15 minute read
New Equipment Installations
New Equipment Installations Bring SOMIC’s Customers More Success
SOMIC America is consistently installing more end-of-line machinery this year, and gaining access to new markets and packaging structures.
SOMIC’s end-of-line RetailReady case-packing equipment manufacturing operations have been busy fine-tuning systems for installation in the coming months. “We are in the fortunate position where our raw material warehouse is well stocked and our supply chains are in working order,” notes Peter Fox, Senior Vice President of Sales for SOMIC America.
“Our advanced mechatronics assembly operations in Amerang, Germany, are developing new high speed packaging equipment, such as those for snack food bars, as well as custom paperboard carton blank designs to name a few examples. Meanwhile, our U.S. team is working on installations for our ReadyPack system as well as our wraparound case packing equipment and compact systems for tray-and-lid containers. With the number of equipment orders in Germany and the U.S., our service technicians and parts and service departments are busy preparing equipment and assisting customers with all of their end-of-line equipment needs.”
Meat market entry
The latest SOMIC equipment installation marks the company’s entry into the packaged meat industry. Olli Salumeria, an artisanal
manufacturer of salami and other slow-cured fine meats, will take delivery of the first ReadyPack system soon at its 80,000-squarefoot production facility in Oceanside, Calif.
“We are thrilled that customers across more product markets and industries are taking advantage of our reliable, high-performance machines that offer a unique variety of customized formats for RetailReady packaging solutions,” Fox says. “These mechatronic case-packing systems give any manufacturer the freedom to choose several shipping case formats, and not to be locked into just one type.” A flexible, compact, end-of-line casepacking system that SOMIC designed with its modular philosophy, the ReadyPack provides customers with increased flexibility on what types of shipping containers they can pack and furnish to retailers: • Open cases and trays (with or without cover flaps) • Cases and cartons with mechanical locks (click locks) • Flat crates, stackable crates and double crates for cups • Flat and open trays and cases Offering a range of antibiotic-free salamis, Olli Salumeria expanded its Oceanside facility in 2015, allowing it to enter into new areas of the deli counter and other exciting markets. The company has met with success with items including its deli-sized and pre-sliced salamis for the readyto-eat section of the deli, large-scale delis and the growing grab-and-go segment. Olli Salumeria also produces portable snack packs, pre-sliced chubs and ready-made antipasto trays, perfect items with which to showcase ReadyPack’s versatility. The possibilities for new growth are limitless.
Peter Fox, Vice President of Sales for SOMIC America
Messin’ with Sasquatch
Jack Link’s, the Minneapolis-based market-leading meat snack/jerky company, is known for its wide variety of shelf-stable meat sticks, snack strips, bars, sausages and bites. Jack Link’s also will soon be adding two SOMIC machines — a 424 Duplex cartoner and a standard 424 W3 wraparound case packer — to its facility in Minong, Wis. The latter machine is similar to one already in place at its processing facility in Underwood, Iowa. With its many products (in addition to traditional beef jerky, the company has products in over 40 countries), including bacon jerky and refrigerated meat and cheese combos, and several production facilities, additional production equipment is a must. All of Jack Link’s products are conveniently packaged in assorted types of pouches, bags and stickpacks that are often merchandised in retail display cartons. As the large product portfolio increases with more new flavors and forms to draw more consumers to the category, production must keep pace. “Package formats are often dictated by retail outlets, and Jack Link’s is in several different market channels,” Fox explains. “The packaging at a club store, for example, is quite different than the packaging at a convenience store. That means Jack Link’s needs packaging equipment with enough flexibility to accommodate many package formats. Case-packing equipment must be able to change over quickly from one package format to another, smoothly and efficiently.”
To the Shows We Go
SOMIC America will showcase end-of-line packaging equipment in Booth 30129 at the Sweets & Snacks Show 2021 and is gearing up for PACK Expo Las Vegas.
The snack market continues to boom and the Sweets & Snacks Show, held June 22 to 25, never disappoints. The world’s greatest candy and snack makers will gather together in June to be inspired, make meaningful connections and share their passion for delighting shoppers. SOMIC America will feature its latest end-of-line equipment for Retail Ready packaging at the show. And for the first time in its history, the Sweets & Snacks Expo convenes in Indianapolis to celebrate two years of the categories' most innovative products. The National Confectioners Association reported in midMay, more than 2,250 attendees representing 1,400 retail banners were registered, and more than 400 candy and snack companies were scheduled to exhibit.
“This year, the event is even more important, as confectionery and snack products have helped consumers improve their emotional well-being during a challenging time," notes John Downs, president & CEO of show sponsor, the National Confectioners Association. "We know after a year of treating and snacking at home, they’re hungry for new product innovation from their favorite brands.”
