SOMIC America - Retail Ready Magazine Volume 1.2

SOMIC Issue 2, 2021

Hartz Mountain leads the pack with SOMIC pg. 8

Cheese made “The Dutch Way” with SOMIC, pg. 12

New Equipment Installations, pg. 4

SOMIC America Expands, pg. 14

LETTER FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES

Multiple Industries are set for Retail-Ready Opportunities new industries, ranging from pet products and snack foods to cheese and dairy, produce, meat snacks, supermarket retail and others. We now have machines running in the packaged meat industry, and plan to strengthen our presence in coffee and other beverages. Our cover story describes the fantastic new liquid filling line for pet care products at Hartz Mountain Corp.’s plant in Pleasant Plain, Ohio, which features our versatile SOMIC 424 case-packing system handling seven different bottle formats and two shipping case styles.

“One of our goals is to offer unique benefits for every brand.”

Welcome to the second edition of Retail-Ready Magazine. If you liked our first issue – and based on the feedback we received, you did – wait until you read this one, because so much has changed in the first few months of 2021.

At the time, I said our business had greatly expanded. And today it continues to do so — at full force.

The economy, though still at a lower point than pre-pandemic, is showing promising signs of life.

Leading economic indicators suggest expansion and growth are on the horizon in the U.S. and around the world. This expected growth makes automation increasingly important.

Companies aware of the imminent economic upswing are already investing in automated packaging equipment, as brand owners recognize the strains of a tightened

labor market. Our ReadyPack and 424 series machines are primed to meet their demands as we work with customers who want to reduce time and labor-consuming processes. Customers recognize the opportunity to be innovative in the retail ready packaging arena.

Our company continues to grow, and we are keeping pace with machine orders. We’re busy commissioning, installing and customizing equipment, and looking forward to getting back in front of everyone at industry trade shows. We will be at the Sweets & Snacks Expo later this month in Indianapolis, and demonstrating a newer version of the ReadyPack at PACK Expo this September in Las Vegas. We hope to see you at either venue.

This issue illustrates the breakthroughs we’ve made in

Retail-Ready Magazine is published by SOMIC America, focusing on the Retail-Ready industry.

Based in Eagan, MN, SOMIC America manufactures advanced mechatronic case-packing systems that collate, unitize and load

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Other customers have plenty of great things to say about our machines, whether it is the design simplicity, user friendliness or efficiencies. Many also like the gentle handling and their flexibility to work with various package and case configurations. One of our goals is to offer unique benefits for every brand. Read all about how others are prospering and envision what one of our machines would look like in your facility.

We enjoyed your comments and content suggestions about our first Retail-Ready issue. Please keep them coming. We always welcome your feedback and are happy to discuss any opportunities to help your business.

Respectfully,

Peter Fox, Sr. Vice President of Sales

500 Lone Oak Road Suite #200 Eagan, MN 55121

cartons, trays, retail-ready packages, and wraparound cases.

+1.651.419.6050 somic.us

See how SOMIC can bring new efficiencies to your end-of-line packaging.

p.fox@somic.us

Follow us on LinkedIN for updated material and conversations.

Retail-Ready Magazine

EQUIPMENT PERSPECTIVES

Pick a Peck of Case Packers

A Veggie producer OH SNAP! Pickling Co.’s Wisconsin facility believes three times is a charm, ordering its third new high-speed SOMIC wraparound case packer.

lready experiencing successful production results after installing two high-speed SOMIC 424 W3 wraparound case-packing systems in July 2020, OH SNAP!® Pickling Co. has ordered a third Retail-Ready 424 W3 machine from SOMIC America, Inc. Producing refrigerated brineless pickled vegetables in Little Chute, Wis., the company’s initial foray using the machines to collate and case pack its stand-up pickle pouches led to impressive results. The first two systems have been packing nearly two million single-serve pouches per week.

