GEA debuts SmartPacker CX400 D-Zip for diverse bag types

GEA has announced the launch of a new vertical packaging machine for pre-packaged food products such as grated cheese for both retail and food service.

Available from November, SmartPacker CX400 D-Zip can produce more than ten different bag styles – including zippered stand-up pouches – for a wide variety of applications such as candy, nuts and frozen fruits.

Through conducting research, GEO discovered that customers demanded more flexibility in bag styles, reduced maintenance costs and downtime, as well as increased sustainability in manufacturing.

While GEA’s SmartPacker has been on the market for more than 60 years, the company’s new edition claims to combine fast, high-quality operation with maximum flexibility and uptime, meeting the current demands of both processors and consumers.

SmartPacker CX400 D-Zip claims to offer an output of up to 100 D-Zip bags per minute, 98% uptime and the smallest footprint of any other comparable machine in the industry.

The ‘easy-to-use’ machine also features a newly-developed corner seal unit which GEA says reduces complexity and improves quality, flexibility and serviceability. The machine is capable of varying seal width and can be configured for two or four seals.

The SmartPacker CX400 D-Zip creates all existing bag styles, has a changeover time of under 45 minutes and features front discharge. The smart design of the machine is said to reduce the amount of plastic required for the zipper by approximately 15% by eliminating the zipper-material in the cross seal.

“The SmartPacker CX400 D-Zip is future-ready,” said Martijn van de Mortel, product manager vertical packaging at GEA.

He added: “Whether the need is for high quality, more capacity, greater flexibility, a small footprint, low maintenance or a combination of all of these, the SmartPacker CX400 D-Zip answers the call. It’s capable of producing all common bag types on a single machine without compromising any expectations.”