GEA One-Line-Concept for slicing and packaging food

GEA’s One-Line-Concept for slicing and packaging food integrates new technology features and machines: from pre-scanning meat, cheese and alternative products to converging the slices. It is designed to help users save raw materials (both product and packaging), increase production capacities and improve sustainability.

The One-Line-Concept brings together all relevant GEA technology and is harmonised to work efficiently as a single production line. Within that, GEA has introduced a range of key advances. 

The OptiSlicer 7000 with single or dual drive allows simultaneous slicing of two natural products, with the possibility to adjust each line to the target weight per pack. Depending on the product and application, the single drive can be used for high-volume production of calibrated products up to 2000 kg/h, while the dual drive option allows for high yield and high output processing of natural products. The machine is accessible from both sides.

The R505 blade has a long cutting edge that allows wide cuts with good portion control. These, combined with the OptiScanner 5000, scan the contours of the product before slicing to establish the optimum slice thickness and check the weight of the products. This reduces giveaway, improves throughput and avoids unnecessary waste.

GEA’s innovations continue further downstream in the production process. The GEA OptiLoader 6000 offers a new feature with the retract belt. This extra loading belt drops high stacks or multi-layer portions into the package with a retract of the belt, independently from the cycle of the GEA PowerPak. This option increases flexibility and improves process security.

The PowerPak 9000 thermoformer provides innovations in heating, evacuation and gassing technologies (Modified Atmosphere Packaging) while providing greater automation, improved data collection, faster tool change and the opportunity to use mono materials for easier recycling. 

The PowerLabel 7000 is a new modular labelling concept suitable for cross-web labelling. It provides top and bottom film labelling, fast changeover with improved accessibility (from just one side of the machine), and provides high-line Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). At the end of the line, the PowerGuide 5000 converging system, which brings up to six lines into one, has benefited from continuous improvement for easier operation and higher performance.

Additionally, all GEA PLC-controlled machines are IoT-ready and seamlessly connected to the GEA Cloud, enabling smart data integration for real-time performance optimisation.