Established Suffolk based contract packing company Glowcroft have installed an IPS-8BTZ premade pouch fill / seal machine with integrated multi-head weigher, purchased from UK based Intamac Packaging Systems, in November 2018. This versatile stand up Pouch Machine is capable of handling 25g to 500g packs at the touch of a button, with the capacity to fill larger pouches if required. It is ideal for packing free flowing materials including snacks, pet food, pharmaceuticals and horticultural products.
Glowcroft have been in the packaging industry for nearly 30 years and their business has grown by over 20% in the past year. This led to a need to upgrade their existing linear and rotary machinery. Steve Tarrant, managing director, Glowcroft researched the market extensively to find the best fit for developing his business. He also involved his staff in the decision process and travelled to America to research packaging trends to ensure he made the right choice.
“Everywhere we looked in the US we saw Stand Up Pouch Machines and it became clear that both manufacturers and consumers like the size, shape and flexibility of this packaging. It was after our trip to Global Pet Expo that we decided to purchase a new Stand Up Pouch Machine.”
The IPS-8BTZ has enabled a number of changes to productivity at Glowcroft. It has increased output by 46% which has meant they have been able to change their double shift patterns to single shifts. “The increased speed and changeover times has allowed significant changes to the business”, explains Tarrant, “we are able to use half the amount of labour with twice the output, which means we can respond to increasing demand from our customers. Intamac’s approach was refreshingly professional – they sat and listened to our business needs and were honest about the capabilities of the machine. It was the right machine, for the right job and at a good price.”
Tom Poston, sales executive, Intamac was delighted with the smooth installation. “It was record breakingly quick! It took 2 days to install and the machine has been running ever since. The machine is intuitive and the operators at Glowcroft were able to quickly learn how to maximise its potential. It’s great to know that a growing business like Glowcroft is using one of our machines to make such a difference to the day to day running and efficiency of their production”.
It is a tradition at Glowcroft to name each of their machines, with the employees voting for the name that they would like most for the machine. The IPS-8BTZ has now been christened ‘Luigi’ and it looks like it will continue to be a key part of the business for years to come.
A video of a similar IPS-8PT packing machine packing aromatherapy salts can be viewed here