“The 424 W3 wraparound casepacking system is a wise choice for the OH SNAP! operation because it’s designed to deliver high performance,” says Peter Fox, Senior Vice President of Sales for SOMIC America. “With their current format set-up, OH SNAP! is collating and case packing as many as 160 pouches per minute and the product is packed in 6-, 12- or 18-count display cartons. When the third machine is onstream this year, OH SNAP! will have the capability to satisfy greater demand in the marketplace for their products.”

A division of GLK Foods in nearby Appleton, Wis. and one of the largest producers of sauerkraut in the U.S., OH SNAP! formed its brand in 2015 to change the way people think about pickles and veggies. The portable and delicious refrigerated pickles, carrots, green beans, snap peas, and jalapeños are available in multiple varieties and make great snacks.

The company wanted to capitalize on the success of its fermentation process for sauerkraut and has expanded the pickled product line to include single-serve pickled snap peas, Sassy Bites single-serve sweet and savory pickle bites, and other single-serve pickle varieties.

To keep up with demand, OH SNAP! has been running the case-packing machines 24 hours a day, six days a week. Suitable for collating, grouping, and packing products into folding cartons, wraparound cases, display cases or open trays, the 424 W3 wraparound packer uses decentralized servo drives and can be equipped with individual format tools for varying product dimensions and case models.

More information about SOMIC’s entire line of equipment is available at somic.us

They have no added brine (no messy juice) and are merchandised in convenient grab-and-go single-serve pouches. The products are sold at grocery, big box, and convenience stores, as well as at vending and hospitality outlets throughout the U.S. and Canada. somic.us

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NEW MARKETS

New Equipment Installations Bring SOMIC’s Customers More Success

SOMIC America is consistently installing more end-of-line machinery this year, and gaining access to new markets and packaging structures.

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OMIC’s end-of-line RetailReady case-packing equipment manufacturing operations have been busy fine-tuning systems for installation in the coming months.

“We are in the fortunate position where our raw material warehouse is well stocked and our supply chains are in working order,” notes Peter Fox, Senior Vice President of Sales for SOMIC America.

“Our advanced mechatronics assembly operations in Amerang, Germany, are developing new high speed packaging equipment, such as those for snack food bars, as well as custom paperboard carton blank designs to name a few examples.

Meanwhile, our U.S. team is working on installations for our ReadyPack system as well as our wraparound case packing equipment and compact systems for tray-and-lid containers. With the number of equipment orders in Germany and the U.S., our service technicians and parts and service departments are busy preparing equipment and assisting customers with all of their end-of-line equipment needs.”

Meat market entry

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he latest SOMIC equipment installation marks the company’s entry into the packaged meat industry. Olli Salumeria, an artisanal

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manufacturer of salami and other slow-cured fine meats, will take delivery of the first ReadyPack system soon at its 80,000-squarefoot production facility in Oceanside, Calif.

“We are thrilled that customers across more product markets and industries are taking advantage of our reliable, high-performance machines that offer a unique variety of customized formats for RetailReady packaging solutions,” Fox says.

“These mechatronic case-packing systems give any manufacturer the freedom to choose several shipping case formats, and not to be locked into just one type.”

A flexible, compact, end-of-line casepacking system that SOMIC designed with its modular philosophy, the ReadyPack provides customers with increased flexibility on what types of shipping containers they can pack and furnish to retailers: • Open cases and trays (with or without cover flaps) • Cases and cartons with mechanical locks (click locks) • Flat crates, stackable crates and double crates for cups • Flat and open trays and cases Offering a range of antibiotic-free salamis, Olli Salumeria expanded its Oceanside facility in 2015, allowing it to enter into new areas of the deli counter and other exciting markets.

The company has met with success with items including its deli-sized and pre-sliced salamis for the readyto-eat section of the deli, large-scale delis and the growing grab-and-go segment.

Olli Salumeria also produces portable snack packs, pre-sliced chubs and ready-made antipasto trays, perfect items with which to showcase ReadyPack’s versatility.

The possibilities for new growth are limitless.

