Ways of packaging – Packaging as a utility

• The increase in production capacities brought with it the need to widen the distribution markets, but at the same time, there was also the challenge of finding new solutions to protect goods so that they can withstand transport as well as possible, but also for a period as long as possible. Thus, the activity of packaging has developed exponentially, from increasingly sophisticated and attractive materials to techniques that include the dosing of preservatives during packaging, and manufacturers have begun to understand better and better that, in addition to the protective role , the packaging can also convey a message to the final buyer and influence him in choosing the products he wants to purchase.

Types of packaging

In the following we will do a brief review of the types of packaging and equipment used most often in the bakery, pastry and confectionery market.

Packaging in preformed bags

• We will start with the simplest method, used especially in baking: packaging in preformed bags. This consists in the use of bags of various sizes in which the sliced ​​bread is placed in particular. It's an easy method that doesn't require any special equipment, except for a stand that's usually mounted on the slicer and helps support the product for bagging. Although it is a method with low productivity and a significant volume of manual work, if the closing of the package is done with clip band, on which the batch and expiry date can be marked, the final product has an elegant appearance and the advantage that the packaging can be opened and closed several times.

Shrink wrap

• Another method is a thermocontraction, which involves the use of a machine that can perform both the gluing of the film and its heat shrinking, the packaging being molded to the shape of the product. The method is used both for bread and for pastries and confectionery, for the latter using a support tray made of cardboard or food plastic. This way of working has the advantage of a low cost, but the productivity is not very high. Also, usually the packaging operation is doubled by that of applying labels since the foil used cannot already be printed.

Flow pack packaging

• The next method encountered is the type method flow pack and is used especially for large and very large production capacities, exceeding 90 packages per minute. The method is particularly suitable for confectionery/pastry products, but is also successfully used for pan bread, which, due to its regular shape, can also be packed at high speeds. This method offers the advantage of being able to automatically print the production or expiry date on the packaging together with the batch to which the product belongs. Unlike the previous methods, the flow pack system offers the advantage of superior sealing and can also ensure the spraying of alcohol or gas with an inhibitory role for harmful microorganisms, giving the product a shelf life that can reach up to several months. Also, flow pack type machines can be adapted to various feeding systems so that the intervention of human operators is reduced to a minimum. Although it is indisputably a solution that requires the investment of a larger budget, the flow pack machine is a solution.

Weighing, dosing and packaging

• Staying in the field of industrial production, it is worth dwelling on combined plants, which can achieve both weighing and dosing, as well as product packaging. Available in several variants and using one or more dosing heads adapted to the type of product, these installations can be used successfully for snacks, pastries, but also pretzels or even buns. A great advantage of this system is its flexibility, since after the dosing part a packaging solution can be chosen according to the customer's wishes: from the classic "cushion" packaging to the STABILO one. Also, installations of this type are provided with various damping options, to avoid breakage or breakage of fragile products, achieving the dosing and packaging of large quantities of products, with insignificant losses.

The packaging is like a business card

Packaging is often seen as a necessary element, which must protect the product, but which must not add too much to its cost. Even though things have changed in recent years, there are many manufacturers who still choose to use cheap solutions. Besides the fact that they have the disadvantage that they cannot protect the products in an optimal way, and after the first touches they acquire an "outdated" appearance, their graphic coverage cannot be remarkable either, leaving the product with an austere appearance, which often negatively influences the consumer's opinion or even causes him not to choose the product. In the conditions where the fight in the market is becoming more and more intense, I believe that the packaging deserves special attention, and the quality of the materials used to allow the product to keep its "fresh" appearance for as long as possible. Likewise, the choice of colors and graphics must be such as to highlight the product against those of the competition and remind the consumer of the quality within each time they see it on the shelf. In conclusion, the old saying "The packaging sells the goods" is more relevant than ever!

Article written by Marius Costea, Nova Pan Sales Director – Equipment and Industrial Lines Division