Modified Atmosphere Packaging Brings Out the Most Efficient Packaging Technology

Competition in any industry is a common thing; however, there are some industries that competition is very close just like in the food industry. Considering food as one of the basic commodity in the world, very tight competition is always expected. Food manufacturers, distributors, and processors are always finding new ways to improve or enhance the quality of food products in terms of processing, packaging, transportation, and distribution. There are different equipments like the automated packaging machines that have made big steps in the improvement in the food industry. In the food industry, preservation is very important. The different equipments like the food packaging machines, materials like packing bags and pouches, and systems that are coming out are based on its ability to preserve the quality of food products.

Modified Atmosphere Packaging

When it comes to the system or technology for food preservation, modified atmosphere packaging is the most established today. Unlike chemical preservatives that were used before, modified atmosphere packaging or MAP is not using any chemical to preserve the quality and freshness of the product. The advent of so many developments in technology has prompted a lot of enhancements which is why MAP together with the automation of food packaging machines have established a stable place in the food industry. The main key used in MAP technology to preserve the food product is the modification of atmospheric gases such as Carbon dioxide, Oxygen, and Nitrogen. The environment inside the package is being controlled in order to prevent the growth of microbial organisms that causes spoilage, bad odor, discoloration, change of taste, and decreased nutritional value.

In the food industry, quality, freshness, consistency, and availability are major factors for success. The development of modified atmosphere packaging and automated packaging machines have been promoting efficiencies for food manufacturers, distributors, and processors. Since MAP technology promotes extended shelf life, frequency of food product rotation can be decreased as well as restocking. This will further reduce labor cost and wastage. When this happens, food manufacturers could gain more profit.

The use of food packaging machines and MAP technology together with reliable package materials will eventually bring more recognition and benefits to the food industry. These developments promote convenience and reliability to both producers and consumers. The automated packaging machines have even added great convenience and efficiency to packaging production and distribution. Awareness of these developments must be promoted not just to food manufacturers and distributors but also to consumers.

How Does Automatic Food Packaging Machines Affect our Lives?

Food packaging is one of the most important processes in food manufacturing and processing industry. Over the past years, the increasing developments of automated packaging machines have brought so many improvements and benefits to both food business industries and consumers. Why do you think that more and more improvements are being developed despite of the numerous benefits that have been provided by automated food packaging machines like pork packaging machines? It is because there have been positive responses on current researches that there are still more out there that are left undiscovered which could further provide improvements in the food business industry.

Some people have misunderstood that purpose of automated packaging machines that it can only provide benefits to the business; it also offers great advantages to consumers just like the effect of the application of modified atmosphere packaging technology to the packaging machines. Through the use of the said technology, food products would have longer shelf life which promotes good quality, freshness, and safety for consumption.

The packaging operation that is handled by automated packaging machines has significantly risen up the productivity rate just like in the pork packaging field. Pork is one of the most sought food product elsewhere. The usage of automatic pork packaging machines didn’t only increase the productivity rate but also increases the versatility of the packaging machine to produce high quality package. Ever since the development of pork packaging machines, a large number of demand were filled up. The reliability of the automated food packaging machines is excellent that it can reduce labor cost and wastage. The modified atmosphere packaging or MAP technology on the other hand is responsible in maintaining the freshness of the product by preventing it to spoil in a short period of time. It uses mostly atmospheric gases such as Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Carbon dioxide that were modified inside the package to prevent the growth of bacteria and other micro organisms that causes spoilage. The gases are carefully modified based on the type of product. Also, it is important to understand that MAP technology is not an enhancer. If the initial condition of a food product is already bad, MAP could not restore it and make it fresh.

It’s good to know that despite of the chaotic things happening in the world today, we can still be assured that we can eat fresh and healthy foods through the aid of automated food packaging machines and modified atmosphere packaging technology.

The Future of Food Packaging Machines

Industrial technology in the current days is continuously enhancing its elements to provide better operations and offer convenience to human lives. The automation of most machines including food packaging machines has created a very high impact to the world ever since. Why not? Food is one of the most basic needs of humans and it is indeed fundamental to maintain its palatability considering freshness and chemical free preservatives during packaging. Unlike in the early days that packaging isn’t really a big deal because food can be taken directly from its source; however, today, as the population growth increases farther, the need of food preservation and distributions makes packaging a very big deal. The rise of different kinds of packaging machines such as pork and poultry packaging machines are unstoppable. The world has already seen how advantageous the food packaging machines for food manufacturers and consumers.

As you can see in the news today, the enhancements of poultry and pork packaging machines for example are moving really fast because the demands are really high. The world needs to catch up with the demands and to do that, automation of these food packaging machines is definitely a must. If we look deeper into the development of automatic poultry packaging machines and other packaging machines, it doesn’t only mean digital user controls. It’s more that, actually. In the first place, automation of packaging machines consist of so many procedures and concepts that promotes total packaging solution to any kind of products especially foods.

One of the concepts of packaging machines especially pork packaging machines is the application of modified atmosphere packaging technology. It’s an established system applied to pork and poultry packaging machines to prolong the product’s shelf life. This packaging system has also a great impact in the food packaging industry because it lower the risks of harmful health effects to people by using natural mechanism to preserve the freshness and prevent growth of micro organisms that are responsible in food spoilage.

