Food packaging specialist PFF Group has invested a further £1m in a bespoke thermoforming system, bringing to £5m the total invested in new process technology at its Sedgefield site.
The state-of-the art KIEFEL GmbH designed SPEEDFORMER KMD 78.2 Power system enables PFF to significantly and immediately increase production capacity of thermoformed products while reducing its carbon footprint. The machine offers an agile supply solution to an increasing demand for packaging from the soft fruit and stone fruit sector. It presents an opportunity for reactive local sourcing rather than cash intensive stock holding of imported products with longer disrupted supply chains.
The new generation of KIEFEL GmbH machines are fast and dependable. The 78.2’s heating system is ready for use in a short amount of time and provides 20% higher heating capacity and the servo drive has an energy recovery process. This combination leads to considerable energy savings. Other features include a feed table that accurately guides material to a sheet transport system and efficient tool-change capability which shorten set-up times.
PFF is one of the UK’s largest independent food packaging manufacturers providing innovative packaging solutions to supermarkets, multi-national food manufacturers, food service and fresh produce companies across the UK.
The business produces its own sheet plastic from high quality food-grade post-consumer recycled (PCR) polymers and converts more than 8,000 tonnes of post-consumer waste PET bottles and trays back into rPET food packaging annually.
Paul Howell, MP for Sedgefield visited PFF’s Sedgefield site in November and had an opportunity to look at the 78.2 system and ask questions. He has since commented about PFF: “Yet another of the great businesses in our area that are investing in the future.”**
John Conway, General Manager at Sedgefield said: “Our strategy to continually invest in advanced technology demonstrates our commitment to the circular economy.
“At a time of higher haulage charges, spiralling energy costs and the continuing knock-on effect of Brexit on imported goods, we have seen increased demand for punnets for soft fruit being grown and packed here in the UK. The new KMD 78.2 system is three times faster than our previous process enabling us to manufacture our products more sustainably using less energy.”
PFF’s championing of sustainable packaging solutions has seen it invest heavily in technology and software to drive efficiencies and reduce energy consumption.
This latest investment follows a £2m investment in thermoforming equipment earlier this year, £200,000 in transformer technology to reduce carbon emissions and a five-figure sum invested in extrusion measuring systems to enable production of sheets of uniform thickness. A new £50,000 hybrid adiabatic cooling system has also been installed to supply chilled water to production processes, cutting carbon emissions and supporting a scale up of production.
PFF Group’s packaging and health divisions are members of Made in Britain, an initiative which champions UK manufacturing.
** Source: Newton News – Parliament Talk – 19 Nov 2022
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