With its LitePac pack strapping technology, Krones introduced an entirely new packaging design for PET containers. Source: Krones.  The shrink-pack is the most commonly used form of secondary packaging for PET containers. Shrink-film, however, requires fossil raw materials for its manufacture. In addition, energy consumption is relatively high in the shrink-on process in the shrink tunnel. Krones has created a resource-economical alternative to film-wrapped shrink-packs, a complete pack system including the packaging and the associated machinery.   The redesign project tapped into strapping technology already used with success in other sectors, but it required a completely new packaging design for PET containers called LitePac and a new packer called Evolite.  According to Krones, users will benefit from cost economies compared to shrink-films, with some estimates exceeding 50 percent. This new packaging design addresses market trends for secondary packaging of PET containers with regard to eco-compatibility, resource-economy, reduced energy consumption and cost savings.  The Evolite packer features a container infeed module and a container strapping module. In the infeed module, the containers are divided into two continuous lane flows. Four strapping units then create the LitePac packs in the container strapping module.

 

 

 

Source: www.foodengineeringmag.com