UFlex secures 20-year Indian patent for twin aseptic packaging machine

INDIA – UFlex has secured a 20-year Indian patent for a high-speed twin aseptic pack packaging machine, with protection running from the September 2023 filing date under the 1970 Patents Act.

The machine fills and seals liquid food products at high speed using a continuous vertical form-fill-seal configuration. 

UFlex said the system’s unique design improves output while reducing the space needed for installation, alongside lower air and power consumption.

Vertical sealing relies on a centre seal strip, while cross-sealing of packs is handled by an induction system. 

Multiple machine frames, strip applicator units and vertical heads sustain uninterrupted operation, and a built-in programmable logic controller paired with a human-machine interface panel centralises control across machine functions. 

The layout produces several sealed packs from a single packaging laminate while satisfying aseptic conditions.

Sealing Precision Determines Ambient Shelf Stability

Aseptic formats allow liquid foods to remain stable at room temperature for extended periods, a capability contingent on sterility being maintained through filling and sealing. Mechanical consistency at the sealing stage therefore has direct commercial consequences for shelf life. 

Induction cross-sealing combined with the centre strip arrangement addresses this requirement by producing uniform seals at speed, a factor relevant to dairy, juice and plant-based beverage producers running high-volume lines.

Reclosable Bag Patent Preceded Machine Filing

In July, UFlex obtained Indian patent protection for a reclosable format for large bags, pairing barrier performance with a feature indicating interference. 

The design places a thin protective layer beneath the zipper and targets chemicals, coffee, flour, pet food, protein powders and industrial materials.

Mexico Woven Polypropylene Site Anchors Americas Expansion

Last month, the company began operations at its first woven polypropylene bag plant outside India, located in Altamira, Mexico. 

UFlex invested US$52 million in the ten-acre site, extending its manufacturing presence across the Americas. 

The combination of patent activity and overseas capacity points to a strategy of ring-fencing proprietary packaging technology while shifting production closer to customers in export markets.

Patent Portfolio Signals Equipment Ambitions

The machine patent complements UFlex’s established position in packaging materials by extending protection into converting equipment. 

Owning both laminate supply and filling machinery creates opportunities to bundle offerings for beverage producers, while the 20-year term provides a durable barrier against imitation.

The filing also reflects growing emphasis on aseptic formats across emerging markets, where ambient distribution reduces cold chain costs and extends reach into regions with limited refrigeration infrastructure.

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