The beverage industry is producing ever smaller packaging units while at the same time, the available space in many production facilities is at a premium. The VP 600 case packer - that was presented at the drinktec trade fair in Spetember 2017 - successfully fulfils the demands of the market. Thanks to its extremely compact footprint, this continuous motion machine fits in nearly every production facility. The dimensions of the formats range from 70 x 50 x 80 mm up to 200 x 150 x 200 mm (W x L x H).

In a fully automatic process, this new machine packs single rows of small pouches sealed with a large screw caps in 1 x 6 formats into small trays with lids without causing any damage to the sensitive, soft packaging. The pouches that were processed on the machine at drinktec 2017 were provided by the company SN. The SN Maschinenbau GmbH is a specialist in Germany for pouch packing machines and also exhibited at its own stand (Hall A2.500) at the event.

Fast format changes, hygienic construction

A very small number of finely tuned format parts enable fast and reproducible format changeovers that can be carried out without any tools. A high degree of accessibility is made possible by low-maintenance linear bearings and guiding elements (no central lubrication necessary) as well as self-cleaning vacuum valves. The high standards demanded by the beverage industry with respect to hygiene in the end-packaging area have been met completely by the VP 600 case packer. The hygienic design in stainless steel execution features sloped surfaces that allow liquid to run off. Optimal accessibility is enabled by the open design without any hidden corners or empty spaces. In addition, the machine stands out with its high degree of ergonomics.

The product infeed of the VP 600 is carried out via a paddle chain with interchangeable belts that have product-specific pockets and paddles and are able to stack and erect products. With a fast changeover function, the belts can be exchanged immediately and then automatically adjusted for tension and positioning. The blank magazines, which can be adjusted in height, are easily loaded and can be equipped with saw-tooth belts for the tray transport. This prevents the creation of too much pressure at the blank pickup. The interchangeable format-dependent safety guards are also equipped with quick-change elements, which provide additional magazine protection in addition to the certified SICK sensors (Safeguard Detectors).

In a further developmental stage, Meypack will also be completing a model of the VP 600 series to efficiently pack miniature bottles (glass and PET) as well as cans and jars. In a future variation of the model with a larger machine footprint, wrap-around cases, shoulder trays and trays with external lids will be processed. The packaging dimensions will then be enlarged accordingly.