The fact that pasta is one of the symbols of Italy is well known. But perhaps not everyone knows that Italians are also the “world champions” in its packaging. The market value of Italian pasta packaging production in 2021 exceeded 20 billion euros, with almost 4 billion tons of packaging for over 300 different formats.
A product such as pasta, which is part of the daily life of people around the world, requires special attention to its production and preservation. And the Italians, who are very attentive to the regulations relating to food production, have specialized over time in the creation of efficient and safe packaging systems. The Italian sector of automatic packaging machines is characterized by a strong impulse to innovation and refinement, which has allowed companies in the sector to be appreciated abroad.
What are the main types of packaging for pasta and why is the packaging of this type of product so important? Let’s see it together.
Types of pasta and packaging
Pasta can be both dry and fresh, and consequently it must be packaged in different ways because its storage requires different precautions. In the case of fresh pasta, plastic trays or buckets are usually chosen, but also shrink film bags.
For dry pasta, which does not need to be kept in the refrigerator, cartons and plastic bags are preferred. Even cardboard boxes usually have a plastic window that allows you to see the contents without opening them. What often varies is the size of the package, which obviously matches that of the pasta: long or short, but also more or less voluminous.
Dry pasta is packaged with box packers and shrinkwrappers that are able to make and close the packages with the right amount of product and optimize the logistics of the plant. With a custom automatic machine it is possible for the manufacturer to have all the options and functionalities he needs, defining them already at the design stage. A machine of this type can also be integrated over time with new operational functions, always tailored to the needs of the plant.
What is the pasta pack for and why is it so important?
Choosing the right packaging for your pasta can determine its success or failure. In fact, the quality of the product is not enough to guarantee that that precise brand of pasta will find its place on the market: competition is very high, and consequently it is necessary that the packaging “speaks” to the consumer to convince him to buy.
The packaging can express the reference values of the company producing dry pasta through the graphics and messages that are conveyed on the package. And also through the choice of materials with which it is made: a pasta, for example, that is based on organic wheat can draw the attention of an audience attentive to the sustainability of what it buys, and therefore it is appropriate to choose eco-friendly materials for its packaging or you may not meet the needs of its potential buyers.
Sustainability is a value that more and more consumers consider important to make their purchasing choices. Thus ensuring a less polluting production is also an important lever for pasta producers who want to win over this type of buyers, who are also willing to pay more to have the security of buying greens. For example, a full electric automatic machine for stuffing and wrapping food products and dry pasta and allows a real energy saving, because full electric machines do not require energy throughout the entire movement, as is the case with pneumatic cylinder solutions. In the course of a year, the energy required for the operation of the pneumatic cylinder can also cause the plant to emit 12 tons of CO2, which is avoided by using a shrinkwrapping machine or a full electric case packer. And that can have a positive image return for pasta manufacturers who want to focus on the sustainability of their product.
In addition to this, when packaging dry pasta it is also important that each pack is made with care, by machinery that can ensure maximum precision and manage with speed the size changes within the same line. No one, in fact, will buy a product packaged in an approximate and even less a poorly sealed.
The most suitable packaging to ensure the success of your dry pasta is the one that allows you to arrive on the shelves quickly and with an intact packaging, exactly as you designed it. For this reason, it is important to select machines that are able to package your product at its best: RL Automatic Industrial System automatic shrinkwrapping and wrapping machines guarantee high performance even in the long term, and being designed and made to measure are able to adapt perfectly to your operational needs.
Call us and tell us about your needs: we have more than thirty years of experience in the field of automation and in particular in solutions for the food industry, so we can design the perfect solution for you.
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