The first PFM Zenith bagging machine to be supplied in the UK with a cross-web zipper attachment has recently been installed to produce 200g reclosable bags of organic grated cheese at specialist processor, Alvis Brothers.
"The market for organic cheese is expanding," points out dairy operations director Peter Alvis, "and as one of the leading organic processors in the country, we see an opportunity to offer our range in grated form: something that is not currently available.
"Alvis Brothers have used PFM horizontal wrappers for portion wrapping blocks and wedges for several years. We have been pleased with their performance and back up so it was only natural that we approached PFM when looking to move into vertical bagging."
The Zenith incorporates a separate side-mounted reel holder for the narrow format zipper profile, which is cut and fed at 90deg across the wrapping film, just prior to the forming shoulders, and heat sealed in place on one side.
Side drive belts transport the material down the forming tube in the usual way while the longitudinal seal is made. The cross-seal jaw smaller set located just below the main jaws, to make the final seal of the zipper to the other face of the finished bag. A gas flush facility is included.
The Zenith is also able to make 1 and 2kg pillow packs for the catering market and, says PFM, can be changed over in under 15 minutes.
PFM claims that because the zip-per is enclosed within the bag, there is no risk of leaks, unlike attachment of wider zipper material, which needs to be crushed twice as part of the sealing operation.