Guangdong recently became the first province in China to establish five basic and key local standards for prepared dishes — including Terminology and Classification Requirements for Prepared Dishes, General Requirements for Packaging Labels of Cantonese Prepared Dishes, Specification for Cold-Chain Delivery of Prepared Dishes, Specification for Sensory Evaluation of Prepared Dishes, and Guidelines for Construction of Prepared Dish Industrial Parks — speeding up the building of standards that cover prepared dishes from farm to table.

Figure 1: Source of the news report “Guangdong builds ‘Bay Area standards’ for the prepared dish industry”

Prepared dishes are a rapidly growing opportunity, and traditional eating habits are quietly changing because of them. After five years of focused innovation and drawing on its own R&D strengths, Wanzhi has provided prepared dish manufacturers with suitable automation equipment; 3 of its models are especially popular with customers in the fresh food, fruit and vegetable, and poultry industries, and 2022 output has already reached 500 units.

1. Automatic weighing print-and-apply labeling machine

It handles automatic weighing and labeling of boxes and bags of different heights (thicknesses). A packaging machine or film wrapping machine can be connected upstream; after weighing, the information is sent instantly to the printing system, which generates the content and applies the label in real time on the corresponding product or package. Advanced non-contact blow-on labeling is used, applying up to 50 PCS per minute. Print templates are editable, which makes production management information and traceability easier, and the line can run unmanned.

(Figure 2: Automatic weighing print-and-apply labeling machine)

2. Flat-surface labeling machine

Widely used to apply labels or film to product surfaces. Single or multiple labeling heads can be supplied to match actual requirements; labeling is fast, with output of 1,800-3,500 pieces/hour (depending on line speed and product size). An optional coder or inkjet printer can print production dates, batch numbers, barcodes and other information on the labels. The machine can run standalone or be integrated into a production line.

(Figure 3: Flat-surface labeling machine)

To help more customers in the prepared dish industry who need labeling, Wanzhi Automation has registered for the 2022 China Central International Prepared Dish Expo, held from October 28 to November 1, 2022 at the Changsha International Convention and Exhibition Center. Wanzhi will present ten display solutions customized for the prepared dish industry that address the packaging and labeling needs of raw materials, prepared dish processing and other stages, and will exhibit its 3 most popular models on site.

For exhibition details, please see:

Guided by the Greater Bay Area standard, Wanzhi Automation focuses on developing high-quality packaging and labeling equipment for the integrated agricultural products, food and prepared-dish industry chain, so that customers can respond to a changing market, build their own brand in this field, become industry leaders and set the direction for the industry’s future development.