Tailored packing machine for Luiten Food

Luiten Food has over 75 years of experience in the import and distribution of game and poultry. The new Variovac Primus Skin thermoformer has recently significantly increased the packaging capacity of the family business. 

Last year, Luiten Food invested heavily in automation. As a result, they can process more meat, the work is faster and lighter. The company recently purchased the Variovac Primus Skin, via Van Uhm. "We have been doing business with this company for years," says Piet van Rijn of Luiten Food. "We are very content. The communication lines are short and we can adjust quickly. The personal contact is very pleasant. Van Uhm is a family business, just like us. That's why the collaboration is so good: we speak the same language.

Luiten Food quickly decided it had to be the Variovac Primus Skin. "We had an outdated packaging machine and wanted to invest in a new one that could handle more capacity. We didn't even consider other brands. In the preparation, we had talks with Van Uhm to establish what we would need. We talked about the capacity, the type of packaging and the desired turnover rate. With these machines you can determine the turnover rate yourself. In the highest position, the machine has an output of 90 trays per minute." 

Good preparation

Beforehand, the various connections for air, electricity and the pipes of the vacuum pumps were discussed in detail. "By including this in the preparation, the preconditions for the installation of the machine were already taken care of. As a result, it was just a matter of plug and play." The entire process was completed in twelve weeks: from preparation talks to installation and commissioning. Luiten Food uses the machine for packing different types of meat: "Game, such as deer and kangaroo, and poultry, including duck. But also lamb, seafood, and vegetarian products. And in addition, the best beef. We can use the same machine for all those types of meat, even for meat with bone," says Van Rijn.

Customised machine

The machine is tailored to the needs of Luiten Food. "The Variovac Primus Skin is equipped with a Rapid air system," says Henry van den Berg of Van Uhm. "This means that the trays are formed using air pressure. This gives you a nicely shaped packaging. The Rapid air system also makes it possible to achieve the desired high capacity, supplemented by the rotary pump, which we applied at Luiten. This pump ensures that the vacuuming process is even faster. This was necessary due to the fact that the hose of the vacuum pump has to cover a longer distance, which reduces the suction power. In addition, Luiten wanted to work with a larger packaging roll, allowing them to continue packing for longer periods of time. The machine was modified to accommodate the jumbo roll. This means that it is easy to change the packaging roll: it only takes two minutes to connect a new one.

lifespan

The machine at Luiten Food is equipped with special inserts that fit the trays used by the company. "Due to the longer cut-off length and larger film width, the machine is equipped with a four-point lift system for the tray. This ensures maximum pressure when closing the packaging and a longer lifespan for the lift system." The robust construction of the Variovac also ensures a longer lifespan.
"Normally, this type of machine has to be brought in with support. This is not necessary with the Variovac. With a frame length of 8 metres, we were able to install the machine in one go. That tells you something about how strong and solid it is built. You can also see this in the low service intensity in the long run."

Luxury presentation

One of the advantages of skin packaging is the longer shelf life of the product. All oxygen is removed, which improves hygiene. It also gives a luxurious presentation: the product is clearly visible. This method of packaging is increasingly in demand, especially for luxury products. "In addition to the Variovac Primus, we have also been operating a Variovac Optimus thermoformer for several years," says Van Rijn. "Both work well and we are used to using them." If we were to invest in a new thermoformer again, the choice would be easy: "Our experiences with Van Uhm are good. Besides the pleasant contact, the company has an excellent service department. If there is something wrong with the machines, a service engineer is on the spot within a few hours."

"With the Variovac Primus Skin, we can continue for years," Piet van Rijn concludes. "Also when our company grows. We did take that into account when purchasing!

www.vanuhm.nl
www.luitenfood.com

Mainphoto: Piet van Rijn (l) next to Henry van den Berg
Photos © Roel Dijkstra