News

Posted: 02/08/2023

TOTALCOVER Longer Rolls

It’s all about less downtime in baling of hay and silage crops which means rolls of netting and silage film are getting longer as well. Keeping up with the trend, Venus Packaging is adding to the popular TOTALCOVER range with longer rolls. The TOTALCOVER Gold will be available in 4000m rolls (up from 3150m) whilst the stronger white TOTALCOVER type 13 will be available in 3500m rolls (up from 3000m). There is no compromise on strength though as new advanced technology and production means equal or better strength can be maintained. The longer lengths will be available in standard 1.23m width as well as 1.30m for over-edge covering of round bales.

The range of premium European silage films is also increasing for Venus Packaging with the introduction of 1700M Powerstretch in a bulk 20 roll contractor pallet (no boxes to dispose of) and 1800m PowerUltra in a 22 micron thickness which allows even more bales (up to 20% more) to be wrapped before having to change rolls. For the cost conscious, Osprey Pro will be available as a 7 layer 25 micron 1650m roll (up from 1500m). Responses from last season suggested that it was adequately wrapping the limited silage cut and baled.

The standard trusted range of Powerstretch and VenusPowerXL silage films are still available as are the original lengths of TOTALCOVER until stocks run out.

Venus still has the largest range of twines for Big square balers to successfully bale any UHD, HD or regular big square bale. We also have round bale and small square bale twines, including Sisal.

Venus stock an extensive range of sizes of Silage Pit Covers up to 20m width in 200 micron thickness. A new addition this season will be Combi 150um Pit Cover combined with a 40 micron underlay. This ensures better sealing of the pit with less chance of air permeating into the silage. Get more details at www.venuspack.com.au.

Posted: 01/09/2022

Venus update from the AACLSF Sept/Oct 2022 edition

From the Australian AgContractor and Large Scale Farmer (AACLSF) magazine September/October 2022 edition.

VENUS PACKAGING

True to its reputation for leading the way, Venus Packaging has released its strongest ever big square baler twine. Venus Red Force+ meets the rigorous demands of the highest density balers.

Field testing in late 2019 showed that Red Force+ has an average knot strength of 350 kgf, and is an easy match for the harshest and most densely-baled crops.

Red Force+ is made from polypropylene polymers specifically formulated to produce a soft, highly-fibrillated and UV-stabilised twine. Each two spool pack contains 1936m.

This season Venus is adding a new German made silage film under the Osprey brand. This is a 5 layer 25 micron green film.

Another relative newcomer in the Venus range is Venuspower XL silage film.

Venuspower XL comes on extra-length 1650m rolls, which are popular because more bales can be wrapped before changeover. The seven layer green film is 750 mm wide and 22 microns thick.

Standard Venuspower silage film is 1500m long. This five layer black film is 750 mm wide and 25 microns thick.

Both versions of Venuspower are European-made and give 55-70 percent stretch. They are UV stabilised to suit Australian conditions up to 180 kly for a minimum of 12 months.

High tack ensures an air-tight seal with minimal tails. High impact strength prevents damage during wrapping, handling and storage, and high tear resistance reduces the risk of breaks on high-speed balers.

The other well established Venus silage films are Powerstretch and Powerstretch XL.

Last season Venus also released its high-tack silage repair tape. It creates an air-tight seal over small tears and punctures to prevent costly crop spoilage. The UV stabilised tape is 140 micron thick in 25m x 96 mm wide rolls. A counter display pack contains 12 rolls in green or black.

TOTALCOVER NETWRAP

Totalcover Pro with distinctive green and orange selvedge is the latest addition to the Totalcover netwrap range. It comes in weights of 11 and 12.3 gm/linear metre with tensile strengths of 260 to 280 kgf and 290 to 310 kgf.

The Totalcover range already includes weights of 12, 13 and 14 gm with tensile strengths of 290, 310 and 330 kgf, and Totalcover Gold 11 is gm with a tensile strength of 270 kgf. Economically-priced Totalcover Gold is often chosen for baling silage before wrapping.

The range also includes Totalcover 42 and 44 chain, which with its strong but lightweight construction can be used where a heavier netwrap would normally be needed.

For example, 1.23m wide, 10 gm Totalcover is 42 chain and has 260-280 kgf break force. It can be used wherever 11 or 12 gm netwrap would normally be used. This means real savings for farmers and contractors.

Totalcover is well known for producing secure, well-formed bales with coverage right to the edge on 1.23m wide bales and over the edge on 1.3m wide bales. All variations are UV stabilised for 12 months.

