20 | packazine Customers & Markets Food and Confectionery

ing and sealing machine fills baby food into thermoformed cups. The machine allows product-friendly, energy-saving filling operations as part of an automated process. As a result of its high hygiene level, and in conjunction with the upstream process technology, the TFM 8030 PS can deliver product shelf lives of up to twelve months without refrigeration. Products filled with the unit include fruit yogurts and dairy-based des-serts, as well as special baby-food recipes.

Baby Food Production on Bosch Aseptic LineHumana expands productionHumana Milchindustrie is a leading com-pany in the German dairy sector and, for 60 years, has been developing and pro-ducing high-quality baby food. The com-pany places special value on gentle pro-cessing methods and the highest quality standards. In 1950, Humana first intro-duced infant formula to the German market, which was highly similar to breast milk. The product portfolio has developed continuously since then.

Today, the company has 12 manufactur-ing plants, which process a total of two billion kilograms of milk per year to produce a diverse range of dairy prod-ucts. At its Erfurt plant, the company produces baby food, fresh milk, long-life milk and fromage frais, as well as various desserts.

In 2010, Bosch supplied a TFM 8030 PS aseptic thermoforming unit to Humana Milchindustrie. This aseptic forming, fill-

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High output and product safetyThe TFM achieves output levels of 57 000 cups per hour, which amounts to a maximum daily production volume of 100 tons. The plastic cups are formed from reel material, which is much more cost-efficient in the production of baby food compared to prefabricated cups. A barrier of EVOH material is integrated within the film and protects the filled product against oxidation and water vapor diffusion, even over long storage periods and without refrigeration. The multi-layer protective film also prevents mechanical damage to the product. Inte-grated gas flushing of the cup’s head space reduces the residual oxygen con-tent, further increasing product safety.

Maximum filling accuracyAn integrated piston filler ensures highly accurate filling. For viscous products, such as desserts, the filling accuracy for a 4x100 gram pack is approximately ±1 gram. Such high accuracy generates cost savings for the user. With four supply tanks and a direct product feed into the filling nozzles, the piston filler also offers very high flexibility for filling many differ-ent products.

Recipe management is keyThe TFM system allows for the comfort-able management of all Humana’s prod-uct recipes, which number around 100. This includes an automatic transfer of al-terations in technical parameters in case of recipe changes. The control unit com-pletes the automated system. A camera, fitted with automatic image recognition, checks that the correct lid film has been

applied to the product. The control sys-tem then provides the product-specific print parameters for inkjet coding.

Packer delivers high efficiencyFor Humana, high line efficiency is of paramount importance. This is why Bosch has added a packer unit to its sup-ply of machinery. Direct interlocking, and therefore a safe transfer of cups from the cutting station to the packer, and inser-tion in trays are prerequisites for opti-mum line efficiency.

Technical optimizationThe system follows the principle that reli-able and field tested features must be kept but details should be improved. For instance, despite a number of innova-tions, the unit sterilizes the packaging

material for maximum effect using the already proven procedure with H2O2.

Currently, the TFM already offers a range of options and is also highly suitable for processing polypropylene (PP) films, however, executed with different format parts and machine equipment. Bosch is also involved in further technological de-velopment of the TFM and future en-hancements will include a continuous run of lid film in the sterilization pas-sage, swiveling sealing heads for im-proved access and the option of using a cassette for the cutting tool to simplify tool changes.

For further information please contact:

Robert Fesl

Phone +49 (0)711 811 57229

robert.fesl@Bosch.com

Klaus Birker, Plant Manager at Humana in Erfurt, explains that he and his colleagues had a clear preference for the Bosch concept: “Bosch is a reliable producer of machines. In the aseptic field, we are familiar with these machines and are convinced by their technology. Investment and maintenance costs, a perfect service provision and the line’s high efficiency were the deciding factors for us in awarding this contract to Bosch.”