Mechatronic system feeds flow-wrapper to provide dramatic boost to line output

Multivac demonstrated new intelligent automation from US company Provisur as part of its October forum, aiming to showcase the very latest in processing and packaging.

Earlier this year, Multivac Group announced a strategic partnership with Provisur, and took this opportunity to demonstrate how equipment from its own range and from the US company could be integrated into two complete lines.

In one of them, Provisur’s Free Movement System (FMS) was fed by an SX380 Formax slicer and in turn fed portions of shingled, sliced salami  to a Multivac flow-wrapper. The FMS utilises free-floating movers that glide along an electromagnetic surface, enabling smooth and precise product handling.

According to Provisur, the programmable system can deliver product for up to 100 packs per minute (ppm), on a single- rather than twin-track layout, while featuring a smaller footprint than competitor systems. There are also no belts requiring removal and cleaning.

In a first UK installation, the FMS has lifted a customer’s flow-wrapping speeds from 50-70ppm to a consistent 100ppm, packing own-brand sliced meats for a major UK supermarket chain.

Another line operating at the company’s Swindon headquarters combined a Provisur SX550 Formax slicer with a Multivac RX 4.0 thermoformer. But there were plenty more lines and standalone machines demonstrated at the event.

Before introducing new UK managing director Rob Kiely, Multivac Group chief executive Christian Traumann provided his audience with a snapshot of the group’s performance and priorities. Multivac was seeing very strong orders during 2025, he said, though rising costs meant the business environment was more challenging.

“Our aim is to reduce costs without impacting efficiency,” said Traumann. “It’s about solutions through automation and intelligent line concepts. We’re interacting with all of you to co-develop and ensure you get a tailor-made line that addresses your particular challenges.”

The lineup of machines and complete lines at the October event was designed to reduce labour costs, increase yield and improve sustainability, he added.

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