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Interview with Thomas Fischer (Herrmann Ultraschall) about the 5th European Stand-up Pouch Conference

You will give a presentation during the 5th European stand-up pouch conference. What is the basic premise of your presentation?

When using the US sealing technolgoy, the best possible quality level for the head seam is guaranteed in the field of SUP packagings. At the same time, potentials to reduce the costs will be created and the output will be increased.
Ultrasonic sealing for SUP can verifiably improve the quality of your production, as far as the quality of the head seam is concerned.
The ultrasonic sealing technology has proved to be the standard sealing technology for many SUP applications.
The digital ultrasonic generator with its interfaces, measurement values and options for an automated adaptation to the changing environmental influences is the basis for industry 4.0 packaging processes.
Future one-layer SUP get better sealed by ultrasonic than by thermal sealing technologies.

What kind of audiences do you hope for and why?

Food packers who are responsible for the production processes and quality; those, who develop packagings; manufacturers of packagings and packaging materials; product manager for packaging lines.
Realisation of potentials of the ultrasonic technology for the improvement of the sealing quality.
Early integration of the ultrasonic technology when qualifying the packaging materials and packagings.
Wow effect of higher benefits for the final customers and differentiation offer new chances in the market.

How do you estimate the development of the pouches (SUP) relating to your activities?

The positive development of the SUP as packaging type confirms our strategy to continue the development and marketing of the main competence in the field of the SUP head seam.
The ultrasonic technology has established as sealing for the critical head seam as it is often moistened with the product, and is no longer used as alternative but as standard today.
The request to optimize the packaging processes leads to an increasing number of modifications in the market from thermal sealing technologies to ultrasonic sealing.
The manufacturers of packagings and packaging materials have realised the meaning of ultrasonic sealing and optimise their product for the ultrasonic sealing technology. The collaboration between manufacturers of packagings and packaging materials and specialists in ultrasonic sealing has been effected.
The demand for quality-related data and intelligent supervision of sealing processes increases.
Complete solutions from one source – the demand for ultrasonic sealing modules is more and more required.

What are your recommendations to a brand owner who is going to start with pouches?

Identify in time the intended advantages of the US sealing for your production.
Define the quality requirements and test methods for the SUP head seam und trust in the experience of your ultrasonic specialists.
Bring the right people together and give them time and resources to gain a good quality.

Which innovations are of the greatest interest to you, especially in the flex pack market – disregarding the SUP?

The trend of using aluminium free packaging material will widen the requirements of the sealing technology. High speed packaging machines for large orders and the flexibility of these machines will determine the flexible packaging market. This will lead to changing requirements such as reliable sealing systems for short sealing times or continuous operation with high flexibility. Packaging material having a weight-reduced basis such as foamed plastics or material using less polymer and having an ecological base and functional layers will become more popular.