That’s why SOMIC America’s entry into more markets, including confections and snack foods, will help brands meet consumer needs, recognizing that such products demand significant shelf appeal in their packaging. “It is paramount,” affirms Peter Fox, Senior Vice President of Sales for SOMIC America. “As the industry leader in high performance, two-piece RetailReady packaging, we have equipment
with the flexibility to present a product that stands upright or lays flat. We can design your machine to provide multiple rows of products as well as multiple layers, and position them to maximize your customer’s view of the product in an elegant display tray. Whether you pack your product in paperboard, corrugated or micro-flute board, our folding and gluing technologies are unmatched in quality and consistency.” All of these attributes are standard with the SOMIC 424 Retail-Ready case packer. “The 424 case-packing system is so versatile, it also has the ability to run standard wraparound cases on the same machine,” Fox says. "When it comes to confectionery and snack packaging, SOMIC truly can make all the difference for your product presentation." For more information about the show and to register, visit SweetsAndSnacks.com. Sweets & Snacks Expo June 23-25, 2021 Indiana Convention Center Indianapolis, IN Booth 30129
PACK EXPO Sept. 27 – 29, 2021 Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Booth 6164
Peter Fox, Vice President of Sales for SOMIC America
Largest Packaging Show Returns to Las Vegas
SOMIC America will also return to PACK Expo Las Vegas this year, showcasing its latest developments in Booth 6164. Dubbed the most comprehensive packaging and processing expo in 2021, the show will be held Sept. 27-29 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, featuring advanced technologies across 40+ vertical markets.
SOMIC America will demonstrate its ReadyPack machine in action at the show, running products from Goya Foods.
“We’re very excited about this opportunity,” Fox says. “We look forward to re-engaging with the industry in person, showing visitors our latest innovations in end-of-line packaging systems and solutions. "Our new ReadyPack system for retail-ready packaging applications exemplifies the versatility of all of our equipment. ReadyPack operates with primary containers of various types and both tray and cover and wraparound cases. This is the platform system we routinely use for flexible packages such as stand-up pouches, flowpacks and rigid bottles.” Produced by PMMI, PACK Expo will present the latest packaging technologies and full-scale machinery in action. Co-located with Healthcare Packaging Expo, the two events is expected to bring together roughly 2,000 suppliers with 30,000 attendees from the world’s leading consumer packaged goods companies. They come to explore exciting technologies, from standalone packaging machinery to complete turnkey line solutions. For registration details and more show information, visit packexpolasvegas.com.
To learn more about how SOMIC can make your products stand out on the shelf, visit somic.us or call Peter Fox, Senior Vice President of Sales, at 847.915.9872 to schedule a booth appointment at this year’s show.
New Case Packer is the PICK OF THE LITTER
A new production line at Hartz Mountain Corp.’s facility in Pleasant Plain, Ohio, is purring along nicely.
Handling a variety of pet care products such as shampoos, insect protection and other solutions in blow-molded and trigger-spray bottles, a new liquid filling line at Hartz Mountain’s production facility in Pleasant Plain, Ohio, is equipped with a versatile SOMIC 424 case-packing system. Installed in mid-December, 2020, the line has many pet tails gleaming, which gives Secaucus, N.J.-based Hartz — one of the oldest and most respected companies in the pet care industry — reason to smile. Hartz offers 14 popular brands of products for dogs, cats, birds, and fish. The company runs seven different bottle formats, evenly split between high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), on the new filling and packaging line. Some bottles get pumps and others triggers, while a third group gets press-on caps. Cases, too, are varied, as both a standard wraparound shipping case and a Retail-Ready case format are run on the line.
According to Hartz Engineering Manager Jake Wojtkiewicz, the line may have become Hartz Mountain’s new “best friend.” In just a few weeks, it began exceeding expectations, due in part because of its new case-packing equipment.
Grouped bottles are then tray-packed, enclosed by a unique forming cassette, and receive their lids, which are formed and wrapped snugly around them. The 424 system’s closing section is multifunctional. Wojtkiewicz is just as impressed with the SOMIC 424 case packer’s footprint as he is with its versatility. The early results of the space-saving machine’s performance were firstrate, he said. “The 424’s capabilities provide Hartz with the versatility to pack the bottles in assorted secondary cases, from standard wraparound shippers to two-piece display trays with covers.” Dog-gone impressive
Wojtkiewicz found other machines the company evaluated to be all bark and no bite. “We chose the SOMIC machine for the flexibility of the case format and for its design,” he says. “From the time we uncrated the machine, it took about seven days to run at full production. To be honest, I was not that familiar with SOMIC until we went into this project, and we looked at a number of other options and saw some very good equipment. But when it came down to the amount of space required by the SOMIC 424 machine combined with its versatility, it was very impressive. “Plus, the machine is very open and accessible,” he adds. “It’s a novel setup for a case packer, at least from my experience. I’m more used to a giant chain running down the middle and a bunch of tuck arms and things. With this machine, everything kind of gets folded all at once in two different stations. There’s just not that many steps to the folding process before the bottles are in and the case is being discharged. A lot of it has to do with the machine’s servo technology. Everything is done at the HMI [Human Machine Interface], so you’re not loosening bolts or adjusting belts or sprockets.” The 424 Series is one part of SOMIC’s customized, precision packaging solutions, explains Peter Fox, Senior Vice President of Sales for SOMIC America. “Most of our systems are configured to run stand-up pouches, flow-packs, and other flexible material packages. This compact machine was configured with Rockwell automation controls.”
