Recent developments in ‘metallized’ compostable packaging may lead to further advances for global use in beverage products like coffees and tea, claims the material supplier Innovia Films, the United States. The company says that the extended applications of its NatureFlex material, which provides a home-biodegradable standard of laminated film, has allowed Guayaki, makers of Yerba Mate brand health beverage, to combine both the barrier properties of metallic foil with compostability.

According to Innovia, the new cellulose-based bag packaging supplied to Guayaki combines two different compostable films in a bid to meet the company’s requirements for greener packaging with strong barrier content. These materials include the Natureflex NM product, which contains 0.02 per cent metal, laminated onto the glossy transparent NatureFlex NVS film. Innovia claims that the small metal content of the package makes the product suitable for home composting along with the other pack materials, though it is modified enough to ensure high moisture barrier rates to protect the product inside. The transmission rate of the packaging barrier is less than 10 g/m2/day at 38ºC, 90 per cent relative humidity. The new pack is designed to comply with international standards like the EN13432 and ASTM D6400 standards.

Source: www.beveragedaily.com

European researchers have developed pioneering X-ray technology to ensure that contaminants and defects in food packaging can be detected before products end up on supermarket shelves. The Modulinspex technology uses low-energy Xrays to produce detailed images of food and other packaged products. The images can then be scanned by inspection software, which will alert users of any irregularities.

Modulinspex, a European Union-funded technology, was developed by a consortium of European companies. Before Modulinspex, higher-resolution, low-energy systems were not a viable means of checking packaging because the slow scanning significantly reduced the production rate at processing and packaging plants. The Modulinspex project led to the development of a detector that takes 300 images per second, fast enough to scan products moving on a conveyor at a 0.5 m/s. Modulinspex produces X-ray images with a resolution of 0.1 mm, which is 16 times higher than that of high-power systems. It is also modular, enabling hardware and software components to be adapted to suit varying types and sizes of packaging.

Source : www.meatinternational.com

Propac Industrial, Australia, is supplying an integrated hot-fill liquid packaging system that uses film from AMPAC Flexibles. The vertical form-fillseal system combines the company’s hot-fill bag makers with AMPAC’s 9000 VF films to package pumpable food products.

The manufacturer says the machines can handle products at temperatures up to 92ºC, and is ideal for cook/chill applications. Fluids with particulate up to 25 mm in size can also be packaged in a one-part fill. The unit can fill bags up to 20 kg and expel all the air from them. The company has also just released a heavy-duty version capable of packaging high-viscosity pumpable products. Contact: Propac Industrial Pty. Ltd., Unit 2, 61 Prince William Drive, Seven Hills, NSW 2147, Australia. Tel: +61 (2) 9674 9261; Fax: +61 (2) 9674 9267; E-mail: info@propac.com.au.

Source: www.fluidhandling.com.au

TNA, a leading Australian supplier of integrated packaging and processing solutions for food production companies worldwide, has launched the robag® 3 ttx 320 rotary double jaw (RDJ) that doubles production rates. Claimed to offer the highest economic value of any VFFS packaging system, the robag 3 ttx lowers utility costs and waste while providing high performance packaging.

Available in many combinations of jaw sizes and types, the highly flexible machine can produce several bag formats including pillow pack, block or quattro bottom, and inner and outer bag configurations. Designed for easy maintenance and service access, the servo-driven robag 3 ttx has 30 per cent less moving parts than a conventional VFFS machine, driving down repair and maintenance needs. Integrated electronics and hardware further enhance the ease of operation.

The machine comes with user-friendly digital settings and centrally located touch screen controls. The system integrates seamlessly upstream or downstream with other packaging equipment including TNA’s gateless, reversible transfer and distribution system and other ancillary equipment. Contact: TNA Australia Pty. Ltd., 24 Carter Street, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW 2127, Australia. Tel: +61 (2) 9714 2321; Fax: +61 (2) 9748 2970.

Source: www.news.thomasnet.com

In the United Kingdom, researchers at the University of Bath and Campden BRI are leading a project to create a new high-speed, environmentfriendly packaging process that will use recycled materials and reduce the amount of plastic used. The project is focused on improving the ‘formfill-and-seal’ packaging used for foods such as rice, pasta and crisps. By designing a more efficient way of sealing the packaging, the scientists hope to reduce the amount of material used by 13 per cent, which would lead to a saving of more than 39,000 tonnes per year of landfill waste.

Dr. Ben Hicks, Prof. Glen Mullineux and Dr. Jason Matthews from the University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering are working as part of a consortium including Campden BRI, Hayssen-Sandiacre Europe, Amcor Flexibles Food and United Biscuits. They will examine the process used to mechanically fill and seal the packaging and then use this information to design a new packing machine that uses less plastic and can use recycled materials. The researchers are also investigating new sealing processes that can be used with the new biodegradable materials, which
will lead to further environmental benefits.

Dr. Hicks, Deputy Director of the University’s Innovative Design Manufacturing Research Centre said: “The project is building on theoretical and modelling expertise of the University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and using the materials and packaging testing facilities of Campden BRI to try out the new system. The scientific knowledge base is further enhanced by the materials processing knowledge of Amcor, the practical experience of consumer goods packaging from United Biscuits and the machinery design knowledge of HayssenSandiacre.”

Source: www.packaging network.com

Sigpack Systems, Switzerland, presents the HxL horizontal flow wrapping line for output in medium and high ranges. The HxL is equipped with longer sealing technology (Long-Dwell sealing) for flow wrappers. The new line is suited for fresh, chilled and frozen food, as well as for applications in the pharmaceutical industry.

The seal point in the 4-layer fin seal approach has conventionally been a weak point. This point is vulnerable to damage and prone to leakage due to material bulge. The HxL’s Long-Dwell sealing technology works with a patented sealing mechanism that allows 40-times longer sealing times and higher sealing pressures than traditional sealing processes, ensuring packaging film thickness and product quality, Sigpack claims.

The HxL system comes in two separate models with different output rates. The HCL model is suitable for medium-speed range output, at 150 packages per minute. The HSL system, with an output of 350 packages per minute, is designed for high-speed ranges. The HxL’s sensor technology controls the parameters online to ensure tight seal. The 2-D Matrix Code provides greater traceability by recording more information than conventional bar codes, and thus prevents counterfeiting. The HxL can effortlessly print at high speeds while working and verify the code online with a new vision-system. Contact: Mr. Andreas Graf, Director, System Integration, Sigpack Systems AG, Rheinstrasse 36, CH-8212 Neuhausen, Switzerland. Tel: +41 (52) 674 6695; Fax: +41 (52) 674 6875832; E-mail: andreas.graf@bosch.com; Website: www.boschpackaging.com.

Source: www.news.thomasnet.com