As a result, the line has been running smoothly over several months.
Bosch Packaging Systems, a division of Bosch Packaging Technology, offered Nyåkers the perfect solution for flow-wrapping its Ginger Snaps. The packaging system consists of a Sigpack FGM slug feeder, a horizontal flow-wrapping machine Sigpack HCS and a Sigpack FCC cross chain unit.
The three-leg system from Bosch makes it possible to pack crumbly, baked goods at high speeds, while offering gentle product handling and high seal integrity. For instance, the slugs have to be tightly sealed in order to guarantee the best possible moisture barrier for this delicate product.
As the gingerbreads emerge from the oven, a spreading device divides them into six lanes. Conveyor belts then transport the gingerbreads to the vibratory channels. They serve as a buffer to gently compensate production variations in the overall system. Each vibratory chute is individually controlled so that the pressure on the product doesn’t exceed the permissible value. In addition, it ensures that the slug portions can be configured correctly.
The Sigpack FGM slug feeder, which forms the slug portions, is easily accessible and can be cleaned and maintained simply and quickly. The servo technology facilitates a flexible system for quick and easy changeovers (another requirement from the bakery producer). The slug portions are smoothly inserted into the Sigpack FCC cross chain unit, which then pushes them into the in-feed chain. The individual portions of 14 gingerbreads are fed lengthwise into the Sigpack HCS and packaged in flow wraps with a nominal performance rate of 55 packages a minute.
The flow wrapper’s ergonomic design allows for easy access to all machine parts. The optimal operating height allows for convenient operation, fast format changes and easy exchanges of packaging material rolls. Automatic film splicing reduces downtimes to a minimum and eliminates operator errors, both key factors that contribute to increased productivity. Machine characteristics eliminating any potential errors are particularly important, as the factory’s remote location makes it difficult to reach for maintenance.
With its head office in the Swedish countryside, around 600km north of Stockholm, Nyåkers is one of the last gingerbread factories in the country and is one of the largest employers in the region, with around 70 employees.
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