Applications

Packaging

Many processes performed in the packaging industry can be automated with the aid of vacuum or compression:

• Inflating bags to insert goods
• Opening bags and sacks by suction
• Transporting packaging materials and products
• Affixing labels and packaging components to which glue has been applied
• Boxing: lifting cardboard boxes from a stack by means of vacuum grippers and assembling them

Vacuum Packaging & Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP)

The shelf life of perishable foods can be extended by eliminating the oxygen. In the simplest case, the product is placed in a pouch and the air is evacuated. However, the surrounding pressure exerts a mechanical influence on the product that can greatly alter the external shape.

For this reason, the MAP process has been the method of choice in many application areas. In this process, products are packaged in modified atmosphere and the oxygen removed. The product is enclosed in a blister package, placed in the vacuum chamber and evacuated. The modified atmosphere is then injected and the blister package and food are sealed with a protective film. Using this method, the food retains its original shape and meats present a suitably red appearance to customers, even after extended storage.

Production of PET Containers

Although the production of PET bottles is part of the packaging industry, the processes correspond to those in the plastics industry. Vacuum technology is used as follows:

• Pellet drying
• Pellet conveying
• Extruder degassing
• Injection molding of preforms
• Preform removal and handling
• Preform drying
• Blow molding of bottles
• Plasma treatment to deposit a barrier layer
• Pneumatic conveying of bottles
• Filling
• Labeling
• Packeting and palleting
• Recycling