Rigid plastics firm Kobusch UK has installed three 780 E IM2 Speedmaster Plus thermoforming machines from WM Wrapping Machinery

The investment follows on from the purchase of three similar machines in 2011. Speaking to Packaging News, Kobusch UK sales director Tony Mitchell said: “Each of these machines can add up to £1.5 m worth of sales per year. They give us the fire power to keep going. They are reliable, super fast and have AB stacking on them.“We are delighted that our new owner Sun Capital is backing our growth plans. The three machines installed during 2011 have won unanimous approval from our production staff.” Kobusch offers a range of products for packing salads, snacks, prepared convenience foods, produce, cake and other baked goods. Processors, packers, retailers and caterers can choose from designs including multi-cavity packs, bowls, hinged containers, ready meal trays, drinking cups and lidded products in a variety of materials and colours.

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The IM2 Speedmaster Plus machine is the latest version of WM’s FC 780 E form-cut-stack thermoformer. Maximum tool dimensions are 780 x 570mm, with a maximum positive/negative forming height of 130mm. The forming station has been uprated with an in-mould cut facility and a clamping force rating of 75 tonnes. Regulation of upper and lower platen heights is electric and an additional servo-motor driven plug movement is optional. The cutting unit, which has a four tie-bar configuration, develops a clamping force of up to 60 tonnes. The forming and cutting stations incorporate a safety cut-out to prevent overloading of the platens. All the main machine movements are actuated by servo-motors with a view to reducing energy consumption, allowing production rates of up to 54 cycles per minute depending on the material used. Forming is by means of compressed air at up to 8 bar pressure, and vacuum. After cutting out using heated steel rule blades, the products are automatically counted and stacked. Production parameters can be set up automatically on the machine on entering the product data, and an optimised forming cycle is generated. The machine specification ordered by Kobusch also includes a three-axis robot for stacking formings. A hole punching press is optional.

Kobusch UK’s manufacturing facilities are in Stanley, County Durham, Caerphilly and Livingston.

WM Wrapping Machinery SA is represented in the UK and Republic of Ireland by Henry Lenox Industrial of Hampton, Middlesex.