Packaging
Italian Cheese Packer Valex Adopts Leading Edge Cryovac(R) Laser Cutting Technology
Wednesday 11. February 2009 - The leading cheese packer in Italy Valex handles a very wide range of products from major dairy producers including Agriform, Auricchio, Casearia Bresciana, Rovagnati and Zanetti. Valex achieves a daily production volume of 35 tons of cheese portioned and packed in its Cremona plant, 100 km south of Milano.
The products include different kinds of hard and semi-hard cheeses in consumer units, mainly Parmigiano, Padano, Provolone and Pecorino – of different brands, shapes and sizes.
Focusing on innovative technologies that provide differentiated added value to customers, Valex has experienced a 10-15% annual growth in the past four years. Future growth is based on annual capital investments and consolidating presence in overseas markets, mainly the U.S. where Valex exports 1,800 tons of retail ready cheese packs.
Valex has been working with Sealed Air on a regular basis since 1988, using exclusively Cryovac materials such as bags, laminates, Cryovac BDF and Darfresh pakaging concepts for cheese. At the beginning of 2007, the company adopted the latest Darfresh Lasercut technology which promised to bring significant benefits to cheese packing.
THE SOLUTION
The well-known Darfresh Vacuum Skin Packaging concept ensures a highly attractive second skin effect resulting in a brilliant presentation of the product, plus longer shelf-life and the preservation of organoleptic properties.
The new Darfresh laser cutting technology by Cryovac brings innovative pack design and higher process flexibility to customers. The system allows numerous product positioning alternatives, including the ability to pack products with different shapes and sizes, as well as an easy change of cutting program on a laser touch screen.
Productivity is enhanced because there is no longer any need for using and replacing cutting blades, the distance between the products can be minimised, more products can be positioned in the width and material roll width can be reduced for significant savings.
THE BENEFITS
The new packaging brings unprecedented differentiation to the cheese packs on retail shelves, superior flexibility during the packing operations and better presentation for cheese producers. In view of these value adding benefits, Valex did not hesitate to launch a new concept, thereby innovating to be one step ahead of competition and further promote “high quality” products.
Sealed Air provided full assistance during the entire roll-out process. The project was entirely developed in close partnership with the customer, particularly with regard to the design of moulds, line software development, launch implementation and follow up.
THE RESULTS
Valex is the very first customer to test the new Darfresh Lasercut technology. This required many tests and trials, prototype developments and fine-tuning. Thanks to successful team work, the process generated extremely positive results, to the great satisfaction of both partners.
“We have been working with Sealed Air Cryovac for a long time now and our relationship with their team is excellent. Not only in a personal way. Good relationships rely on facts. And the fact is that the Cryovac team is always there when we need them. When we want to develop new formats or applications, or we have to solve packaging issues, they really make any challenge easier”, said Giorgio Everett and Anna Battista, owners of Valex.