The decision to bring production back to the 250,000-square-foot Hartz facility on the eastern fringe of Cincinnati comes at a time when the pet care industry is enjoying
growth in spite of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. Hartz, which has been in the pet care business since 1926, offers 14 well-known product brands ranging from toys and treats to grooming aids and flea and tick sprays. Bottling line in action
So far, the new bottling line runs seven different bottle formats that the SOMIC 424 loads in a choice of two shipping case styles – a standard wraparound or a Retail-Ready tray with a corrugated cover. A total of 65,000 bottles are processed in one 10-hour shift, five days a week. Depending on the product, Hartz either packs 5,400 12-count cases or 13,000 tray-packs, bundled as fivepacks. After the empty bottles are automatically unscrambled and filled with product, they receive pumps, trigger sprayers, or caps, depending on what product is running, Wojtkiewicz explains. “If we’re not running bottles that take pumps or trigger sprayers, the bottles move straight past the middle unit to get to the capper,” he says. When changing from a pump to a trigger sprayer, the filler feeds the press-on capper. The sealed bottles are then labeled, coded and grouped in counts of three and bundled in shrink film.
When Hartz is running Retail-Ready corrugated trays with corrugated lids, the bottles bypass the shrink bundler and proceed to the SOMIC 424 case packer in a fivecount format. If running 12-count wraparound cases, the system’s vacuum cups pull flat blanks from a magazine and the blanks advance to the loading station, passing an adhesive applicator along the way. Incoming three-count bundles of bottles are each grouped in a staging area. When four bundles are in place, a pusher device advances them onto a flat blank and the tooling wraps the corrugated case around the bundles. The cases filled with 12 bottles next advance to the flap-closing station and discharge past an ink-jet printer. Unique case-forming design
“Designing a machine that packages the pre-bundled rigid bottles represents a new element for us in North America — one that we are truly excited about,” Fox says. “In the carton-forming sequence, the forming cassette stays immobile and in position, while the bottles are wrapped in the case blank in the forming matrix. The bottles are enclosed in the forming cassette, while a case-forming matrix elevates from below to securely form the case around the grouped multipacks of bottles. This is unique to SOMIC.” It’s clear the 424’s performance thus far is having a major impact on the production floor. The system’s closing section is multifunctional, Fox indicates. “In the cover applicator/ closing section, either a cover blank is picked and formed around a display tray, or the same device closes a wraparound case,” he says. The case flap folding tooling is one of the features Wojtkliewicz especially likes. “The primary case folding step takes place at a single station. We’re used to this operation happening while the case is in motion, utilizing several servo-controlled tucker/ folders,” he said, alluding to the machine’s smooth functioning mechatronic control platform featuring advanced automation. “The machine design is novel,” he adds. “I’m used to conventional case packers that use a lug bucket chain for the case transport with rotary tucking and folding tooling. The SOMIC design eliminates that and replaces it with contrast folding tooling and a simple vacuum belt. This makes machine maintenance significantly easier. It also reduces the noise level of the equipment while in operation, and has a smaller overall footprint.” Wojtkiewicz also says the 424 case-packing machine design was well thought out because it’s easy to access and maintain. The design eliminated the need for the complex timing adjustments necessary with more conventional case packers. “The HMI is well thought out, and provides full motion and timing control for all machine functions. The open design is great, and makes it very easy for maintenance, changeovers and cleaning. The operators have a full, unimpeded view of the equipment when it is running. This allows for better troubleshooting and adjustments because we can clearly see what’s happening inside the machine.” Speedy sweet spot
Reaching speeds of 150 bottles per minute is what Wojtkiewicz describes as “the sweet spot” on the new line. “We’re very proud of the setup we installed,” he says. “It was a huge undertaking, especially in the middle of what became a global pandemic shortly after we got started. Somehow, we managed to keep everything more or less on track and hit our targets.” He says the machine demonstrates the flexibility SOMIC uses to create a unique secondary case-packing system for any type of package, he points out. “We don’t plan to increase the speeds of the machine, but we did build this production line with expectations of adding more shifts to handle increased demand and distribution.”
A Retail-Ready tray-and-lid case is one of the secondary package formats Hartz runs on the line. Standard wraparound shipping cases are also used, depending on the pet care product being packaged.
