Z-pack
cartons were introduced by ENZA in 1996 so that fruit
could be palletised for shipping. Until this development
cartons were shipped from New Zealand as single units
but after extensive trials it was found that bruising
in fruit on palletised units was reduced. Palletised
units tend to be handled better than single cartons.
The Z-pack carton footprint is
500 mm x 330 mm and each palletised unit consists
of 49 cartons. The Z-pack is a "compression
pack" which means that the carton and fruit
share the load. The pallet load is secured with
corner boards and four horizontal straps for shipping
but for local distribution may be simply wrapped
in plastic cling wrap.
Compression of the pack starts to take place as
soon as packs are palletised. In photo 4 compare
compression in cartons in the top layers of the
pallets with cartons in the bottom layers.
Accurate fruit sizing is essential to the dynamics
of the pack as is correct fibre tray usage. Packs
where fruit fit is too tight will cause bruising
and loose fruit fit may result in an underweight
pack. Fibre trays are reversible or in A and B configurations.
It is important that tray usage and tray sequence
is correct otherwise bruising of the fruit will
occur. When trays are not used in the correct sequence
nesting of the fruit cannot occur. Overfill of the
carton due to incorrect tray sequence (photo 5)
will cause major bruising to the fruit. The same
sized fruit was used in both cartons in photo 5
but the carton on the right has fibre trays in an
incorrect sequence. (AABB instead of ABAB).
For added protection to fruit
in Z-packs a "capper" tray can be placed
on top of the fruit before the carton is sealed.
Some exporters, such as ENZA, specify a capper tray
in export packs. (See photo 6).
Ludowici Packaging has an extensive
range of Z-pack fibre trays for apples and pears.
Trays for large fruit (12 and 13 pocket) to small
fruit (39 pocket) are at the extreme ends of the
range with average size fruit being packed in Hawk
25 pocket trays. Eighteen different tray configurations
make up the complete Z-pack fibre tray range and
hold fruit from around 370 grams weight per fruit
to around 95 grams per fruit.
Now
available from Ludowici Packaging are ENHANCED
FIT fibre trays for Z-packs. These are an improved
form of fibre tray and are patented in New Zealand
and patent applied for in Australia. ENHANCED FIT
trays increase between-fruit spacing and thereby reduce
bruising and stem puncture damage. Research commissioned
by ENZA in 1998 showed that around 2.4% of fruit packed
received bruising damage in the packhouse. One of
the critical factors influencing bruising in the packhouse
was placement of fruit in the carton. ENHANCED
FIT fibre trays from Ludowici Packaging can help
reduce in-packhouse bruising.
Ludowici
Z-pack fibre trays are sized to provide a slight clearance
in the carton and weigh around 85 grams.
Samples
are available on request. (We post world wide).
Technical information on tray usage is available
from Ludowici Packaging Australia Pty Ltd in Australia.
Simply phone, fax or email
us.
