Ohlson Packaging demonstrated its gummy and vitamin packaging systems and shared common challenges that come with gummy packaging equipment at PACK EXPO Connects. The Duravant company explained that depending on the gummy texture, shape, and size, CPGs may face many obstacles when it comes to filling them.
“We have seen such strong demand for gummy packaging in 2020 as demand for vitamins and supplements during the pandemic have been on the rise,” said Michael Megaro, director of sales at Ohlson Packaging.
Solving common issues with gummy packaging equipment
According to Ohlson Packaging, gummies require specific adjustments to multi-head weighers to ensure they adequate packaging. Ohlson uses dimpled product surfaces, from the hopper and bucket elevator all the way through the scale, rather than flat surfaces, which provides less area for the products to stick to.
There are a variety of gummy textures, such as oiled, sugared, etc. Ohlson Packaging addresses this by implementing other modifications, such as angled feed pans, to increase the speed of product moving through the scale.
Another obstacle CPGs face when it comes to packaging gummies is clumping. This happens when gummies are or become sticky, which can cause issues in both the weighing and filling processes. As gummies fill the packaging, clumping can create accuracy issues with linear scales. That's why Ohlson recommends multi-head scales to most gummy packaging equipment designed for retail packages.