Linkx Systems has collaborated with Unilever Foods UK to develop a new cook-in sauce packer and overhaul, refurbish a volumetric filling machine that had been in storage at Unilever.
The new packer for cook-in sauce sachets, which produces smaller packs that save space during transport and also on retailers' shelves, handles sachets containing product in powder form.
According to Linkx, the new design developed by the company in conjunction with Unilever handles the sachets horizontally until after they have been inserted in the retail packaging, allowing the packaging to be up to 30% smaller.
Linkx has also refurbished a previously retired volumetric filling machine for the sauce line and saved around 50% of the cost of buying a new machine for Unilever.
As part of the refurbishment, the company replaced the existing pneumatic motion systems of the machine with new servo-drives and ball-screw actuators.
The machine was also improved to handle six different product variations, ranging in size from 100g squeezy pots for the retail market to 2.25l catering jars.
Linkx claims that the volumetric filler completely meets Unilever's requirements for convenience and productivity, as a result of the refurbishment project.