Page 65 - Packaging News magazine Jul-Aug 2021

July-August 2021 | www.packagingnews.com.au | SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
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Keeping leaks in check
When leaks occur in pet food packaging, it can alter the smell and taste, and potentially cause contamination. Pets can detect the change and will reject the food if they sense a risk. Oxipack leak detection technology helps mitigate the risk.
BELOW: Maximum shelf life: Oxipack leak detection
investigated, and packages are tested and re-packaged, costing companies time and money due to production down time.
The methodology behind the Oxipack range of non-destructive leak detection solutions is innova- tive: through the use of two rubber membranes, a deep vacuum is cre- ated in the equipment’s test chamber, allowing for any pressure changes due to leaks to be detected, via a small measuring space which is cre- ated around the packaging. This method allows accurate detection of both large and small leaks, without any damage to packaging, according to Oxipack.
Pet food producers can use the Oxipack Stationery Leak Tester (SLT) to detect leaks in all types of pet food packaging. It is suitable for both wet and dry pet foods and even oversized pet food packages of up to 25kg, detecting leaks down to 25 μm. ■
TINY air leaks in pet food packaging can change the smell and taste of teh product. Thanks to an excellent sense of smell, pets can detect a potentially stale or contaminated food product in order to protect their sensitive stomachs, and will thus reject the food.
Leak detection specialist Oxipack, represented exclusively in ANZ by Heat and Control, says it understands the vital role of leak detection to ensure the quality of pet food and guarantee shelf life.
Many pet foods are vacuum sealed to stabilise the amount of moisture in their packages because oxygen can
spoil nutritious fats. The maximum moisture in a can of pet food is typi- cally around 77 per cent. The big question for pet food producers: is the packaging leak free?
The disruption caused by the discovery of leaking packaging is every manufacturer’s worst nightmare. Testing for
leaks is generally a manual process con- ducted with ran- dom sample test- ing. Production lines are usually shut down while the problem is
Safety
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