A single source for complete wrapping solutions

Tuesday, 04 August 2009

Kennedy’s Confection takes a look at the continuous development of the THEEGARTEN-PACTEC range of innovative packaging solutions through the years THEEGARTEN-PACTEC came into existence in 1994 through the merger of ROSE-THEEGARTEN and PACTEC. The acquisition of PACTEC allowed ROSE-THEEGARTEN to extend its manufacturing programme and gain an experienced partner with specific strengths in Eastern European markets. Just like ROSE-THEEGARTEN, PACTEC – an offspring of the former NAGEMA-combinate – had outstanding knowledge of the development and construction of packaging machines – dating back to the late 19th century. Today, 280 employees contribute to a continuous development programme to provide state-of-the-art equipment. Due to this specialisation the company’s export rate is very high. Marketing activities are supported by an extensive network of agents all over the world. Indeed, the company has agents in more than 50 countries. In spite of its global presence THEEGARTEN-PACTEC has maintained its character as medium-sized family business and is still owned and managed by the fourth generation of the Theegarten family. The production programme The production program comprises not only individual wrapping machines but also complete wrapping system solutions for high boiled sweets, chewing gum, bubble gum and chewy candy, chocolates, soup cubes and tablets, and non-food products (such as dishwasher and detergent tablets). The machines cover different speed ranges – from 300 up to 2,300 wrapped products per minute. The variety of possible wrapping styles also provides flexibility for customers.   Chocolate wrapping technology Technology is a core competence of THEEGARTEN-PACTEC. Inspiration for new packaging styles often comes from customers’ marketing teams. When a customer develops a new product many packaging opportunities present themselves – this could be a challenging dimension or size, which requires a new, innovative wrapping solution. A chocolate product wrapped in a clip style package is just one of the examples for innovation driven by THEEGARTEN-PACTEC’s customers. This application was integrated in the CWM, a wrapping machine for chocolate. Beside Top Clip, this machine is suitable to wrap the products in side-, double- and top-twist as well as bunch wrap. Another example is the development of the protected twist wrapping style by THEEGARTEN-PACTEC’s engineers. This is based on standard double twist-wrapping machines combined with cold seal mask-coated foil. The packaging material is cold sealed during the wrapping process, resulting in air-tight packages. This sealing provides a significant extension of shelf-life, attaining the highest hygienic standards and providing tamper evidence for the wrapped products. THEEGARTEN-PACTEC provides complete system reliability. Originally, the company was known only as  a supplier for primary wrapping machines. Today, however, it has changed into a supplier of complete wrapping systems. The upstream and downstream feeding and distribution components enable THEEGARTEN-PACTEC to provide integrated solutions. This includes the take-over of the products from the production plant as well as the collection and discharge of the wrapped products. Furthermore, the integration of storage systems from THEEGARTEN-PACTEC provide a constant product flow, and thus the wrapping machines are fed constantly in cases of unsteady output of the production line.   Hard candy wrapping technology Wrapping machines and complete packaging lines from THEEGARTEN-PACTEC enjoy an excellent reputation worldwide for their efficiency, reliability and longevity. Most recently THEEGARTEN-PACTEC delivered 7 EK4 wrapping machines to CONFISERIE NAPOLEON in Breskens, the Netherlands. Depending on the geometry and texture of the product, the EK4 wraps up to 2,300 hard can-dies per minute in double twist wrapping style. The first continuous motion high speed wrap-ping machine – the EK1 – was introduced at Interpack 1981. At this time, it was rated up to 1,300 pieces per minute. At Interpack 1990 – the EK2 – with up to 1,600 pieces per minute was introduced. This machine was replaced in 2000 by the EK3 – a machine capable of speeds up to 1,800 pieces per minute. After 15 - 20 years of continuous operation, the EK1 and EK2 installed in the Napoleon factory no longer met the requirements of today’s mass productions of hard candies and the company made the decision to invest in new EK4’s from THEEGARTEN-PACTEC to replace all of their old machines. The EK4 are arranged for the wrapping of small and large size hard candies in 24/7 operation. Beside the operating speed of 2,300 products per minute, the machines are characterised by easy and convenient change of the two format size within two hours. Some of the machines are arranged to wrap large hard candy balls with diameters of up to 20mm. The products are filled irregularly with sugar powder so the machines have to offer extremely gentle product handling during the delicate wrapping process. In general, the EK4 can easily be integrated into complete lines together with existing older EK models, or can replace older models, as product infeed and product discharge are very similar to its predecessors. Despite the higher output, it was possible to reduce the stress applied to the product by approximately 30%. Furthermore, the wrapping material tension has not been increased which is particularly important for the ‘no product – no wrapping material’ feature. The EK4 can – like its predecessors – handle all available twist wrap materials, even extremely thin films. The new control concept focuses on a multi-axle servo controller, improving the communication, operation data collection, system utilisation and diagnosis. Remote diagnosis via modem became possible. The touch panel guarantees easy operation and maintenance at an improved level of comfort.   Cut & wrap technology Cut & wrap technology has been, and continues to be, one of the main THEEGARTEN-PACTEC domains. Extruded and co-extruded bubble gum, chewing gum, chewy candy, soft gum, toffee – the list of these products seems to be endless. Summing up, it can be pointed out that the THEEGARTEN-PACTEC program includes cut & wrap equipment for almost all common wrapping styles of up to 600, up to 1,000 and 1,800 + products per minute. Longstanding business relations enable the company to offer complete processing and packaging systems in close collaboration with confectioners. To date, more than 3,000 Cut & Wrap machines from THEEGARTEN-PACTEC are installed all over the world. Beside machines for preliminary wrapping, THEEGARTEN-PACTEC offers machines for the secondary wrapping of the products. One example within  the Cut & Wrap segment is the U1/F1. Today’s models are redesigned and equipped with modern servo technology to make them even more efficient, durable and service friendly. After the U1 has wrapped the single products into fold wrap, the F1 over-wraps them into flat stick packs or in stick packs on edge. Similar solutions for the over wrapping of single products into multipacks are available in the chocolate and hard candy segment. www.theegarten-pactec.com

 

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