18 | packazine Customers & Markets Other Markets
In 2001, Farmer’s Tobacco of Cynthiana,
Packaging requirements
After product sorting and check weigh-
Inc. (Cynthiana, Kentucky), launched
Farmer’s Tobacco had already decided
ing, the filled tobacco bag is presented
the Kentucky’s Best brand of whole-
on two sizes (6 oz. and 16 oz.) of poly-
to the Bosch B-500 sealer, which applies
leaf tobacco cigarettes. Recently, the
ethylene bags. The clear packaging film
the final seal, after which the finished
company saw an opportunity to expand
was critical for success in the RYO mar-
product is placed in secondary packag-
this established brand with a product
ket as research indicated that consumers
ing for distribution. The weighing and
line extension. As a result of higher tax
like to view the product to inspect its
sealing process is conducted by one
rates on carton cigarettes, there has
quality. A resealable closure was also
operator, an important requirement from
been increasing demand for “roll your
important as it ensures freshness during
Farmer’s Tobacco to keep labor costs
own” (RYO) tobacco delivered in a bag
use and storage.
format. This represented a significant
opportunity to expand the Kentucky’s
Best brand into the RYO market.
down and simplify operations.
A key benefit the machine offers is the
Packaging machinery solution
precise placement of seals. Placing the
A critical component of the operation
was the band sealer from Doboy, a
Having concentrated exclusively on
Bosch Packaging Technology brand. The
pre-made cigarettes in cartons, Farmer’s
B-500 Continuous Band Sealer offered
Tobacco required an entirely new
industrial performance in a compact
packaging solution to offer its tobacco in
size, which was an ideal solution for
the RYO format. A key requirement was
a company attempting to upgrade its
a resealable bag that would keep the
operations and enter a niche market in a
tobacco fresh during storage and use. An
cost-effective manner.
additional need was a flexible solution
that would allow different bag sizes and
future packaging line upgrades.
1
packazine | 19
A Brand New Bag: New
packaging solution for the
“Roll Your Own” market
Farmer’s Tobacco breaks into the “roll your own” market
with packaging solution
seal too high up on the bag may cause
length urethane time belts gripping the
minute. This ensures that, if demand
the seal to be ruined on initial opening
bag to ensure consistent speed and bag
rises, Farmer’s Tobacco could add two
and inhibit resealable functionality,
control. Heating and cooling bars provide
weighing and filling stations, or even
whereas placing it too low may cause
consistent pressure throughout the seal-
augment line capacity with an automated
product bunching and affect quality. A
ing process.
infeed, and still continue sealing with the
consistent, reproducible seal is an im-
B-500.
portant packaging feature, especially for
With manual feeding into the sealer, the
a newly launched product, as consumers
B-500 currently runs 12–14 inches per
For more information please contact:
must be able to open and re-close the
minute (6–8 bags per minute). However,
Mark Larson
package and access the product in a
the machine is also designed for higher
Phone +1 715 243 2255.
convenient way. The B-500 accomplishes
speed applications and can process
mark.larson@bosch.com
this seal with bag top control, with full
linear speeds up to 750 inches per
1 Sealing bars
­produce 6 mm
­wide seals
2 Doboy B-500
Band Sealer
2