the partner of choice,” said Hans-Joachim Boekstegers. “We are raising the awareness of sustainable packaging concepts among our customers worldwide. We are now multiplying our sustainable concepts worldwide, even in those regions, where we have not yet seen an active demand for these solutions.” The Multivac product portfolio includes a wide range of sustainable packaging concepts, which make a significant contribution to reducing the packaging material used to produce packs. Other concepts are based on the use of renewable raw materials or fully recyclable films such as for example mono plastics, or alternatively paper fibre-based packaging materials.

X-line machine generation

Digitalisation is a fundamental component for Multivac in the development of new products, and it is therefore systematically incorporated into all packaging solutions. “Now that our RX 4.0 thermoforming packaging machine has set a new benchmark in the market, we have expanded our range in the X-line machine generation with the addition of another future-proofed model,” explained Hans-Joachim Boekstegers. “The features of the new TX 710 traysealer are a robust machine concept and an intelligent control system. These ensure that the maximum output, reliability and flexibility are achieved.” At FachPack the TX 710 was given the “German Packaging Award” in the packaging machine sector by the German Packaging Institute (Deutsches Verpackungsinstitut e.V.).

New generation of cross web labellers

A new generation of cross web labellers is also being presented by Multivac at the trade fair. In addition to improved performance and operating reliability, one of the features of the new models compared to the previous labelling solutions are their lower life cycle costs. The use of state-of-the-art communication standards such as IO-link and EtherCAT ensures they are equipped for the future. This enables additional sensor systems for example to be used, such as those for labelling inspection or predictive maintenance.

Full wrap labelling offers a wide range of design options

The trade fair highlights also include a labelling solution for the D labelling of packs, which is marketed under the name “Full wrap labelling”. As with a banderole or sleeve, the label is completely wrapped around the pack, and this offers many possibilities for different types of pack design, as well as increasing the attractiveness of the packs at the point of sale.

Management change

After more than 18 years as CEO of the Multivac Group, Hans-Joachim Boekstegers will hand over the business on 1 January 2020 to his director colleagues, Christian Traumann and Guido Spix, and bow out of the company. Hans-Joachim Boekstegers joined the Multivac Group as CEO in April 2001 and has since played a determining role in driving forward the successful development of the company. He was responsible in particular for the systematic expansion of the product portfolio and Multivac’s sales and service network. “I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to all representatives of the media for their great interest in Multivac and their professional and comprehensive reporting,” said Hans-Joachim Boekstegers in summary.

At Fachpack 2019 Multivac will be presenting a new generation of cross web labellers. In addition to improved performance and operating reliability, one of the features of the new models compared to the previous labelling solutions are their lower life cycle costs. The use of state-of-the-art communication standards such as IO-link and EtherCAT ensures that they are equipped for the future. This enables additional sensor systems for example to be used, such as those for labelling inspection or predictive maintenance.

The new cross web labellers are process-controlled. Individual movements are overlaid as much as possible, so that an optimised and therefore significantly faster labelling process is achieved. Servo drives on all axes, as well as the virtually continuous operation of the longitudinal shift unit, ensure that the cycle output is increased still further.

Higher performance, compact design

The new labellers have been fitted with the latest generation of label dispensers, which also contribute to a higher cycle output thanks to their sophisticated servo motor technology. The use of servo drives also offers the benefit, that no reference runs have to be performed before the labelling operation is begun – and this means that set-up and conversion times are reduced, so that the labellers are operational more rapidly.

The robust construction of the new machine generation also makes a contribution to increasing the cycle output. The axis of the longitudinal shift unit is for example designed with even greater torsional rigidity than previously. The machines operate with significantly less vibration, and their travel range can be completed in a shorter time. The simplified construction with its fewer number of deflection rollers accelerates label roll change and makes it even easier, so that downtime is also reduced. In addition to these benefits, the more compact design also means a reduction in space requirement.

Greater ease of operation, high level of efficiency

The new machine generation from Multivac also sets the benchmark in the market for its ease of operation. Menu guidance has been optimised and equipped with an integrated wizard function. The system only needs the required number of cycles to be entered – after that all the relevant speed and acceleration parameters are adjusted automatically. The Quick Control panel is also integrated in the labeller housing, so that the operator has less distance to cover.

Removal of the vacuum box hood and access to the pusher plate set is quick and easy, and this can be performed without any tools. The necessary service work can be carried out in a user-friendly way and above all very rapidly. The reduction in time and effort increases efficiency and makes itself felt immediately in the life cycle costs.

Maximum reliability, high level of availability

Particular importance was attached to machine reliability, especially in view of the high cycle speeds. The constant monitoring of travel speeds and torque ensures that the highest level of process and operating reliability is achieved even at maximum output.

Thanks to targeted minimisation of potential faults, Multivac has significantly increased the reliability and availability of the labelling system. The reduction in moving parts and an improvement in the cable feed also make a significant contribution.

Equipped for the future

The new cross web labellers are already designed for the demands of tomorrow. State-of-the-art communication standards such as IO-link and EtherCAT enable the machines to be equipped with the latest sensor technology. Additional solutions for labelling inspection can also be easily retrofitted, since the corresponding interfaces are already integrated. And last but not least, the labellers are designed for predictive maintenance.

Multivac at the Fachpack 2019: Hall 1, Stand 221