CHOCOLATE PACKAGING


has been proven to be capable of delivering high speeds, low running costs and fast changeovers, according to Diego Cavana, Packaging BU Sales Manager at SACMI Packaging & Chocolate. He says: “The highly-configurable flow wrapper has been designed with high-productivity flowpack operations in mind – that means up to 150 meters of film per minute, with rapid changeovers and simplified maintenance.” Another recent project undertaken in the chocolate sector saw the flow wrapper reach eight tons per hour of packaged chocolate with just two packaging legs.


Sustainable solutions Of course consumer preferences will always vary when it comes to the shape or taste of their favourite chocolate treat – some prefer white, milk or plain chocolate bars with nuts, fruit, or cookie pieces, while others may look


“One thing that almost all


consumers will agree on today is that they want their chocolate to be packaged sustainably”


for chocolate tablets with no inclusions at all. However, one thing that almost all consumers will agree on today is that they want their chocolate to be packaged sustainably. This has resulted in chocolate producers looking for


more sustainable packaging materials, with paper-based materials appearing to be one of the big crowd-pleaser for consumers. However, packaging chocolate in paper is easier said than


done. Paper has fundamentally different properties than plastic packaging that make it more difficult to process on packaging machines. It tears more easily and is prone to wrinkle. Any material used to wrap chocolate also needs to be


able to withstand grease stains and moisture penetration to ensure adequate shelf life. Even the most sustainable packaging would be useless if the product quality didn’t match consumer expectations, as well as high standards in respect of food safety and product quality. Syntegon set out to address the challenges facing


No labels required for artisan chocolatiers!


Packaging has traditionally been a stumbling block for artisan chocolate makers. High setup costs and large order quantities have limited small-scale manufacturers to the use of labels which can increase costs and operational complexity. Yolli’s thermal ribbon printing technology for side-


weld bags is said to change this situation, making printed bags a possibility for the artisan manufacturers. The allowance for low minimum orders starts at just


one box of bags, which has dramatically lowered the entry barrier, giving cost-


effective access to custom printed bags. In addition to streamlining operations, by eliminating


the need for labels, the technology also makes packaging cheaper than traditional label application in many instances and makes short production runs economically viable.


chocolate manufacturers with the creation of the paper-ON- form retrofit kit for use on its form, fill and seal machines. The solution comprises a paper flow-wrap forming unit and sealing tools for cold sealing applications. When integrated into form, fill and seal machines it allows manufacturers to package their wares inside barrier papers without wrinkles, tears or cracks – while the customised cold sealing tools are said to create sealing seams without damaging the flow wrap itself. Importantly, using the solution does not affect output rates – paper flow wrapping on the paper-ON- form forming shoulder has been found to easily match the performance and usability of conventional flow wrapping.


Paper goes global Following extensive development work and investments, earlier this year Mars Wrigley set out to trial the use of recyclable paper packaging on its Mars bars in Tesco supermarkets across the UK. Commenting on the trial, Richard Sutherland-Moore,


Packaging expert at Mars Wrigley UK’s Research and Development Centre, says: “We are exploring different types of alternative packaging solutions for our confectionery products. For Mars bar, the challenge was to find the right paper packaging solution with an adequate level of barrier properties to protect the chocolate whilst guaranteeing food safety, quality and integrity of the product to prevent food waste.” Adam Grant, General Manager at Mars Wrigley UK,


continues: “With our Mars bar pilot project, we are taking a big step to see how paper-based packaging works in


KennedysConfection.com Kennedy’s Confection October 2023 41


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