Guide to Using Food Packaging Equipment

Implementing commercial food packaging equipment to increase business productivity

By Michelle Cramer

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Clean beverage bottles with food packaging machinery

You can use packing equipment to prepare packaging, such as cleaning beverage bottles or assembling boxes and cartons. Additionally, you can fill those materials with a specific amount of food or beverage with the use of a packaging machine. For businesses looking to attain precision and a quick turn around, implementing these types of machines may be beneficial.

I recommend: Examine various types of bottle rinsers and other beverage packaging equipment from Liquid Packaging Solutions. Visit the website for Integrated Packaging Machinery for several filling machines, such as robotic case fillers, and for various items like cultured cups, jugs, bags, pouches and bowls.

Vacuum seal and shrink wrap products with food packaging equipment

In order to keep perishable food products fresh longer, your business must shrink wrap or vacuum seal them. There are machines that do this for you with calculated precision to avoid as many errors as possible, because an error means the product doesn't survive transport. The use of a human to seal your product may result in a larger number of errors, so a machine is probably your best option.

I recommend: Obtain a vacuum sealing machine from Machine Advantage. Purchase full-production shrink wrap machines, such as side sealers, from Texwrap Packaging Systems.

Use a food packing machine to place labels

One tedious task that food packing systems can help your business with is the placement of labels on your products. Implementing a machine to handle this can allow you to use employees for other tasks that need hands-on involvement. Additionally, as with the implementation of any machines or equipment into your production process, a labeling machine will speed up your results.

I recommend: Among other packaging equipment, Labelette offers a variety of labelers. Find a used labeler and other used packaging equipment on Kitmondo.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you wish to do so, you can purchase industrial food packaging equipment for your entire packaging project. These large machines are available predesigned, or you can find a food packaging equipment manufacturer that will provide a custom-built model to fit your needs.

Guide to Food Packaging Equipment

Purchase the right commercial food packaging equipment for your company at the right price

By Christine Reeves, Writer

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check with food packaging equipment manufacturers

See what type of food packing machine you can buy from the manufacturers. Shopping the manufacturers first for new equipment will show you the various possibilities.

I recommend: Serpa Packaging Solutions features photos, easy to understand descriptions and specs for their food packaging machines on their website.

Find a manufacturer that specializes in liquid packaging

Food packing systems are designed to package everything from dry foods to beverages. There are food packing machines that build the cartons, fill the cartons and place the labels. If you are packaging a liquid food product, you'll want to shop vendors who specialize in liquid packaging equipment.

I recommend: Busch Machinery shows a complete line of liquid packaging equipment on their website. Check out the labeling machines, as well, since bottles have different shaped surfaces to label.

Compare used food packaging equipment prices

Compare equipment you've found on manufacturer's websites and at local food packaging equipment vendors with what is available in the used market. When comparing prices, be sure you're looking at equipment with comparable features. Shopping the used market may help you redefine what features your food packaging systems really need to have.

I recommend: Loeb Equipment and Appraisal Company features an online catalog of used equipment. They also specialize in used equipment appraisal.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When buying used food packaging equipment, be sure you are dealing with a reputable seller and get some sort of warranty on the equipment, if possible.
• •  When calculating the benefits of food packaging equipment, remember that it will create a more consistent packaged product and cut down on your labor costs.
• •  Food packaging machinery can be a drain on the bottom line if it requires a lot of maintenance. When food packaging machines break down, money can also be lost in unfilled orders and lost customer confidence. Be sure to do your homework before investing in food packaging equipment.

Guide to Food Packaging Equipment Basics

Examine how food packaging equipment can improve the efficiency of your business

By Michelle Cramer

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Accomplish large jobs with a large food packing machine

Large packing machines can do everything for you, such as washing bottles, building boxes, dispersing a specific amount of food or beverage into a container, placing labels on containers, and placing containers in boxes for distribution.

I recommend: Purchase fully automated, integrated systems from Sealed Air. Choose from various conveyors for your large jobs, among other equipment and accessories, at Ensalco.

Use commercial food packaging equipment to assist on small tasks

If you're concerned about replacing all of your employees with machinery, consider using packaging equipment for some of the more menial tasks, such as placing labels on containers, and retaining employees to do the more important projects. A lot of tasks need a personal touch, such as examining the product and packaging for defects before distribution.

I recommend: If you’re looking to purchase used packaging equipment and can’t find what you need, fill out the equipment locator form, and Republic Packaging will find it for you. Purchase vacuum sealing or shrink wrap machinery from Doug Care Equipment.

Improve overall business output with food packaging machinery

Regardless of how little or how much you use machines for your food industry packaging, implementation in some regard will definitely help to improve your production. It can only speed up the process, allowing you to accommodate to a growing clientele and business.

I recommend: Choose your industry on Tipper Tie for packaging equipment recommendations. Go to Volm Companies for an overview of the machinery it provides or to purchase used packaging equipment.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There are various types of food industry packaging. Dry products can go in boxes, which machines can build and fill. Beverage packaging equipment can do everything from clean bottles to fill and label. There are also machines that shrink wrap or vacuum seal perishable items.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Vacuum packaging

Vacuum packaging is a food-packaging process in which the machines contain a suction feature that pulls oxygen from food container packages and bags. Vacuum packaging has many benefits including prevention of mold, bacteria, freezer burn, and drying out.

I recommend: View more about the vacuum packaging process as well as different options for vacuum packaging machines from Fantes.

Automatic sealers

Automatic sealers are food packaging machines that use heat to seal thermoplastic materials. These machines work for high quantity jobs and perform continuous and repeated operation. These machines can seal a variety of widths and thicknesses.

I recommend: Doug Care features more information about automatic sealers.

Table-top fillers

Table-top fillers work best for light duty food packaging jobs. These also work well when space available for the machine is limited. Table-top fillers fill and seal preformed containers with liquid or dry materials.

I recommend: Learn more about the table-top filler machine at Process & Packaging Machine, as well as watch a video of one at work.

Induction sealing

Induction sealing is the process in which a machine uses an aluminum foil seal to seal the cap on a bottle. This process prevents leaks and tampering. It also improves shelf life and appearance. Bottles are filled and capped by induction sealing machines.

I recommend: Find out more about induction sealing and machines that carry out the process from Bottle Cap Sealing.

Overflow-liquid filling machines

Overflow-liquid filling machines are a popular type of machine used in small bottle filling. The machine fills the container to a specific level height rather than to a specific volume amount. For this reason, this machine is often called the 'fill to level' machine. This machine handles filling liquids of thin and heavy consistency as well as those that are foamy.

I recommend: Read more about liquid filling machine types and the overflow-liquid filling machine from Liquid Filling Machines.

Form, fill, and seal machines

Form, fill, and seal machines are packaging machines that operate with a plastic film. The machine forms the package from the film, then it is filled and sealed. This machine differs from filling machines in that it creates the package as well as filling it. Most filling machines simply fill a preformed package.

I recommend: Learn extensive details about form, fill, and seal machines from Global Spec.