FEATURE Packaging
Combining sustainability and stability
Combining sustainability and stability
The move towards more environmentally-friendly and sustainable product packaging can present challenges to traditional production methods. Regal Rexnord discusses the conveying innovations that can overcome these challenges
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ustainability in the food and beverage industry takes many forms, whether it’s using responsibly sourced ingredients, minimising agricultural impact, or reducing emissions across the supply chain. This push for sustainability isn’t limited to the products themselves but also the packaging they come in, and as regulations tighten and consumer expectations rise, producers are moving away from plastic-heavy formats and toward recyclable and minimal-material solutions.
Operational hurdles However, while this evolution is helping to support environmental goals, the push for eco-friendly packaging also creates new operational hurdles on the production line – particularly when it comes to conveying. One of the big advantages of traditional beverage packaging formats, such as shrink-wrapped six-packs, was that conveying relatively easy. Modern alternatives like cardboard clips (e.g. keel clips) or glued multi-packs may be more sustainable, but this comes at a cost to and the concave base of each six-pack can now sit directly on the conveyor. This means the group has a higher risk of tipping or becoming misaligned. “Even small changes to the packaging performance,” explained Ted van der Hoeven, Technology Director at Regal Rexnord. “Transfers between conveyor
18 July/August 2025 | Automation
products are more likely to fall or jam if your system isn’t built for this kind of instability.” To accommodate these new realities, manufacturers are having to rethink their conveying equipment, especially in areas where products must transfer smoothly from one section to another.
Shorter transfers, smarter curves Fortunately for manufacturers, Regal Rexnord has developed several conveying solutions that directly address the impact of evolving packaging. These include modular chains and curve systems that allow for much shorter, smoother transfers, without the need for extra drives or intermediate components. One example of this is the Rexnord Curve System with 1540 Series MatTop Chain. Designed for zero-tangent 90° and
radius and smallest product transfer gap on the market. That makes it ideally suited to handling unstable or lightweight packaging, even without additional support from plates or modules.
Easy integration “It enables safe, head-to-tail transfer even for delicate containers, and it’s easy to integrate into manufacturers’ existing lines.”
Beyond its handling performance, the 1540 Curve System also reduces maintenance requirements. The bevel conveying surface, while standard chain widths and a simple installation process allow for rapid deployment, even by a single technician.
The Rexnord Curve System with 1540 Series MatTop chain can handle unstable or lightweight packaging
automationmagazine.co.uk
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