Machines for final packaging and palletising
The final packaging of beverages is one of the most important selling points in the trade, as people are keen to buy goods that are attractive and practical. Consumers like to be able to choose, try products out, be surprised and won over by new flavours, new convenience packaging and new brands. New and constantly changing preferences have been leading to ever increasing product diversification for years. In parallel to this the stockpiling mentality has given way to spontaneous purchasing: consumers are buying small packs much more often, for example multipacks or individual bottles. These trends are having a serious effect on the entire process chain in the beverage industry – resulting in new demands for the industry with regard to final packaging and palletising in particular. A large number of exhibitors are displaying their latest packaging machinery and palletising equipment at drinktec 2009, World Fair for Beverage and Liquid Food Technology, from 14 to 19 September 2009 in Munich.
Over an area of 132,000 square metres, drinktec 2009 provides an complete overview of packing and unpacking machines, multipack assembly machinery, palletisers and depalletisers, discharging equipment, conveyors and magazines. Also being displayed are picking systems, warehousing systems, ground conveyors and transportation systems.
In addition the drinktec forum programme on Tuesday 15 September is focusing on everything to with the topic ‘Environment and packaging’ (Forum 1, Hall A2). One of the lecture blocks on Wednesday 16 September will be on ‘Practical operations: filling and packaging systems’, also in Forum 1, Hall A2. Simultaneous translation into German and English is available for all lectures.
Almost unlimited options
A wide range of packaging options is demanded today by the industry, and also by the trade and consumers: cans, glass or plastic containers in wrap-around cartons with or without separators, in a tray with or without film, on a cardboard base pad wrapped in film, packed in cardboard or just shrink-wrapped with no pad or tray. Shrink wrapping in particular is widely used and – a ‘weighty’ argument in these times of the carbon footprint – is relatively energy-saving. The thinner the film, the greater the saving, so development is tending towards extremely thin films. However the trend for material saving applies in general to all packaging materials, a fact that will also be corroborated at drinktec 2009.
The machine manufacturers are constantly optimizing the packaging machines needed to produce shrink packaging, with an eye on good accessibility, fast refit, good reproducibility, and to improve the shrinkage process to give good shrink quality and the aforementioned energy reduction.
On the other hand, multipack systems are on offer for wrap-around bottle clip packaging and basket packs. Continuously running multipack machines group cans and glass and plastic containers together and then fold pre-cut flat cardboard boxes around the containers.
Some packaging machines are designed on a modular principle so that users have a system set-up that is as flexible as possible to accommodate future tasks. If the technical solution can grow along with the user’s requirements, it makes it even easier to retrofit the packaging technology they might want in the future. Of course classic pick-and-place packer will also still be used, mainly for returnable systems, such as bottle crates.
Flexible container grouping and palleting
Before final palleting, the non-returnable containers that have just been manufactured must be grouped together appropriately. Various systems have been developed to group containers efficiently and flexibly, either using robotic systems or turning stations. It is also essential to be able to accommodate the increasing demand for orders that involve picking different types of containers, which will then be brought together on one pallet as a product mix.
The trend for flexible packaging units favours the use of robots for palleting machines. The more diverse the packaging and palletising task, the more relevant multifunctional robots become, as they can take on additional tasks such as inserting intermediate layers or preparing pallets.
Kai Pfeiffer of the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology and Automation is speaking on the applications and potential of service robots on Wednesday 16 September from 3.00 to 3.30 pm in the drinktec forum in Hall A2.
By contrast, conventional machine technology with its layer processing continues to be a good alternative to robot technology, for high-performance tasks in particular. The last stage of final packaging is securing the fully laden pallets with bands, cords, winding film or shrink film.
A glance at the status quo shows that there is a huge variety of final packaging options and the appropriate machine technology to go with it. All these developments can be seen and directly compared at drinktec 2009. It will be exciting for visitors to see the many innovative processes.
Note: With around 1500 exhibitors from 70 countries – 10 more than 2005 – international participation in drinktec is greater than ever. The proportion of foreign exhibitors is 55 percent, also a new record!
About drinktec
drinktec is the World Fair for Beverage and Liquid Food Technology. It is the most important trade fair for the sector. Manufacturers and suppliers from all over the world – global companies and SMEs alike – meet up here with all the key producers and retailers of beverages and liquid food products. Within the sector drinktec is regarded as the number one platform for launching new products on the world market. The fact that the entire production chain is represented at drinktec emphasises the fair?s role as the world?s leading trade fair for the sector. Manufacturers come along to present the latest technology for producing, filling and packaging beverages of all kinds, as well as liquid food – including raw materials and logistics solutions. A special feature of drinktec is that entire machinery systems and plant are set up here and demonstrated in action – this kind of a display is unique to drinktec. drinktec 2009, which takes place at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre from 14 to 19 September 2009, is expected to attract around 1,500 exhibitors from around 70 countries, and around 70,000 visitors from over 160 countries.
Visitor statements about drinktec 2009:
drinktec is an absolute must-attend for anyone in the beverage industry. All the key suppliers in the world and their customers are there.
Mark Hammond, Senior Vice President and CFO, American Beverage Association, USA
drinktec offers visitors all the required information, all in one place and all at the same time – exhibitors, forums and conferences offering the solutions this industry needs. Everything is of the highest quality.
Dalia Kabeel, Foodstuff Sector Portfolio Manager, Egyptian Exporters Association – ExpoLink, Egypt
The kind of innovation and cutting-edge technologies that we got to see and experience in 2005 was simply invaluable. We shall be definite visitors to drinktec 2009.
Harshawardhan Apte, Managing Director, Apte Packaging, India
drinktec, that means: great service, impressive organisation, visitors are well looked after, an excellent venue, and a very modern and innovative trade-fair platform.
Ioannis Hatzijanellis, Product Manager, E. Skazikis – L. Marangos SA, Greece
drinktec has now become a key event for the dairy industry.
Dr. Thomas Westermair, Director of muva kempten, Germany
For me drinktec is quite simply the most important industry gathering. The exhibitors always seem to manage to present new developments and innovations at their stands.
Georg Schneider VI, Director, Private Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn GmbH (Schneider-Weisse), Germany
drinktec is the ideal place for a beverages company to raise its profile and expand its activities.
Nelson Eggers, President, Bebidas Fruki S.A., Brazil
For EMS Grivory, drinktec is superb. This trade fair presents the very latest from the industry. At drinktec we meet up with our international business partners and forge excellent new contacts. We also gather valuable new ideas and inspiration for our future business.
Hans-J?rg Caluori, Senior Manager global account, Business Unit EMS-GRIVORY, Ems-Chemie AG, Switzerland
drinktec is a priority for any company or person involved in beverage and associated liquid-food technologies.
Eddie Wepener, Marketing Manager, GEA Process Engineering (Pty) Ltd., South Africa
Further visitor statements can be found in press release no. 33, at http://www.drinktec.com/link/en/21720029#21720029
This press release is also available at: www.drinktec.com
Photos of drinktec can be downloaded from: http://media.messe-muenchen.de/drinktec/Standard_e/SelectCatalog_Presse.jsp
Your press contacts for drinktec 2009:
Johannes Manger and Christina Maier
Tel. (+49 89) 949-20630, Fax (+49 89) 949-20689
Johannes.Manger@messe-muenchen.de
Christina.Maier@messe-muenchen.de