Gas Flush Packaging & MAP Packaging

Gas Flush Packaging Solutions and Map Packaging

Welcome to our dedicated section on Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) and gas flush packaging – state-of-the-art solutions designed to significantly extend the shelf life of fresh and perishable products. At Record Packaging, we are committed to providing innovative packaging solutions that meet the evolving needs of the food, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods industries across the United Kingdom and beyond.

What is MAP Packaging?

Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) is a revolutionary technology that alters the composition of the internal atmosphere of the packaging to delay microbial degradation and oxidation. The process involves modifying the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen found in the air. This creates an optimal environment that preserves the quality and extends the shelf life of packaged products without the use of chemical preservatives.

Benefits of MAP:

Extended Shelf Life: By slowing down the process of decay, MAP allows food products such as meats, dairy, fruits, and vegetables to stay fresh for longer periods.
Maintains Product Quality: Keeps the taste, texture, and appearance of packaged goods intact.
Reduces Food Wastage: With longer shelf lives, the amount of food wasted due to spoilage is significantly reduced.
Enhances Consumer Safety: By inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria, MAP contributes to safer food consumption.

What is Gas Flush Packaging?

Gas flushing packaging, often used in conjunction with MAP. It involves the process of displacing the oxygen within a package with a gas or gas mixture (usually nitrogen or carbon dioxide). This technique is particularly effective in minimizing oxidation, preventing spoilage, and protecting against crushing for delicate products.

Benefits of Gas Flushing:

Prevents Oxidation: Reduces the risk of spoilage and discoloration in foods such as meats and snacks.
Protection for Delicate Products: Provides cushioning and protection, ideal for snack items like crisps and other easily crushed products.
Versatility: Suitable for a wide range of products, including non-food items that may benefit from reduced oxygen levels.

Our Solutions

At Record Packaging, we offer a comprehensive range of MAP and Gas Flushing machinery, tailored to meet the specific requirements of your products and packaging operations. Our cutting-edge equipment is designed for efficiency, reliability, and ease of use, ensuring that your packaging process is seamless and cost-effective.

Thermoforming is Ideal for MAP Packaging

Because of the nature of the machine involved, a thermoformer can remove all atmospheric oxygen from the pack. and re- place it with Carbon Dioxide or a Carbon Di- oxide / Nitrogen mixture where the Nitrogen improves the pack appearance. This gives extended shelf life to bakery products.
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MAP Packaging and Gas Flush for thermoforming machines

MAP packaging and Gas flusing for Flow wrap machines

Limitations of Flow Wrapping in Gas Flushing

Flow wrapping is a popular packaging method, but it has notable limitations when it comes to gas flushing and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP):

Residual Oxygen Levels: Flow wrapping cannot completely eliminate atmospheric oxygen from packages. This results in residual oxygen levels that hinder significant shelf life extension for perishable goods.

Gas Mixtures: Although gas flushing replaces ambient air with gases like carbon dioxide and nitrogen, it fails to remove all oxygen. This limits the effectiveness of achieving the desired gas composition for improved product appearance and preservation.

Comparison with Other Methods: Alternative methods like thermoforming use vacuum extraction followed by gas injection. This offers better control over residual oxygen levels, making them more effective for MAP compared to flow wrapping.

In summary, while flow wrapping is widely used, its inability to fully remove atmospheric oxygen restricts its effectiveness in extending shelf life and preserving product quality.