(Altendorf/Cologne, 2018-12-03) System manufacturer Loesch Verpackungstechnik is exhibiting together with its sister company Hastamat Verpackungstechnik at ProSweets in Cologne from January 27 to 30, 2019. Located in hall 10.1, booth G030 H039, the specialist for confectionery packaging is presenting its RCB-HS wrapping head machine used to produce hermetically sealed bars of chocolate. In addition to small chocolate items, the latest version of the LTM-DUO die-fold machine also reflects the growing popularity of tightly sealed chocolate bars.
Hygienic product protection and a premium look for high-quality chocolate are just as important as efficient and flexible production and packaging. Having the right equipment is therefore a top priority for any chocolate producer. These requirements are perfectly fulfilled by the packaging machinery specialists from Loesch in the latest update of the RCB-HS. “The R series for small chocolate products and bars combines a premium look and ideal product protection in an end-to-end hermetically sealed pack,” says Loesch CEO Dr. Thomas Cord. “The extremely compact RCB-HS machine platform has been rigorously designed for top performance and handles the primary packaging in modern chocolate production reliably and flexibly.” Since the prototype was presented, the innovative concept has undergone continuous development to the point of market maturity. “Since its successful launch, the platform has rapidly established itself in the market, and the concept has met with a particularly enthusiastic response in markets where climate conditions demand hermetically sealed packaging,” says Cord with pride. Consumers can enjoy products with longer shelf lives and an optimized taste and texture experience. The chocolate products are presented in the premium fold wrap look that has made LoeschPack a global market leader in this segment for decades. “With excellent performance of up to 600 packaged products per minute, the RCB-HS is unrivalled in thechocolate sector,” says Cord.
A premium look with a traditional die-fold
The RCB-HS operates continuously and produces the fold wrap in one wrapping head. It circumferentially heat-seals or cold-seals the packaging material as required. The sealing jaws always seal film against film, ensuring extremely tight packaging and preventing thermal damage to the products. For an optimum look, sealing jaws carefully affix the sealed film areas to the underside of the packaging in the discharge area. The decision fully to dispense with hot-setting glue minimizes machine soiling, reduces operating costs, and greatly simplifies operation itself. The RCB-HS uses just one hot or coldsealable packaging material, helping to reduce costs and resources. With the help of modern film printing technology, the packaging can also be designed for a premium look and feel.
Wide range of formats and packaging options
“The RCB-HS exhibits the typical characteristics of a Loesch machine: quick and simple format changeovers within a large size range, high efficiency and performance, outstanding user-friendliness and accessibility, and top hygiene properties,” says Thomas Cord. Set-up time for a format changeover is around 60 minutes, while in most cases belt changes and cleaning can be carried out without the use of tools. The machine also features excellent availability resulting from the high quality of construction in combination with long cleaning and maintenance intervals. Optional equipment such as an autosplice device further increase OEE (overall equipment effectiveness). In addition to the RCB-HS, the specialists from Altendorf also produce a version of the R series that can create open folds. This machine is capable of outputting up to 800 packaged products per minute. The company is working at full speed to upgrade the R series to include new format ranges, folds, performance parameters, and the ability to process alternative packaging materials such as biopolymer film.
With a larger format range and a slightly reduced output performance, the RCB-H is therefore ideal for the efficient packaging of small chocolate bars, a packaging style that is becoming increasingly popular.
Flexibility and product safety: LTM-DUO
LoeschPack is also presenting the market leader for packaging bars, the LTM-DUO. The latest generation of the flexible fold wrapping machine packs up to 215 bars of chocolate a minute in a primary wrap and an outer wrap. Alongside conventional packaging materials, the primary wrap can also use bio-degradable packaging film with an output of up to 180 bars a minute. As required, the outer wrap can be executed as a paper envelope from the stack or reel, or as a cardboard box. All variants can also be installed on one platform. “The LTM-DUO is the most efficient machine on the market,” says Dr. Thomas Cord. It can handle sizes up to 300-gram bars, and is both extremely flexible and easily upgradeable, he adds. The large available format range and both easy and fast changeovers guarantee short set-up times and high user flexibility. Even larger changeovers can be completed in under 60 minutes. In order to influence a significant boost to product safety and the shelf life of chocolate bars, the upgraded LTM-DUO particularly focuses on the sealing technology making it possible to ensure that the bars are kept safe and secure in airtight packaging.
