Latest Theegarten-Pactec packaging machinery line expands areas of operation
Theegarten-Pactec's latest BHS packaging machinery line in operation. Pic: Theegarten
German-based packaging machinery specialist Theegarten-Pactec has expanded its operations into its advanced new BHS high-speed line designed fro bouillon cubes used within the snacking sector, writes Neill Barston.
Notably, as the company asserts, it has set a new record for speed of operation in being reportedly capable of delivering an output of up to 3,000 products per minute.
In addition, it is also setting new standards regarding economy, packaging quality and hygienic design, as it moves beyond its core area of interest within the confectionery sector.
The business has attracted interest from around the world with its lines capable of packaging boiled sweets, toffees, chewing gum, or even chocolate bars and pralines, but in recent years, the Dresden-based firm has also explored related food segments for its machinery.
More than 250 machines for buillon cubes are already being deployed around the world for this special application. With its new development, BHS, the company is now introducing a machine to the market that promises to elevate the packaging in the specialist cube area to another level.
Theegarten-Pactec has confirmed to Confectionery Production that there is in fact already a confectionery specific iteration of the BHS under development, which will further enhance the company’s overall equipment portfolio.
The machine, which is the result of intensive research and development work combined with the specialists’ technical expertise, makes use of the “continuous operation principle” developed by Theegarten-Pactec, which was previously intended primarily for confectionery packaging machines: there are no start-stop movements of the products within the machine during the packaging process, but rather a constant flow of movement.
As a result, there are barely any acceleration forces acting on the products. In turn, this enables gentler product handling accompanied by a much higher output. Cubes, double cubes, and tablets: three variants with high packaging output.
Significantly, the machine can also reportedly package soft bouillon cubes with just 30% of the previous minimum pressure resistance. Consequently, pre-formed cubes, double cubes and pre-formed tablets can be packaged gently and with maximum efficiency. Accordingly, the BHS is currently available in three versions, each impressing with a high packaging output.
The absolute top performer is the BHS for pre-formed cubes, which boasts a total output of up to 3,000 packaged products per minute. The BHS for double cubes manages 2,500 packaged units per minute, which corresponds to the considerable quantity of 5,000 individual packaged products per minute.
The BHS for pre-formed tablets also processes 2,500 packaged products per minute. Moreover, it can also be expanded with the addition of the BLM high-performance cartoning system, likewise a Theegarten-Pactec development especially designed for direct connection to the company’s own high-speed machines.
For the packaging specialists from Germany, downtime is a foreign concept. And as such, at Theegarten-Pactec staff are already hard at work, further optimising the new development. In the long term, both the BHS for double cubes and the variant for pre-formed tablets will also be capable of packaging 3,000 products per minute. What’s more, the innovation drivers are already planning the extension of the system’s range of applications to include, for example, the packaging of powdered milk tabs and cubes, as well as confectionery products.
However, pioneering developments such as these are only possible thanks to the customers’ commitment and cooperation. “In this regard, we have invested our long-term experience and a great deal of technical expertise,” sums up CEO Markus Rustler (see our recent exclusive ProSweets video featuring the company CEO below).
He contined: “Innovation naturally entails significant development costs. We are more than happy to make this investment on account of the strong customer demand. We are the ideal partner for manufacturers that are pursuing clear objectives. Together, we are breaking new ground to continuously improve the packaging process.”
In addition to its high output, the new BHS also scores points with customers on account of various other advantages offered. For instance, the BHS can be connected to existing presses for the manufacture of bouillon cubes and tablets from granulated foodstuffs without any problem.
One production operator is sufficient for the operation of a line consisting of a press and a packaging machine. If the lines are positioned very close to one another, one employee can even operate two lines. In the case of the machine variant for the packaging of bouillon cube tablets, whereby the BLM cartoning system from Theegarten-Pactec can be connected, one production operator is again sufficient for the operation of the entire line consisting of a press, a BHS packaging machine, and the BLM cartoning system.
In addition to manageable staffing levels, numerous benefits also mean that the new BHS remains particularly cost efficient throughout its entire product life. The system incurs barely any maintenance costs on account of the packaging machine requiring no lubrication, while oil changes are required at most once per year. What’s more, the BHS impresses with 50% lower energy consumption per packaged product when compared to other packaging machines.
