Packaging line stops yoghurt 'sloshing around under the lid'

The company already has two SetLine packaging lines, five case erectors, one conventional palletizer and one palletizer that handles three layer sheets in operation. On top of this it has a cup filling and sealing machine from Oystar Gasti.

Double productivity

Now, Milchhof Sterzing has commissioned a glass-filling line including a filler, erector, packer and palletizer. The glass-filling system will be provided by a specialist supplier while the other machinery components will come from Oystar A+F.

Oystar A+F will also handle the overall coordination of operations.

Dr. Günther Seidner, managing director, Milchhof Sterzing, said it has 11 machines in total and has managed to double productivity.

“This made it easier to further expand our business relationship this year​,” he said.

“Thanks to the modular machinery concept, both systems are equipped with a filling system in front and a palletizer in the back. Now we cover the entire packaging process in a single line​.

“The functionality and construction of the SetLine series gave us more packaging flexibility in a very small space so it provides significant cost advantages​.”

22,000 125-gram cups per hour

The two multifunctional packaging lines from Oystar A+F are for producing yoghurt. The SetLine series machines at Milchhof Sterzing process single cups as well as 2-cup and 8-cup sets. Together, they produce up to 22,000 125-gram cups per hour. Where needed, the cup sets can also be fitted with all-round sleeves.

As part of the packaging process the filling machines move the yoghurt cups along a single-lane conveyor belt to the SetLines, where servo-driven switches separate them onto dual-lane belts.

When operating without sleeves, the single cups are then grouped and positioned into perforated cases using a servo-driven expansion joint.

Alternatively, 24 cups are placed into the pick-up position, drawn by suction and fitted with sleeves into 2-cup or 8-cup sets. Once loaded with single cups or cup sets, the cases are then transferred to a transporter and fed to the palletizer.

Yoghurt does not slosh

“The SetLine systems operate extremely smoothly throughout the entire process​,” said Klaus-Dieter Hellwig, area sales manager, Oystar A+F.

“This ensures the products are brought through the machine so calmly that yoghurt does not slosh around under the lid​.”

Dr. Seidner added the systems feature simple, intuitive operator ergonomics and reduced changeover effort.

“Now we need 10 minutes tops to change formats​,” he said. “This allows us to decrease our production downtimes tremendously​.”

The two predecessor machines were disassembled and the new SetLines set up without interrupting production.

“We put together a precise schedule beforehand so that Milchhof Sterzing would only have to reduce its production capacities to a minimal extent during installation​,” added Hellwig.

Oystar USA will be showcasing two machines at Pack Expo, November 2-5 in Chicago; the M-FS 30 Filling and Sealing Machine for filling and sealing pre-formed cups, and Oystar Hassia‘s THL 24/48 FFS for forming, filling and sealing portion packs.

Following its exhibition at Pack Expo, the FFS machine THL 24/48 will be delivered directly to its new owner: food manufacturer Marzetti, in Horse Cave, Kentucky. It will be using the machine for packaging a full assortment of sauces.​