Flexible branding & operational efficiency with banding

Zalmhuys Group, a specialist in fish processing and distribution for retailers, delivers high-quality salmon products to markets around the world. Each product is carefully processed, packaged, and prepared for retail, where both quality and presentation are essential to stand out on the shelf.

To achieve a premium appearance, Zalmhuys uses skinpack packaging for a select portion of its salmon products. This packaging method highlights the natural look of the fish and reinforces its freshness and quality. However, it also introduces a key challenge: how to apply consistent branding that matches the premium nature of the product.

Following the acquisition of a company already working with banding technology, Zalmhuys Group identified an opportunity to address this challenge and began integrating banding into its packaging operations.

Challenge: Branding on Skinpack Packaging

While skinpack packaging enhances product presentation, it complicates the application of consistent branding.

The main challenge lies in the natural variation of the product. Each salmon portion differs in size, thickness, and shape, resulting in packaging that is not uniform. Instead of a flat, standardized surface, skin packaging closely follow the shape of the fish, creating an uneven shape.

This makes it difficult to apply branding in a clean and consistent way. Most traditional approaches rely on flat, stable surfaces to maintain a professional appearance—something skinpack packaging does not provide. As a result, achieving a uniform and high-quality look across all products becomes a challenge.

Zalmhuys Group therefore needed a solution that could adapt to these variations, preserve product visibility, and deliver consistent, premium branding.

Solution: Banding for Branding

Banding provided a solution that naturally fits the characteristics of skinpack packaging.

By wrapping around the packaging and sealing at the right tension, the band adapts to the shape of each individual product. This ensures a secure and consistent fit, regardless of differences in size, thickness, or shape.

At the same time, the band leaves most of the product uncovered, allowing the salmon to remain clearly visible. This is essential in retail, where the appearance of the fish plays a key role in attracting customers and communicating quality.

Banding also enables 360-degree branding. By wrapping fully around the packaging, it creates a continuous surface for product information and branding, ensuring a clear and consistent presentation from every angle. As a result, products remain recognizable and visually appealing regardless of how they are positioned on the shelf.

Added Value (Branding, Packaging & Operational Efficiency)

The introduction of banding has enabled Zalmhuys Group to achieve consistent and recognizable branding across a wide range of packaging formats. Whether products are presented on a gold base, in fully transparent skin packaging, or in plastic MAP packaging, the branding remains uniform and professional—strengthening shelf impact across the entire product range.

At the same time, banding enhances the premium appearance of the products. Because the band is minimal and precisely positioned, the focus remains on the fish itself, maximizing visibility and reinforcing freshness and quality. Its flexibility allows it to adapt to variations in product size and shape, ensuring a secure and consistent fit without compromising presentation.

Beyond branding, banding also plays an important role in improving operational processes. It is used to bundle fish products into stable groups, such as stacks of six, creating a more uniform and secure format for handling throughout the supply chain. In addition, banding is applied to seal small cardboard boxes, ensuring that contents remain securely in place during storage and transport.

Conclusion

By implementing banding across both packaging and logistics, Zalmhuys Group has developed a flexible and scalable solution that supports its premium product positioning.

Banding enhances branding across multiple packaging formats while improving efficiency throughout the supply chain. As a result, it has become an integral part of how Zalmhuys Group delivers quality, consistency, and operational excellence from production to shelf.