food Marketing & Technology 3/2021

Packaging
Meat Packaging Equipment
but the wrong choice for another firm
with different requirements. To make a
proper match one must first understand
the differences between the two types of
equipment, then one can decide which
equipment best satisfies the firm’s needs.
Ronnie P. Cons is CEO of C&C Packing Inc., leading
Canadian meat and poultry distributor
Buying the right or wrong meat packaging
equipment can spell the difference
between an efficient and profitable
meat packaging firm and a non-efficient
one that has varied production, and
efficiency issues. The right equipment
for a given firm will be determined by
many varied elements including; the size
of the food processing and packaging
company, its needs, their budget, the
performance output needed, future
growth expectations and type of product
to be packaged. All these factors and
more must be taken into consideration
in order to make the right decision. A
wrong decision can be very costly, thus
an informed decision is essential. I should
add that the number and variety of
equipment on the market makes the
decision making process a complex one,
thus guidance is very important. For
example, a meat packaging firm must
decide whether to purchase FFS or Tray
sealing packaging equipment.
FFS stands for Form, Fill, Seal packaging
and uses rolls of film that are Formed
with the use of heat into pouches or
containers. The pouch is then Filled with
the food item and then heat is used to
cover and Seal film to the top of the
pouch. Tray sealing instead uses already
bought trays that are filled with the food
item. Film with the use of heat is then
used to cover and seal the container.
Which system is better?
As mentioned above, the right
equipment for any firm depends on the
company and its requirements. Thus FFS
may be the right choice for one company
FFS or Form, Fill and Seal packaging
provides the following advantages over
Tray seal packaging:
• More flexibility in package size and
package shape.
• FFS allows for the rapid programming
of various package shapes including
packaging for bulky products.
• Higher packaging output due to
the fact that the production process
includes the package production in
the same line.
• Lower package costs partly due the
reason just explained in #2 above.
While Tray seal packaging has the
advantage of usually offering higher
product protection due to the sturdier
seal. Some will argue that they are also
more leak proof.
Both allow for MAP (modified atmosphere
packaging); gas flushing and
many other features that are shared by
both systems. Different manufacturers
of these packaging machines may have a
different focus. For instance one firm may
produce a FFS machine that offers higher
leak proof abilities over its competitors,
but less efficient MAP abilities.
It is recommended that the person
in charge of buying the packaging
equipment follow the complex decision
making process below:
• Analyze and quantify the firms
objectives.
• Give a weighted value to each of the
respective criteria.
• Invite the chosen vendors to present
and explain their products.
• Choose the product that is best suited.
In summary, a well thought out complex
decision making protocol as described
above will result in the purchase of the
meat packaging equipment that is best
suited for the firm, resulting in enhanced
performance and profits.
fmt
WHAT
IS YOUR
MIXING TASK
FOR US?
Your Solution
Provider for:
• Mixing
• Reacting
• Granulating
• Coating
• Drying
Lödige Process Technology
Elsener Str. 7-9
33102 Paderborn
Germany
www.loedige.de
LÖDIGE – ALWAYS
THE RIGHT MIX
Key No. 99844
food Marketing & Technology • June 2021 33