From 19 to 22 March in Cologne – Germany – the spotlight will be on the 2024 edition of Anuga FoodTec, the prestigious trade fair of global interest, dedicated to technological and process innovations involving the entire value chain of the food & beverage industry.
Smart Packaging Hub could not miss the opportunity to be there too. You can find all SPH representatives at B040-C041 Hall 7.1: a meeting point where visitors can learn about technological innovations and modern process automation solutions compliant with the Industry 4.0 paradigm, applied to a complete line for food & beverage packaging, by confronting with the professionals of the 5 companies of the Hub, namely Baumer, Cama, Clevertech, Tosa and Zacmi.
Here are the previews of the innovations that the 5 partner companies of the Smart Packaging Hub will present at Anuga FoodTec 2024.
BAUMER
Sustainability, optimisation and flexibility in production are the key topics Baumer will address at Anuga FoodTech 2024.
The company, which has been providing high-tech solutions for secondary packaging for more than 50 years, will be exhibiting its new Wrap-Around case packer with 90° infeed system at the Cologne show.
This new wrap-around packaging machine, designed and manufactured by Baumer, differs from classic case packers by the insertion of a 90° wheel that eliminates the classic divider. It is a patented solution that allows to reduce the size of the machine to just 6 metres in length, making it easy to fit into existing production lines.
Detail of the new Wrap-Around case packer by Baumer
CAMA
Cama Group will be exhibiting at the Cologne trade fair an IF series monoblock, tailor-made for the precise requirements of a major European confectionery customer. It consists of a tray-forming unit and a loading unit.
In operation, the robotic loading unit of the monoblock receives the packaged products from two independent Cama case packers located upstream. Two robots, designed and developed by Cama for the packaging applications, position and prepare the packaged products in the loading unit, which are then picked and placed into the trays in a wide variety of predetermined configurations, depending on the recipes. Machine throughput is 360 cartons/minute.
Cama Monoblock Robotic system IF series
Supporting and guaranteeing even greater flexibility and agility is the integrated augmented reality (AR) function. This allows operators to have a more precise, intuitive and unrestricted view of the inside of the machine, facilitating operation and changeover operations, as well as effectively facilitating the processes of maintenance, identification and ordering of spare parts.
CLEVERTECH
Clevertech, one of the world’s leading companies in the design and supply of integrated front and end-of-line solutions, to the 2024 edition of Anuga FoodTecth will present the sophisticated technologies of its palletising system ‘Raptor’.
It’s about a robotic palletising system, designed and manufactured with advanced and customisable solutions to meet the sector’s most complex and rapidly evolving needs.
In addition, it is equipped with all the necessary peripherals to manage product infeed and the handling of full and empty pallets. For maximum flexibility, the Raptor is equipped with electronic control systems with architectures based on customer experience. In addition, the robot gripper can be customised with vision equipment to meet specific palletising requirements.
Overview of a portion of Clvertech’s production area
TOSA
Tosa Group, one of the world’s leading companies specialising in the design and supply of tertiary packaging solutions, invests resources in the direction of sustainability, a theme that SMEs and multinational companies in the food & beverage sector are increasingly consciously supporting.
During the Cologne exhibition, Tosa Group’s staff will discuss with visitors their perspectives on the use of plastic film or paper reels for wrapping palletised loads in the end-of-line, without compromising stability and therefore safety.
Tosa will address these issues by illustrating one of its latest research and development projects for the realisation of a ‘deformable paper’ that adapts to even irregular profiles of palletised loads, thanks to the up to 40% ‘deformable’ fibres that compose it.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn the details of the ‘Cai Lun Hybrid’ wrapping machine, designed to work with all types of paper reels on the market, mainly Kraft paper. This modern automatic wrapping machine also stands out for its versatility, as it can also use plastic film, adapting to any requirement.
ZACMI
ZACMI chooses the prestigious atmosphere of the Anuga FoodTec 2024 trade fair to celebrate its 70th anniversary.
At the fair in Cologne, ZACMI will present its latest innovations: a 12- head Seamer and a 40-telescope Filler. These machines embody ZACMI’s dedication and continuous research towards precision, speed and production efficiency.
The Seamer is made entirely of stainless steel, synonymous with robustness, hygiene and durability in time. It is designed for rapid container size changes and can reach speeds of 1,200 strokes per minute with tinplate containers and up to 1,600 strokes per minute with aluminium containers.
ZACMI staff will also show visitors the technological details of the new Telescopic Filler with 40 telescopes, designed to excel even in the pet food sector.
This machine, with its vibrating cones, is able to accurately fill a vast range of solid products: from vegetables to meat, from fruit to powders. Its smart cleaning design ensures a completely automatic washing cycle, whilst the ‘No Can – No Fill’ system prevents product waste as filling is only possible when the container is present.
