Title: infoneophane'it
1Overview 4. In depth discussion vacuum
packing and MAP (modified atmosphere packaging)
(October 22nd, 2007) next step 5. In depth
discussion cold-seal and countline flow-pack
(November 30th, 2007) 6. In depth discussion
high barrier powders, liquid and coffee
(January 25th, 2008)
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2ISO 90012000 certification, since 1993
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3BRC certification, since 2004, one of the first
firms in Italy for this sector.
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4Overview N 4 Oct. 22nd, 2007 4 vacuum packing
and MAP (modified atmosphere packaging)
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5The flexible packaging
Following a strict but not widespread definition,
flexible packaging is a container that, in
normal conditions, in which the internal
atmosphere, is at atmospheric pressure. This is
possible because it can adapt itself to
variations of the external pressure. A basic and
exclusive characteristic of flexible packaging,
is that these packs are formed and sealed by
automatic machines, at the same time as being
filled. These machines are generally called
FFS Form-Fill-Seal. Leading substrates in
flexible packaging, are plastic films, thin
materials based on paper and/or card, and
aluminium foils. It is combining these
materials, that the different laminated films
(thin multilayer structures) are created . These
products are now widely used in the field of food
wrapping. The characteristic that is becoming
more sought after, is improvement of the barrier
properties to gas and water vapour, in order to
guarantee or to improve the shelf-life of the
wrapped product.
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6Multi-layers properties
- The primary property of the laminated structures
is the thermo-sealing capacity, in order create
the final package from the substrate. - More and more often, the flexible packaging must
possess other performance characteristics, in
order to - preserve dry products from atmospheric humidity
- preserve moist products, stopping moisture loss
and drying - protect the product from external odours
- prevent loss of the aroma
- protect the product from the oxidative action of
sunlight - protect the product from the oxidative action of
the oxygen in the air (vacuum packing or MAP -
modified atmosphere packaging) - retain the CO2 and N2 gases, that have replaced
atmospheric oxygen (MAP - modified atmosphere
packaging).
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7Packing processes
- Flexible packaging creates its structure around
the needs of the products if the product or its
packing process changes, the wrapping structure
must change. - It is for this reason, that the choice of
wrapping structure must come as a result of deep
analysis, carried out with the collaboration of
the end-user with. - As already pointed out in the previous overview,
it is necessary to have knowledge of the wrapped
product, the analysis of the graphic design to be
printed and of the raw materials to be converted
(films, inks and adhesives), as well as of all
the final products process wrapping and
preservation. - The different packing processes are roughly
classified as per the setting on which the
product is sealed - in air atmosphere
- in modified atmosphere
- in vacuum
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8Packing processes - continued
- Packaging in normal atmosphere is the process
used for those products that do not deteriorate
either through air contact, or through
atmospheric humidity. On the contrary, when the
shelf-life of the product can be affected by
these two things, it is possible to avoid them.
There are two different processes that can
realise this kind of packing in modified
atmosphere - replacing the air through a cleaning flow with
a compensating gas (usually nitrogen), up to a
concentration approaching 100 - Removing the air in vacuum assemblies. It is then
possible to regulate the handling consistency of
the pack, blowing in predetermined percentages of
nitrogen, from 0 up to 100 of the removed air
if there is no compensation (it means 0), it is
considered vacuum packed. - It is easy to understand the importance of gas
barrier to the structures for these final
applications.
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9STRUCTURES
A typical application of these laminates is as a
lidding foil on machine with thermoformed
container at the bottom the thermoformed
containers are filled with the product (like
meat, delicatessen or cheese) and sealed with
this film, often decorated with print. The PE
film can also be peelable, in order to aid the
opening of the pack, this represents added value
very appreciated by the end-consumer. These
structures can operate in the modified
atmosphere field, thanks to the EVOH layer (or
sometimes PVDC), on condition that the bottom
also includes in its structure a barrier skin.
During the sealing-phase, a gas mixture of N2 /
CO2 / O2 is introduced, in different ratios
relative to the food packaged.
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10STRUCTURES - continued
In this structure, the PVOH lacquer gives the
material a high gas barrier, particularly to
oxygen, but also to the aromas of the wrapped
product. This film can be laminated with other
lacquered polypropylene film (so that it also
gains the two side sealing property), or with
polyethylene. The final structure is rigid,
printable and can be used either as lidding foil
(if laminated with PE), or for the wrapping of
dry products, sensitive to oxygen (like nuts,
peanuts, pistachios, almonds). The principal
properties of this structure are good gas
barrier (but also to water vapour), significant
protection of the aroma and preservation by
odours, good rigidity and printability.
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11STRUCTURES - continued
The use of Nylon gives a good gas barrier, often
used for vacuum wrapping (like rice), in
lamination with the PE film, from which it is
also possible to eliminate the EVOH skin.
This structure (widely used for ground coffee,
with or without a valve), assures the best
barrier thanks to the presence of the aluminium
foil. After the filling, the pack goes through a
vacuum station where the air is removed while the
product is pressed. The properties of the packed
product are guaranteed by the aluminium foil and
by the absence of air. The foil also gives
rigidity and assures the folding during the
wrapping process.
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12Overview Next step on November 30th,
2007 5 cold-seal and countline flow-pack
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