ULMA Launches New Side-Sealing Flow Wrapper for Cheese Packaging

Sep 07, 2021
ULMA Packaging has developed a new side-sealing version of the company’s original ARTIC side seal flow wrapper. The innovation aims to support cheese suppliers under increasing pressure from consumers for good-looking, sustainable products with longer shelf life.

Specifically developed for cheese portions, the ARTIC SS C provides a hermetically sealed pack by using an innovative new design that eliminates the usual lengthwise and crosswise seals used on most flow pack machines. Instead, it uses a longitudal side-sealing system featuring a long dwell sealing head to provide a narrow seal along the cheese’s rind. This technique reduces excess film and leakage risk, while improving the pack’s aesthetic appearance. 

Exceptional appearance, with no seals on either side

 Ed Williams, Sales Director at ULMA Packaging UK, explains: “It is absolutely vital cheese suppliers can package their products to be airtight, sustainable and attractive on the shelf, as these are key factors driving consumer purchasing behaviour. With that in mind, we have designed the new ARTIC SS C model to provide visually appealing packaging. 

Cheese wrapped on ULMA packaging machine with side seal

Packaging that is more airtight, visually appealing, sustainable and easier to open

 For example, by eliminating the lengthwise and crosswise seals, the cheese can be sealed along the rind, so pack space is freed up for as many labels as necessary to cover perforations, or highlight easy openings or promotions. Consequently, because of this innovation, these products can be made more eye-catching while also benefitting from an even more secure seal.” 

A fully automatic process that ensures outstanding presentation

 In order to provide the best possible package appearance, the ARTIC model comes with a forming mould that adapts to the size of each individual cheese portion. As part of the sealing process, wrapped products are passed through a hot air shrink tunnel, which gives the packaged cheese an exceptional final look. The solution can also be fully automated to transfer the product from the cutting line to inside the film's tube, ensuring that manual handling and contamination risk is kept to a minimum.

 

Additionally, the ARTIC’s packaging process is designed to optimise material use and is compatible with lightweight plastic material, in the form of a shrink wrap film that is only 21 microns thick. It can also be used for Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), enhancing product safety by further reducing the risk of seal leaks.

 Cheese with label wrapped on ULMA packaging machine with side seal

“While tightly skinning the product helps from a product integrity point of view, it also allows manufacturers to boost their environmental credentials by reducing the volume of packaging required,” Ed concludes. “This is important to ULMA as a company – as part of our #ULMAWeCare project, we have worked to design solutions that optimise the use of materials, save time and reduce labour costs. The development of this new ARTIC model, which uses side sealing to reduce material use, and is compatible with MAP, is a great example of these sustainability-minded goals in action.”

Please contact us to discuss your cheese packaging needs.