Boosting Efficiency with a New Auto Sealer
Meals on Wheels of Loveland and Berthoud (MOWLB) is thrilled to announce the acquisition of a cutting-edge OmniSeal heat seal machine, made possible through grant funding from the Senior Support Services American Rescue Plan Act. This state-of-the-art equipment will revolutionize our meal packaging and production capabilities, enabling us to serve more homebound individuals in our community - efficiently and cost-effectively.
Dorothy, a satisfied MOWLB client shared her thoughts on the recent upgrade:
“I just love carrot salad. I would eat carrot salad until there were no carrots. But I love the cover on your new tray design. It’s firm, strong, and very fancy. I like it very well. The ones you used to have were so thin that I had a terrible time pulling them off with my clumsy, arthritic fingers. But this one comes off in one solid piece and you can lay it back over the whole meal if you’re going to eat the other half later in the day. So I just love what you did.”
Supporting the Mowlb Mission
The MOWLB mission is to “nourish and enrich the lives of homebound individuals with nutritious meals and daily contact with caring volunteers.” The new auto-sealer is a game-changer, directly helping us tackle food insecurity, malnutrition, and social isolation among our recipients.
INCREASING EFFICIENCY AND REDUCING COSTS
The OmniSeal (IDX-140SE) heat seal machine is a fantastic addition to our kitchen, capable of sealing and printing labels on 27 hot meals per minute or about 80 small fruit cups a minute. This is a huge leap in efficiency!
Previously, volunteers spent roughly two hours a day, hand-sealing 325 cold fruit cups with non-tamper-proof lids. Hot meal prep involved using manual sealing machines and hand-applied labels, taking six volunteers and staff members between 45-70 minutes each day. With the new automatic sealer, these times have been drastically cut, allowing more meals to be packaged in less time. This reduction in manual labor means our staff and volunteers can focus on other critical tasks.
Cost Savings
Transitioning to the automatic sealer will save money in the long run. Our manual sealers required special trays and film costing $0.50 per meal. The new auto sealer uses less expensive trays at $0.37 per meal, saving $0.31 per meal. With MOWLB volunteers delivering over 80,000 meals annually, this translates to a cost saving of approximately $10,400 per year. These savings will be reinvested into programs, enhancing services, and expanding our reach to more individuals in need.
sTRENGTHENING VOLUNTEER IMPACT
The new sealer not only increases efficiency but also allows our volunteers to focus more on building relationships and providing essential wellness checks. With the daily pack-out process now taking less time, volunteers have more opportunities to spend meaningful moments with clients, ensuring they receive thes support and companionship they need.
looking Forward
The introduction of the new heat seal machine marks a significant milestone for MOWLB. The efficiency it provides ensures that Meals on Wheels can continue to meet the growing demand for services without compromising quality. Its implementation aligns perfectly with our mission to support homebound individuals, helping them live nourished, independent, and dignified lives in their own homes.
We invite interested donors and followers to stop by and see the machine in action. Schedule a morning to visit and witness firsthand how this new technology is enhancing our operations. Stay updated with all MOWLB news and stories by following us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.