FORKLIFT TRUCKS
COMBILIFT – GOOD TO BE BACK AT IMHX
BARCODING LABELLING & PACKAGING
PROSEAL PIONEERS WORKABLE ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC TRAY SEALING
P
roseal tray sealing technology is at the forefront of the race to find feasible alternatives to plastic trays and sealing film for the European soft fruit market.
The company says the introduction of legislation such as the UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax and the EU’s Plastic Waste Levy, combined with increasingly negative perceptions about plastic among consumers, are driving the change. “Although plastic packaging still has many benefits, the amount of anti-plastic sentiment that we are now seeing means many fruit growers and packers are actively seeking a different solution,” said Daryl Henshaw, Proseal’s Key Accounts Manager. “This is particularly true of the organic sector. People who are prepared to pay extra for organic grapes, for example, do not want to buy these in a plastic punnet, and therefore expect the supplier to find an alternative.”
W
ith the largest stand area, the largest exhibit in the form of the Combi-SC straddle carrier and arguably the busiest stand, Combilift’s presence at this year’s IMHX show could not be overlooked. At its location not far from the entrance to Hall 5, the Irish manufacturer exhibited 21 models as well as a Combi-CB in the live demo area. These represented the breadth and diversity of the company’s range and included examples of almost every Combilift model – with lift capacities from around 1t to over 100t. One area was devoted to pedestrian stackers and powered pallet trucks and another to multidirectional forklifts and sideloaders. The narrow aisle capabilities of the articulated Aisle Master trucks were showcased within racking, and the Combi-SC Straddle Carrier was unmissable due to its height and its bright pink colour - requested by the end customer. And after a tour of the various exhibits, many visitors made a beeline for the much-loved Combilift Guinness bar. The majority of the IMHX exhibits were electric powered, which reflects the move towards more sustainable and emission-free materials handling across many industry sectors. Combilift CEO and Co-Founder Martin McVicar: “Over 60% of the trucks we manufacture are now electric, with availability in almost all models across our range, and we are seeing more and more of our customers
switching to electric power.” Visitors finally had the chance to get hands-on experience of new models that had been launched virtually over the last year or so. These included the Combi-MR4, a 4-wheel electric powered multidirectional reach truck featuring Combilift’s new Dynamic 360° ™ steering which enables seamless directional change while on the move. This results in unrivalled multidirectional capability and forward, sideward and crab steer mode for speedy operation. For maximum use of low level space in racking systems, the two drive wheels at the rear and two sets of smaller dual front wheels enable a platform height of just 380mm. The new Combi-FSE 4-wheeled, two directional sideloader also incorporates innovative technology in the form of the patented Electronic Traction Control, Combilift’s most advanced steering system on its four wheeled trucks to date. This ensures optimum performance in all weather conditions, improved steering control for the operator, better truck turning radius and reduced tyre wear. Martin McVicar: “After the enforced break due to the pandemic, the amount of footfall to our stands proved that there was a real appetite from customers for personal interaction with our team and to see the innovations we had been working on since the last IMHX.”
Combilift
www.combilift.com
Proseal’s established pedigree in soft fruit tray sealing – the company estimates that as much as 95 per cent of top-sealed trays in the UK are sealed on Proseal machines – means it is ideally placed to support the development of new and innovative packaging materials.
Recent introductions have included the Alexa Stackpack, a premium, craft-board punnet that provides an in-line, off-the- shelf, fully printed card punnet. However, although the punnet comes pre-assembled, until now there has been no automatic system available for folding and sealing the pack’s two flanges other than by hand.
In collaboration with Alexa, Proseal has developed a solution
that will fold and seal the flanges as the packs are filled and run through a line. “Sealing the flanges was proving a real challenge for the manufacturer, but we have developed a unique technology to overcome this,” explained Daryl Henshaw. “Soft fruit is a business with very high throughput and minimal margins, so this practical, automatic solution will really make a difference.”
Another off-the-shelf system, which is receiving even more uptake across Europe, is the CKF Earthcycle Punnet. This provides the option to swap easily between plastic and pulp, as well as the chance to move from plastic-based to cellulose-based film. “The CKF Earthcycle Punnet offers a completely plastic-free equivalent to a plastic punnet and a realistic, workable alternative,” said Henshaw. “Significantly, packers can plug-and-play these materials into their existing Proseal machines.”
Indeed, one of the benefits of Proseal tray sealing machines is their future proofing, with the ability to add and remove features in order to be easily adapted to handle new pack formats. In addition, the company’s dedicated test kitchen enables customers to fully trial new materials and tray designs to ensure they meet their requirements.
Proseal is part of the JBT Corporation family, a leading global technology solutions provider to high-value segments of the food processing industry, committed to providing a service that surpasses customer expectations.
Proseal
www.proseal.com FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS | SEPTEMBER 2022 17
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