Pouch Packaging Machines for Wet Pet Food

Pouch packaging machines for wet pet food

Efficient, fast, and safe

To be able to fill and pack wet pet food safely and economically, high demands are placed on the pouch packaging machine. Usually, two types of products are filled into the pouch — the chunks and gravy. The demands on the film and the sealing seam quality are very high here, as the pouch still has to be autoclaved after production, filling, and sealing. Furthermore, the amount of residual oxygen after filling has to be minimized by vaporization.

With decades of experience and many machines on the market, we supply individual and high-performance pouch packaging technology for wet pet food. Our machines combine the highest quality standards with precise dosing technology and maximum speed. We aim to produce perfect pouches at the lowest unit costs, reliably over the entire service lifetime of the machine.

Highlights

Quality

Fulfillment of highest pouch quality requirements

Speed

High machine speed and output rates

Format change

Fast and partly tool-free format changes

Machine availability

Highest machine availability over the entire machine lifetime

Processability of mono-materials

All of our new machines can process recyclable mono-materials as standard. Thanks to innovative unwinding and sealing technology, newer and thinner films/ papers can be processed at the same quality and speed.

Leading packaging technology for wet pet food

"With our technology, you will be able to produce first-class pouches at the highest speed over the entire machine running time."

Reiner Müller, Director Business Development & Global Accounts

Filling and packaging wet pet food efficiently and safely

High output rates

with the integration of various additional components

Packaging wet pet food requires a perfect interplay of many individual processes. Together with multihead weighers and our in-house dosing pumps, our machines achieve the highest speeds with high dosing accuracy. Thanks to our many years of experience in the packaging of wet pet food, we offer leading and economical packaging technology in this sector.

Maximum quality

through the use of innovative technologies

Pouch packaging for wet pet food has to perform well because it requires extreme barrier properties of the material and excellent sealing seam quality. In addition to filling in an environment with high humidity, the product is filled into the pouch in two steps. This is followed by vaporization to leave as little residual oxygen as possible in the pouch. We use ultrasonic sealing to ensure a tight top seam. After packaging the wet pet food, the pouch has to be autoclaved at (for example) 121° C and pressure.

We love the challenge.

"Filling and packaging wet food is a real challenge - but that's exactly what makes it so exciting for us."

Dirk Quabach, Senior Sales Manager

Powerful in every respect

Integration of all machine components in a central HMI

The number of additional machines and components for packaging wet pet food is high. That means all essential components and machines, such as dosing and ultrasonic sealing, can be integrated centrally into the machine operating panel (HMI), which makes it a lot easier to operate and control the production-relevant data and machine components.

Quick and easy format changes

Depending on the format and machine type, format changes are possible in just a few minutes and, in some cases, even without tools. Production and machine parameters for individual products and formats can be loaded in the operating panel (HMI) via integrated recipe management. Short format- and product changeover times significantly reduce the non-productive time (downtime) from the machine and ultimately ensure higher machine utilization and higher productivity.

Low space requirement due to the rotary principle

We have always stood for horizontal rotary machines (HFFS). This machine principle requires little space in production, due to working with a rotary table. The space advantages of our rotary machines are becoming increasingly apparent, especially with multiple machines.

High-quality products deserve premium pouch quality

The essence of designing a pouch

Stand-up bottom

An additional fold in the packaging material creates a pouch's stand-up base. This very stable base construction enables the pouch to stand independently on a flat surface. In addition to the primary function of being able to stand on its own, the stand-up bottom and the resulting bottom fold give the pouch a higher filling volume than a flat pouch. The bottom shape can usually be round, as in doypacks, or trapezoidal, as in deltapacks.

Tear opening notch

The tear-opening notch is a punched hole in the upper side seal seam of the pouch. This punching makes it easier for the consumer to tear open the pouch without tools and consume the contents. The tear-opening notch is usually designed as an incision or punched-out arrowhead.

