Sustainable film and paper packaging recently took centre stage for visitors to an open house at Hugo Beck in Dettingen/Germany. The company presented machine innovations and its solution portfolio for automation and Industry 4.0.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 100 trade visitors came from all over Germany to find out about new packaging trends. “Given the circumstances, we did not expect such a good response from a wide variety of industries,” says Sales Manager Timo Kollmann. “Due to cancelled trade fairs, there is a great need to see machine systems live, and there is also a need for discussion that cannot always be solved virtually.”

Away from film and towards paper? Is this the solution for sustainable packaging of the future? These are some of the questions that preoccupy many visitors. Stay flexible! There is no ideal approach, says Hugo Beck after over 65 years of experience in the field of customized film packaging solutions. In 2019, the company expanded its product range to include machine solutions for paper-based primary and secondary packaging and launched a new generation of flexible form, fill and seal machines that process both paper and all types of film.

For the realization of sustainable flowpack, bag and shrink packaging, Hugo Beck supports companies in the selection of materials, tailored to individual environmental goals. Factors such as transport, logistics, energy costs, recycling options and legal framework conditions play a role here. In addition, there are individual product-specific requirements for product protection, shelf life, hygiene, barrier effect, appearance and the like.

Hugo Beck pursues the following approaches in the development of resource-saving and future-proof machine technology: film consumption is minimized. The packaging machines process all films even if they are sometimes difficult to seal, for example ultra-thin films from 7 μm thickness (including polyolefin), 100 % recyclable films made from mono-materials (including polypropylene) or films made from recycled materials and biofilms (e. g. polylactides). The switch to paper as an alternative is also possible flexibly.

Continuous form, fill and seal machines save around 15 % of material thanks to tight bag packaging with a precise fit, attractive appearance and little film waste in production. The use of thinner and lighter packaging and shrink films, such as those available from 7 μm thickness, enables further significant material savings of around 60 to 70 % per package compared to conventional films.

The customer has the choice between paper or film packaging. Form, fill and seal machines are adapted to new packaging materials with a short changeover. Flowpack machines such as the latest Flowpack R in hygienic design also process both film and paper, although the paper has to be coated to a small extent (e. g. with PE or cold glue) in order to be able to be sealed.