Unpacking, The Packaging Process
Labeling and packaging different sizes of products for shipping, transportation and palletization can be challenging without a production line that can keep up with demand. It’s here that products are protected and prepared for storage and tagged for tracking and identification down the line. Webster Griffin is experienced in installing integrated packaging systems tailored to a business’s needs. Here’s how we helped one of the world’s largest aquafeed suppliers with a fully comprehensive solution.
About The Client
Cargill is a corporation operating in the food, agriculture and nutrition sectors of over 70 countries. They provide nutrition, food safety and sustainability solutions. One of their brands Ewos, specialises in aquaculture feed supply for fish health and nutrition. They manufacture and sell fish food to commercial fish farmers.
When Looking To Improve Productivity, Why Did Ewos Consider A FFS Machine?
Ewos needed to package larger volumes of fish food in a shorter time frame to meet demand. They needed a system that could bag different sizes and weights of feed. It would need to handle large single loop bags and smaller 20 to 25kg bags and package them at high speeds. As a Form Fill Seal (FFS) packaging machine can facilitate this, we’d need to include this in our solution.
What Challenges Did Ewos Have On This Installation?
Two major challenges were presented by Ewos for this installation. The first was that they needed the system installed and up and running in a very short time frame. The second was that they had limited factory floor space and needed a system that could perform various functions while remaining compact.
Why Did Webster Griffin Install A FFS Machine At Ewos?
After considering Ewos' needs, we suggested an integrated IBC-PF4 big bag filling system and Compacta Easy tubular FFS bagging machine. It included a conveying system with a self-adjusting fill station to automatically adjust for different bag sizes.
The FFS machine would form packaging from a plastic reel, using technology to prevent the bags from rupturing during filling. Following this, a vibrating platform would consolidate each bag’s contents. Each bag would get ticketed after being discharged by a pallet conveyor.
Why Did The Solution Work So Well For Ewos?
Our solution helped Ewos cut costs and reduce product wastage by eliminating manual changeovers between different bag sizes. As the system was easy and simple to operate with little maintenance and input required, it freed up their employees for other more important tasks.
Additionally, integrating ticketing helped them easily identify and track product batches across locations. Increased flexibility and speed also helped them keep up with demand and offer clients their preferred product size on cue.
Did Ewos’s Productivity Improve After The Installation?
Thanks to their new system, Ewos could meet their new throughput targets of packaging 20 to 25 1000 kg bulk bags and 30 to 35 500 kg bulk bags, with the Compacta Form Fill bagging system capable of running 1400 to 25 kg bags an hour. Each bag was stable and compacted for easy palletising with ticketing allowing them to track it after it left their factory.
To Find Out More
About Form Fill Seal Machines