Venus Packaging also markets silage pit covers plus an extensive range of baler twines for all types of big square, small square and round bales.

Posted: 26/07/2022

Join us at AgQuip Field Days – 16-18 August

Australia’s Largest Premier Primary Industry Field Days

Tuesday 16 – Thursday 18 August 2022 | Gunnedah, NSW

AgQuip is the most anticipated agri-business event of the year and has been the national leader in field days for the past 50 years.

Well known in the agricultural industry for its dedication to Australian farming, AgQuip Field Days strives to secure quality exhibitors and targets farmers through significant and effective marketing strategies. AgQuip is committed to both the rural community and the primary industry.

Located on a permanent, purpose-built site, eight kilometres west of Gunnedah New South Wales, AgQuip attracts over 100,000 visitors, over a three-day period. 

Showcasing over 3,000 products and services aimed at farming professionals, the event provides an excellent opportunity for businesses to promote their brand, generate sales and connect with their customers.

When/Where?

🗓

Tuesday 16 – Thursday 18 August, 2022

📍

134 Black Jack Road, Gunnedah NSW

Tickets:

https://nswtickets.com.au/event/16200

Posted: 14/07/2022

Join us at the Sheepvention Rural Expo – 31 July–2 August

Join us for one of Victoria’s biggest farming events: The Sheepvention Rural Expo!

The Hamilton Pastoral and Agricultural Society will present Sheepvention Rural Expo on Sunday 31 July – Tuesday 02 August 2022, at the Hamilton Showgrounds. Sheepvention is the biggest farming event in the region, the event attracts over 25,000 visitors to the show each year.

The event will host over 400 traders (including Venus Packaging!), the renowned Hamilton and Western District Sheep Show, Ram Sale, Coprice Victorian Farm Dog Championships, Wool Handling, Inventions, Junior Judging, kids Photography and Scarecrow competitions, agricultural speakers and kids activities.

There will be entertainment for young and old! Secure your tickets!

When/Where?

🗓

31st July – 2nd August

📍

Hamilton Showgrounds

Tickets:

https://events.ticketbooth.com.au/event/sheepvention-rural-expo 

Posted: 04/07/2022

AFIA 2022 National Fodder Conference

Hay, do you love fodder? Come and join us at the 2022 National Fodder Conference, THE fodder event you should not miss! 

AFIA’s 2022 National Fodder Conference is a gathering to talk about all things fodder, rural communities, innovation, customer perspectives and more.

When/where?

🗓

25-27 July

📍

Toowoomba, Australia

Registration

Registrations are open (closing 15 July):
https://afia.org.au/events/#fodder-conference


2022 National Fodder Conference

The 2022 National Fodder Conference will be held from 25 to 27 July at the Empire Theatre in Toowoomba. Hosted by the Australian Fodder Industry Association (AFIA), the event will appeal to anyone whose business includes fodder, from growers and contractors to traders and end-users. The program includes sessions on the national oat breeding program, the NFF 2030 Campaign and cyber security and interactive panels on future fodder, innovation, regional communities and customer perspectives, plus much more!

AFIA is looking forward to a great few days catching up with their members and all those who contribute to the fodder industry. For further information, or to register visit: https://afia.org.au/events/#fodder-conference

Posted: 01/10/2021

3 Essential Pieces of Packaging Equipment Needed for Your Food Preparation Business

When it comes to running a food-related business, it’s important to ensure that nothing goes wrong. This means investing in the right equipment to make sure that food is packaged correctly to avoid breakages and prevent food from perishing.

When consumers are relying on you to package food the right way, using the correct equipment, such as a vacuum sealers, band sealers or shrink wrapping machines is vital. In today’s article, we’ll be going through the three essential pieces of packaging equipment that may be necessary for your food preparation business. Continue reading to find out more!

Vacuum Sealing food for sale

Packaging or sealing products in an airless environment has long been an effective way to protect items or enhance shelf life. The key to this longer shelf-life is removing the oxygen from the pack as exposure to oxygen causes foods to deteriorate. In order to remove the oxygen, you can remove all the air from the bag during the vacuum sealing process, or alternatively fill the bag with nitrogen when sealing.

If you are sealing sturdy products such as meats and cheeses, vacuum sealing works well as the product is robust enough the withstand all the oxygen being removed from the pack. For more delicate foods where vacuum sealing the bag may cause the product to be crushed, nitrogen can be flushed in to replace the oxygen, meaning the product in the bag is protected (as the bag is fuller) plus the likelihood of food spoiling is significantly reduced as the oxygen has been removed. The vacuum sealer pictured above is our VH529 for low-level commercial use and produces a professionally sealed product ready for immediate sale.

