Taunton, MA Mar 26, 2026– As snack-size cheese formats continue to multiply across retail shelves, packaging lines are under increasing pressure to deliver higher speeds, tighter weight accuracy, and the flexibility to run growing SKU variety. At CheeseCon 2026, Harpak‑ULMA Packaging will demonstrate an integrated weigh‑to‑bag architecture designed to stabilize filling accuracy, reduce product giveaway, and simplify snack cheese production lines.
The company will exhibit in a 30 × 50 booth—an expansion from its previous 30 × 30 footprint—allowing additional equipment demonstrations and a broader look at integrated automation technologies built specifically for cheese processors. The expanded presence reflects continued growth in cheese consumption and snacking behavior. U.S. per‑capita cheese consumption reached a record 42.3 pounds in 2023, underscoring sustained category demand. At the same time, eating habits are shifting toward portable, protein‑rich snacks. Research shows 56% of consumers replace meals with snacks at least occasionally, while 76% report snacking as a regular eating behavior.
Integrated Multi‑Head Weigher and VFFS Architecture
A central highlight of the booth will be the first CheeseCon demonstration of a fully integrated Harpack-ULMA multi‑head weigher mounted above a vertical form‑fill‑seal (VFFS) bagger on an elevated platform. While multi‑head weighers and vertical baggers are commonly deployed independently, the configuration on display emphasizes the value of tightly integrated weighing‑to‑bagging architecture for snack cheese production.
Snackable cheese formats—such as cubes, shreds, and snack blends—introduce variability in product density, flow characteristics, and fill accuracy. When weighing and bagging operate as separate processes, variability is introduced. This can force processors to compensate by oversizing film bags or increasing product giveaway to maintain labeled weights. Integrating the multi‑head weigher directly with the VFFS bagger stabilizes the system and the entire fill‑to‑bag process -- while minimizing the need for compensatory packaging adjustments.
Operational advantages include:
• Higher weighing accuracy, reducing product giveaway
• Lower fill‑weight variability enabling tighter bag sizing
• Improved throughput stability at higher production speeds
• Compact vertical integration that simplifies line layout
• Reduced need for film oversizing caused by inconsistent fills
The vertical configuration also reduces product transfer distance, helping maintain product integrity for fragile formats such as diced or cubed cheese.
Managing Increasing SKU Complexity
As brands introduce new flavors, snack blends, and portion sizes, cheese processors are increasingly operating high‑mix production environments. Packaging systems must therefore support rapid changeovers while maintaining accuracy and throughput. At CheeseCon, Harpak‑ULMA will showcase equipment configurations designed to help processors run multiple cheese formats on shared packaging platforms, maintain consistent fill accuracy across varying product densities, and integrate weighing, bagging, and downstream automation into a streamlined production architecture.
Industry estimates place the U.S. cheese snacks market at approximately $24.3 billion, reflecting the continued expansion of portion‑controlled cheese formats. Consumer demand trends reinforce this momentum. Surveys show 61% of consumers actively seek high‑protein snacks, while 64.1% look for snacks perceived as “good for them,” fueling continued product innovation in portion‑controlled and mixed snack formats.
“Snack cheese formats are introducing new levels of variability on packaging lines,” said Mike Marchand, Sr Product Manager at Harpak‑ULMA Packaging. “Tightly integrating the multi‑head weigher with the vertical bagger helps processors stabilize fill accuracy, reduce giveaway, and run high‑mix snack formats much more efficiently. That integrated architecture is becoming essential as snack cheese continues to scale.”
Technical Presentation at CheeseCon
In addition to the expanded exhibit, Matt Tresp, Regional Sales Manager, will present the From Shreds to Snacks: Scaling Cheese Packaging Without Sacrificing Margins- detailing the operational challenges associated with scaling snack cheese packaging. The presentation will address:
• Managing fill variability in snack cheese formats
• Reducing film oversizing driven by inconsistent fills
• Improving throughput while maintaining weighing accuracy
• Packaging architectures that support increasing SKU variety
Visit Harpak‑ULMA at CheeseCon
Attendees can see these technologies firsthand at Booth 1601 during CheeseCon Expo 2026, April 15–17 in Madison, Wisconsin. For more information https://www.harpak-ulma.com/weighing-portioning-and-loading-equipment/ or call (508) 884-2500. Experience a live demonstration of packaging technologies at one of Harpak-ULMA's Customer Experience Centers in Boston, Atlanta, or Costa Mesa, Calif. Call (508) 884-2500 to make arrangements.