Gummies – along with other sticky products – require specific adjustments to multi-head weighers and other packaging machinery. The most basic change is to use dimpled product surfaces – from the hopper and bucket elevator all the way through the scale – rather than flat, which provides less surface area for the products to stick to.
Depending whether the gummies are oiled, sugared, or have other unique flow characteristics, other modifications – such as angled feed pans to increase the speed of product moving through the scale – may also make sense. Ohlson’s unique systems can even handle complex products such as Omega Fish Oil and other unsanded or sanded gummies – whether for vitamins, nutraceuticals, or confectionary.
The stickiness of gummies also comes into play with the concept of clumping – which can cause issues in both the weighing and filling processes. Because clumping can create accuracy issues with linear scales, Ohlson generally recommends multi-head scales to most gummy packaging systems designed for retail packages.
The issues with clumping also translate into the filling process. Clumps of product may not easily flow through a forming tub or into a bottle. For better reliability, it generally makes sense to have the system meter out the flow of the product into the package. In order to reach the speeds required, Ohlson’s gummy bottling system overcomes that limitation by filling multiple bottles at one time. Easy-clean parts and a quick changeover design creates the most versatile system in the industry.
Want to see our gummy packaging systems in action? Check out these videos: