6 minute read
SEALPAC
FlatMap® wins Swiss Packaging Award 2021
Combining an eye-catching presentation with less use of plastics: FlatMap®, the latest packaging solution for sliced products, has recently won the prestigious Swiss Packaging Award 2021 within the category “Convenience”. In terms of quality and innovation, the Swiss food industry is one of the world’s most demanding markets, making this achievement even more significant!
Many innovations start in Switzerland before becoming mainstream in the packaging industry worldwide. The award-winning FlatMap® packaging system was developed by tray-sealing and thermoforming specialist SEALPAC, together with its Swiss customer Bigler AG. Other close partners in the project were Van Genechten Packaging, the cardboard expert located in Kempten (Germany), and Buergofol GmbH, leading film manufacturer located in Siegburg (Germany). The resourcesaving FlatMap® solution relies on a high proportion of renewable raw materials, but also offers plenty of space for communication. Its striking and innovative look guarantees maximum attention of food products at retail.
SECURELY AND ATTRACTIVELY PACKAGED UNDER MAP
The new FlatMap® packaging system puts sliced meat, dairy and seafood products in the spotlights. These products are placed on a flat cardboard carrier made from bleached or unbleached fibre. The carrier is coated with a thin protective layer, which provides stability, as well as a reliable barrier against fat, moisture and oxygen. The products are securely sealed under modified atmosphere by means of a thin lidding film, hence prolonging their shelf life. Both the protective layer and lidding film are polyolefinbased, making them fully recyclable. Consumer-friendly opening of the pack is made possible by an easy-to-grip peel tab.
The eye-catching FlatMap® solution for sliced products under modified atmosphere saves up to 75% in plastic compared to conventional MAP systems.
Due to the perfectly flat design of the pack, an entirely new level of reclosability can be achieved. As such, FlatMap® guarantees optimal freshness until the very last slice and enables first-class storage in the consumer’s refrigerator, without the need for repacking. The system is available on all of SEALPAC’s Amaxseries traysealers with servo drive and FlatMap® preparation. This ensures a reliable sealing process under modified atmosphere.
RESOURCE-SAVING
FlatMap® provides exceptional opportunities with regard to branding and product information. The cardboard carrier can be printed in high quality on both sides, therefore offering plenty of space for product explanations and consumer communication. Owing to its striking look, the packaging will always be a true eye-catcher on the retail shelves, regardless of whether its presentation is vertical or horizontal. In addition, the system offers even more convenience to the consumer: supported by an attractive design, sliced meat, cheese or seafood products are ready to serve from their packaging.
Another major benefit of the FlatMap® system is the resource-saving use of materials. Compared to common modified atmosphere packaging, up to 75% of plastic can be saved. At the same time, recycling is improved. After finishing the product, the thin layer is easily removed from the cardboard carrier by means of a peel tab, to allow for disposal as plastic waste together with the lidding film. Obviously, the cardboard carrier is thrown away separately as paper waste.
Equal convenience – even with renewable raw materials
The Swiss Packaging Institute (SVI) honours outstanding achievements in the packaging industry with its Swiss Packaging Award annually. The jury’s explanation for awarding FlatMap® in the “Convenience” category states: “In more and more packaging, the proportion of non-renewable raw materials is being reduced and replaced by renewable raw materials. The challenge here is to maintain the original functionality. In the opinion of the jury, the new FlatMap® system solves this challenge convincingly. The hybrid pack made of cardboard and plastic offers a strong performance in terms of opening and reclosing compared to pure plastic solutions. In addition, the separate disposal of the two components is solved in an exemplary manner.”
In addition to supplying high quality components, Versatile Controls Limited’s automation department design and manufacture electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic control systems to the highest quality.
The company has maintained a full workforce throughout the Covid-19 pandemic supplying the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies with bespoke automation systems to assist in the race to develop the Covid-19 vaccine. William Slim, Director explains, ‘A particularly challenging aspect to developing such critical systems during the pandemic is the extremely tight deadlines involved. We are proud to have delivered several critical projects on time and to specification’.
The company primarily serves pharmaceutical, medical, automotive and petrochemical industries. Extensive experience in electrical circuit design and software development means Versatile can offer a complete automation package.
Email: sales@versatilecontrols.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 1452 731 447
Web: www.versatilecontrols.co.uk
LOW POWER SOLENOIDS FOR HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS
Low power Solenoids have been a fixture in Versas product offering for decades. Beyond the cost saving benefits & efficiency of reducing energy consumption, there’s a few issues that low watt solenoids can solve. Solenoid coil generates heat. The higher the wattage necessary to operate, the more heat is generated. Heat generation may be fine in open air applications, but once the coil is packaged in an enclosure or installed next to any sensitive equipment a high heat scenario may prove costly. Furthermore, hot running coils may affect a systems’ ambient temperature ratings. In some cases, a low watt coil can nearly double the maximum ambient temperature rating of a valve.
High wattage requirements may cause problems for applications with long wire runs. The cost of heavy gauge and the running of wire is often a considerable portion of installation costs. Not only are long distance power cables expensive to install, but they also open opportunity for voltage drop which may make solenoid coils unreliable.
When traditional power is not available, incorporating super low watt 0.85W or 0.5W solenoid coils enables reliable valve automation through site generated power sources such as solar panels and battery packs. With the right pneumatic circuit design, large-ported spool valves piloted with low power solenoids can allow small pulses of power to control a lot of flow. This combination is a great way to control critical applications quickly with low power available. For the absolute minimum power consumption Versa’s offering of double solenoid detented valve enables only milliseconds pulse of low power to shift the valve safely and securely. Versa Field Proven - Low Power offerings range from 7.2 to 0.5 watt!
Many applications that require low power, generous flow, and a direct acting valve Versa has a newly developed solution. Traditionally our D-series high-flow, direct acting valves required 2.6 watts to operate. With the addition of our new low power suppressor option, suffix option -LLP, we can operate this coil at 1.3 watts after initial in-rush. This new addition opens up new application uses for Versa’s high flow direct acting option.
Low power options are a key part of Versa’s offering. With a wide range of low power options for all of our valve series, we are well equipped to offer solutions to any application.
