Hugo Beck, the world’s leading manufacturer of horizontal flowpack, film packaging and post-print processing machines, is showcasing a new series of paper packaging solutions at this year’s FachPack. Introduced at the show under the slogan, ‘Film or paper? Stay flexible’, Hugo Beck is meeting the growing demand for sustainable primary and secondary packaging solutions by enabling customers to choose both the packaging type and material, all from one single machine.

Hugo Beck, the world’s leading manufacturer of horizontal flowpack, film packaging and post-print processing machines, has developed its latest flowpack machine to meet the demanding display requirements of the chocolate and confectionery sector.

The flowpack X-D can be personalised to each customer’s specific needs to deliver perfect results and recently has been designed to produce special display packs that help confectionery packs catch the consumer’s eye. As well as being able to operate with a wide variety of films, the recent machine project uniquely creates a header for the application of a label to deliver maximum on-shelf standout.

The box motion transversal sealing unit on the flowpack X-D enables a continuous seal for high output whilst simultaneously manufacturing the header, using two transverse sealing profiles to give the finished product its unmistakable appearance. Packs can then be collated using accumulation synchronisation or kept contact-free via cascade belts. At the same time, a colour printed card with product information and a best-before date can be applied to one side of the pack.

Other features of the flowpack X-D include a film changing machine, control system for aligning the printed film, a choice of belt types for the intake area, and parts specially designed to allow contact with the product. It can operate at speeds of up to 200 cycles per minute.

Like all Hugo Beck flowpack machines with continuous motion, the X-D features a servo axis controller MotionControl and the latest generation of Siemens Sinamics to ensure high quality packaging and maximum machine uptime, even in a three-shift operation. Intuitive touch screen operation with data storage also ensure ease of use.

“Flowpack machines are ideal for packaging in the confectionery sector where air-tightness and stability of the final product are essential,” comments Timo Kollmann, Hugo Beck’s Sales Director. “No matter the product or the dimensions, our flowpack X-D machine is able to be personalised to each customer’s specific needs to deliver the perfect results.”

The Hugo Beck range of flowpack machines offers a choice of models to meet a wide variety of confectionery pack requirements using many different types of films, including hot- and cold-sealable, metallised, paper-coated and composite films. The company also has particular experience in the use of extremely fine and transparent polyolefin film, used in shrink wrap applications.

Thanks to the machines’ intelligent servo drive technology and the modularity of all construction components, as well as the ability to link securely with upstream and downstream production units, a wide range of packaging types can be produced. In particular, the use of special transversal and longitudinal sealing elements allows the creation of special formats such as eight-cornered packs with a tear-open strip, and diamond-shaped designs with an overlapping welding seam or ground ionisation, all of which can be shrunk tightly without creases.