Enhacing Pallet Protection for Food Preserves in Navarra

In the food industry, the packaging system plays a key role in ensuring perfect transport and delivery. For loads with different formats and packaging, such as in the preserves sector, it is even more necessary to rely on an automatic system that guarantees load stability and security. With this in mind, Riberega S. Coop set out to renew its automatic packaging system to improve the logistics and transportation of its products, and entrusted Innova Group to carry out the project. The packaging line installed at Riberega consisted of an automatic arm wrapping system with its respective conveyor line, at their factory in Castejón (Navarra, Spain).

Riberega S. Coop is a cooperative specializing in offering preserved vegetables and fruit from Navarra and the Ebro Valley, with Designation of Origin quality certification. The company is committed to driving sustainable agri-food development by integrating innovation in products, processes, and technology. In line with this commitment, the new packaging line was designed and adapted to Riberega’s objectives of renewing their logistics with innovative and sustainable packaging solutions.

Riberega’s project: Optimizing end-of-line packaging

Riberega expressed the need to upgrade its automatic packaging system at the Castejón plant to gain efficiency and transport security for its loads. Since the company handles a wide range of formats and packaging types, they required a wrapping system that would further secure and stabilize their pallets.

Innova proposed the installation of our new automatic arm wrapper, known for its efficiency, speed, and safety during the wrapping process. In fact, the new rotary arm wrapping system enables Riberega to increase pallet stability thanks to uniform wrapping application, reinforcement cord, and Innova’s patented ROPE GRIPPING© wrapping finish. It also incorporates an automatic top press system for greater load stability during wrapping.

The company was also seeking a solution that would optimize film consumption, in line with its sustainability goals. In this regard, Innova’s arm wrapper allows the Stretch film to be pre-stretched up to 300% to reduce film usage. It is also equipped with a torque control system to apply and maintain a constant film force throughout the entire wrapping cycle, so the machine only applies the tension needed to stabilize the load—without unnecessary overlaps or excessive tightening.

Installation at Riberega: State-of-the-art wrapping system

The packaging line installed at the Castejón plant included the following systems:

• Automatic Rotary Arm Wrapper System: Innova developed and installed one of its new wrapping systems, recognized for optimization, speed, stability, and its patented wrapping finish. The installed model was the AWS | Pro system with top press accessory.

The wrapper features the patented ROPE GRIPPING© finish, which ensures a cleaner and safer wrap finish without the need to apply heat to food products or use adhesives. The finish is achieved by securing and tying with rope, which also strengthens the pallet base, contributing to greater load stability during transport and handling.

• Top press accessory for load stability: The wrapper incorporates a top press device to secure the load during wrapping—a common requirement for light, fragile, or unstable loads. In Riberega’s case, many of their products are packaged in cans or glass containers that could topple during wrapping, making this reinforcement essential. The top press features a motorized scissor-lift system that adjusts its descent smoothly to avoid impacting or damaging the load.
• Pallet conveyor system: The packaging line is completed with a conveyor system connected to the palletizing line, including a pallet turner, pallet centering system, and an output and accumulation conveyor line.

Results and future projects

Riberega expressed their great satisfaction with the project, as it has allowed them to optimize load security both during wrapping and in subsequent handling. For the company, ensuring the safety of their high-value products—such as food and preserves—was crucial, since they could not afford damage or losses during transport. Thanks to Innova’s new wrapping system, pallets now travel more securely and arrive intact at the group’s other distribution centers or directly at the point of sale.

For Innova, this has been a very rewarding project, allowing us to develop tailored solutions and respond to the specific needs of such an important and diverse industry as food production in our country. We look forward to working with Riberega again in the future, offering them the full availability of our range of packaging systems.