Until today, the trend of the pork packaging machines development is still on going in order to further enhance the packaging mechanisms that would decrease failure rate, increase productivity rate to meet the high demands of supply, adaptability with the different packaging materials and systems, and flexibility with its purpose. It would not be a surprise that in the future that there would be more and more developments in the packaging industry that might use robotics, microelectronics and more sensor technology.

Automatic Packaging Machines for Sustainable Products

In the last years, there have been a lot of arguments about the topic of sustainable packaging. There have been several rumors about the packaging industry not giving value on the importance of sustainable packaging. Even after the development of automatic food packaging machines, a lot of food industry manufacturers are still having problems with following the guidelines on achieving sustainability. Sustainable packaging by definition is the development and utilization of packaging resulting to enhanced sustainability. It is a development to further protect the environment by considering major factors such as materials used, logistics efficiency, waste reduction, and recyclability.

Many developments in the packaging industry such as the automation of several packaging machines like poultry, pork, and meat packaging machines have served a great impact in waste reduction. Through automatic food packaging machines, manufacturers would be able to operate an accurate and reliable management in generating food packaging products. Automatic meat packaging machines eliminate too much man power and thus decrease errors because the mechanism is being maneuvered by certain software that has already been loaded on the machine. Flexibility in tasks could also be achieved from automatic packaging machines because it can be programmed to do multiple tasks and therefore delimits the use of too many materials or separate equipments. This means that less energy will be used.

In addition to the automation of most food packaging machines, established system like the modified atmosphere packaging system prolongs the shelf life of the product. This kind of system contributes to the sustainability of packaging because it uses natural gases in preserving the food. Modified atmosphere packaging doesn’t use harmful chemicals that can be a threat to the environment when disposed. The three atmosphere gases that are mostly used for MAP are Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Carbon Dioxide. These gases are being modified inside the package to generate a balance atmosphere for the food to regulate its natural characteristics and also prevent the growth of aerobic and non-aerobic micro organisms causing spoilage. The utilization of modified atmosphere packaging on meat packaging machines and other food packaging machines could generate a positive effect to the environment because there is minimal pollution and increased waste reduction.

The development of automatic packaging machines and packaging systems like MAP provides enormous help to manufacturers, customers, and to the environment which promote sustainable packaging. It may seem a small matter for now but as new technology develops in the upcoming years, issues of sustainable packaging uncertainty would surely diminish.

Improved Modified Atmosphere Packaging Technology

Visit the website of CVP Systems, Inc., and the first image you’ll see is Vice President and General Manager Chris van Wandelen performing a fierce karate chop on a stack of concrete bricks, breaking them clear in half. As he is also a martial arts expert, what you’re seeing is the real thing—no special effects. The video reflects the company’s motto, “Breaking Down Barriers,” which van Wandelen uses to inspire a team building spirit among employees. The same can be said for the performance of the company’s MasterPACKer Eco+™ automated case-ready packaging machine, which knocks down road blocks to real and measurable energy and materials savings. The introduction of this machine has further solidified CVP’s reputation as a leader in modified atmosphere packaging.

CVP Systems, Inc.

CVP Systems, Inc. formed in 1972 when Coronet Container Corporation, based in Lombard, Ill., was required to change its technology based on industry requirements to extend shelf life for perishable products. These requirements stated that materials must be enclosed inside a vacuum-sealed package before being placed inside a corrugated box, rather than directly inside. A separate division, Coronet Vacuum Packaging, was developed and split from Coronet Containers in 1975 to become CVP Systems, Inc., based in Downers Grove, Ill., a Chicago suburb. The company employs 40 employees globally; a regional sales force covers the United States, and agents are also located in Europe and Latin America. Industries served by CVP are red meat, poultry, fish, produce and fruit, cheese, nuts, snack foods, and spices. Its modified atmosphere packaging technology also is used in industries other than food, such as for cube reduction and anti-oxidation systems, metal parts packaging, and document storage.

MasterPACKer Eco+

Modified Atmosphere Packaging

Worldwide, Tesco, a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, U.K., initiated the demand for modified atmosphere packaging technology in the early 70s. It became one of the first grocers to move away from employing an onsite butcher to using a central processing/distribution system. CVP Systems, in attempt to meet the demand by large poultry and meat packaging companies looking to extend their products’ shelf life, offered its modified atmosphere packaging solutions. This high-efficiency system for packaging of poultry and meats removes air from a package and introduces a new more beneficial atmosphere, depending on the specific product application requirements. Specific mixtures for low-ox applications can be comprised of a mixture of 69.6% nitrogen (N2), 30% carbon dioxide (CO2), and .4% carbon monoxide (CO) or 70% nitrogen and 30% carbon dioxide; it’s based on the premise that bacteria have a difficult time surviving in a low-ox environment because they need oxygen to survive and multiply,” said van Wandelen.

