IDM ¦ Packaging
Economic, ecological and
eco-friendly
Ultrasonic technology for intelligent packaging solutions
Authors: Carolin Reinbold (left), Sales Manager for Bonding Technology at Telsonic AG,
(e-mail: carolin.reinbold@telsonic.com), and Ellen-Christine Reiff, M.A. (right),
Stutensee editorial office (http://www.rbsonline.de)
Modern filling systems for beverage packaging
operate with capacities of tens of thousands
of packages per hour. This places high demands
on the cycle times of all processes, including
packaging. Sealing methods that use
ultrasonic technology have proven their value here in multiple
ways: Beverage cartons, stand-up bags and tubular bags, as
well as coffee capsules can not only be sealed quickly but also
gently without damaging the product. At the same time, the
process is inexpensive and environmentally friendly, as it does
not require any adhesives or other additives. The process is
accurately reproducible, can be easily monitored and the productivity
of the entire plant increases.
Today, beverage, sauce and paste packaging (Fig. 1) should
not only be sealed and easy to handle, but also visually appealing
and, above all, environmentally friendly. Most cartons
are therefore now made entirely, or at least partially, from renewable
raw materials. This is a trend that will gain in importance
in the future, and one that puts us as consumers under
an obligation. However, new materials that are entering the
market in this context pose significant challenges for conventional
sealing technologies. It is not possible, for example, to
splice mono films (PP, PE) without an additional protective layer
(welding cloth). This is where ultrasonic sealing can show its
advantages. The printed material is protected and the process
itself is very environmentally friendly because it requires significantly
less energy. The absence of solvents or elaborately
applied adhesive layers also has an immediate effect on the
footprint of the system and the production of the packaging.
How sealing with ultrasonic
technology works
When sealing with ultrasonic technology, a generator generates a
high-frequency alternating current in the ultrasonic range, which
Fig 2: Sealed bottom seam after filling. (Telsonic)
Fig 3: Resealable closures are welded by using ultrasonic
technology. (Telsonic)
26 · September/October 2021 ¦ international-dairy.com
/www.rbsonline.de)
/international-dairy.com
link