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“These mechatronic case-packing systems give any manufacturer the freedom to choose several shipping case formats, and not be locked into just one type.”

Peter Fox, Vice President of Sales for SOMIC America

Messin’ with Sasquatch

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ack Link’s, the Minneapolis-based market-leading meat snack/jerky company, is known for its wide variety of shelf-stable meat sticks, snack strips, bars, sausages and bites.

Jack Link’s also will soon be adding two SOMIC machines — a 424 Duplex cartoner and a standard 424 W3 wraparound case packer — to its facility in Minong, Wis. The latter machine is similar to one already in place at its processing facility in Underwood, Iowa. With its many products (in addition to traditional beef jerky, the company has products in over 40 countries), including bacon jerky and refrigerated meat and cheese combos, and several production facilities, additional production equipment is a must.

“Package formats are often dictated by retail outlets, and Jack Link’s is in several different market channels,” Fox explains.

“The packaging at a club store, for example, is quite different than the packaging at a convenience store. That means Jack Link’s needs packaging equipment with enough flexibility to accommodate many package formats. Case-packing equipment must be able to change over quickly from one package format to another, smoothly and efficiently.”

All of Jack Link’s products are conveniently packaged in assorted types of pouches, bags and stickpacks that are often merchandised in retail display cartons. As the large product portfolio increases with more new flavors and forms to draw more consumers to the category, production must keep pace.

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INDUSTRY EVENTS

To the Shows We Go SOMIC America will showcase end-of-line packaging equipment in Booth 30129 at the Sweets & Snacks Show 2021 and is gearing up for PACK Expo Las Vegas.

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he snack market continues to boom and the Sweets & Snacks Show, held June 22 to 25, never disappoints. The world’s greatest candy and snack makers will gather together in June to be inspired, make meaningful connections and share their passion for delighting shoppers. SOMIC America will feature its latest end-of-line equipment for Retail Ready packaging at the show. And for the first time in its history, the Sweets & Snacks Expo convenes in Indianapolis to celebrate two years of the categories' most innovative products.

The National Confectioners Association reported in midMay, more than 2,250 attendees representing 1,400 retail banners were registered, and more than 400 candy and snack companies were scheduled to exhibit.

“This year, the event is even more important, as confectionery and snack products have helped consumers improve their emotional well-being during a challenging time," notes John Downs, president & CEO of show sponsor, the National Confectioners Association. "We know after a year of treating and snacking at home, they’re hungry for new product innovation from their favorite brands.”

That’s why SOMIC America’s entry into more markets, including confections and snack foods, will help brands meet consumer needs, recognizing that such products demand significant shelf appeal in their packaging. “It is paramount,” affirms Peter Fox, Senior Vice President of Sales for SOMIC America. “As the industry leader in high performance, two-piece RetailReady packaging, we have equipment

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with the flexibility to present a product that stands upright or lays flat. We can design your machine to provide multiple rows of products as well as multiple layers, and position them to maximize your customer’s view of the product in an elegant display tray. Whether you pack your product in paperboard, corrugated or micro-flute board, our folding and gluing technologies are unmatched in quality and consistency.”

Sweets & Snacks Expo June 23-25, 2021 Indiana Convention Center Indianapolis, IN Booth 30129

All of these attributes are standard with the SOMIC 424 Retail-Ready case packer. “The 424 case-packing system is so versatile, it also has the ability to run standard wraparound cases on the same machine,” Fox says.

"When it comes to confectionery and snack packaging, SOMIC truly can make all the difference for your product presentation."

“The 424 casepacking system is so versatile, it also has the ability to run standard wraparound cases on the same machine.”

For more information about the show and to register, visit SweetsAndSnacks.com.

PACK EXPO Sept. 27 – 29, 2021 Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Booth 6164

Peter Fox, Vice President of Sales for SOMIC America

Largest Packaging Show Returns to Las Vegas SOMIC America will also return to PACK Expo Las Vegas this year, showcasing its latest developments in Booth 6164. Dubbed the most comprehensive packaging and processing expo in 2021, the show will be held Sept. 27-29 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, featuring advanced technologies across 40+ vertical markets.

