IRTA Centa held a Conference on packaging in protective atmosphere

This seminar, which was attended by representatives of the Irta Centa, Ulma Packaging, Sealed Air Cryovac and metallic carbides, was aimed at the advice of professionals in the food industry in the most appropriate use of gases and their mixturesequipment and materials used in the process of packaging in protective atmosphere.

After the day, was a guided tour of the facilities of the Irta Centa, Center pioneer in the treatment and preservation of food and a world reference in the field of them new technologies of the agri-food industry.

Metal carbides presented its EAP Freshline Guide. This guide on the packaging provides updated information on gas, plastic materials for packaging, equipment, legislation and technology of food in Spain packaging. It is a journey through the history of the packaging in protective atmosphere, a technique of prolongation of the time of "highly effective" conservation of the packaged food. According to her the guide prepared by the company, the use of gas in the conservation of food products "is not at all a new process". Much of the initial work was carried out in the early 1930s, with the shipment of carcasses of beef and Lamb of Australia and New Zealand to the United Kingdom in chambers with carbon dioxide. Between 1940 and 1950, were built watertight warehouses for the storage in controlled atmosphere, in order to extend the effective time of conservation of fresh apples under refrigeration. Here that the commercial applications of conservation by gas is largely circunscribiesen in controlled atmosphere storage and transport of goods in bulk such as meat and fruit. Today, it is a technique sophisticated with advantages in increasing both the provider and to the final consumer.

Sealed Air Cryovac spoke, inter alia, the discoloration of meat of chicken and Turkey packed in protective atmosphere. Said the company, the most commonly used packaging materials are, firstly, polystyrene trays wrapped in polyvinyl chloride of vinyl (PVC) or polyethylene extensible, allowing to maintain an atmosphere of the air-like composition to be materials of low barrier to oxygen. Secondly, there are materials high barrier to replace the air surrounding the product at the time of the packaging by a gas or mixture of gases according to the food in order to prolong his life. The three most commonly used gases are: carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen. Carbon dioxide produces an inhibiting effect on the growth of certain organisms, oxygen improves the colour of the meat and the nitrogen is used as a filling for being inert gas. The tightness of this type of packaging can keep the product in good health and hygiene conditions, at the same time, avoiding the alteration of its organoleptic characteristics during its commercial life.

During his speech, the company presented a study showing the reliability of its patented system of air-tight packaging Slicepak Plus, which allows to pack products that stand out of the plane of welding of the tray. The system represents a solution for the packaging of meat bird in contact with the film.

ULMA Packaging also participated in the day where he presented several models of machinery and equipment of EAP. The company specialises in the design and production of equipment and packaging services. The company has a team of more than 500 people and a sales network composed of subsidiaries and agents, delegations present in the 5 continents. In other developments, the company introduced its dynamic weight controller series IP, suitable for food processing lines require high health levels, such as meat, sausages, salted, frozen foods and pharmaceutical lines. In addition, these drivers are used to control the weight of any type of food.

The Irta Centa Centre has work rooms and equipment with capacity, design and dimensions suitable for the industrial production of food. This allows, explains the Centre, most of the developments made in the facilities directly applicable by enterprises to industrial manufacture, without scaling. The Center is a provider of solutions and a tool of innovation available to the producer companies of food, manufacturers of machinery and equipment, producers of ingredients and additives, other technological centres of research, public administrations, universities, foundations and other food-related associations.

According to the Center, Centa aims to "contribute to the ideas and objectives of the food companies make in structured projects of research, development and innovation to offer the consumer a safer, healthier food""tastiest and most convenient".