Four new PFM Falcon servo-controlled flow wrappers have been installed to link directly to four new IMA tea bag machines, and provide pillow packs of 40 tea bags for loading into cartons holding 40, 80, 160 and 240 by a Sewtec robot. The entire project was managed by carton supplier Chesapeake.
“PFM flow wrappers and IMA tea-baggers are operating successfully together elsewhere, and this was a principal reason for their choice,” said Twinings’ project/engineering manager, Ken Crowther.
Two of the IMA tea-bagging machines feed directly in line to their dedicated PFM flow wrappers, but, to suit factory layout, production from the other two tea bag machines has to be diverted 90 degrees by indexing turrets. These were purpose-designed by PFM.
The pillow packs have been introduced by Twinings to increase protection for its tea bags, and are made from biodegradable, metallised cellulose film. Peelable seals are created by the long dwell sealing jaws of the Falcon wrappers at production speeds up to 50 packs a minute.
As the packs are made, air jets directed at the sides help form gussets, providing a neater and shorter bag.
Source: PFM Packaging Machinery
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