Some applications need only high-ox (70% oxygen, 30% carbon dioxide); however, high O2 applications do not attain quite the same shelf life extension as low O2. To improve its technology in modified atmosphere packaging, CVP engineers, through extensive research and development, created its MasterPACKer and just last year its “next generation” MasterPACKer Eco+™.  The machine is designed for high-speed cycling and features a high-velocity “Quick Draw” snorkel. In the various process cycles, overwrapped trays containing product are robotically loaded onto a servo driven infeed conveyer. Two to eight trays are inserted into a mother bag as the machine indexes and transfers them to the next station, where a Quick Draw snorkel simultaneously draws a vacuum and inserts a pre-set amount of gas and then seals the bag.

 

CVP Systems, Inc. developed its High-Velocity Quick-Draw Snorkel, which as part of its MasterPACKer Eco+™, provides efficient vacuum and gas insertion during the modified atmosphere packaging process.

Free-Flow Gas Systems vs. MasterPACKer Eco+™

Machines using a free-flow gas system for modified atmosphere packaging cannot create a vacuum from below the package and therefore use an open tube to release a continuous flow of gas into the package to displace the oxygen. “Much of the gas in a free-flow system is released into the atmosphere, resulting in a large amount of wasted gas as well the related environmental impact,” said van Wandelen. “When you compare waste between these systems and ours, taking into account the process of creating and transporting the bags, the amount of material used in the process, and the backside of the landfill effect upon disposal of the bag, the MasterPACKer Eco Plus+™ reduces each of these components by 60%, whether you’re using a low- or high-ox dose. This is greatly significant from a cost and an environmental perspective and considering the overall carbon footprint.”

Meat Packaging Machines For Fast and Easy Packaging Process

Food preservation and protection are the simple reasons why food packaging was developed. As a result of advance technology and long development research, food packaging evolved from using a simple container to keep food up to the latest technology and high end packaging machines being used today. Some machines like meat packaging machines and poultry packaging machines were developed to be able to make the process of packaging of meat and poultry convenient and fast. These packaging equipments are made of high quality standard materials for packing speed and accuracy. With the use of the modified atmosphere packaging technology, fresh food products can extend their shelf life and slow down spoilage.

Modified Atmosphere Packaging Equipment

Proper and active packaging plays an important role in food quality and preservation. The latest technology developed called MAP or Modified Atmosphere Packaging ensures that packaged foods will stay fresh as long as possible. One of the most important features of good quality food product packaging is the good oxygen and evaporation barrier properties. It is where modified atmosphere packaging takes it part. It works by substituting the air inside the container with gas mix to prevent some chemical reaction to occur that spoils the food. The inventions of these helpful machineries such as the poultry packaging machines which are created to improve the packaging of poultry products have been a great help in the food industry. Poultry food products needs extra care when packaging so as these poultry packaging machines need to pass the standard set by poultry product safety departments in which they have to make sure that materials used and the process made will not pose a threat to consumers. It goes the same with the packaging of fresh and processed meat. Meat packaging machines should be in high standard to meet the packaging requirements to avoid food contamination.

The use of high standard machines like the meat packaging machines is the next important need for proper and easy process of packaging fresh and processed foods. There are several companies who offer their best deal of packaging equipments which covers all the best food packaging procedure such as high-speed labeling, high quality processing as well as the modified atmosphere packaging.

The continued improvement of food packaging procedures and the quest of finding new methods can definitely reduce the loss or waste of our resources over time. Also, these packaging machines which were developed have made the packaging process fast and very convenient.

Fresh and New Food Packing Methods

For some time now, people have all been trying to find ways to keep their food from expiring before they know it. Some think that one of the causes is the method of food packaging. There is a new way of food packaging that helps keep your food last longer. This new method of containing food is done by using new food packaging machines with modified atmosphere packaging system.

Modified atmosphere packaging is the process of containing the food with lesser oxygen inside to keep it from bacteria formation which causes the food to spoil. The oxygen inside is replaced by a carbon dioxide that helps prevent bacteria formation and the carbon monoxide that helps maintain the redness of the meat and improves its taste. Modified atmosphere packaging uses a special breathable film for this type of food storing and there are different sorts of film used for other food products. All of this procedure is done with the help of the food packaging machines, example of which are poultry packaging machines, meat packing machines or pork packaging machines. These food containings have received so many positive feedbacks from several customers. They have noticed that with type of food storage their food will have longer expiration date. 

People are happy with the results for the reason that it helps them save money and time to go out and buy the product once more because their food does not easily go to waste. Many food distributors and food retailers are enjoying the benefit of the modified atmosphere packaging for the reason that they can have better control of their product quality, availability and cost. With their foods longer shelf life they are able to export food to other places without worrying that it will expire easily while on the move and that really is helping their business to grow. With this method there will be less restocking, lesser food disposal and reduced labor. With lesser food waste they can have bigger investments. 

Since there have been several positive feedbacks with this type of food storing has received many companies are now starting to pack their food products using the modern way with the help of their new food packaging machines. Modified atmosphere packaging also applies to other food products such as nuts, pasta, chips and likewise medicine. 

As time goes on more and more people are checking out if the products that they have purchased are contained properly with the use of the packaging machines.