Side sealing seam

The side sealing seam is the two sealed pouch edges and closes it in this area. The side sealing seam requires exceptional quality and strength. Its width can be freely selected according to the length of the pouch. Depending on the contents, filling quantity, and size, the pouch must be able to withstand various pressures and sealing requirements. Optical and functional sealing patterns, such as cross and ripple patterns, can also be created in the sealing seam.

Top sealing seam

A top sealing seam permanently closes the pouch after filling. The side sealing seam requires exceptional quality and strength. Depending on the contents, filling quantity, and size, the pouch must be able to withstand various pressures and tightness requirements. In addition to the technical requirements, wider top sealing seams are often produced to give the pouch a corresponding appearance. Additional functions like hanging devices (euro hole or round hole) are integrated into the top seam.

Sealing seam quality

Sealing seam quality is one of a pouch core criteria. It must meet a wide range of quality and functional criteria. Thanks to our innovative and high-quality sealing technology, our machines can guarantee consistently high sealing seam strength over the long term. This also applies to different packaging materials and mono-materials.

Processability of mono-materials

All of our new machines can process recyclable mono-materials as standard. Thanks to innovative unwinding and sealing technology, new and thinner films and papers can be processed at the same quality and speed.

Filling level

To minimize packaging material and costs, but also from a sustainability perspective, keeping the space between the product fill level and the top seam as small as possible is essential. Some technical processes, such as tightening before head sealing, require a certain amount of space in the headspace of the pouch. Headspace steaming, intended to counteract possible pouch inflation, also requires a certain amount of free space in the head area of the pouch. We are happy to help with the optimum design of the pouch dimensions depending on the intended filling quantity and filling level.

Overview of all pouch details

Overview of common pouch details

Details that really matter

Stand-up bottom

An additional fold in the packaging material creates a pouch's stand-up base. This very stable base construction enables the pouch to stand independently on a flat surface. In addition to the primary function of being able to stand on its own, the stand-up bottom and the resulting bottom fold give the pouch a higher filling volume than a flat pouch. The bottom shape can usually be round, as in doypacks, or trapezoidal, as in deltapacks.
Tear opening notch

The tear-opening notch is a punched hole in the upper side seal seam of the pouch. This punching makes it easier for the consumer to tear open the pouch without tools and consume the contents. The tear-opening notch is usually designed as an incision or punched-out arrowhead.
Side sealing seam

The side sealing seam is the two sealed pouch edges and closes it in this area. The side sealing seam requires exceptional quality and strength. Its width can be freely selected according to the length of the pouch. Depending on the contents, filling quantity, and size, the pouch must be able to withstand various pressures and sealing requirements. Optical and functional sealing patterns, such as cross and ripple patterns, can also be created in the sealing seam.
Top sealing seam

A top sealing seam permanently closes the pouch after filling. The side sealing seam requires exceptional quality and strength. Depending on the contents, filling quantity, and size, the pouch must be able to withstand various pressures and tightness requirements. In addition to the technical requirements, wider top sealing seams are often produced to give the pouch a corresponding appearance. Additional functions like hanging devices (euro hole or round hole) are integrated into the top seam.
Sealing seam quality

Sealing seam quality is one of a pouch core criteria. It must meet a wide range of quality and functional criteria. Thanks to our innovative and high-quality sealing technology, our machines can guarantee consistently high sealing seam strength over the long term. This also applies to different packaging materials and mono-materials.
Processability of mono-materials

All of our new machines can process recyclable mono-materials as standard. Thanks to innovative unwinding and sealing technology, new and thinner films and papers can be processed at the same quality and speed.
Filling level

To minimize packaging material and costs, but also from a sustainability perspective, keeping the space between the product fill level and the top seam as small as possible is essential. Some technical processes, such as tightening before head sealing, require a certain amount of space in the headspace of the pouch. Headspace steaming, intended to counteract possible pouch inflation, also requires a certain amount of free space in the head area of the pouch. We are happy to help with the optimum design of the pouch dimensions depending on the intended filling quantity and filling level.