During the Interpack exhibition, held 24 – 30 April 2008 in Düsseldorf – Germany, CFS has run a special programme at their Technology Centre in Bakel - The Netherlands. Visitors experienced what a fully automatic robot loading / traysealing line can do for their business. They watched a complete production changeover in less than 10 minutes: from one product packed in a MAP pack to another product in skin pack. These products were loaded automatically into the trays by the CFS RobotLoader. This showed cost reduction by automation in optima forma.

Format changeover in less than 10 minutes

Time is crucial in today’s food production. Visitors were impressed to see the perfect line synchronisation of the CFS TwinStar® traysealer and the CFS RobotLoader: on a minimised floor space, the constant product flow results in higher output and efficiency. Added to this, they were interested in the capacity: the CFS RobotLoader has up to 100 picks per minute and up to 8 robots can be placed in line, which adds up to 800 picks per minute. The demo showed there’s no contamination through human interference, being the equipment designed with reference to the high hygiene standard of FDA / AMI. In addition they were introduced to CFS TwinStar® traysealer, which gives security of no un-expected downtime with Foreign Object Detection, a system which controls the correct position of tray and product. They saw a high speed format changeover in less than 10 minutes, which ensures flexibility to pack a variety of products. Especially interesting was the secure sealing with servo lifting and the possibility to display and optimise performance by using CFS CostFox software. After the demo, visitors had the results in their hands: high quality MAP & skin packs, combining strong sealing & easy peel.
 
World’s first complete wash down delta robot

So far robot loaders were not applicable in the meat and cheese industries. That’s why CFS developed together with Sigpack Systems (a Bosch packaging technology company) a dedicated robot loader. In their Technology Centre, CFS introduced the visitors to the world’s first complete wash down delta robot.

Visitors saw the CFS RobotLoader in action, using a vision system to identify the location and orientation of each product. A camera is dedicated to each robot; the product is registered against an encoder on the belt to accurately locate and pick the moving product. After picking, the products are placed into the tray. Especially interesting was the flexibility of the system, which allows different arrangements and presentation in the pack to achieve highest consumer appeal.

High speed slicing & packaging and CFS ShrinkPak

In addition to the robot loading / traysealing demo, visitors experienced a high speed CFS Slicing & Packaging line and the CFS ShrinkPak system. Visitors were impressed by the high output of more than 250 packs per minute or 20 tons per shift with minimum labour of the CFS Slicing & Packaging line, consisting of the CFS MegaSlicer, CFS AutoLoader and CFS PowerPakNT thermoformer. They saw how flexible the line is with easy and quick changeover, short film reel changes, fast access to the die sets and fast sanitation time. This resulted in high yields, low give-aways and portion completion.

Visitors were particularly interested in the high cost savings by the CFS ShrinkPak System: fewer operators are needed and there’s reduced material costs and investment. In addition the hygienic packaging process was appealing to the audience, all from one supplier: equipment and packaging materials. They appreciated the full technical and operational support to ensure maximum production efficiency and pack integrity.

For more information:

Maurizio Bersani, Product Manager Traysealing CFS,  T +39 035 832 929,  E  Maurizio.Bersani@CFS.com
Joachim Hajek, Product Manager Robotloading CFS,  T +49 831 51284 4219,  E  Joachim.Hajek@CFS.com
CFS B.V., P.O. Box 1, 5760 AA  Bakel, The Netherlands
Tel. +31 492 349 349,  Fax  +31 492 349 416,  E-mail  info@CFS.com,  www.CFS.com