Baking & Snack - November 2024 - 87

EQUIPMENT
Cookie Packaging
Intact in the PACK
Cookie producers need to ensure packaging is running as efficiently as possible.
by Michelle Smith
C
Cookies are a fairly consistent product. Even if bakers
are making a variety of flavors, the cookies are often
similar in size, which makes packaging a variety of them
easier. But the challenges are numerous as they can be
fragile to handle, and equipment must be easy to use,
adaptable and fit in the space available. Moreover, the
pressure to switch to more sustainable packaging can
pose problems for horizontal form/fill/seal equipment.
" One of the primary challenges in cookie packaging
is preventing product damage, " said Brad Baker, senior
sales director, North America, Syntegon. " Cookies are
delicate and prone to breakage, which is why mechanical
stress throughout the packaging process can result in
significant product loss. Gentle handling solutions minimize
mechanical stress through controlled movements
and help to maintain cookie integrity and reduce waste. "
And as tastes change, so too does the need to adjust
products to meet consumers' needs.
" One of the biggest challenges in the packaging of
is the particularly fast-moving market envibiscuits
ronment,
which is changing dynamically, " said Bärbel
Beyhl, marketing manager, Gerhard Schubert GmbH.
" Not only the production of baked goods, but also the
packaging must be able to adapt quickly due to consumer
demand for more variety. In addition, consumers are
calling for more sustainability in the packaging process. "
She added that staff shortages require creative solutions.
" There is a noticeable lack of trained specialists in the
baked goods industry, " Beyhl said. " The automation of
previously manual processes, which are still particularly
prevalent in packaging, is therefore all the more urgent. "
Finding the best answers
Because cookies can be prone to breakage, there are a few
things manufacturers can do to ensure they stay intact.
The first steps are verifying that production line specs
are under control and conveyors and conveyor transfers
are not causing problems, said Josh Becker, bakery and
confections segment manager, Harpak-Ulma.
" Consider a packaging machine that
is gentle and
designed for the cookies being packaged, " he said. " A
well-designed and controlled packaging line infeed can
handle cookies at high rates of speed without breaking
them. Broken cookies can cause inefficiencies in the
packaging line, so use vision inspection to remove those
cookies from the line so more cookies are not broken
during machine jams or other issues or line stoppages. "
Scott Williams, Northwest sales manager, BluePrint
Automation (BPA), also suggested using intentionally
designed end-of-arm tools (EOAT) to protect cookies
during the process.
" BPA designs all EOAT for their application, " he said.
" Use sturdy packaging materials and consider adding
cushioning inside the package. Dividers or individual
compartments can help keep cookies from moving
around and breaking. "
www.bakingbusiness.com / November 2024 Baking & Snack 87
Adaptable equipment
is vital to keep up
with changing
consumer tastes.
Gerhard Schubert GmbH
http://www.bakingbusiness.com
Baking & Snack - November 2024

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