Multivac has received the 2008 German Packaging Award for its new generation of thermoform packaging machines. The German Packaging Institute (DVI) presented the award in the category of machine technology. This is the second major prize that Multivac has received this year for its new machine generation, after having previously been honored with the renowned iF Packaging Award.

On November 12, representatives from Multivac's thermoform machine business unit joined the company's global marketing manager, Valeska Haux, to accept the award in Nuremberg.

"In the food industry, consumer protection and food hygiene have the highest priority," says Haux. "The hygiene-optimized design of our new thermoform packaging machines reduces the time and costs associated with guaranteeing flawless sanitation of the machinery in food plant environments. This results in reduced downtime, and therefore higher output and productivity from the packaging machine."

Consistently optimized for hygiene

This year the DVI introduced the competition category "machine technology" for "outstanding technical solutions and new technologies to improve quality and efficiency in the packaging process." In their explanation for awarding the prize to Multivac, the DVI jury emphasized the consistent hygiene design of the new thermoforming machine generation:

"Thermoforming machines with this design are primarily used to package sensitive products. Accordingly, high demands are placed on the hygiene-oriented design that have been satisfied in an exemplary fashion in the present example. The assembly of the machine and the constructive details such as accessibility, surfaces and functionality are part of a consistent hygiene design concept. The optional feature for Cleaning in Place makes it possible to fulfill high application requirements in a unique way."

The hygiene-optimized design was not only consistently realized in the exterior machine area but also within the interior assemblies, which are part of the "spray area". The transport chain with open spring coils and an open chain guide profile without dead spaces were among the components that were developed in a completely new way. This patented innovation makes it possible for contaminants to be thoroughly rinsed away without having to disassemble the chain. Up to now, the design of thermoforming machines had made this impossible. Multivac models R 535 and R 245 can be optionally equipped with a Clean in Place system. This enables an automated and standardized chemical cleaning of the chain, chain guide profile and interior assemblies.

About Multivac Inc.

Multivac, inc. is the leading manufacturer of thermoform fill-seal rollstock packaging solutions, chamber vacuum pouch sealers, traysealers, shrink tanks, and both cross-web and inline labelers for food, medical and consumer product applications. From its North American headquarters, located in Kansas City, MO, the company provides strategic consultation, technical design, sales, distribution, and service of Multivac's complete line of packaging systems. Multivac maintains a comprehensive, on-site parts inventory, and offers 24X7 technical assistance and certified training for its entire line of equipment. To date, the company has designed and implemented over 100,000 packaging solutions. Multivac, Inc. is accessible via the Internet at www.multivac.com.