Packaging Automation to unveil SkinPAC pack format that offers enhanced presentation, preservation, protection of meat and fish at upcoming Foodex trade show; SkinPAC uses barrier film that wraps around food, forms seal with bottom of tray

Elyse Blye

CHESHIRE, England , February 18, 2014 (press release) – At Foodex 2014, Packaging Automation will be launching SkinPAC the revolutionary new pack format for enhanced presentation, preservation and protection of fresh products such as meat and fish. The SkinPAC system of sealing uses a highly transparent barrier film that wraps tightly around the product like a second skin and forms a seal with the bottom of the tray. This pack format offers high visibility vacuum packs aimed at improving shelf life, better product quality and packaging reduction with the use of a shallower tray than would otherwise be possible. Skin packing which originally found favour in the packaging of fish has recently been adopted for the packaging of meat, poultry and game products.

PA’s range of tray sealers can be easily adapted to seal trays atmospherically, with MAP (gas flushing or vacuum) or skin packing. This flexibility future proofs the investment in new machinery and allows food producers to alter pack formats in the future to suit retailer demands without additional investment.

As with all new pack formats, PA’s seal technologist is on hand to assist customers who are planning to adopt this new packaging technology with free sealing trials and shelf life tests in the company’s test facility in Knutsford, Cheshire.

PA will also be demonstrating the brand new ultra low energy range of tray sealers that eliminate 90% of the running costs when compared to conventional pneumatic tray sealers. At the top end of the range, a brand new electric machine is being launched at the show that offers the highest throughput in flexible tray sealing in the market at 150 packs per minute single lane. This range enables food producers to demonstrate a real commitment to environmental issues, while delivering tangible improvements to the bottom line.

These new developments demonstrate PA’s on-going commitment to innovation, with further new product launches in the final stages of testing ready to be unveiled later in the year.

Background

Packaging Automation Ltd was established in 1963 and is a leading UK manufacturer of tray sealing and pot filling and sealing machinery.

PA can offer customers a tray sealer or pot filler for a wide range of applications in the food industry including fresh produce packing such as salad, tomato, strawberry and soft fruit packing, fish, seafood, meat and chicken packing (including vacuum packing and skin packing), ready meal sealing and packing, and pot or tub denesting, filling and sealing for puddings and sauces.

Full packing lines can be specified and installed to include tray denesting, conveyoring, tray filling, film sealing including modified atmosphere packing (MAP) facilities. Foil tray sealing as well as plastic tray sealing can be accommodated on all machines as standard.

PA also has experience in the medical and consumer goods sectors offering machinery for blister packing a wide range of products.

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