Packaging
A revolution in packaging turns 50
Tuesday 13. May 2008 - Form-fill-seal technology from OYSTAR Erca-Formseal
A new era began when OYSTAR Erca-Formseal introduced its form-fill seal technology in 1958. In one fell swoop, several problems with packaging liquid and pasty food products were solved. Now, a single machine could thermally construct cups of different sizes from a flat roll of plastic film and fill and seal them.
Soon after its introduction, the technology became established and was used to package yogurt, quark, milk and milk products, butter, jam, and juices. The main advantages of this form-fill-seal technol-ogy were better hygiene and lower operating expenses: Material and energy costs could be slashed by 30 to 60 percent (depending on the product) as compared to preformed cups.
FFS technology continued to advance over the next five decades: In 1970, for example, OYSTAR Erca-Formseal introduced the sleeved cup. “This represented a new level of quality in labeling. Fitting the sleeve around the cup as it was formed enabled a perfect fit to be achieved. The problems of overlapping and trimming and tattered and loose labels became a thing of the past”, emphasizes Domi-nique Leroy, Sales Manager at OYSTAR Erca-Formseal.
OYSTAR Erca-Formseals next groundbreaking innovation came in 2002 as the custom-shaped plastic bottle was introduced. This made it much easier for branded companies to further distinguish themselves at the point of sale. OYSTAR Erca-Formseal can now help customers improve their overall product image and accentuate the uniqueness of individual brands.
The innovative strength and professional service for which OYSTAR Erca-Formseal is known have made the company a leading supplier of form-fill-sealing and packaging machines worldwide. Today, 2,000 efficient thermoforming systems are in use at major food companies in 60 countries.
This year sees another innovation: The next-generation EF400 stan-dard packaging machine for 4×6 125-gram cups introduces labels in two steps per run at a capacity of up to 40,000 cups per hour. OYSTAR Erca-Formseal presents the EF400 and other innovations at the Interpack trade show in Dusseldorf.