Dairy Processing - March/April 2024 - 46

PACKAGING
flow wrapping
F
Processors turn to flexible packaging solutions
that help differentiate products on the shelf.
by Allison Gibeson | dairyprocessing@sosland.com
low wrap is the most popular packaging format for
chunk and sliced cheese products sold in stores today,
and dairy processors continue to turn to flow wrap
solutions for flexibility and versatility.
" (Flow wrap) is actually one of today's most stringent
and difficult applications, as packaging must perform reliably
under high-speed converting processes, withstand abuse
in the supply chain and protect the freshness and flavor of
natural cheese, " said Travis Klug, dairy marketing manager for
Amcor Flexibles North America.
AN EYE-CATCHING LOOK
One of the biggest advantages of flow wrap packaging is the
flexibility it provides dairy processors in creating a range of
packages through relatively easy adjustments in production,
said Hugh Crouch, product manager for Harpak-ULMA,
Taunton, Mass. This allows processors to deliver uniquelooking
products to retail customers and create additional
consumer interest.
Klug said Amcor offers finishing technologies including
matte, antiglare and tactile options to help its customers'
brands perform better and stand out on shelves while also
delivering consistent operational performance.
" In addition to adding new and existing flavors to a
product lineup, an enhanced look and feel of a brand's
packaging can help drive differentiation, " Klug said. " Finishing
technologies including matte and antiglare printing continue
to become more popular, especially with retail formats,
including flow wrap for chunk, sliced and snack cheeses. "
The growth of snacking also is driving the way flow wrap
is being used in the cheese market. According to the National
Library of Medicine, snacks have become a staple of the
American diet, accounting for nearly a quarter (22%) of total
energy intake among adults. Currently, more than 90% of US
adults report eating one or more snacks on any given day,
with an average of between 1.2 and 3.0 snacking occurrences
per day.
As a result, consumers are looking for portability and
convenience in their snacking options, and more cheese
snacks are being delivered to consumers in flow wrap
packaging, Klug said. In the past, string and stick cheeses
were often packaged in forming/non-forming films, but flow
wrap films are now being used for a new format of cheese
snacking that includes small, thin rectangular slices.
" Especially in times of inflation, cheese converters often
are looking for automation opportunities in their production
processes to become more efficient, reduce labor and control
costs, " Klug said. " As compared to other formats like forming/nonforming
or shrink bags, flow wrap for chunk, sliced and snack
cheeses allows cheese converters to maximize their
efficiencies by minimizing the manual efforts of
placing the cheese on the packaging line, while
also running at much higher speeds. "
Flow wrap solutions are also efficient in
that they use only one roll of film, compared
with tray sealing that requires a tray and top
web of film, and thermoforming that requires
two webs of film, Crouch said. Additionally, flow
wrap requires no tooling and a smaller initial
investment. Reduced changeover time is another
benefit of such packaging, as film can be changed quickly,
and machines can even perform automatic splicing.
46 MAR-APR 2024 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
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Dairy Processing - March/April 2024

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