Packaging
BEHN + BATES presents new high-performance packaging systems: ORBIS for open-mouth bags and impeller packer with integrated metal detector for valve bags
Wednesday 30. April 2008 - Innovative and dynamic on the occasion of the 75th anniversary
In 2008 the company BEHN + BATES located in Münster/Germany celebrates its 75th anniversary and presents itself more innovative than ever. During interpack 2008 the German packaging specialist will show its new filling system ORBIS for open-mouth bags that has been specially developed for the filling of powdery products at hourly rates of more than 500 bags with filling weights of 25 kg. In addition to this, they will also be showing its well proven impeller packer – optimised version with integrated metal detector.
The demand of the international food industry for hygienic filling of powdery products into open-mouth bags at rates of more than 500 bags per hour has increased, as the valve bag has not been convincing for all products. The packaging machine manufacturers are confronted with the challenge that powdery products, just as flour, baking ingredients, starch, yeast, etc. cannot be filled as easily and efficiently as granules. Everybody knows powders are dusty. Optimum filling results can only be attained with the right filling system. The relation between low-air filling, dust-tight filling spout and efficient product de-aeration are of utmost importance, but influence the machine output.
The new packaging system ORBIS made by BEHN + BATES guarantees both the efficient hygienic filling of powdery products, as well as high machine outputs of up to 600 bags per hour. It can handle all of the common bag types, just as gusseted and flat bags made of paper, PE or combinations thereof. It is equipped with 3, 4 or 6 filling spouts.
The machine to be shown at the interpack 2008 is equipped with 4 filling spouts that work independently from each other thus making it possible to carry out the individual filling steps (bag application, coarse-flow filling, fine-flow filling and bag discharge) simultaneously. This results in shorter cycles and higher machine outputs. The individual filling steps are optimally synchronized.
The empty bags are separated at their bottom, then guided through the modern empty bag magazine by the optimized high-speed singling station. Thus, a controlled bag opening and a secure bag placing by a servo-driven applicator arm to the filling spout is guaranteed. The product is filled according to the gross system, i. e. the bags are weighed during the filling process. Height-adjustable bottom vibrators provided in encapsulated design, due to the severe hygienic prescriptions in the food industry, assure that the bags are optimally compacted. The results are stable bags that can be easily stacked and a perfect pallet shape being of utmost importance for the product marketing.
After the filling the bag is taken off the filling spout and transferred to the discharge unit. The filled bags are closed either by folding, sewing, sealing, gluing, hot-melt activation or combinations thereof. The chosen type of closing systems depends on the individual customer requests. In the food industry the combination of sealing and hot-melt activation has proven its worth as the bags are especially tight then. Humidity, foreign bodies, bugs or similar cannot penetrate the product. Even longer storage times are possible due to the tight closure in combination with an internal PE welding, provided that the right bag material has been chosen.
Stringent hygienic standards within the food industry were one of the main criteria for the design of the new BEHN + BATES packaging system ORBIS: The filling system is suspended from the top making it easily accessible for cleaning purposes underneath the filling spouts. In addition, the machine bottom is completely closed and the energy cables are laid outside the dust area. The access doors made of security glass are flush with the machine frame. Possible dust deposit areas are reduced to a minimum.
The ORBIS system, BEHN + BATES, is perfectly prepared for the future. Again and again new convincing packaging designs for the food industry arise from the combination of tradition and innovation.