New KHS Shrink Tunnel Concept
Focus on packaging quality and reduced energy consumption
So that it can better meet the individual requirements of beverage, food, and non-food companies who pack their products in film, KHS has developed a new shrink tunnel concept. This has a number of major benefits, one of which is that the amount of energy needed to produce shrink film packs has been further reduced. The advantageous cubic machine frame of the new generation of shrink tunnels, available in six different sizes, already featured in the Advanced series of KHS machines. The exterior surfaces have been constructed in keeping with Hygienic Design guidelines and the cable routes integrated into the cladding. The shrink hood is also insulated with insulating elements which means that there are no heat bridges from the inside to the outside of the shrink tunnel. In order to achieve the best possible shrink results for each individual shrink pack, KHS uses adjustable hot air nozzles. The air flow can be set exactly as required to fully adapt to the height and width of each pack format. The amount of air required for a perfect shrink result can be configured for each individual nozzle, either manually or electronically using servo motors. The hot air nozzles are manually positioned for the different pack formations by adjusting spindles and using a digital position indicator. The nozzles can be optionally positioned using electronic operator prompting. The advantage of spindle adjustment by the operator is that he or she is informed by the machine operator panel as to which stations of the machine have to be adjusted. At the same time, with operator-prompted format changeovers using an electronic display, information on what the operator must do at the individual stations is accurately communicated. Besides avoiding paper lists that are often not maintained, the electronic display also takes the mechanical play of gear wheels and chains into account. Operator-prompted format changeover also allows the nozzles to be adjusted using AccuDrive. The new generation of KHS shrink tunnels is distinguished by the use of an optimized heating chamber and new ventilators which work much more effectively than those of the previous generation. The much improved flow behavior has also made it possible to reduce the number of heating chambers for all shrink tunnel variants to two, with one heating ventilator apiece. This in turn generates energy savings of up to 15%. By integrating an energy-saving package into the new shrink tunnel concept, energy savings of up to 20% are possible as opposed to previous systems. This energy-saving package includes a newly developed roller shutter system that automatically closes the product infeed and discharge openings when the packaging machine has stopped, largely preventing any thermal energy from escaping. Additionally, electronically controlled standby operation minimizes the energy consumption of all functional units necessary to the shrink process. As now well established in the Advanced series, the new generation of shrink tunnels can also be heated by gas instead of electricity. This has a number of benefits, the main one being that gas heating can reduce energy costs by up to 50% compared to classic electric heating. Further options include an automatic cleaning station for the conveyor chain, hood lighting, and a camera system for external visualization of the shrink process. All told, this newly developed system is a concept that holds plenty of potential for the future. Firstly, all functions can be retrofitted at any time even after an investment has been made; secondly, the new shrink tunnel concept has been designed to allow for any future innovations to be effortlessly incorporated into existing setups.
