With enticing visual appearance, high-value presentation at PoS, long shelf life and freshness, skin packaging technology offers several advantages for food products. In Hall 5 Stand C 23 / D 24 Multivac will present its extended options for the use of this technology, including its new R 175 CD compact thermoforming machine and a novel combination of skin and MAP packaging.

Skin Packaging for Small-sized Batches

Whether meat or sausage products, game or poultry, fish or convenience foods, skin packaging accentuates the packaged product by enveloping it in a crystal-clear shiny film. It works like a second skin, tension-free and independent from the product contour. Multivac has advanced this sophisticated technology with over 20 years experience with skin thermoforming machines. One successful example is based on the patented Darfresh method, an exclusive cooperation between Multivac and Cryovac.

The new Multivac model R 175 CD makes the Darfresh skin packaging for new applications possible. Because of its compact design, the machine only needs a 3 m² staging area, and still offers the same reliability as the larger, long-time favorites Multivac R 272 CD and R 570 CD. It’s ideally suited as an additional machine to an already existing set-up, or for smaller packaging batches for industrial applications. At the same time it offers the opportunity to small businesses to create attractive skin packaging with Darfresh skin in a highly economical way.

The R 175 belongs to the new generation of thermoforming machines from Multivac. Its hygiene-optimized design streamlines and expedites the cleaning process - namely the inner machine components, including the chain and chain guide. Further developments regarding the design engineering and functions allow for increased process security and efficiency.

Mixed Double: Skin tray with supplemental top web

One notable example can be viewed at the exhibition stand while in use: the Darfresh Bloom. The skin packaging is initially sealed with a breathable Darfresh film. With a second sealing procedure an additional smooth covering film is sealed atop, under a protective atmosphere with a high concentration of oxygen. It’s the ideal combination for fresh, red meat: The skin packaging affixes the product to the tray bottom and prevents liquids from escaping. The breathable film allows for a controlled diffusion of the oxygen, thus the meat maintains its fresh, red color. And because of the top web, the packages are stackable and easy to label. In addition, between the skin and the covering film, information, recipes, or other material can be inserted.

The covering film sealing process can be carried out through a second sealing unit on the thermoforming machine, or separately on a Multivac traysealer. At the exhibition stand this second option will be demonstrated utilizing an R 175 CD together with a Multivac T 350 WL Traysealer. This model features an integrated unit for automated product weighing and labeling.

Smooth and Wrinkle-free in the Tray

The benefits of skin packaging technology are also available throughout the entire Multivac traysealer line - from semi-automatic T 200 and T 250 models to the high- peed T 450. The Multivac traysealer skin toolkit is optimized for use with the specialized features of the various skin films. In addition, further ambitious projects are feasible with sensitive films, such as breathable films for products such as vegetables or fish, or steam permeable films for microwavable foods. At the exhibition stand, the fully automatic Multivac T400 can be seen equipped with a combination tool for MAP and skin packaging. It can produce MAP as well as skin packages with an additional sealing seam.This twin tool saves time because a tool change is not necessary anymore - and also costs because no second tool is required.

More information: www.multivac.com