In addition to the concept of Full Wrap, Multivac Marking & Inspection has announced to offer two new high-quality and sustainable labelling solutions for fresh produce trays – Top Wrap and Top Close.
In Germany around 60 percent of fresh fruit and vegetables is sold pre-packed in retail outlets. Two thirds of the packs are based on plastic, and the remaining one third on cardboard or other paper fibre materials. Plastic packs in particular are often viewed critically by environmentally-conscious consumers – but without justification. Because packs protect food along the entire process chain. They preserve the freshness and appetising appearance of the product.
They extend the shelf life and therefore make a major contribution to preventing food waste due to premature spoilage. And last but not least, their CO2 balance is also very impressive. The latest studies show, that the ecological footprint of a processed food product is generally up to 30 times higher than the footprint of its packaging. Within the food sector in Germany, the proportion taken up by the packaging is just one to three percent.
With Top Wrap …
With full wrap labelling, the label is only applied to the top and two sides, and not around the complete pack. This saves material and ultimately resources, and the label achieves its purpose in equal measure.
Michael Reffke, Product Manager for Labelling Technology at Multivac Marking & Inspection in Enger said, “Thanks to a combination of cardboard trays and standard self-adhesive labels made of paper or renewable materials, this produces a pack that can be sorted perfectly into its separate components for recycling.”
With Top Close …
Plastic or cardboard trays with a wide flange or even round trays can be sealed closed simply and securely on the top and labelled at the same time. The label only adheres to the flanges of the tray. Thanks to an adhesive-free zone or retention of the backing material in the middle of the label, the product does not come into contact with the adhesive. Transparent labels also allow an optimum view of the product, while ventilation holes ensure that there is air circulation. The label can also be printed on the labeller itself with a best-before date for example, and it is even possible to inspect the print on the label.
With an output of up to 200 products per minute, a labeller with Top Close has a particularly high output. The trays are automatically labelled on the run, and they are either fed in manually or transferred automatically from an upstream module. When compared with time-consuming, manual packaging solutions, this provides tangible cost savings and a very efficient process.
Multivac conveyor belt labellers
Multivac’s conveyor belt labellers, such as the L 310 FW or the L 312 FW with weigh price marking, was presented for the first time at Anuga FoodTec 2022, boast to offer a wide range of different labelling solutions depending on the type and content of the tray as well as the packaging materials used.
The models can be integrated seamlessly into existing lines, or they can be used as a stand-alone solution with manual product infeed.