Packaging Solutions
Ulma Packaging has announced that its Venturi System, which was introduced to the UK last year, is set to be a game changer in the loose leaf salad market following successful trials in the fresh herb sector.
The packaging method is designed to mitigate damage to light leaves by pulling produce down into the bag using air. Now, following successful trials in the fresh herb sector, Steve Brooks, VFFS business manager at Ulma Packaging UK, is confident that similar success is on the horizon for the salad leaf market.
Steve explained, ‘The British Leafy Salads Association acknowledges how important it is to carefully handle delicate leaves to avoid bruising and damage, which is why our Venturi ring is so suitable because it creates a vacuum under the produce and accelerates it down the tube without damage.’
The Venturi System has a host of other benefits when compared to conventional packaging methods for salad. Steve continued, ‘Unlike traditional vertical packaging machines where the re-work required for bags with product stuck in the seal is between seven to 10%, the Venturi System’s use of air to pull the product all the way down to the bottom of the bag safely can lead to a reduced re-work of less than 1% when used in conjunction with ultrasonic sealing technology. The bag length and width can also be reduced thanks to the fact that the product is pulled further inside the packaging during sealing, which saves money and material wastage throughout the process.’
Steve added, ‘Additionally, Ulma Packaging UK’s Venturi System requires just two employees to operate, and can produce up to 60 packs of fresh salad per minute. When you consider that most flow wrap machines require between 10 to 16 employees with an average output of just 25 packs per minute, that is a phenomenal increase in productivity and saving on staffing resource.’
