Harpak-Ulma launches 3D printing service for tray package prototyping

USA – Harpak-Ulma, a specialist in connected packaging solutions, has launched a 3D printing service tailored for tray package prototyping in the US market, offering customers the flexibility to collaborate in-person at its Customer Experience Center in Taunton, Massachusetts.

The company emphasizes that merchandisers can now easily, quickly, and cost-effectively customize their tray designs to meet specific marketing needs and preferences.

This service enables flexibility and versatility in prototyping, allowing for adjustments to dimensions, incorporation of intricate features, and branding elements.

Joshua Allen, Harpak-Ulma’s marketing director, highlights the significance of this new service in shortening the prototyping process from weeks to hours, with lower costs and quick iterations based on feedback.

He underscores the importance of leveraging technology to enhance the overall customer experience, from design to operations and maintenance.

Customization plays a vital role in product differentiation and brand identity, but the traditional prototyping process is often labor-intensive, time-consuming, and costly.

This has been a barrier, particularly for smaller businesses or those with limited budgets, and has hindered innovation in packaging concepts.

Allen notes that 3D printing not only accelerates the prototyping process but also reduces waste associated with legacy methods, aligning with sustainability goals.

In December last year, the company introduced the FR 400 Twin Flow Wrapper, a horizontal wrapping solution promising “exceptional” throughput.

This innovative solution aims to transform high-volume automated packaging operations. Its compact design caters to facilities with limited floor space or those aiming to boost packaging throughput within existing production environments, as highlighted by Harpak-Ulma.

The FR 400 Twin encompasses the functionality of two fully operational FR 400 horizontal flow-wrap machines, cleverly condensed into the space of a single legacy line.

This configuration effectively doubles throughput within the physical confines of a solitary, stand-alone flow-wrap setup.

Capable of reaching speeds of up to 700 PPM (or 70 meters per minute of film speed per lane), dependent on product size and characteristics, this innovative technology can achieve up to 1400 PPM.

While sharing a frame and HMI for centralized control, each machine operates independently, ensuring continuous operation even if one line encounters operational issues.

Crafted with user convenience in mind, the interface streamlines setup, operation, and maintenance, empowering operators to swiftly switch between various product configurations.

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