Harpak-ULMA has introduced its latest vertical form-fill-seal packaging platform, the ULMA VTC 840 WD Washdown Vertical Packaging System. The machinery is designed to address rising operational costs, resource consumption, and strict sanitation requirements within the food manufacturing sector.
Engineered for demanding environments such as protein, poultry, cheese, and frozen food processing, the packaging system combines a full washdown design with automated controls. The platform was designed to simultaneously improve cleanability, resource sustainability, operator usability, and production throughput.
Resource Optimisation and Sanitation Performance
The packaging platform features a full IP66-certified washdown architecture designed to withstand high-pressure sanitation from all angles. By redesigning the mechanical and pneumatic systems, the manufacturer has reduced both electrical and compressed-air consumption during operation.
Additionally, the physical layout of the system has been simplified. The film path has been shortened to reduce the number of reel rollers from 30 down to five, minimising wear points and reducing the time required for cleaning and maintenance.
Key technical specifications and features of the new platform include:
💧 IP66 Washdown Protection: Full 360-degree washdown capability built to withstand rigorous high-pressure sanitation procedures.
⚡ Electrical Efficiency: Redesigned electrical systems that lower power consumption by nearly 20% compared to conventional models.
💨 Pneumatic Optimisation: Updated pneumatic engineering that reduces overall compressed-air consumption by more than 30%.
⚙️ Simplified Film Path: A streamlined mechanical design that reduces the total number of reel rollers to five.
📊 Smart Monitoring: Built-in sensors and software for real-time tracking of overall equipment effectiveness and utility consumption.
Automated Control and Operational Usability
To address ongoing labour shortages and operational consistency challenges in food processing facilities, the system incorporates high levels of automation. The platform utilises barcode-driven recipe selection and automatic adjustments to key machine parameters, reducing operator dependency and improving setup repeatability.
Mike Marchand, Senior Product Manager at Harpak-ULMA Packaging, noted that food processors have historically had to accept higher utility bills and extended downtime as the trade-off for improved sanitation standards. Marchand stated that the packaging system was designed from the ground up to eliminate this compromise, allowing processing plants to maintain aggressive cleaning regimes while running a highly efficient operation.
The system also includes zone-specific alarm visualisation and automated film tracking, helping operators quickly identify and resolve issues on the line to maintain consistent production throughput.
