Automatic manipulation in packaging of infusions and herbal teas sector
One of the advantages that characterizes the work of Crei specialized in the design of heaters, temperature probes and heating systems, is the ability to intervene in all those problematic situations where an uneven distribution of heat creates criticality in packaging. This peculiarity is confirmed by an intervention carried out for an important food&beverage company, operating in the packaging of infusions and herbal teas sector, which required the resolution of some existing problems on a complex automatic process.
In detail, Crei’s work involved the packaging of the filter, the result of a delicate process of automatic manipulation managed through precision mechanics that marks the fast pace of realization, which can be summarized in several hundred operations per minute, always precise and constant.
Once it has been filled with the raw material, the container/filter undergoes a second processing phase and is placed in a further paper package. It is in this part of the process that the heating elements, used in the envelope closing process, operate a series of welds along the perimeter of the bag.
Optimal heat sealing with the differentiated heating distribution systems
While one side of the package is folded on itself, the remaining 3 sides are heat-sealed by a mechanical system powered by two Cartridge Heaters. Precisely in this phase the solution used by the customer did not allow to reach a sufficiently uniform heat distribution to perform an optimal sealing. The temperature gar between one point and the other of the sealing body was 30°C.
The choice made by Crei to solve the problem involved the application of cartridge sealing elements of the same size as the previously used ones, but with an adequately distributed power.
The many years of experience gained in the field of differentiated heating distribution systems has allowed a specific positioning of the power on specially made cartridge elements, in order to uniform the heat distribution on the sealing device and thus drastically reduce the previously mentioned temperature gap.
Optimization of efficiency to increase the speed of packaging process
Thanks to this intervention Crei has allowed the customer to speed up the packaging process. Otherwise it would have had to be distributed in separate phases, with different sealers organized in sequence. This arrangement and choice would have slowed down the working cycle of the automatic lines, causing higher energy consumption. The solution has thus guaranteed an optimization of efficiency and greater fluidity to the entire work cycle, increasing, with respect to the previous one, the quality and precision in heat distribution which has reduced the temperature gap from 30 to 2°C. At the same time, the packaging process has registered an increase in speed (no. of seals per minute) of 67% and a reduction in active heating times.
Crei was founded in Bologna in 1969 developing heaters, temperature probes and heating systems, through highly technological manufacturing system. Over the years Crei has acquired experience by collaborating with the most important manufacturers of automatic packaging and wrapping machines which, together with the company, make up the wealth of Packaging Valley. Crei catalogue includes, among others, high power density cartridge heaters, spiral heaters (microtubular), tubular heaters, conventional and mineral oxide temperature probes.
