GEA SmartPacker TwinTube packaging system

GEA has redesigned the SmartPacker TwinTube high-speed vertical packaging machine. The machine is designed to be intuitive and features a modular system with increased functional efficiency, promoting higher operational uptime.

The continuous motion vertical machine can package small food products, such as candy, nuts and dried fruits, in pillow bags of different sizes. Part of a complete packaging process with upstream and downstream equipment, the machine can operate in a dry manufacturing facility.

The machine can process up to 500 bags/min (weighing 10 to 18 g each) with its two parallel forming tubes. Calorie packs of different widths and designs can also be filled simultaneously by running different film reels for each tube. A Jumbo Roll has been implemented in the machine, allowing film reels weighing up to 100 kg to be used for long production runs, improving overall efficiency.

The machine’s modular construction allows users to add new options and upgrade existing machines. It also has toolless adjustment features for shorter changeover times and error-free machine set-up, including printers, labellers and the vertical sealing unit.

The TwinTube is equipped with automated web tracking to detect if the film deviates from its path due to variances in the film roll. This allows the machine to automatically correct the direction of the film, without manual adjustment. Web tracking also safeguards the quality of the resulting bags and saves machine downtime.