GT4eX / Twin

The GT4eX / Twin is an automatic, large capacity tray sealing system designed for high-speed production, efficiently cutting labour costs. Available in 2 formats; extra-wide-single-lane or twin-lane.

With increased production capacity the GT4eX has the ability to take packs up to 400mm wide, long edge leading, into the machine. Capable of 84 Vacuum/Gas packs per minute on a 7 impression tool, the GT4eX system is packed with user-friendly benefits including our special lightweight, high-strength tooling.

Capable of 144 Vacuum/Gas packs per minute on a 12 impression tool, the GT4eX-Twin is a high throughput modular, twin-lane, linear, heat-sealing system. It is designed to run in conjunction with auxiliary equipment such as tray de-nesters, fillers, multi-head weighers and labellers, combining into a stand-alone, fully automatic production line.

At the core of the 'e' design is its flexibility to perform any style of heat seal to a pre-formed tray, be that atmospheric, MAP, VMAP, Skin, Skin Plus, or Skin Deep. Each of these options can be added now or at a later date, or indeed removed as necessary. This flexibility provides the user with the assurance that whatever the latest packaging trend might be, they have equipment suitably geared for the future.

  • Atmospheric Seal
  • Gas Flush
  • Hermetic Shrink
  • Vacuum/Gas
  • Skin Pack
  • Skin Plus
  • Skin Deep
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  • Features

    Standard design features and benefits

    • Five minute tool changeover
    • Low maintenance polymer bearings

    • Simple and accurate film-feed system with easy film route

    • Maintenance friendly robust construction

    • Accurate temperature and seal pressure control

    • High accuracy tool alignment system provides a constantly accurate sealing and/or film-cutting relationship with the tray flange profile

    • Simple design and operation

    • Film snap detection 

    • ’Auto Tool' Touch of a button tool change system, automatically locates and connects tooling to machine functions including all MAP options

    • Integration of peripheral equipment, such as: infeed and outfeed conveyors, checkweighers, metal detectors and printers.

    • All around seal and contoured film-cut with skeletal film rewind

    • Automatic seal operation with accurate seal dwell time

    • Self-centring tray guides

    • Automatic film roll clamping

    • Food industry approved hygienic construction and wash-down protection

    • Full Category 3 guarding

    • User friendly, menu-driven control panel with step-by-step prompts, error and status displays, and useful batch pack counter

    • Recipe handling of machine settings

    • Self diagnostic system

    • Pendant mounted colour touch screen HMI control for full double-sided operation

    • Recipe driven auto machine set-up for tool change

    • On-screen data capture and trends with wireless connection option

    • Pot crush avoidance system

    • Active film tension

    • QR conveyors with quick release belts for easy hygiene and maintenance

    • Eseal® - high-performance, high-precision, high-force, energy-efficient, electric seal system that boasts a massive increase in seal force.

    • Promotion - a high accuracy continuous motion tray infeed system, which increases production speed whilst reducing machine duty

    GT4eX Sealing capacity

    No of trays Length Width Depth Diameter
    Two 420mm 480mm 120mm 420mm
    Three 420mm 312mm 120mm 312mm
    Four 420mm 227mm 120mm 227mm
    Five 420mm 172mm 120mm 172mm
    Six 420mm 143mm 120mm 143mm
    Seven 420mm 119mm 120mm 119mm

    GT4eX Twin Sealing capacity

    No. of trays Length Width Depth  Diameter
    Four 200mm 480mm 120mm 200mm
    Six 200mm 312mm 120mm 200mm
    Eight 200mm 227mm 120mm 200mm
    Ten 172mm 172mm 120mm 172mm
    Twelve 143mm 143mm 120mm 143mm
    Fourteen 119mm 119mm 120mm 119mm

    Options available

    • Free flow gas flush MAP (Modified Atmosphere Packaging)
    • High Oxygen (O2) gas flush
    • Vacuum - used for applications such as retorting or for when the lid level needs to be controlled
    • Vacuum Gas – ideal for where residual gas levels have to be sub 1%
    • Skin – Skin packaging sub flange
    • Skin Plus – Skin packaging up to 50mm above the tray flange
    • Skin Deep – Skin packaging up to 100mm above the tray flange
    • Close Cut - Method of maximising throughput and reducing film waste
    • Inboard Cut (IC) option to provide ‘form, fill and seal’ tray presentation
    • Film coding and printing
    • Foil crimping
    • Active conveyors to allow the machine to be used as a straight through conveyor when packs don’t require sealing
    • Back-to-back machine configurations
    • Optional integration of peripheral equipment, such as: denesters, fillers, multi-head weighers, laser coders, labellers.
    • eWON - a machine connection system to deliver real time data and error condition support, remote setup, and software upgrades, using a customer’s existing IT network
    • I-film - intelligent film reel monitoring system which actively adjusts film tension based on reel diameter to increase print quality and film reel efficiency, reduce component duty, and provides a film end warning system.
    • ProTect - a contactless machine login and audit trail system
    • AutoCoding Ready
    • Sale, Lease Purchase and Rental options available

