petfoodpro 3/2023

PACKAGING
Pet Food Packaged in an
Efficient, Resource-saving and
Eye-catching Way
Heart-shaped EasyLid® Trays and Mono-PP Thermoformer Packaging for Snacks
for dog snacks was created at Natural
Greatness in three different formats. Two
products are being sold in an attractively
designed, triangular sleeve, the third
is provided with a large label. All three
pack formats guarantee optimal shelf life
without sensory changes to the product,
even after longer storage. Due to the
required water vapor barrier, the flexible
packs are made from mono-PP. "Thanks
to the mono-PP, these single-material
packs are completely recyclable after
use, hence contributing to more resource
conservation," explains Marcel Veenstra.
Heart-shaped EasyLid® tray for cat snacks
The worldwide growth in the number
of pets during the pandemic years
has brought higher demands to the
international pet food market. Buying
criteria, which we know from our own
food items, now also often apply there:
pet owners pay increased attention to
the quality of ingredients, a high-class
product presentation, and optimal shelf
life. A well-known partner of the pet food
industry is SEALPAC. With efficient, hightech
traysealers and thermoformers, as
well as the development of innovative
packaging concepts, the company has
firmly established itself in this segment.
A significant category in pet food is snacks,
such as dog or cat treats to reward the
four-legged friends. In this competitive
section, pet food manufacturers must be
able to adapt quickly to the latest trends,
so that they can always meet the current
needs of their customers. Here, packaging
plays a key role. This is where the highperformance
machines from SEALPAC,
which have been used successfully in
the food industry for decades, are able
to provide support. “Suppliers of pet
food are increasingly relying on our
machines and packaging expertise, both
for tray-sealing and thermoforming. Our
skills are particularly in demand in the
snack portfolio, as two recent examples
show," says Marcel Veenstra, Marketing &
Communications Manager at SEALPAC.
Flexible thermoformer: dog
snacks in three packaging
formats
The manufacturer Natural Greatness from
Valencia in Spain, which offers dog food
without artificial additives, is particularly
dependent on flexibility in production. It
takes advantage of the use of SEALPAC’s
RE20 thermoformer, which is suitable for
various rigid and flexible film applications.
Just like the other models within the REseries,
this all-in-one thermoformer can
handle multiple packaging solutions
without significant effort: from flexible
film vacuum, skin, shrink and MAP
applications, up to modern solutions
based on recyclable mono-materials or
films with a high fiber content.
In close cooperation with SEALPAC’s
representative EMO S.A., new packaging
With the SEALPAC RE20 thermoformer,
the Spanish manufacturer has opted for a
compact yet high-performance solution.
It is equipped with the unique Rapid
Air Forming system, which achieves an
improved forming consistency, especially
in the corners of the pack, whilst using
shorter vacuum and ventilation times. This
results in higher outputs, as well as the
possibility to use thinner materials, but
still creates stable and perfectly shaped
packs. The required level of flexibility in
the production of Natural Greatness is
supported by the innovative quick tooling
exchange system on the RE20, which
enables frequent product changes with
minimum downtime.
Cat treats in reclosable, heartshaped
tray
The company Futternapf in Germany was
looking for a particularly eye-catching
solution for its cat snacks to meet modern
packaging requirements. It turned to
SEALPAC as its partner. A reclosable, heartshaped
tray was developed for its socalled
‘Knabberkissen’ (‘nibble pillows’),
which immediately catches the eye on
the crowded retail shelves due to its
striking design. “Our innovative EasyLid®
packaging system is used here, which we
developed in cooperation with our Dutch
partner Naber Plastics. It was already
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Technology & Marketing