OREANDA-NEWS. July 09, 2015. At IBA 2015, Bosch Packaging Technology will launch its Pack 301 LS (Length Slug) system for the efficient and flexible packaging of biscuits and crackers on edge. The packaging machine has been developed as an addition to the Pack Series of horizontal flow wrappers, which range from entry-level models to fully automated technologies. It is designed to help manufacturers meet the increasing market demand for biscuit wrapping together with premium product quality. The mid-range automation solution is comprised of a Smart Measuring Loader, a Smart Slug Feeder and a Pack 301 LS horizontal flow wrapper. With innovative features for gentle product handling, as well as fast and simple changeovers, all components have been developed with a holistic approach and for high reliability and robustness.

“With the continued growth and product diversification in the global biscuit market, as well as the increasing demand for smaller portion packs and large family packs of flow wrapped biscuits on edge, high flexibility in terms of product count per pack is becoming essential,” says Andreas Schildknecht, global product manager horizontal packaging at Bosch Packaging Technology. “We have developed the Pack 301 LS to further enhance Bosch's biscuit packaging portfolio and to give manufacturers a competitive edge in the marketplace. Bosch provides unlimited possibilities of linking its proven standard modules to create adaptable and scalable end-to-end solutions.”

Innovative features for reliable product handling
The Pack 301 LS system including the Smart Measuring Loader for slug portioning has been designed specifically to ensure gentle product handling for delicate and brittle biscuit-type products – even at higher speeds. Transfer points from the loader to the cross chain, from the cross chain to the infeed chain and further into the film tube generally pose the greatest risk for product damage and breakage. Due to the full-servo execution, the Smart Measuring Loader allows for smooth placement of the portioned biscuits into the cross chain. The Smart Transfer Unit features pre-acceleration for optimal synchronization with the infeed chain. It therefore eliminates impact on the product when bringing it from the cross chain into the machine infeed, ensuring gentle, reliable handling. To keep the biscuits in an upright position while being transported into the film tube the biscuit portion is supported by a counter holder. The position where the counter holder comes up can be easily modified by the operator via an adjusting knob. Between the folding box and the cross-sealing station the slug is guided carefully by side belts or chains towards the cross-sealing station. Depending on the product characteristics, operators can easily exchange side belts with side chains and vice versa for enhanced flexibility and optimal support. All of these innovative features ensure that products are kept under control during the complete packaging process. Additionally, the narrow design of the cutting head improves sealing performance and creates tight seals.

Total Productive Maintenance
Designed with the operators and Total Productive Maintenance in mind, the solution has been laid out to be accessed from all sides for smooth operation, fast and easy cleaning, and low maintenance effort. The cross chain features a spring loaded chain tensioner with visual feedback, allowing the operator to easily check whether there is optimal chain tension or it should be adjusted. Machine parts in contact with the product are made of stainless steel, meeting today's hygienic standards. The open design allows crumbs and rejected products to fall through or be removed easily. All of these features add to operator friendliness and boost machine uptime and availability.

A holistic approach for maximized Overall Equipment Effectiveness
All aspects of the Pack 301 LS are designed to minimize downtime and enable stable output at high production speeds. To increase Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), the complete biscuit feeding and packaging solution is operated by a single HMI, which enhances fast changeovers for different formats and sizes. In addition, whenever a product is missing, the “no product – no cycle” option stops both the infeed and the machine when a product is missing to avoid empty packages. Thanks to optimized interfaces, the integrated system can be provided with all required upstream equipment including vibratory channels, offering a complete solution from a single supplier.

Flexibility for product shapes and lay-out configurations
Developed to address current and future market requirements, the Pack 301 LS system is capable of packaging rectangular, square and round products, as well as sandwich biscuits. Depending on the manufacturer's requirements, the solution can be equipped with up to ten vibratory channels. The modular design allows for scalable solutions and layout flexibility, enabling manufacturers to easily expand their production capacity or increase the level of automation from entry level, hand fed machines to fully automated solutions.

The Pack 301 LS system will be displayed at IBA in Munich, Germany from September 12 to 17 in hall B1, booth 567.