SOMIC America will demonstrate its ReadyPack machine in action at the show, running products from Goya Foods.

“We’re very excited about this opportunity,” Fox says. “We look forward to re-engaging with the industry in person, showing visitors our latest innovations in end-of-line packaging systems and solutions.

"Our new ReadyPack system for retail-ready packaging applications exemplifies the versatility of all of our equipment. ReadyPack operates with primary containers of various types and both tray and cover and wraparound cases. This is the platform system we routinely use for flexible packages such as stand-up pouches, flowpacks and rigid bottles.”

Produced by PMMI, PACK Expo will present the latest packaging technologies and full-scale machinery in action.

Co-located with Healthcare Packaging Expo, the two events are expected to bring together roughly 2,000 suppliers with 30,000 attendees from the world’s leading consumer packaged goods companies. They come to explore exciting technologies, from standalone packaging machinery to complete turnkey line solutions.

For registration details and more show information, visit packexpolasvegas.com.

To learn more about how SOMIC can make your products stand out on the shelf, visit somic.us or call Peter Fox, Senior Vice President of Sales, at 847.915.9872 to schedule a booth appointment at this year’s show.

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NEW MARKETS

New Case Packer is the

PICK OF THE LITTER A new production line at Hartz

Mountain Corp.’s facility in Pleasant Plain, Ohio, is purring along nicely.

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andling a variety of pet care products such as shampoos, insect protection and other solutions in blow-molded and trigger-spray bottles, a new liquid filling line at Hartz Mountain’s production facility in Pleasant Plain, Ohio, is equipped with a versatile SOMIC 424 case-packing system.

Installed in mid-December, 2020, the line has many pet tails gleaming, which gives Secaucus, N.J.-based Hartz — one of the oldest and most respected companies in the pet care industry — reason to smile.

Hartz offers 14 popular brands of products for dogs, cats, birds,

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and fish. The company runs seven different bottle formats, evenly split between high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), on the new filling and packaging line. Some bottles get pumps and others triggers, while a third group gets press-on caps. Cases, too, are varied, as both a standard wraparound shipping case and a Retail-Ready case format are run on the line.

According to Hartz Engineering Manager Jake Wojtkiewicz, the line may have become Hartz Mountain’s new “best friend.” In just a few weeks, it began exceeding expectations, due in part because of its new case-packing equipment.

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Wojtkiewicz is just as impressed with the SOMIC 424 case packer’s footprint as he is with its versatility.

The early results of the space-saving machine’s performance were firstrate, he said. “The 424’s capabilities provide Hartz with the versatility to pack the bottles in assorted secondary cases, from standard wraparound shippers to two-piece display trays with covers.”

Dog-gone impressive Wojtkiewicz found other machines the company evaluated to be all bark and no bite. “We chose the SOMIC machine for the flexibility of the case format and for its design,” he says. “From the time we uncrated the machine, it took about seven days to run at full production. To be honest, I was not that familiar with SOMIC until we went into this project, and we looked at a number of other options and saw some very good equipment. But when it came down to the amount of space required by the SOMIC 424 machine combined with its versatility, it was very impressive.

“Plus, the machine is very open and accessible,” he adds. “It’s a novel setup for a case packer, at least from my experience. I’m more used to a giant chain running down the middle and a bunch of tuck arms and things.

With this machine, everything kind of gets folded all at once in two different stations. There’s just not that many steps to the folding process before the bottles are in and the case is being discharged. A lot of it has to do with the machine’s servo technology. Everything is done at the HMI [Human Machine Interface], so you’re not loosening bolts or adjusting belts or sprockets.”

The 424 Series is one part of SOMIC’s customized, precision packaging solutions, explains Peter Fox, Senior Vice President of Sales for SOMIC America. “Most of our systems are configured to run stand-up pouches, flow-packs, and other flexible material packages. This compact machine was configured with Rockwell automation controls.”

