Pune-based Nichrome displayed its recently launched PFS8 pick, fill and seal machine at Intelpack 2015 in Mumbai. Aimed primarily at companies in the ready-to-eat (RTE) segment, the machine which was launched nearly six months ago has already been installed at ITC where it is used for packing ghee. The Pune-based plant of Gits Foods is also using the PFS8 for packing RTE items. The new FFS machine has also been supplied to The Punjab State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation (Markfed).
“The biggest advantage is that different types of pre-made pouches in various formats can be used on this machine. Basically this machine is for a variety of pre-made pouches,” says Nikhilesh Pradhan, general manager, sales and marketing. The machine offers cost effective solutions with multiple filler options such as a visco filler, servo-driven auger filler, and volumetric cup filler, indexing type bucket conveyors and multi-head weighers. PFS8 is being used to pack a variety of RTE foods such as palak paneer, dal makhani, butter chicken, biryani, gravies, matar paneer, and more. The machine can handle various pouch formats such as three and four-side seal pouches, stand-up pouches, stand-up zipper pouches, stand-up with side spout and pouches with customized shapes.
Nichrome has developed the PFS8 in technical collaboration with Spain’s Totpack. Pradhan says the philosophy of this collaboration was to adopt the best technology and then manufacture the machine for Indian specifications. The machine is manufactured at Nichrome’s Pune plant and along with the India market, the company is targeting other developing regions as well.
“There is immense growth potential visible in the RTE food segment, especially in urban centres where consumers face time constraints due to their busy lifestyles. With our new PFS8 offering, we expect to successfully meet the demands of this market and offer safe and secure packaging solutions to this fast growing segment,” Pradhan says, adding that the company is very optimistic about the demand for the new machine in the coming months.
About the response at Intelpack, he says the footfall on all the three days was excellent and lot of customer interest was generated since the PFS8 was actually shown in operation. “There were visitors from both medium and large-scale companies during these three days. We generated some serious leads at the event,” Pradhan states.
