Harpak-ULMA Doubles Ground Meat Packaging Speeds with New Mondini Trave Sinfonia Application

Packaging solutions provider Harpak-ULMA has announced a significant performance breakthrough for the high-volume ground meat sector, introducing a new application of its Mondini Trave Sinfonia® tray-sealing platform.

The solution is explicitly engineered to disrupt the "grind-line" production environment, offering a fully automated alternative to conventional mechanical systems. According to the company, the platform sets a new industry benchmark by effectively doubling throughput capabilities.

Breaking the 120 PPM Ceiling

Legacy mechanical tray sealers used in ground meat production typically hit a performance ceiling of around 120 packs per minute (ppm) due to limitations in tray control and mechanical indexing.

The new Sinfonia application utilises a software-controlled magnetic-transport architecture, where trays move on independent shuttles with micron-level accuracy. By eliminating friction-based components such as belts and pusher arms, Harpak-ULMA claims the system can achieve speeds as high as 200 ppm—a near 100% increase in output.

Technical Configuration and Hygiene

Although the Sinfonia system was first introduced in 2023, this specific configuration marks its debut in grind-line environments, a sector historically constrained by contamination risks and mechanical limitations.

The new setup integrates portioning, dual denesting, retractable conveyor loading, and a 14-up sealing array. This architecture allows each processing station to operate at its optimal rate, decoupling the process from the fixed-pitch mechanics of traditional conveyors. The result is a more consistent, contamination-resistant tray path within a compact footprint.

Carlo Bergonzi, Product Manager for Tray Sealing at Harpak-ULMA, highlighted the operational leap:

"The competitive ceiling for grind-line tray sealing is around 120 ppm. With Sinfonia, we can engineer a 200-ppm grind line—almost a 100% throughput increase. Sinfonia fundamentally changes what's possible in ground-meat tray-sealed packaging. By controlling each tray independently, we remove the mechanical constraints that typically dictate line speed."

Bergonzi also noted the commercial drivers behind the innovation: "Given the momentum behind meat-brick formats across major retailers, this application directly addresses the performance conversations we’re hearing from processors as they head into IPPE 2026."