Grouped bottles are tray-packed, enclosed by a unique forming cassette, and receive their lids, which are formed and wrapped snugly around them. The 424 system’s closing section is multifunctional.

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The decision to bring production back to the 250,000-square-foot Hartz facility on the eastern fringe of Cincinnati comes at a time when the pet care industry is enjoying Retail-Ready Magazine

growth in spite of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. Hartz, which has been in the pet care business since 1926, offers 14 well-known product brands ranging from toys and treats to grooming aids and flea and tick sprays.

Bottling line in action So far, the new bottling line runs seven different bottle formats that the SOMIC 424 loads in a choice of two shipping case styles – a standard wraparound or a Retail-Ready tray with a corrugated cover. A total of 65,000 bottles are processed in one 10-hour shift, five days a week.

Depending on the product, Hartz either packs 5,400 12-count cases or 13,000 tray-packs, bundled as fivepacks.

After the empty bottles are automatically unscrambled and filled with product, they receive pumps, trigger sprayers, or caps, depending on what product is running, Wojtkiewicz explains. “If we’re not running bottles that take pumps or trigger sprayers, the bottles move straight past the middle unit to get to the capper,” he says. When changing from a pump to a trigger sprayer, the filler feeds the press-on capper. The sealed bottles are then labeled, coded and grouped in counts of three and bundled in shrink film.

When Hartz is running Retail-Ready corrugated trays with corrugated lids, the bottles bypass the shrink bundler and proceed to the SOMIC 424 case packer in a fivecount format. If running 12-count wraparound cases, the system’s vacuum cups pull flat blanks from a magazine and the blanks advance to the loading station, passing an adhesive applicator along the way.

Incoming three-count bundles of bottles are each grouped in a staging area. When four bundles are in place, a pusher device advances them onto a flat blank and the tooling wraps the corrugated case around the bundles. The cases filled with 12 bottles next advance to the flap-closing station and discharge past an ink-jet printer.

Unique case-forming design “Designing a machine that packages the pre-bundled rigid bottles

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represents a new element for us in North America — one that we are truly excited about,” Fox says. “In the carton-forming sequence, the forming cassette stays immobile and in position, while the bottles are wrapped in the case blank in the forming matrix. The bottles are enclosed in the forming cassette, while a case-forming matrix elevates from below to securely form the case around the grouped multipacks of bottles. This is unique to SOMIC.” It’s clear the 424’s performance thus far is having a major impact on the production floor. The system’s closing section is multifunctional, Fox indicates. “In the cover applicator/ closing section, either a cover blank is picked and formed around a display tray, or the same device closes a wraparound case,” he says.

The case flap folding tooling is one of the features Wojtkliewicz especially likes. “The primary case folding step takes place at a single station. We’re used to this operation happening while the case is in motion, utilizing several servo-controlled tucker/ folders,” he said, alluding to the machine’s smooth functioning mechatronic control platform featuring advanced automation.

“The machine design is novel,” he adds. “I’m used to conventional case packers that use a lug bucket chain for the case transport with rotary tucking and folding tooling. The SOMIC design eliminates that and replaces it with contrast folding tooling and a simple vacuum belt.

This makes machine maintenance significantly easier. It also reduces the noise level of the equipment while in operation, and has a smaller overall footprint.”

operators have a full, unimpeded view of the equipment when it is running. This allows for better troubleshooting and adjustments because we can clearly see what’s happening inside the machine.”

Speedy sweet spot Reaching speeds of 150 bottles per minute is what Wojtkiewicz describes as “the sweet spot” on the new line. “We’re very proud of the setup we installed,” he says. “It was a huge undertaking, especially in the middle of what became a global pandemic shortly after we got started. Somehow, we managed to keep everything more or less on track and hit our targets.”

