Frutmac at Macfrut to present top seal packaging for berries

Frutmac at Macfrut to present top seal packaging for berries

According to Frutmac, top seal packaging is the future for berries. That is why the South Tyrolean company, which has been designing packaging solutions for over 50 years, has decided to participate in the Berry Area at Macfrut. The area will bring together the main players in the berry supply chain for three days (May 6-8, 2025), allowing them to meet, network, and seize new opportunities, while Frutmac will have the chance to present its innovations.

“At Macfrut, we will focus on the berry world,” said Stephan Christoph, managing director and CEO of Frutmac, in an interview with Italian Berry, “and we will present the results of two years of research that have led to, on one hand, the ECOSeal tray made of cardboard that can be sealed with film, just like a plastic tray, and on the other, the design of an octagonal tray that is sealable with a biodegradable and transparent film, specifically developed for berries. All of this under the banner of flexibility.”

Efficiency and innovation in packaging

For Stephan Christoph, top seal is the optimal solution for berries because it is “efficient, sealing the tray with a single material without waste, fast, and standardized. A few years ago, it was difficult to imagine using top seal film to close cardboard trays, but we studied how to do it without requiring large investments in new machinery or modifications to existing machines used for berry packaging.

The ECOseal tray perfectly replaces the plastic one,” Christoph explained to Italian Berry, “because the cardboard is formed in a way that ensures the same top perimeter and the ability to fit into existing sealing molds. This is a great advantage, providing perfect interchangeability between plastic and cardboard trays, allowing retailers to meet different needs.”

Innovative materials and compatibility

The trays are available in solid board or corrugated cardboard. In the latter case, we offer a wave called ‘slimfit’ that is ideal in terms of rigidity, sealability, and stackability of the tray itself.

Additionally,” Stephan Christoph continued, “we offer a film that seals both on cardboard and plastic, available in neutral or printed versions, with continuous macro perforation, in stock or custom ordered.”

A 360° solution

However, Frutmac has not just studied the possibility of using top seal film on cardboard trays; the company offers a 360° solution, positioning itself as a partner from start to finish in the process.

“Based on customer needs, with minimal adjustments, we can adapt the tray to machines already in use for berries. However, our ambition is to assist companies in selecting and designing their packaging process, providing comprehensive consulting from planning, to machinery selection, material choice, tray orientation and flow, up to output optimization and technical support.

Today, Frutmac has a department entirely dedicated and specialized in top seal. Over these two years of research, we have also developed a high-speed machine capable of forming ECOseal trays.”

International expansion and new regulations

Frutmac, primarily active in Europe, is expanding into new markets such as the United States, Australia, and South Africa. Specifically in Europe, Frutmac is the official partner for Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy of Packaging Automation, a Manchester-based company.

It distributes machinery for sealing standard trays made of plastic, molded pulp, or cardboard.

With the upcoming enforcement of the European Regulation on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR), Frutmac believes it can offer a solution in case berries are also subjected to the ban on single-use plastic packaging for fresh produce.

“Personally, I don’t believe berries will be affected due to their delicate nature, but our octagonal ECOseal cardboard tray would perfectly comply with the regulation.”

Barbara Righini

Italian Berry - All rights reserved