Packaging Automation ’s Trial Facility at their factory in Knutsford , Cheshire extend customers the chance to sway out tests using different promotional material materials with their product incorporating MAP , SkinPAC , Map F to verify the results prior to investment in machinery .
Simon Wilson , Seal Technologist in the Test Kitchen channelise customers through the development of new promotional material concepts let in take environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic packaging and can aid them access PA ’s huge database of packaging suppliers giving them the benefit of our riches of experience and giving advice and guidance along the way .
“ Shelf quick pack concepts can be produced to corroborate pack integrity and for carrying out trials such as ledge life and transit trials as well as tests to help customers choose the best option to optimise the sealing wax , reduce processing time and reach maximal production , ” explain Simon .

“ For customers who are new to heat seal engineering or those client looking for more environmentally favorable packaging pick it gives them the ability to try on before they purchase but also to trial and examine different pick to understand how the cloth touch their product and in the end to find the just solutions for them . For client looking to change tray provider or introduce new product lines , the PA Test Kitchen gives them the chance to check the tantrum in existing tooling and test the sealskin , doubtless saving them time and money by avoiding wastage and minimising break to production . ”
The PA Test Kitchen works with some of the major retailers , both directly and via their manufacturer , avail them find , trial and run more environmentally favorable publicity solutions .
“ in general speaking , PA have seen a move towards the use of mono materials and more environmental and recyclable option . In particular in Holland , we have seen a move to reduce plastic packaging , " explain Sam Ashton , Commercial Director at PA .

“ As a mature grocery , primal business organization from the easygoing fruit sector include seasonal production conversion , manage the wadding stemma and downtime . The PA Revolution mountain range offer a highly efficient packaging solution . To minimise downtime , these machines also offer warm and easy set up and shaft change reducing lose time during punnet size changeovers . ”
Pa in high spirits f number , to the full electric tray sealer incorporate patented motion control engineering science which means that the in - provender of the pack is always bland and stable reducing yield movement in the tray with a seamless transfer prior to seal .
Pa publicity options admit the power to flip pulp punnets with plastic punnet on the same waterproofing tool and reduce cost to run eco packaging on the same machine / line as charge card .

“ Through the piece of work Simon has deport out with all the primal promotion suppliers , we can now accommodate a variety of punnets from different provider in the same tooling , this includes mush trays in a putz designed to seal plastic punnet . manifestly , this importantly reduces the cost to the backpacker if they are change between plastic and pulp magazine and source packaging from a variety of provider from one season to the next .
“ We continue to run slews of different and new come forth materials in the Test Kitchen . Pulp tray , for good example , can be seal off 4/5 times unlike plastic trays ( in the requirement to repack ware on the line ) and of course appeal to those looking to concentrate plastic use .
“ More interesting publicity materials that are being modernise and test in the Trial Facility are : seaweed , organic and pulp . All of these are bio compostable and biodegradable but now postulate testing for unlike mathematical product . ”
Labour shortageIn the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic , and with a decline in seasonal workers follow Brexit , sonant fruit cultivator are face an unprecedented shortage of piece and pack employee with many turning to manufacturing plant automation . At PA they are discover more requirement and interest in the Revolution range of high - hurrying tray sealers from the soft fruit sphere . A dependable high - speed tray sealant reduces the motive for labor on the line with user also report a fall in downtime from the resulting reducing in unwitting stoppages .
“ Put simply , packing quicker reduces the routine of hours and therefore labour costs in the pack sign – the faster and more efficient the line the low the number of hours needed – it is bare really , ” state Sam
“ These machine are extremely efficient and future proofed too . They utilize test , patented , apparent movement ascendance technology to maximize output by supply a continuous flow of tray from infeed to outfeed without the need for pausing or buffering . This also means that the in - feed of the pack is always still and unchanging reducing fruit move in the tray with a unseamed transfer prior to varnish and causing little or no bruising or damage to the yield .
“ The addition of Mi Weigh well-informed weighing system improves weight compliance and management , giveaway can be reduced below 0.1 % against the nominal weighting . Maximising production from the batch . Settling time on the exfoliation can be as small as 100 m/s . We log every portion which has been weighed into the system so everything from in - provender to check - weigher , to packers is inline and there is no variance . hurrying of over 40 packs / min can be achieved per person with pre - filled punnet on salutary timbre fruit . ”
The Mi Weigh organization also comprise delicate Fruit manager software , specifically designed for the soft yield industry . This includes a distant hot Dashboard to manage and review productivity runs , it offers a live Smart Screen Adjustment for changes to the weights , leeway and set point . Functionality between running “ nominal weightiness ” and “ mediocre weighting ” can be changed instantly on the Master Control Interface or remotely via the dashboard with this software .
The package admit the SMART robotic weight adjusting calculator packing to modal free weight legislation continually monitoring railway line performance reducing giveaway significantly . The CRT screen also has a Production Completion Tracker for the slew run with live visual to the operators and telephone circuit leader . This will also be displayed on the RDD ( Real - Time Data Display ) if that option is opt .
religious service Packages“At this difficult time many business are look to reduce overheads and cut costs so approval for capital expending can be sly but there are long - full term benefits and clear payback from seat in factory mechanization machinery . For some , however , the need to deal and maintain live machinery has never been more important and the PA Service Packages have sure enough been in demand . Unexpected partitioning and repairs on packing and pick equipment and machines can leave in unplanned downtime and get backbreaking fiscal losses , but regular , prophylactic maintenance can help , ” say Sam .
Packaging Automation next proof all of their political machine as much as potential and the inclusion of distant connection tools means that guest only have to plug away in an ethernet cable , and PA can dial in with remote access to check off for geological fault / performance issues . By incorporating their own ascendance software , they have repress the reliance on outside suppliers and negated the encroachment of software obsolescence .
“ We are proud that we were already ahead of the game when the pandemic hit so could continue to deliver excellent service and make a small but non the less life-sustaining contribution to keep the nation fed . Both the coronavirus pandemic , and with a decline in seasonal workers pursue Brexit have certainly had an encroachment on the soft fruit growers who are facing an unprecedented shortage of picking and packing employees . ”
For more data : Ruth RobinsonEmail:[email protected]Tel : +44 1706 824229
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