INFICON Leak Detection Expertise in Food Packaging
The need for innovative, faster and more reliable leak testing techniques is constantly increasing in all industries, with food being no exception. Microbial growth, oxidation, moisture or pests can cause products to spoil well before their expiration date. Proper packaging and appropriate atmosphere are two important criteria to keep food safe. Specifically, composed protective gas atmospheres (Modified Packaging Atmospheres, MAP) contribute to the longevity of food stuffs – as long as the concentrations of the different gases do not change for the duration of a product's shelf life. This is achieved by sealed packages, which is why leak detection in the food industry is becoming increasingly important. During the sealing process, for example, undesired capillaries are easily formed because of residual product left close to the welding seam or from plastic chips produced during the cutting of the packaging. Improperly matched adhesives and foil materials may also lead to poor quality seals which affect food.
The Contura S400 leak detector for leak detection on food packaging
Dry products such as nuts, dried fruits, chips or other baked goods products are usually compromised by two processes: oxidation by oxygen and ingress of moisture. Semi-dry products such as baked goods, fresh pasta or cheeses are mostly compromised by the rapid growth of microorganisms. Spoiled foods represent potential health risks to consumers, which is why food producers must guarantee the safety of their products according the HCCP (Hazard critical control point) instructions. INFICON is bringing its technology and leak detection know-how in support of the food industry with the Contura S400 Leak Detector.
The Contura S400 leak detector was developed specifically for food packaging, including Capsule, flexible and MAP packaging. Its working principle is based on the pressure increase method in a flexible foil chamber allowing detection of gross as well as fine leaks down to less than 10 microns. This leak detector operates completely non-destructively and requires no tracer gas. Additionally, it can be easily integrated via Ethernet into any quality assurance process and enables continuous improvement of the manufacturing process.
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