Eliminating need for trays in packs of loose tomatoes.

Ulma Packaging is helping English Village Salads (EVS) further reduce packaging with the supply of one of its state-of-the-art Atlanta E horizontal form fill and seal (HFFS) flow-wrappers.

The high-speed unit has been specially developed to securely wrap the fresh produce supplier's loose tomatoes in groups of six whilst eliminating the need for a tray or punnet and maintaining complete product and pack integrity.

Once the machine has been installed, EVS will be one of the first produce growers in the UK with the ability to supply tomatoes in tray-less packs. The Ulma Atlanta E flow wrapper features a special integrated feed system designed to automatically load graded, loose fruit on to the unit's high-speed in-feed conveyor.

The fruit is orientated and held captive in groups of six as it is moved through the machine and wrapped in plain or printed film. The Atlanta E is one of the fastest and most flexible tray-less systems on the market in handling up to 120 packs per minute.

Colin Howard, operations manager, EVS said: "EVS has always supplied tomatoes in six-packs with very thin trays for extra stability. However, as part of our aim to reduce packaging by 25 percent, we decided to investigate tray-less options. We were already aware of Ulma and its equipment, and quickly realised the most efficient, reliable and certainly the fastest flow-wrapper available was the Atlanta E system. Other tray-less flow-wrappers exist but to hold the tomatoes captive, they operate at slower speeds.

"The company's extensive experience of wrapping other loose fruit like lemons gave us even more confidence."

The versatile Atlanta E flow-wrapper offers a variety of advanced features, including left to tight operating direction; rotary cross sealing jaws; self centring film reel holder; 2m long in-feed conveyor; adjustable film folding box; and touch screen controls which store parameters for up to 25 different products. For added flexibility, the machine can work with a variety of films for example, BOPP, PVC, polyester, cellulose, complex laminates and cold seal materials.

Contact Ulma Packaging on tel 01909 506504 or visit www.ulmapackaging.com