Harpak-ULMA, the industry leader in smart, connected packaging solutions, announced that a new and innovative thermoforming solution will be available in 2023, offering more sustainable packaging for fresh food products. The TFS 216 takes ULMA’s quest for sustainable packaging solutions a step further by introducing a new model of thermoforming machine designed to package fresh produce in vacuum skin packs on a flat cardboard base. The TFS 216 uses cardboard roll stock to produce the flat, non-thermoformed base of the package – eliminating the need for plastic trays and producing zero cardboard waste. Cardboard base material can be printed on both sides with product or marketing information and is proprietary. The use of transport chains, a design common to most conventional thermoforming machines, requires some of the original reel width to be scrapped. In contrast, the TFS 216 is equipped with an innovative chainless bottom film traction system, so the manufactured LeafSkin™ packaging preserves all the base material regardless of its width. LeafSkin™ is one of ULMA’s most unique and sustainable packaging solutions and includes both an “easy-open” corner to remove the lid and a “recycle” corner to separate different materials and streamline the recycling process.
