Under the motto ‘Nature has the best inspirations – and we should make use of these,’ the German brand Eco Mark presents so-called Natural Branding. This very modern branding procedure makes it possible for the fruit branch to mark fresh products without using chemicals, plastic packaging or labels. This way, customers are offered an ecological and commercial alternative to individually brand fruit and vegetables.
Up to 6,000 cucumbers per hour
Customers can currently experience how Natural Branding works in major German and some Dutch supermarkets. Organic cucumber, ginger, mango, coconut, melon, pumpkin, avocado and lemons are already being sold in these without label or special packaging, and they can be distinguished from conventionally grown products easily.
Carsten Dillenberger shows the NB3003 machine during the Fruit Logistica this year.
Natural Branding is made possible by the NB3002 machine, which can brand between 4,000 and 6,000 cucumbers per hour using a laser. This is done by removing pigments from the top layer of the peel, so that a logo or text becomes visible, and all without damaging the product. The machine type NB3002 has a built-in conveyor belt. This makes it possible to brand ‘on the fly.’ This means the machine brands the products continuously without stopping. The software automatically calculates the optimum belt speed. Because of this, machine capacity is optimally used.
Lowering label costs
With Natural Branding, label costs can be lowered by about 50 per cent. Valuable packaging becomes obsolete, so that the savings potential is largest in this area. With every tonne of plastic saved, after all, people avoid an enormous petroleum usage. At the same time, CO2 emissions drop considerably. Natural Branding can be optimised in such a way that maximum machine capacity can be achieved at any time.
For more information:
EcoMark GmbH
GF: Richard Neuhoff
Gumbinnenstraße 4, 56566 Neuwied
Germany
Tel: +49 (0)2631 8244 100
Fax: +49 (0)2631 8244 29
E-mail: info@eco-mark.de
Web: www.eco-mark.de