This is to introduce a case study of VFFS model TWJB being used in Singapore at the customer who manufactures noodle products.

Feature of the wrapped product

The product to be packed is boiled noodles. Generally, dry noodles such as rice noodles or instant noodles are packaged using horizontal pillow machine (HFFS), as these products have fixed shape. However, the shape of the boiled noodles is more flexible, loose and soft as they are already boiled. Therefore customer contacted us, a manufacturer of Vertical fill-form-seal machine (VFFS) for the examination.

The attention what we have paid most is the ‘stickiness’ for packing the boiled noodles. The noodles are oil-coated before supplying to the packaging machine. But there were some concerns may arise regarding product quality, weight discrepancies, and seal contamination if the noodle is stuck to the hopper or machine inside. In order to resolve these concerns we have proposed some options on the packaging machine.

Packaging test

When we receive a new inquiry, we do the simple packaging test by using actual packaging machine and product to be packed. The customer can visually image how the package looks by this test sample, and at the same time find what to be improved in case their product is packaged by TAM packaging machine.
The product in this case was ‘Kway teow’, which is quite popular rice noodle in Southeast Asia.
It was a bit difficult to have this noodle in Japan. Therefore, as substitute, we used the similar shaped noodle called ‘Kishimen’ which is wide flat noodle and available in supermarket, by coating salad oil a bit to imitate the Kway teow noodle.

Using this Kishimen, the packaging test was carried out again with the prepared machine parts that had been examined according to the bag width.
These actions drew the customer’s interest from the very beginning of the inquiry, and we succeeded to provide a solution for the challenges as described in below content.
We could make proposal by this packaging test and solution for the challenges as described in the below contents.

Testing Scene:

Embossing

For the ‘stickiness’ -which is the biggest concern of this case, we addressed this issue by applying embossing on the hopper and to the inner side of tube,  and our extra technical know-how.
Embossing on the hopper and inner side of the tube reduces contact surface with the noodle and our know-how has made an effect to supply the noodles to the hopper without them sticking. As a result, it improves the operation speed and seal contamination.
This ‘embossing’ is effective for packaging not only for the boiled noodle but also the product that contains oil, sugar or moisture, and frozen product such as frozen food and ice cube that could melt as time passes.

Shape of hopper

Next concern was the receiving noodles in the right position. As the boiled noodle was transferred by bucket conveyor from the rear side of packaging machine, depending on the volume of noodles they might separate and could not be filled in the hopper properly. The measurement of this, for the large-sized package over 500 grams, we adopted the hopper with wider opening to be able to catch the noodle smoothly and assuredly and feed it to the tube. Also, we installed a sliding wall in both front and rear side of the hopper so that the noodles in any situation can be caught properly.

We TAM manufactures the hopper individually corresponds to the customer’s packaging environment, feeding method, or product properties. We take every possible measure such as a case the customer requires the speed then we change the inclination of the hopper, or select a hopper with wider opening for the unstable product shape as mentioned in this case.

Additional covers

The on-site environment to pack the boiled noodle is humid and there is possibility of water drop fall in the machine which may cause rust. To prevent the possibility, we have installed additional covers. We also added a cover on the reducer in the machine on customer’s request(the picture is an image).
Aside from this case, additional covers have been installed for safety aspect and delivered to the customers in US and Europe. We correspond flexibly to the individual request by a customer such as the reducer covers.

In conclusion

What do you think our approaches to the case?
We, TAM provides various solutions to respond the each customer’s request, packaging environment, and product properties. We promise our sincere correspondence to the customer by doing the test etc. for examining the most appropriate solution even we haven’t experienced
If you have any problem on the packaging machine, please feel free to contact us.

Tam Contact to: tam-overseas@tam-tokyo.co.jp