The prototype Sigpack VPF (Vertical Platform for Flat Pouches), the first freely scalable flat pouch machine, has been honored with the German Packaging Award 2016. The award is presented on an annual basis by the German Packaging Institute (Deutsches Verpackungsinstitut – dvi). The packaging machine won over the jury with the innovative nature of the overall concept and its superb execution in technical terms. In particular, the scalability offered by the machine, which allows manufacturers to switch production at any time from one line to as many as twelve, is what signals a completely new approach within this segment. The jurors gave their verdict on a total of 213 projects from nine countries. Product Manager Frank Bühler and Maik Lamprecht, the Project Manager for Platform Development–from Bosch Packaging Technology in Beringen, Switzerland–accepted the award during the presentation ceremony, which was held as part of this year’s FachPack trade fair in Nuremberg. ‘We are really pleased that our machine has managed to win the Packaging Award as early as the prototype stage. This confirms we have developed the kind of solution the market is looking for. We are already looking forward to working with a wide range of manufacturers from the pharma and food sectors who have already expressed an interest,' explains Frank Bühler.

Production to suit changing customer requirements

The prototype for the Sigpack VPF from Bosch represents a revolutionary concept for the filling of flat pouches: The equipment stands out because it breaks new ground in terms of scalability, and this makes it flexible enough to adapt to whatever the customer requirements may be. Manufacturers from the food and pharma industries will, therefore, be able to tailor production to current market conditions. As well as the option to expand production from two to 12 lines, the size of the bags can be quickly adjusted, too. A further benefit of the Sigpack VPF is its innovative dosing system, whereby each line has its own dosing chamber and its own stock of product. This means two products can be filled on the same machine at the same time.