The EEF Future Manufacturing Awards 2013 honoured Pacepacker Services, a manufacturer of bagging, pick and place and robot palletising systems, with a Smart Product Award for its design and build of a patented packing system, FlexaPac, used by food manufacturers.
The runner-up prize presented by EEF region director, Jim Davison, at a ceremony held at Mercedes Benz World, Surrey, on 12th November is the second award Pacepacker has received within the last two months for its supermarket tray loading system. The FlexaPac places netted fruits, nuts and vegetables into merchandising crates at high speed and without waste.
An event designed to recognise UK businesses that have shown excellence in manufacturing innovation and successfully designed and delivered new operating practices to boost productivity and business performance, Pacepacker competed alongside 400 manufacturing contestants. EEF judges commented, “A good approach was taken by Pacepacker to work with customers and other organisations to develop a unique product. Furthermore, a good business model, ten week turn around period and a ‘try before you buy scheme’ means this product has real potential to open up new market opportunities.”
Pacepacker’s ‘try before you buy scheme’ was an EEF winner at the 2011 ceremony, where it won runner-up in the Innovative Operating Practices category. The service, which enables manufacturers to trial the FlexaPac as well as other packing and palletising equipment before placing an order, was praised for tackling customer confidence with a practical solution.
The FlexaPac’s design, which packs up to 60 bags of product per minute, is no bigger than the rotary table packing station currently used by food packers in production halls.
