Sealed Air lead in fresh produce packaging

Edited by the Processingtalk editorial team Mar 5, 2007

Premium quality brand and product presentation is the key to fresh produce packaging, and Sealed Air is at the leading edge of trends within the sector

Premium quality brand and product presentation is the key to fresh produce packaging on a global scale.

Sealed Air is a packaging solution specialist serving the worldwide fruit and vegetable market as a single-source supplier of all shrink packaging needs: Sealed Air is at the leading edge of trends within the sector, and believes that premium quality brand and product presentation is the key to fresh produce packaging on a global scale.

Sealed Air has appointed a fresh produce packaging specialist in the UK, Paul Feeley, who says: "The key objectives throughout the world, are threefold: Retailers want to project positive branding through high pack quality, whilst firmly establishing their product differentiation.

At the same time, product protection is paramount as a premium brand image will be compromised if the produce doesn't reach the shelves in premium condition".

A striking feature within the fresh produce market in the USA, and one which is migrating to Europe, is the trend to wrap single products in film as an effective moisture retainer to ensure condition quality.

Sealed Air systems operate on a significant number of potato packing lines - particularly larger potatoes for baking - where that is important.

And Sealed Air meets produce suppliers objectives with its quality, horizontal form fill and seal shrink packaging machines consisting of more than 50 models, including shrink wrappers, shrink tunnels and automated feeding systems.

Prominent amongst those are their Shanklin systems.

Since 1961, Shanklin shrink packaging equipment has been recognised for durability, design excellence and quality manufacturing.

More than 22,000 Shanklin shrink packaging machines have been delivered worldwide, providing packaging for a wide variety of applications, particularly in fresh produce.

Typical Shanklin applications today include whole potatoes, through to cut water melons and honeydew melons and squashes (whether halves or quarters) whole zucchini, cucumbers and cabbages, as well as broccoli florets and kiwi fruits.

Most popular amongst fresh produce suppliers are the semi-automatic versions of the machines, which guarantee high throughput.

The Shanklin wrappers include models with large capacities and adjustable height steel jaws for larger products, as well as heavy-duty discharge conveyors for much heavier goods than most other L-sealers can handle.

The machines are strong, reliable and easy to use.

The rounded Sealed Air expertise provides a fully-integrated package of machines, materials, customer support and technical consultancy to ensure each installation is finely tuned to precise requirements.

That approach is echoed in their comprehensive film range.

The Sealed Air Cryovac shrink-wrap film, for instance, has been developed to reduce sealing time, which increases productivity, whilst having a high resistance to tears and punctures.

Within the film range there are also products that allow shrink-wrapping at relatively low temperatures - requiring less energy, for greater cost-efficiency and cheaper maintenance.

Sealed Air Cryovac and Opti micro perforated shrink films are augmented by Cryovac MRX anti-fogging shrink film and Sealed Air Primoflex CX anti-fogging bi-oriented polypropylene film, which the company sees as being particularly relevant to fresh produce where the natural moisture of items can cause film misting, which reduces the visual on-shelf appeal of the food.

Continued development work is also examining further film products with subtle changes that can benefit ease of film use and which will enhance manufacturing efficiency.

Fresh produce is a highly dynamic market experiencing rapid changes as consumers become increasingly aware of healthy eating.

Sealed Air sees its focused commitment in this area being central to produce suppliers fulfilling their potential.

As Paul Feeley explains: "Fortunately, at Sealed Air we can offer a wide range of equipment and materials to meet almost any need together with advice, technical support and the ability to respond quickly".