    GT4eX / GT4eX Twin specification 

    Height 2203mm
    Standard Length 4064mm
    Width 1265mm
    Weight 2150kg + specification dependent
    Electrical Supply 400V 3 phase + neutral (fused at 12A)
    Transformer Variations

    480V 3 phase (fused at 20A)

    600V 3 phase (fused at 20A)

    Metric

    Imperial

    Pressure

    Flow

    Pressure

    Flow

    6 Bar

    50L/Min

    87psi

    1.7CFM

    Required Supply for Skin Machine - (SD spec)

    6 Bar

    707L/Min

    87psi

    25CFM

    Transformers are available to accommodate the electrical supplies in different countries

    GT4eX Production Speed

    Up to 5 cycles per minute Skin Deep max
    Up to 12 cycles per minute Vacuum Gas
    Up to 14 cycles per minute Gas Flush
    Up to 20 cycles per minute Standard Seal

    GT4eX Twin Production Speed

    Up to 5 cycles per minute Skin Deep max 
    Up to 12 cycles per minute Vacuum Gas 
    Up to 14 cycles per minute Gas Flush 
    Up to 18 cycles per minute Standard Seal
  • Packaging Materials

    Trays

    • C-PET
    • A-PET
    • R-PET
    • Polypropylene
    • PVC / Styrene
    • Board / Paper
    • Smooth Wall Foil

    Lidding

    • Co-extruded and Laminated Polyester Films
    • Foil
    • Board
    • Paper
  • MAP

    Modified Atmosphere Packaging

    Modified Atmosphere Packaging is a food packaging method where the Earth's normal breathable atmosphere has been modified by either a single gas or a mixture of gases. It is generally used with a barrier film with low oxygen transmission and is sometimes referred to as Gas Flushing.

    The atmosphere in an MA package may contain N2, O2, CO2. Each food product has its own ideal gas mixture to ensure the longest shelf life possible.

    The Gases

    Carbon dioxide (CO2)

    Carbon dioxide inhibits the growth of most aerobic bacteria and moulds. Generally speaking, the higher the level of CO2, the longer the achievable shelf-life. In most cases where CO2 is needed to control bacterial and mould growth, a minimum of 20-30% is required. However, CO2 can be absorbed by fats and water and in some cases cause pack collapse.

    Nitrogen (N2)

    Nitrogen is an inert gas and is used to exclude air; it is also used as a balance gas (filler gas) to make up the difference in a gas mixture. It helps prevent pack collapse where the CO2 has been absorbed. For modified atmosphere packaging of dried snack products, 100% nitrogen is used to prevent oxidative randicity.

    Oxygen (O2)

    In many foods oxygen should be excluded but there are often good reasons for it to be present in the map gas mixture. 

    • To maintain fresh, natural colour in red meat
    • To maintain respiration (in fruit and vegetables)
    • To inhibit growth of anaerobic organisms (in some types of fruit and vegetables)

    Ideal residual oxygen levels are dependent upon each customer's shelf life trials and tolerances.

    Food manufacturers should seek the advice of Food grade gas suppliers before deciding which gas supply mode is the most appropriate for their needs.

    Guidelines have been quoted in the CCFRA (Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association) map guide document.

    Our MAP experts and Test Kitchen are standing by to help you with your enquiries.

    Please get in touch or call us to find out more.

    Product Nitrogen
    N2    		 Oxygen
    O2    		 Carbon Dioxide
    CO2    		 Achievable Shelf Life
    Days
    Beef   70–80 20–30 5 to 8
    Lamb   70–80 20–30 5 to 8
    Pork   70–80 20–30 5 to 8
    Chicken various   70–80 20–30 10 to 14
    Chicken various 50 20 30 10 to 14
    Chicken various 70   30 10 to 14
    Turkey   70–80 20–30 7 to 14
    Turkey 70   30 10 to 14
    Duck   70–80 20–30 10 to 14
    Sausage   70–80 20–30 10 to 14
    Bacon 70   30 14 to 21
    Cooked Meat 70   30 14 to 21
    Cooked Chicken 70   30 14 to 21
    Charcuterie 70   30 14 to 21
    Raw White Fish 30 30 40 4 to 6
    Raw Oily Fish 70   30 4 to 6
    Crustaceans 30 30 40 4 to 6
    Cooked Fish 70   30 7 to 21
    Ready Meals 50–70   30–50 7 to 14
    Sandwiches 70   30 3 to 5
    Pies/Sausage Rolls 70   30-50  7 to 14 
    Quiche 70   30–50 7 to 14
    Salads/Vegetables 90 5 5 5+
    Hard Cheese 50–70   30–50 2 to 12
    Pasta 50   50 3 to 4
    Bakery 0–30   70–100 2 to 12