To help snack and confectionery producers envisage the factory of the future and achieve their sustainability goals, tna solutions, a global provider of integrated food processing and packaging solutions, will showcase a fully functioning virtual factory at interpack 2023.
Visitors to tna's stand (Hall 14, C56 & D56) will experience a virtual factory that enables remote commissioning, installation, and maintenance of production lines, reducing carbon footprint and downtime. Facilitated by tna's state-of-the-art software, coupled with the very latest VR headsets, this imitation technology enables visitors to interact with different production scenarios, from confectionery to snack foods. Real-life benefits include the reduced risks of manufacturing process disruption, facilitated training, and improved overall line efficiency.
To further feed the sustainability ambitions of food producers, tna’s proprietary sustainability calculator will be available for visitors to assess how the use of single-serration jaws on vertical form fill and seal (VFFS) packaging systems can help to reduce film consumption and enhance sustainability credentials. For example, single-serration jaws enable a 5mm material saving per seal. On VFFS systems that produce 150 bags per minute, these savings translate into 2.26 million bags per month. In a factory of 10 packaging lines, operating at least 12 hours a day, it results in almost 390 kilometres of film saved per month.
The tna sustainability corner [GR1] will also showcase the capabilities of the tna robag to run a range of industry compliant sustainable film materials. It also demonstrates an integrated line for snack producers featuring the tna robag® 3e, and the tna auto-splice 3. Combined, the tna robag® 3e and the tna auto-splice 3 increase production uptime by up to 5%. Compact, efficient and easily retrofittable to older versions of Robag, the tna auto-splice 3 system adds only 200mm to the existing packaging equipment footprint.
"As demand for energy-efficient and sustainable operations continues to grow, our customers are seeking solutions to measure and manage the environmental impact of their production plants,” comments Eric Geling, Chief Sales Officer at tna solutions. “We at tna believe that what is good for the environment can also be good for the bottom line. Reducing energy, waste and streamlining processing inevitably has a positive impact on product yield and line efficiency."
tna's further commitment to sustainability can be seen in its philanthropic work enabled by the Nadia & Alf Taylor Foundation, which has supported disadvantaged children, especially in education, across 39 countries over the last 20 years.
"tna supports the collective ambition to make the world a better place and improve lives by supporting people, prosperity, and the planet in harmony,” said Nadia Taylor, Co-founder and Director at tna solutions. “We believe true success is that which is shared by our company, our customers, and the broader community, and feel a moral obligation to create value so that we may help disadvantaged communities, especially children. One of the foundation’s key focus areas is the education of children in the regions in which we operate. It’s the gift that nobody can take away, and we therefore encourage our valued customers to also spend a little time to learn more in this dedicated section of the stand."
tna experts will be on hand throughout the show to offer advice and discuss individual sustainability needs and requirements. To arrange a meeting during interpack 2023, please contact: gemma.rule@tnasolutions.com, or drop by the stand at the show:
Hall 14, booths C56 & D56 – 4-10 May 2023, Düsseldorf, Germany.
