New Low–Energy Shrink-Wrapping Tunnel from OCME

OCME S.r.l. from Parma Italy, have announced the release of a new low-energy, shrink-wrapping tunnel, which will save money and reduce the overall carbon footprint of their high speed shrink-wrap equipment range of packaging machines. OCME's aim is to create a new ‘World Care’ category of equipment where the performance evolves in step with improvements in ecological sustainability

The development team at OCME researched ways in which to reduce the energy levels for their shrink wrapping tunnel and then implemented improvements in the following areas:-

• For improved thermal efficiency the resistance groups have been placed closer to the recirculating fans which has also improved maintenance access.

• Remodelled air flow channelling resulted in energy saving, lower temperature of mesh conveyor, faster format change and improved pack quality

• Thermal power is now adjustable in real time compared to the production capacity, so when a product is detected as missing, the tunnel automatically goes into a ‘stand by’ mode

• Heat loss is minimised, via temperature detectors on the mesh conveyor. The speed of the servo controlled cooling fans are adjusted to reduce the heat loss of the conveyor without impacting on the melt temperature of the film

• Auto Closing / opening doors are installed at the infeed / outfeed of the tunnel improving energy retention

• Auto speed adjustment of the conveyor speed to maintain correct time for the pack in the tunnel according to pack size and production capacity

The new tunnel typically saves 20% energy for regular production outputs and for a cold start, up to 48% saving in energy, and 30% reduction in start up time when compared to the previous tunnel.

Annual emission savings (tonnes CO2) of 22% are achieved with the new design

Additionally the new features may be retrofitted to existing ovens dependant on age and model/type

OCME are world leaders in the supply of packaging machinery such as Case Packers, Shrink Wrappers, Fillers, Labellers, Palletisers / Depalletisers & Laser Guided Vehicles.