Food Engineering logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Engineering logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest Headlines
    • Manufacturing News
    • People & Industry News
    • Plant Openings
    • Recalls
    • Regulatory Watch
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Plant Products
    • New Retail Products
  • TOPICS
    • Alternative Protein
    • Automation
    • Cannabis
    • Cleaning | Sanitation
    • Fabulous Food Plants
    • Food Safety
    • Maintenance Strategies
    • OEE
    • Packaging
    • Sustainability
    • More
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Plant Construction Survey
    • Plant of the Year
    • Sustainable Plant of the Year
    • State of Food Manufacturing
    • Top 100 Food & Beverage Companies
  • MEDIA
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • FOOD MASTER
  • EVENTS
    • Food Automation & Manufacturing Symposium and Expo
    • Industry Events
  • RESOURCES
    • eNewsletter
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • FE Store
    • Government Links
    • Industry Associations
    • Market Research
    • Classified Ads
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issue
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Food SafetyPackaging

TECH FLASH

Protection all around: The contribution of packaging machine manufacturers to product quality and protection

Product recalls bring the entire supply chain added scrutiny, which can hurt business.

By Shane O'Halloran
Farm bill on its last legs according to IDFA
April 29, 2014

Product quality has never been more top-of-mind than it is for consumers today. Therefore, products of poor quality that enter the market can cause potentially serious damage to a company’s reputation. They also can expose distributors and food manufacturers to compensation claims.

Given the visibility of recent global product recalls, the entire supply chain has come under increased public scrutiny, according to Dr. Bernd Wilke, head of engineering and technology support for Bosch Packaging Technology. Consequently, for food manufacturers, it is not just about the voluntary implementation of safety standards but about having a high level of internal quality assurance controls for producing products—and  complying with changing legal regulations.

“This ensures a manufacturer´s brand protection, assures consumer satisfaction and prevents product recalls,” says Wilke. “In this context, shelf life of goods plays an important role.” Extending product shelf life through leveraging packaging machine manufacturers’ solutions is an important component of that equation.

“On the one hand, appropriate methods applied already during the packaging process ensure product quality and protection. On the other hand, a proper packaging solution contributes to high quality and safety after the packaging process.”

Properly packed: Hygiene is paying off

It goes without saying, hygiene is very important in all areas of food production, from processing and packaging machinery construction materials to integration and cleaning concerns. The European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group (EHEDG), an expert group of machinery and component manufacturers, regularly publishes guidelines on how hygienic design can be implemented. The group routinely consults with 3-A Sanitary Standards for harmonization.

“To meet the increasing demands, these organizations call for filling devices for dry food to be easy to clean, too, for instance,” adds Wilke. “The cleanability of such systems should be validated if possible.”

Tightly sealed seams for product protection

To ensure product protection during the packaging process, manufacturers offer versatile sealing technologies including hot, cold or ultrasonic sealing. One disadvantage of hot sealing technologies is the heat influence on the product.

Ultrasonic sealing offers an alternative as a “cold” technology, which can reduce product loss while preserving product protection. It also eliminates the risk of diminished seal quality and leakage due to contamination of the sealing area.

High-frequency ultrasonic vibrations remove product residues from the sealing area, thus enabling a reliable joining of surfaces. The resulting seals are secure, ensuring the product is tightly packaged. Thus, ultrasonic sealing maintains product quality during and after the packaging process.

Guaranteed product freshness—– during processing and packaging

One of the most effective methods to preserve perishable foods is the incorporation of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) technologies. The air contained in the packaging is replaced by a gas mixture typically containing nitrogen, oxygen or carbon dioxide, depending on the product. This kind of protective packaging reduces the growth of microorganisms and extends shelf life. Packaging with protective gas maintains product quality without affecting taste, quality, consistency or nutritional content.

“Thanks to modern packaging machines which feature devices for hermetic sealing, as well as MAP technology, product quality can be preserved and the amount of added preservatives can be reduced while extending a food´s shelf life,” says Wilke. “This combination also protects brand reputation, improves customer loyalty and offers higher sales potential.”

Protection from oxygen, water and light

After the packaging process, food often must be preserved for a long time. Different products may require protection against oxygen, water or light, making the choice of the appropriate packaging material crucial.

According to Wilke, lightproof packaging material such as composites with a UV barrier or colored glass can be effective in preserving light-sensitive goods. “For water-sensitive products, steam barriers contained within the packaging material are recommended—for example, AI-metallization, polyethylene or polypropylene. Packaging materials like aluminum protect oxygen-sensitive goods from air penetrating the packaging. Every application needs the appropriate material.”

Often, harmful oxygen is already contained within the product and its packaging. Different procedures can either remove the oxygen or prevent it from entering the package. These procedures include the vacufin procedure, which generates a defined vacuum inside the package; neutrafill, a method of adding protective gas; and neutravac, a combination of both procedures.

KEYWORDS: food packaging technology hygienic design quality control

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Global Organic Food & Beverage Market to Grow

    Global Organic Food & Beverage Market to Grow

    With a CAGR of 12.07%, Bonafide Research estimates this...
    Latest headlines
  • skilled MEP worker

    Predicting Food and Beverage Manufacturing Trends for 2024

    The two words that should be kept in mind are labor and...
    Automation
    By: Derrick Teal
  • cleaning and sanitation

    The basics of cleaning and sanitation in food plants

    Sanitation maintains or restores a state of cleanliness...
    Cleaning | Sanitation
    By: Richard F. Stier
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

Cargill Cocoa Plant

Cargill Invests in its Cocoa Supply Chain

Campbell’s Utah plant

Going for Gold(fish): Inside The Campbell’s Company’s $160M Cracker Plant Expansion

Woman engineer on construction site

Exploring the Impact of Women Engineers on the Food Industry

CHECK OUT OUR NEW ESSENTIAL TOPICS

Alternative ProteinAutomationCleaning/SanitationFabulous Food Plants

Food SafetyMaintenance StrategiesOEE

PackagingSustainability

Events

June 17, 2025

Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ State of the Cold Chain

On Demand Kelley Rodriguez, Editor in Chief of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods, will be joined in this 60-minute webinar by industry experts to help unpack the latest research.

July 23, 2025

Decarbonizing Process Heat: What You Should Know and Next Steps

Driven by climate goals, business risk, client interest, and resilience considerations, food and beverage companies are increasingly turning their attention to decarbonizing their production processes.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

Recent Advances in Ready-to-Eat Food Technology

See More Products

Plant of the Year

Related Articles

  • PMMI, Rockwell Automation announce presenters and topics for PACK EXPO International

    Manufacturers meet the demand for new product varieties without sacrificing quality

    See More
  • osha committee meeting

    OSHA seeks nominations for membership to the Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee

    See More
  • Aptar SeaWell packaging

    Meal Kit Providers Adopt Aptar-Food Protection SeaWell Active Packaging

    See More

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • April 26, 2012

    Food Plant of the Future: Raising the Bar on Plant Air Quality

    On-Demand: Exclusively for thought-leaders in food and beverage processing facility management, Food Plant of the Future webinars are presented by Hixson, a leading design and engineering firm of food processing facilities in North America.
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Elevate your expertise in food engineering with unparalleled insights and connections.

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Food Master
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing