Since 2020 KHS has provided a facility on its packaging machines for wrapping beverage cans in paper. In order to give customers maximum flexibility, the new function has been integrated into a combined machine: whether wrap-around packs, packs on trays or pads with or without film or paper wrappers, the new system solution can process a broad range of secondary packaging.

Paper may be a relatively new packaging material on the beverage market; especially as an alternative to plastic, however, this material is increasingly capturing beverage fillers’ interest. The paper wrapper meets consumer demand for alternative, environmentally-friendly packaging material. As not every beverage producer wishes to install a completely new machine, however, the paper wrapping unit is now also available as a conversion option. This means that bottling companies can quickly and easily react to marketing trends and consumer demands using existing Innopack packaging machines.

Replacement or addition

KHS provides two retrofit options. If paper wrappers are to permanently replace shrink film as a secondary packaging, all that needs to be done is to substitute two modules; the machine layout can stay practically the same. Here, the former film wrapping module is replaced by the newly developed module that can process paper. The shrink tunnel is also substituted by a module that folds and glues the paper.

Beverage producers who do not wish to compromise on flexibility when it comes to secondary packaging can retrofit the new KHS packaging system as an additional option on their existing machine. In this case, the paper wrapping unit is adapted and the paper folding and gluing module is installed on the machine as an extra.

Simple switch

Once the modules have been fitted, switching materials calls for no other conversion except the standard format changeovers. As soon as the packaging materials have been changed over and the hot melt devices are ready for operation, production can begin.

“Conversion is a simple matter on all machine types in the Advanced series,” claims Uwe Bartholemy, head of Technical Support for Packaging at the KHS Service Division. This is chiefly facilitated by the modular design of KHS’ Innopack machinery. Then a quantum leap for the industry on its launch in 2000, this plant engineering has long established itself as a standard. “Generally speaking, we can also convert older machines in this way. Here, we carefully examine each individual case to check whether the control unit needs an update or not, for example.”

Technically straightforward

From a technical viewpoint, on KHS Innopack packaging machines with a shrink tunnel only the existing film wrapping module has to be replaced by the further developed module for paper wrapping. This can then process both materials. Packers without a film wrapping module have the new module installed as an extension. As opposed to the former machine segment, this now also has a gluing station that sticks the paper together beneath the pack. The packers also require a paper folding and gluing module – either as an addition or a replacement of the shrink tunnel – where the packs are closed.

Costs for conversion are much lower than those for investment in a new machine. Moreover, only partial commissioning of the current formats is required as these have already been configured for the existing machine modules. New formats can also be set up with less effort than that required for the existing ones. Incidentally, when asked which of the two variants – replacement or addition – will be more in demand in the future, Bartholemy has a clear answer. “Paper wrappers are still a relatively new form of secondary packaging. With a view to future market development, lots of bottlers want to keep all their options open. I thus assume that the flexible combined machine will prove an extremely attractive proposition for our customers.”

At a glance: the paper wrapper conversion

Areas of application

• Beverage and food cans (all sizes)
• Beverage cartons
• Other cylindrical and quadratic packaging styles
• Pre-packed products

Two variants

• Machine conversion to switch from film to paper wrappers as the secondary packaging: replacement of the film packaging modules and shrink tunnel by the paper wrapping and paper folding and gluing modules
• Conversion to create a combined machine for flexible film and paper processing: replacement of the wrapping module and addition of the paper folding and gluing module

Advantages

• Low cost of investment
• Only partial commissioning of existing formats
• Faster resumption of production