Understanding what packing method is best for the food you’re preparing to pack is vital when storing, transporting and presenting food for sale.

Using a Band Sealer and stand up pouches to package food

For products such as curries, soups, meatballs, noodles, rice dishes, dry pasta, and pre-made desserts, stand up pouches sealed with a band sealer is a good option for take-away packaging. A vertical band sealer makes packaging take home food quick and easy. Benefits of stand up pouches sealed with a band sealer are:

  • Professional and hygienic presentation
  • Pouches are easy to fill with freshly cooked meals
  • Quick and mess-free sealing using a band sealer
  • Food can be frozen before or after sales in stand-up pouches
  • Different sized portions are possible due to different sized pouches.
  • Easy to store and transport
  • Can be professionally labelled and branded

Shrink Packaging

The third method discussed today is shrink packaging. Most people are familiar with this form of packaging for fresh food. On a smaller scale, there are the Venus Shrink-a-pack systems which can be used to manually wrap small items such as hampers, food on trays and some small goods. Depending on the daily output required some businesses may need something more automated such as an L-Bar Sealer and shrink tunnel. This type of shrink wrapping machine is a great investment for larger scale operations packing multiple items such as pizza bases, larger fruits and food on trays in greater quantities.

Final Thoughts

There are no shortcuts when it comes to packaging food for consumers. People can become ill after eating food that hasn’t been sealed or packaged correctly as being exposed to certain elements can cause the food to perish.

All methods of food packaging and packing should be thoroughly investigated prior to investing in setting up processes and equipment.

We can provide solutions for the packing of fresh produce, locally manufactured food, repacking of bulk food, either fresh or frozen, and covering a multitude of shapes and weights. Our extensive experience working with fresh food producers in Australia has allowed us to see firsthand best practice packaging of items such as cucumbers, cauliflowers, citrus, onions, cut-fruit & vegetables, plus the bundling of products such as asparagus, bok choy, and celery. We can advise on the right packaging machinery within our extensive range, including L-Bar Sealers and shrink tunnels, net clipping machines, and shrink-a-packs. Venhart, a well-known and established Venus brand, supplies rubber bands around the country offering a broad range of colours, widths and applications.

We at Venus Packaging are here to help, so make sure you contact us today so we can assist you with all of your wholesale and food packaging supplies!

Posted: 26/11/2020

How A Vacuum Chamber Can Take Your Produce Business to The Next Level

For decades vacuum sealing food using a vacuum chamber has meant that all types of fresh produce businesses have been able to safely store, use, or sell their fresh foods for longer. Essentially, vacuum sealing food prolongs it’s shelf life.

 What food can I seal in a vacuum chamber?

The most popular foods that are vacuum sealed these days are hard cheese, poultry, small goods, liquid products such as soups and curries, fish, red meat, breads and wraps, and ready-made foods such as pizza and lasagne. Vacuum sealing is also extensively used in food preparation settings such as food processors and back of house in restaurants. This allows the purchase and storing of bulk food, and that saves money!

Are there any foods that should not be sealed in a vacuum chamber?

Most foods can be placed in a vacuum bag and sealed in a vacuum sealer. However, it pays to consider how ‘fragile’ your fresh produce is. For example, vacuum sealing potato chips, biscuits or meringues, would result in your product being crushed. And other foods such as soft cheeses, bananas and mushrooms don’t benefit, in terms of their shelf life, from being vacuum packed.

Are there other benefits other than increased shelf life of vacuum sealing my fresh produce?

Professional presentation of your food to your customers is another big advantage of vacuum sealing. Fresh produce that has been properly vacuum packed is attractive to prospective customers. There are two reasons for this, one, they feel it will last longer (which it will) than if it was sitting in a delicatessen window; and secondly, the presentation itself makes that food look fresh, attractive and unhandled, when it is already vacuumed packed by the time the customer comes to buy it.

Will using a vacuum chamber actually save my business money?

Vacuum sealing fresh produce results in less spoiled food, less damaged stock, and offers an increased shelf life, which all save a business money. And equally as important, vacuum sealing product in advance of it’s sale can save you time. And as we know time in money!

