The paper cross-bottom bag is taking over the world – again
GARANT presents the new machine generation EXTRA 5-FS – global demand is increasing enormously
Lengerich, Germany. The cross-bottom bag is becoming a competitive advantage: with the new EXTRA 5-FS, GARANT has recognized the international packaging trend and is introducing a cross-bottom bag machine that meets the needs of modern and ecological production. The EXTRA 5-FS is technically based on the TRIUMPH 5-F6, the benchmark machine for block-bottom bags since 2021. There is already high demand from the hygiene sector, especially for diaper packaging.
“The paper cross-bottom bag is being rediscovered in the industry, coupled with a surge in innovation in terms of possible applications,” says Managing Director Torsten Berding. “The paper variant had long been considered a niche version, overtaken by plastic as a raw material decades ago. Accordingly, there was hardly any technological development over that period. Until now, only old machines were still in use for paper, and they are usually difficult to use in terms of efficiency and reliability.” But the market and demand are changing, according to Berding: a growing number of consumers have faith in paper as a more sustainable packaging material, corporations are setting their own sustainability goals, and almost every packaging method is being put to the test. “The cross-bottom bag is as strong as ever when it comes to its filling properties, in part due to the fact that the changeover from plastic to paper in the downstream filling lines is usually not complicated,” Berding continues. He says that “the global players are already showing what is possible” on the shelves of hygiene products and diapers in particular. As far as Berding is concerned, this is just the beginning: “Paper as packaging is undergoing a lot of innovation in terms of sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and also applications: new varnishes and coatings even make moisture-proof paper packaging possible.”
The new EXTRA 5-FS processes paper into cross-bottom bags in the formats commonly used in the consumer sector:
- Tube width: 220–460 mm
- Bottom width: 80–190 mm
- Cut-off length: 370–770 mm
“Bringing day-to-day production efficiency up to a modern level was particularly important for us. Compared to the former generations of machines, we have essentially been able to incorporate several decades of progress,” emphasizes Design Manager Jörg Thies. Accordingly, the EXTRA 5-FS works with servo support, which shortens set-up times even with frequent format changes. Production can be fine-tuned during operation and interruptions and start-up times are things of the past. The user guidance is largely automated, which makes training and operation easier even with changing operating personnel. Thanks to the optional filling edge sealing, the full-surface PE coating can also be dispensed with, depending on the application. This enables resource-saving production with lower grammages and in compliance with the 95/5 EU standard.
The EXTRA 5-FS is also prepared for various additional devices in further processing, such as double die cutter, inline printers, fully automatic splicers, punching units, and other possibilities.
The EXTRA 5-FS is available to order now.