It goes without saying that all other testing is useless if the package leaks!
Sealing integrity is possibly the single most important element of quality control in MAP; if a package’s seal integrity is compromised, a leak will cause loss of the protective atmosphere and the shelf life of the food will be reduced, resulting in costly returns.
A package leak detector is therefore a vital part of MAP quality control. In recognition of this, Dansensor has developed state-of-the-art package leak detection equipment for testing the integrity of the seal.
Seal integrity can be compromised through a number of different routes. For example particles of the product being packaged may come between the tray and the seal. Another potential source of a breach in seal integrity is that the heating element that creates the thermal seal may be defective or misaligned, or there may be issues with the pressure, heat and duration of the sealing process. All these can result in seal integrity being compromised.
It is vital for quality control and quality assurance that leak detection equipment works as quickly and as accurately as possible. If seal integrity problems go undetected, issues are likely to arise with the product resulting in unwanted returns and potential damage to the relationship with a customer.
An efficient seal integrity monitoring system with a reliable leak detector can identify potential problems with the packaging process before these problems become serious is vital to ensure package integrity.