Posted: 02/09/2020

Top 3 Uses for Cloth Tape

Top 3 uses for Cloth Tape

 

Venhart Cloth Tape is a durable, strong, water resistant and a highly adhesive tape, whilst still being hand tearable. Cloth Tape is available in both polythene coated polyester/cotton and polythene coated rayon, with either a natural rubber adhesive or rubber solvent adhesive. Top 3 uses for cloth tape:

 

  1. Widely used in theatre, film production and staging work, such as concerts and performances, for cable management. Used to secure cables and leads for safety precautions, attaching props and other equipment for festivals and live entertainment.

 

  1. Industrial activities such as paint and sand blasting where cloth tape is used to cover the areas that do not require stripping or blasting. Venhart Cloth Tape is strong enough to adhere throughout extended industrial treatment and protects welds and seems and other areas that need to be preserved.

 

  1. Universally used in book binding, to strengthen and maintain the integrity of printed books and other printed materials.

 

Posted: 21/07/2020

Packaging for ready-made meals for home delivery

With increased demand across Australia for pre-made home delivered food in recent months we’ve had an upsurge in questions from customers about how to best package ready-made meals for retail sale and home delivery.

By far the two most popular methods of packaging ready-made meals for sale is vacuum sealing and band sealing stand up pouches.

Vacuum sealing is good for take-home meals such as lasagnes, pizzas and pizza bases, curries, cooked vegetables and frozen dumplings. Vacuum sealers come in large and small sizes. They are generally used with vacuum bags and assist in aiding shelf life of fresh cooked food and produce by between 4 and 7 days. For restaurants and cafes that are now cooking main meals and offering take-away and delivery to customers, vacuum sealing has made life much more convenient. The benefits of vacuum sealing are:

  • Products are pre-prepared before ‘rush hour’
  • Portion control is managed
  • Shelf-life is maintained
  • Meals can be frozen in the vacuum bag before or after sale
  • Professional looking finished product.
  • Cooked meals in stand up pouches can be labelled and branded.

For products such as curries, soups, meatballs, noodles, rice dishes, dry pasta, and pre-made desserts, stand up pouches sealed with a band sealer is a good option for take-away packaging. A vertical band sealer makes packaging take home food quick and easy. Benefits of stand up pouches sealed with a band sealer are:

  • Professional and hygienic presentation
  • Pouches are easy to fill with freshly cooked meals
  • Quick and mess-free sealing using a band sealer
  • Food can be frozen before or after sales in stand up pouches
  • Different sized portions are possible due to different sized pouches.
  • Easy to store and transport
  • Can be professionally labelled and branded

Contact us now on (03) 9428-1652 and we can customise the right packaging solution for your take-home meals, we cater for all businesses and budgets.

Posted: 26/02/2020

Which Vacuum Sealer Machine Do I Need?

Whether you are vacuum sealing your produce for commercial reasons or simply sealing your leftovers at home there are numerous benefits to owning a vacuum sealing machine. In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of vacuum sealers and which one is right for you.

Benefits Of Vacuum Sealing Produce

Owning a vacuum sealer at home will save you time as you can cook large helpings of food, divide the leftovers and seal them for storage in the freezer to pull out at a later date. 

It will also save you money as you can purchase bulk portions of produce, such as meat, which you can divide, vacuum seal and store in the freezer. By doing this, you will be reaping the massive cost savings of buying smaller portions of meat more regularly. You will also have fresh, perfect sized servings of produce at your disposal as you need them.

If you’re looking to preserve your food for longer, then vacuum sealing is the perfect solution. By cutting off the food’s access to oxygen, you will be preventing the growth of bacteria or mould that cause food to spoil. Vacuum sealed food has an increased shelf life (3-5 times longer than a standard plastic container or plastic bag) and lasts longer when stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Frozen food that’s vacuum sealed can last up to 2-3 years and up to 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator, which is substantially longer than if it weren’t vacuum sealed. 

This is also beneficial for commercial use, as produce that is vacuum sealed and packed away for shipping to stores and customers will last far longer than unpackaged produce.

Commercial Vacuum Sealers VS Domestic Vacuum Sealing Machines

Convinced you need a vacuum sealer? Great! Now you just need to decide which model you need. The type of vacuum sealer machine you need will depend on your intended use – domestic, commercial, or perhaps something in between. Each vacuum sealing machine comes with different features and benefits, below we will discuss some of the strengths of both domestic and commercial machines.

