Naturvega, a leading Spanish producer of fresh, refrigerated convenience foods, has upgraded its labelling operations with Ravenwood’s linerless technology, improving efficiency, reducing costs and supporting eco-friendly food packaging.

Meeting Production and Sustainability Challenges

Naturvega, which manufactures salads, sauces, dips and ready-to-eat meals for both its own brand and private-label lines across Europe, faced challenges with its previous labelling processes. The company relied on self-adhesive full-wrap plastic labels with backing liners, applied via a combination of manual and semi-automatic methods. This approach led to slow application speeds, high liner waste, frequent stoppages, and rising material costs, limiting the company’s ability to scale production. Environmental concerns, particularly around liner waste, also became a critical consideration for both corporate and retail sustainability commitments.

Choosing Linerless Technology for Eco Friendly Food Packaging

After evaluating alternatives, Naturvega decided to switch to Ravenwood linerless labelling solutions, supplied and configured by Ravenwood’s approved Spanish machinery distributor, iMarket. The Nobac 5000 applicator was selected for its high speed and adaptability, achieving labelling rates of 65–70 packs per minute – more than double the previous rate of 30 packs per minute. The linerless labels are printed by Ravenwood’s approved Spanish linerless label printer, Conver. A Digi H1-700 scale was also installed.

The decision to adopt Ravenwood’s linerless technology was driven by several key benefits:

• Significant speed improvements and line efficiency
• Elimination of backing liner waste
• Reduced material and disposal costs
• Enhanced sustainability credentials, including alignment with platforms such as Ecovadis (a leading global platform for assessing and rating corporate sustainability performance)
• Greater flexibility for print-on-demand labelling
• Compatibility with high-volume production
• Tangible Results and Benefits

Since installing the Nobac 5000, Naturvega has reported measurable operational improvements:

• Faster labelling speeds and higher throughput
• Reduced manual labour and downtime
• Enhanced print quality and improved brand presentation
• Quicker product changeovers and less storage space required for labels

The environmental impact has also been substantial:

• More than 50 million linerless labels applied to date
• Complete elimination of liner waste
• Lower waste disposal costs and extended maintenance intervals thanks to intermittent adhesive

Retailers and customers have responded positively, noting improved shelf appeal and consistent product presentation.

Future Expansion Plans

Building on the success of its initial installation, Naturvega is expanding its linerless operations. Plans include:

• Adding a second Nobac 500 unit to automate another production line
• Considering two additional Nobac 5000 units
• Moving towards linerless labelling as the standard format across its production facilities

Conclusion

Naturvega’s adoption of Ravenwood linerless labelling demonstrates how modern technology can simultaneously improve operational efficiency, enhance brand presentation and support corporate sustainability goals. With iMarket’s expert integration, the company is now well-positioned for continued growth, streamlined production and reduced environmental impact.

For further information, contact Marketing on +44(0)1284 749144.