It is very disturbing if complaints are received from consumers about spoiled food products. Perhaps the packaging had a leak. Of course the Quality Department continually carries out sample testing according to the agreed standards. But the test methods are outdated.
Nearly all food manufacturers detect leaks in packaging using the bubble test method in an immersion tank or by squeezing the packaging. This does give an indication but does not provide certainty. This means there is a serious risk of complaints about quality. The bubble test method has always been pretty inaccurate. A leak in the packaging of less than 30 µm does not show up. The consequences? It is only when the food products reach the consumer that it is found that the contents are not fit to eat. This results in complaints.
Accurate method using pressure measurements
There is now a far better method available and it is a dry method. The stand alone leak detection equipment from Oxipack that has recently been brought onto the market works on pressure readings and is extremely accurate. It is also very fast; the operator can tell if packaging has any leaks within thirty seconds, using a simple test. The equipment can be set up to provide accuracy right down to 10 µm. In this way the set up of the packaging machine can be properly checked and the number of leaks can be dramatically reduced. Most importantly the equipment does not depend on operator interpretation: anyone who carries out the test will arrive at the same results. The quality aspect is not dependant on the accuracy or attentiveness of the operator.
The operator does not have to constantly be looking for bubbles, as is the case when using the bubble test method. And the operator does not have to press or squeeze a set number of packages.
The Stationary Leak Tester has only two possible outcomes: a green light (okay) or a red light (leak). So there is only one interpretation: good or bad. It does not matter if ten different operators use the Oxipack leak detection system, they will all arrive at the same result. Thus the results do not depend on the person.
Reduces wastage;
The Oxipack method is non-destructive, clean and dry. The packaging that is tested does not need to be thrown away. This is something that often happens with the bubble test method. With the bubble test method the packaging always balloons under the water by the vacuum that is created. There is then a risk of contamination by the water in the tank. With the Oxipack leak detection system the packaging remains intact. So after successfully passing the test all the airtight packaging can be returned to the production line. This further reduces wastage.
In-line leak detection
Are you considering using in-line testing of all product packaging so that the products can be checked for leaks totally automatically? Oxipack can work in close cooperation with your engineering department to develop a custom designed solution. This will improve the efficiency of the entire production process. This means the risk of packaging only being rejected in the warehouse is a thing of the past.
Sustainable investment
The leak detection systems offered by Oxipack reduce the number of complaints and the percentage of rejected packaging. Moreover the product packaging that is tested no longer has to be destroyed. Thus this is a sustainable investment that pays for itself.