Domestic Vacuum Sealer

Domestic models are less powerful than their larger, industrial counterparts, and require channelled or embossed vacuum bags which assist the machine to draw the air out of the bag prior to sealing. However, this is made up for by the capacity to be easily transported and used at home. The smaller size of the domestic vacuum sealer models also makes them easy to store at home.

Food preservation and storage is made easier, as the size of stored food is reduced and preservation time is extended.

Some smaller models are also available for medium-level commercial use.

Commercial Vacuum Sealer

The larger, industrial, ‘in-chamber’ vacuum sealer machines can use either channelled or flat vacuum bags as they are more powerful.

As the machines are large in size, their ability to be stored and transported is made a little more difficult, but not impossible. However, this is a worthy trade-off as they are capable of sealing more items in one cycle than a smaller model, boosting production efficiency and proving more beneficial in a commercial capacity. 

As the commercial vacuum chambers and sealing machines are larger, they also have the ability to seal bulkier items or stand up pouches of powder or liquid. Some models also allow gas flush for preservatives and other gases to be flushed into the bag for better preservation of certain food items. This is beneficial for food preservation methods and providing a professional presentation of produce for retailers.

If you want more information about which vacuum sealer machine will be best for you, contact the food packaging supplies experts at Venus Packaging on (03) 9428 1652 or contact us online.

Posted: 25/02/2020

How A Pallet Wrapper Can Decrease Potential Health & Safety Issues

How A Pallet Wrapper Can Decrease Potential Health And Safety Issues

 If your business is in any way involved in the distribution of product around Australia or the world, you will probably, at some point, have considered the use of an automated pallet wrapper.

From a health safety perspective, introducing a pallet wrapper, into your dispatch operations has the following immediate benefits:

  • The stability and high holding force that the stretch film creates offers a much safer wrapped pallet, which is far less likely to fall over and cause injury or road accidents during transit
  • The application of the pallet film is undertaken by the pallet wrapping machine, hence significantly reducing the likelihood of sprains and strains of your staff members than if using manual wrapping techniques
  • Goods wrapped and transported within warehouses on pallets reduces the likelihood of injuries through lifting individual items or cartons, as good are moved around as a secure palletized load.

Further, the use of a pallet wrapping machine using stretch wrap offers more advantages, including:

  • It’s the most cost effective method of keeping cartons together in one shipment
  • The product, if using transparent pallet stretch film, is easily identifiable
  • Shipments are protected from the elements, such as rain and sun, and product arrives in a protected, untampered state
  • It can lead to highly efficient warehouse operations, as goods can be wrapped as soon as they are produced / picked and are ready to ship almost immediately; the average time to wrap a fully loaded pallet would be around 30 seconds
  • From a marketing perspective, the wrapped product is professional looking and able to be branded

 

We have a fully trained service team based in Melbourne, Australia, who are available on the phone and in person to attend to any service query or maintenance issue you may have with your pallet wrapping machine.

Posted: 31/10/2019

What’s the best way to package food for retailers?

If you have any last minute pre-Christmas packaging concerns, consider some of the following machines and practices to ensure your product looks right and gets to its destination in one piece!

Shrink-a-pack – is good for large or small, straight edged products, although also effective on odd shaped items. Easy and very quick to use and comes in a variety of widths to suit you packing needs. It’s a simple shrink-wrapping system using PVC, polypropylene or polyolefin shrink film, and an included heat gun that shrinks the film neatly and cleanly to the product. Ideal for Christmas hampers and prize give-aways, used widely in retail shops, and fresh food operations, to securely seal product, avoid damage, and maintain freshness.

Vacuum Sealers and Chambers – For vacuum packed fresh goods for Christmas from everything from small goods to roasted meats, try using a vacuum sealer or larger vacuum chambers.   The VH329 vacuum Sealer is our entry level vacuum sealer.

VHIB Impulse Heat Sealers — The original and most popular heat sealer that seals items in polypropylene and polythene bags, tubing and stand up pouches. Can be used to seal and package a huge variety of bagged fresh produce and any bagged item really! These heat sealers are cost effective and very easy to use.

Band Sealers — The affordable bulk bag sealing solution for LDPE, PE, PP, PVC, cello and layered barrier bags, and is very popular to seal the tops of stand up pouches. With one compact machine you can set up your own packaging line. Simply feed the filled bags in at one end and they come out the other with their tops sealed. These types of band sealer machines are used broadly in food packaging, for everything from mixed lettuce leaves, to biscuits, chocolates and soups.

And we carry a broad supply of bags – magic seal, pouches, carry bags and poly bags to ensure your product looks good and travels well.

 

 

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