Yashveec Vaghela
It is always recommended to check the package’s seal before making a purchase of packaged food from any market. Buying an unopened package could expose one to a great deal of contaminants and bacteria. There are numerous new food packaging innovations that aim to extend many foods’ shelf lives so that relief food can reach those who need it in a world that is working to end global hunger.
A very specific set of safety requirements for food and beverage packaging must be followed. Preferred glues are the ones that can withstand extremely high temperatures and are secure for both direct and indirect food contact. Certainly,sealing is essential to preserving product quality over the course of storage and avoiding food waste.
Case and carton sealing and folding, seal tray forming, package labelling, windowing, filters, and many other tasks require the use of food and beverage packaging glues. There are various types of glues. For instance, liquid glues are frequently used for labelling, case and carton sealing, and folding while gelatin glues are frequently used for rigid food boxes like cereal or candy boxes.
Based on the type of packaging , different types of glues or adhesives are used:
- In case of plastic packaging , which is the most common type of packaging , UV curable adhesives are preferred.
- For paper packaging ,water-based, solvent-based, and hot melt adhesives are the most suitable types.
- Pressure-sensitive adhesives function well with foam that has a smooth surface, such as poly or charcoal foam.
- Many acids, bases, and solvents are resistant to epoxy-based adhesives. Due to the incredibly solid bond, they produce, polyurethane reactive hot melts are also fantastic for aluminium.
There are various types of sealing:
- Heat sealing:
With a set of crimp seal heating bars, conventional heat-sealing systems use a combination of heat, time, and pressure to form a seal. The melting of a layer of plastic and the joining of the two layers of film occurs when the jaws come together.
- Ultrasonic sealing:
Since the seals at the longitudinal and transverse seams are smaller, ultrasonic sealing requires less energy than heat sealing and results in noticeable film savings. The level of seal integrity that can be attained, though, is the primary argument in favour of ultrasonic sealing. It is quite useful in the salad industry. For the sealing technique , there are various types of jaws employed for applications. Rotary jaws, D-cam, long dwell and box motion are the kinds of jaws used in sealing methods.
There are different packaging requirements for various types of food. The adhesives industry provides products based on a wide range of technologies for use in food packaging in order to satisfy all requirements.Companies in the food and beverage industry are starting to modify the way they handle plastic bottles, food packaging in response to the damaging effects that plastic waste has on the environment. Eco-friendly food packaging options made of biodegradable materials have started to become a widespread trend in the industry as F&B packaging starts to move away from plastic. The use of environmentally friendly glue will rise as a result of sustainable food packaging, which will ultimately aid the industry in lowering its environmental impact.
All in all , the safety of the food you eat every day is greatly influenced by the use of appropriate food packaging equipment, which also makes it possible to transport food items safely and easily. If done properly, packaging can prevent food from going bad. Glue and sealing is one of the important domains of packaging.
* In-house writer, FMT Magazine