He says the machine demonstrates the flexibility SOMIC uses to create a unique secondary case-packing system for any type of package, he points out. “We don’t plan to increase the speeds of the machine, but we did build this production line with expectations of adding more shifts to handle increased demand and distribution.”

A Retail-Ready tray-and-lid case is one of the secondary package formats Hartz runs on the line. Standard wraparound shipping cases are also used, depending on the pet care product being packaged.

Wojtkiewicz also says the 424 case-packing machine design was well thought out because it’s easy to access and maintain. The design eliminated the need for the complex timing adjustments necessary with more conventional case packers.

“The HMI is well thought out, and provides full motion and timing control for all machine functions.

The open design is great, and makes it very easy for maintenance, changeovers and cleaning. The

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GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

VEPO SMILES

AND SAYS ‘CHEESE’ Cheddar, Emmentaler, Gouda, Edam, Havarti, Mozzarella and more.

These are just some of the many types of cheese Vepo Cheese slices, grates, and cubes, in a variety of package formats.

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pecialty cheese maker Vepo Cheese in Oudewater, The Netherlands, processes and packs a variety of cheeses made “the Dutch Way.” That is to say, the traditional Dutch way a familyowned master cheese company in the business for more than 100 years would make cheese. Vepo combines efficient, modern processing techniques with high quality ingredients and old-world style.

Grating, slicing, cubing, shredding and packaging an array of “kaas” (the

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Vepo Cheese needed a versatile, spaceefficient and gentle case packer. SOMIC had the answer in the ReadyPack system.

Dutch word for cheese) from The Netherlands and other European countries for retail, foodservice and industrial markets worldwide, the company offers cheeses in hard and semi-hard versions that are portionpacked, tray-packed, wrapped and bagged.

This sounds good, but the packaging departments in both of Vepo Cheese’s processing/production facilities in the western portion of The Netherlands have rather limited space. Until recently, they Retail-Ready Magazine

Preparing for machine installation

required labor-intensive methods to package the grated cheese. Technical Operations Manager Hugo van Put was commissioned to automate the final packaging steps while keeping equipment costs from skyrocketing.

During the virtual Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) in Germany, Vepo Cheese witnessed demonstrations of all of the ReadyPack machine’s essential features. Mapping out in advance all the parameters for the machines and the available plant space, SOMIC worked with Vepo Cheese to carefully prepare for the equipment installations with fine detail to ensure that both production facilities would face no surprises during the actual equipment installation.

“We had three packaging lines and two people per line, loading bags in boxes all day. Automating the process would cut labor and costs,” van Put says. “We wanted case-packing equipment with a small footprint that could be versatile yet gentle.”

Familiar with SOMIC equipment from Germany, van Put contacted SOMIC, which proposed installing a ReadyPack case packer on each of three production lines at the facilities. SOMIC began addressing the situation immediately.

“Both SOMIC and I like details.

So, there was a good chance we would come up with a good end result,” he points out. “Other machine manufacturers came up with solutions, all with extra bells and whistles. But we were impressed right away by SOMIC’s solid approach to our application.

Their team asked us many detailed questions, such as the exact box sizes and specific containerboard we use to case-pack our products, which foils we use and what other equipment was on the line, among other questions. We felt SOMIC was a machine provider that could take care of our needs.”

“A good inventory of equipment was the beginning of a successful relationship,” adds Jan-Willem Cornelisse, Area Sales Manager for SOMIC. “We have indeed provided many cheese producers with packaging and wrapping machines.”

Positive product handling The ReadyPack case packer functions with positive product handling, which Vepo Cheese and Van Put soon discovered would greatly benefit the grated cheese in pouches that are shipped in wraparound cases. After grouping the pouches in multiples, the machine forms a tray or wraparound case around them. In production, the pouches are conveyed on a belt to one of the ReadyPack case packers, which then places them on a servo-controlled slat chain. A sliding arm then pushes the pouches somic.us

in a cassette onto the case blank, securing them as the case is folded precisely around them.

