Developing the world’s first food wrapping machine with organic film
If you walk into any supermarket or food store in Europe, you will most likely be greeted by stacks of fresh food wrapped in cling film plastic. While this plastic packaging is convenient and, in the case of fresh meats, plays a vital role in food hygiene and prolonging shelf-life, the environmental damages we suffer due to our reliance on plastic are devastating – 15.8 million tonnes of plastic packaging waste were generated in the EU in 2014. New biodegradable wrapping solutions are currently being developed, but the food industry must adopt other enabling technologies before alternatives to plastic can be fully developed. We are DeltaPak, a manufacturer of a state-of-the-art wrapping machine that will be the first to integrate organic, biodegradable wrapping films while being able to reduce food waste and seamlessly operate in integrated food packaging lines. We have identified a pressing need in the food packaging sector for a wrapping machine that can incorporate organic films while also offering operational innovations that provide predictive and preventive maintenance functionalities. Our new machine, titled Proteus, will be able to package 25 packs per minute in an organic film which will give food packers the benefits of plastic such as hygiene, food safety, premium presentation and food waste reduction without the negative externalities of plastic pollution. The opportunity for such a solution is massive, with €1 billion per year being spent on plastic wrapping machinery in Europe alone. We estimate that by 2025, we will have sold a total of 1,830 units and reach an annual turnover of €10.98 million. Our Phase 1 project will focus on defining the mechanical and electronic development requirements to accommodate the organic film, air purification technology and connectivity functionalities (technical) and the commercial feasibility of the wrapping machine in all industry verticals.