Page 26 - Packaging News Jan-Feb 2020

MEMBER NEWS
FROMM SIMULATES SHIPPING STRESS
Fromm Packaging Australia has acquired a new piece of equipment that allows it to simulate the conditions a pallet will endure during transport.
In what managing director Richard Layton describes as a first for the Australian packaging industry, the technology allows Fromm to conduct in-house testing on load stabilisation and stress in transit. Layton points out that returns and product damage can eat away at the bottom line for manufacturers and supply-chain businesses.
“The industry average is around four per cent, and a lot of it can be improved simply by stretch wrapping their palletised goods correctly – but they don’t know how to do it. When you’re a large manufacturer, that translates to a huge amount of wastage from the goods you’re shipping across the country or overseas,” he said.
According to Layton, Fromm uses its new equipment to tailor advice for secure shipping: the company wraps the customer’s pallet, places it onto the machine, and tilts it to simulate stresses up to 0.8G. If the contents move in the static test, this means they could also shift when the delivery truck brakes abruptly or goes around a corner, exposing them to potential damage.
“We look at the products our customers are currently wrapping, how they’re wrapping them and the trip to the end destination.
“Then, using our new machine, we simulate the g-forces that would be experienced in transit. No other packaging company in Australia offers this kind of testing,” said Layton.
RIGHT: Fromm can simulate stresses up to 0.8G.
Packopale packs seafood products with Schur Star machines.
SCHUR STAR HOOKS FRENCH SEAFOOD PACKER
NORD LAUNCHES HYGIENIC,
ENERGY EFFICIENT MOTOR
Nord Drivesystems has launched a new synchronous motor, which it says has achieved significantly higher energy efficiency.
The IE5+ series permanent magnet synchronous motor, which comes with or without a fan and is suitable for washdown and intralogistics applications when incorporating a nsd tupH surface treatment, loses considerably less energy than the IE4 series which came before it, according to Max Jarmatz, MD of Nord Drivesystems Australia.
“This unventilated smooth motor achieves a high efficiency which, at times, proves to be more efficient via a wide torque range.
“It is optimally suitable for operation in a partial load range, and the compact IE5+ motor offers a high-power density with less installation space required,” he said.
The IE5+ series, available from the second quarter of 2020, will initially be launched in a size for power ranges from 0.25 to 1.1 kW, with a continuous torque from 1.6 to 4.8Nm and speeds from 0 to 2,100 min-1, and can be directly mounted according to NEMA or IEC.
“We will gradually extend this motor concept to include additional sizes and powers based on demand and customer
requirements,” said
French co-packer Packopale has broadened its market offering with the addition of APPMA member Schur’s Schur Star concept to its operations.
The contract packer, established in 2000, has focused on the frozen seafood segment. It serves smaller companies that reach the point where they can grow from small-scale hand packing production but aren’t able to take the next step, as well as larger companies that need assistance for projects like small-batch runs.
According to director Gregory Condette, the Schur Star concept came along just at the right time for Packopale.
“We had reached the point where our capacity and our packaging offer in general did only just reach the market requirement in term of innovation and flexibility.
“When introduced to the operational, logistical and promotional advantages of the Schur Star concept, we immediately saw the potential for us. Now there is hardly anything we can’t do.”
Condette said that, based on its know-how in packing seafood, Packopale has experienced growing success with Schur Star.
“We now offer a packing process adapted to any product requirement – from oddly shaped shellfish to be carefully hand-packed, to standardised products packed fully automatically, or a solution in between requiring a combination of automatic and manual packing,” he said.
Packopale’s versatility in packaging solutions has been extended beyond just pillow bags.
“As examples, we offer a box shaped solution, which will give superior shelf appearance in the upright refrigerated display; and a two- compartment bag for seafood being packed side-by-side to dressing, sauce or a side dish.
“Also, shaped bags are possible – it could be shaped like a fish, with appeal to children, or logo-shaped bags for promotional purposes. Our new partner [can] design whatever bag construction is required,” Condette said.
Jarmatz.
026 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2020 WWW.PACKAGINGNEWS.COM.AU
The Nord IE5+ series motor.