“Metal plates create an internal back pressure when the blank is folded, so that a straight, perfectly formed wraparound case of product always emerges from the case packer, which facilitates palletizing,” Cornelisse explains. “The machine’s servo controls provide precise positioning, reliability, velocity and torque.”

During the packaging process, Vepo Cheese protects its products from mold susceptibility with a flush of nitrogen/CO2 mixture. Molding is why the right balance between gas and the amount of cheese being packaged is essential to ensure adequate shelf life of several months.

“Yet too much gas results in bulging bags that can cause problems during repackaging,” says Cornelisse. “With standup pouches, grated cheese can collect and bulge at the bottom of the pouch, which won’t allow the pouch to fit properly inside the shipping case. That’s why it is important that the SOMIC system deliver the pouches to the casing station on an equal footing and transport each one carefully to the case former, even at high speeds.”

Good product handling is another important aspect of case packing, adds van Put. “‘Micro-perforations of the pouch material can often result in mold formation. Our test of a ReadyPack demonstration machine at SOMIC in Germany gave us confidence that the machine would gently handle our cheese packages.”

Space considerations for the new equipment were factored for both operations, Van Put recounts.

Employees placed large pieces of cardboard that would represent the perimeter of the SOMIC case-packing machines across the production floor. The twodimensional replicas were also slid through various access ways in the Vepo Cheese production facilities to make sure the machine dimensions would fit properly within the allotted space. After all of the measurements and details were considered and tested, SOMIC and Vepo Cheese ensured the factory floors were ready for the machine installations. The ReadyPack case packers only occupy 6.5 m (or 70 square feet of space).

The new case-packing equipment only took one day to install. A team of SOMIC Benelux technicians was ready to assist the Vepo Cheese technicians as the first shipping cases rolled off the conveyor.

The machine operators trained with SOMIC representatives the rest of the week, followed by Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).

Van Put was pleased with the choice of automatic equipment from SOMIC, and its well-prepared, smooth installation. “From that time on, the machines have been running smoothly. Good coordination on the installation and planning in advance between SOMIC and Vepo Cheese was a real relief in the final phase.”

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BUSINESS GROWTH

OPEN Larger Minnesota SOMIC Headquarters Welcomes Visitors And New Opportunities

Quadrupling its space, the larger Eagan, Minn. headquarters facility has room for future growth.

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“Our showroom gives everyone a chance to see demonstrations of our many machines and learn more about how they could make a difference in their operations."

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OMIC America’s Twin Cities headquarters location in Eagan, Minn. is busier than ever. Considering the company is riding a wave of sales momentum, the larger space provides ample room to satisfy the company’s immediate needs.

The sleek showcase facility on Lone Oak Road has more than 13,000 square-feet of space that features an equipment showroom, in addition to offices and warehouse space.

Located just 10 minutes from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the facility offers customers, suppliers and visitors a convenient place to meet and learn about the company’s new developments as well as view equipment demonstrations.

Peter Fox, Senior Vice President of Sales, indicates the corporate building has played a major role in developing the North American market and supporting all of the company’s new end-of-line systems.

“We have quadrupled our space requirements and have room for future growth,” Fox says. “Our showroom gives everyone a chance to see demonstrations of our many machines and learn more about how they could make a difference in their operations. This location provides us with many great opportunities to continue growing our business and support all of the planning we did five years ago to reach this stage.

Our Service Support team continues to grow, and we have expanded our parts inventory to handle the increased demand with more of our machines being installed in the months ahead.”

Visit somic.us for more information on SOMIC America’s entire line of equipment, services and more.

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The future of Retail-Ready is here now.

Save time and floor space with the SOMIC ReadyPack. A reduced size, simple design, and fast availability make it a smart choice for standard case and packaging tasks. It can be preconfigured as both a tray packer and a wraparound packer, and upgraded as your needs change over time. These features, and more, make the SOMIC ReadyPack an excellent investment now and in the future.

To see how SOMIC can bring new efficiencies to your endof-line packaging, call +1.847.915.9872 or visit Somic.us.