Confectionery Packaging Development Trend

The packaging industry not only covers the design and production of packaging , printing, the supply of packaging materials, packaging machinery and packaging equipment manufacturing, etc., packaging also participates in every aspect of the circulation of goods. It is the social responsibility of the packaging industry to dispose and recycle used packaging materials. Therefore, the development of the packaging industry is closely related to the global economic integration and the sustainable development of human society. As a "sunrise industry", the packaging industry will certainly play an important role in the development of global manufacturing and the international circulation of products.

Candy Packaging Functions
The packaging of candy and chocolate products has three main functions: (1) To protect the product's due luster, fragrance and shape and to extend the shelf life; (2) to prevent microbial and dust pollution, and to improve product hygiene and safety; (3) Exquisite products packaging can improve consumers' desire to buy and the value of goods. Therefore, packaging plays an important role in the quality, hygiene and shelf life of candy and chocolate products.

Good products must have exquisite and beautiful packaging. At present, domestic candies and chocolate products in China are packaged in twisted packaging, pillow packaging, and folded (envelope) packaging. Traditional twisted packaging is the oldest packaging form. This packaging form is mostly used for candy. It can not only be completed by modern high-speed, automated packaging machines, but also by manual operation; pillow packaging is popular in the world. From the 1960s to the 1970s, it became popular in China since the 1980s. Due to the popularity of pillow packaging machines, most candy and chocolate manufacturers currently use pillow packaging. Folding (envelope) packaging is mostly used for chocolate products. Candies are suitable for rolls, strips, and combined packaging. This type of packaging has high requirements for packaging equipment and packaging materials. Compared with developed countries, the packaging level of candy and chocolate products in China is still far behind. The main problems are the low level of packaging equipment, fewer types of packaging materials, and quality. difference.

Automation, Multi-function and Design Differentiation

The only way to quickly shorten the gap between domestic confectionery and chocolate products and developed countries is to take the road of technological innovation. In the future, the development trend of China's candy and chocolate packaging will inevitably move towards the high-speed automation of packaging machines, the multi-functionality of one machine and the characteristic of packaging design.

First of all, when candy and chocolate manufacturers package standardized products, they generally need high-speed, automated packaging machines in order to optimize packaging costs with economies of scale. Therefore, in recent years, packaging machine manufacturers have developed high-speed, automated candy and chocolate packaging machines suitable for different types of products, such as traditional pillow packaging and twist packaging machines suitable for double-twisted products. In this type of packaging machine, the manufacturer has adopted the latest technology, such as full servo motor, photoelectric tracking, high-speed camera, etc., to achieve the efficiency of the packaging machine. At present, there are high-speed pillow-type hard candy packaging of 1500-2000 per minute. machine. High-speed chocolate pillow packaging machines are more developed from the aspects of matching equipment and cold-air packaging film to achieve high speed without affecting the quality of chocolate products. In addition, the automatic steering, sorting, emergency stop, and acceleration of the conveyor belt connected to the chocolate packaging machine are also widely used. Secondly, for non-standardized or seasonal products, the packaging machine should be flexible, characterized by lightness and compactness. This type of packaging machine does not pursue speed, but seeks personalized packaging and flexible adaptability. In addition, in order to cater to the product competition, the original packaging design is constantly seeking new and different products, giving people a strong visual impact. For example, bottled xylitol chewing gum on the market currently is suitable for the consumer psychology of the younger generation, and the products are very popular. .

There are two main types of outer packaging for candies: pillow bags (traditional) and stand-up bags (more chocolate). Among them, the stand-up bags are not only CADBURY's automatic packaging equipment used by Bosa from Spain, but also other companies (including: NESTLE, MARS, HERSHEYS, LECONTE, etc.) are all pre-made bags and then manually packaged. The packaging form of candy and chocolate depends on the market, and the packaging technology depends on the product characteristics. The packaging form of chocolate and candy is mainly determined by factors such as the market positioning of the product, the product's own requirements, and the value of the packaging. For example, if the product is positioned as a gift for high-end consumption, then the packaging will be more attractive in appearance. More high-end packaging, such as paper, wooden, plastic or metal packaging boxes are the best choices. For mass-consumed products, the packaging form will be relatively simple. For example, pillow bags are packaging that is quite popular among merchants, with simple forms, mature technology, high packaging efficiency, and low prices. In addition, the packaging technology used by some products also depends on the characteristics of the product itself. For example: Chocolate products will produce fat precipitation at higher temperatures, which affects the quality and appearance, so the pillow bags for packaging chocolate generally use cold sealing technology.
Generally speaking, in the future, candy packaging will develop in a diversified direction, and packaging equipment will also develop in the direction of multi-function, high performance and automation.