Automatic ground meat packaging
Variovac (Zarrentin, Germany) has recently supplied complex ground meat lines to various customers. According to the manufacturer, these systems guarantee economic, reliable production. The most recently installed packaging lines are the result of cooperation between Variovac and Vemag Maschinenbau. Vacuum fillers and ground meat portioners can be selected as needed, depending on a company’s performance needs. The multi-tray loader deposits the portions of ground meat into the trays of the Variovac packaging machine, corresponding to whatever format has been configured. This eliminates the need for manual loading. Such complete lines are especially interesting for companies with mid- to higher-range production capacities. Variovac consciously relies on the proven technology of either the Primus or the Multipower thermoformers. In the mid-capacity range, circa 60 packages of 400 g ground meat respectively can be produced per minute. To complete the system, a Variolabel labeler using a thermal transfer printing procedure precisely places the labels on the MAP packages before they leave the thermoformer. Proven and continually optimized machine concepts guarantee the high flexibility and optimal hygiene conditions of all components in this production line, according to the manufacturer.
One special feature of the thermoformers is their patented upper film attaching station, which enables efficient film use both for printed and unprinted upper films. This results in less film use when starting film rolls as well as during film changes. This prevents the sealing plates from contamination as well as the resulting sealing problems. Variovac’s upper film attaching station is provided as standard equipment at no extra charge for nearly all of its thermoformers.