MODULAR SOLUTIONS
assemblies. In the case of packaging machinery, this can include anything from robotic systems to operator interfaces and machine frames. According to Schubert, the choice of assemblies will depend on the requirements demanded by the product being packed, with typical applications involving pick & place robots, their respective tools and in-line product scanners. Offering a typical example, Schubert
cited a production line for pralines. Here, it is possible to choose the appropriate scanner solution along with pick & place robots with easily interchangeable suction and/or gripper tools – which must be able to handle a variety of different shapes with delicacy and precision. A Schubert spokesperson went
on to highlight that, with modular confectionery packaging equipment, systems can easily be upgraded to address future packaging tasks. If, for example, a manufacturer currently
needs a cartoner, but may require an additional case or tray packer in the longer term, a modular system will help make line expansion easy, thanks to the use of standardised interfaces between the different modules. Additional robots can increase output, and the number and combination of elements, such as buffer lanes, can help to maintain production in the event of rejects or temporary stoppages.
Modularity in moulding Some of the biggest agility gains through the adoption of modular systems have been identified in moulding, depositing and forming operations, which is often also where new trends land first – inclusions, layered structures, new shapes, and surface finishes. Discussing modularity in chocolate moulding, Paolo Cometto, Head of Sales, Chocolate Process & Moulding Business Unit at SACMI Packaging & Chocolate,
highlighted that in confectionery production, modularity is not an abstract concept. Instead, it provides a concrete way of designing, building and running chocolate moulding lines. He says: “On a modular moulding line, each process step will have been conceived as a functional module –depositing, shell forming, cooling, demoulding and mould handling can be combined, upgraded or extended according to the needs of the producer.” In practice, this means that different
dosing solutions can be integrated as independent modules, selected and configured based on product type, recipe complexity and the accuracy required. “The same logic applies to shell formation, where traditional technologies and fast shell solutions can coexist within a modular architecture, allowing manufacturers to choose the most suitable approach to meet current demands, while keeping the option open to evolve tomorrow,” continues Paolo.
22 • KENNEDY’S CONFECTION • MARCH 2026
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