Dansensor has launched an on-line gas analyser for modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) equipped thermoforming and tray-sealing machines.
According to the Denmark-based company, the new Dansensor MAP Check 3 Vacuum extends the company’s existing range of analysers, MAP Check 3 and MAP Check 3 Pressure, now offering food packagers increased process control and traceability data to help support the latest food safety protocols around the world.
The new gas analyser is said to be ideal for a wide variety of modified-gas food packaging applications including meat, poultry, fish and baked goods.
“To help meet more stringent food safety objectives, it is becoming increasingly important for processors to be able to trace data long after the package has left the plant,” says Karsten Kejlhof, sales and marketing director, Dansensor.
“The upgraded connectivity, and continuous data logging provided by the MAP Check 3 Vacuum, keeps residual oxygen – and optionally carbon dioxide – records of every package produced.”
Operating in real-time, MAP Check 3 Vacuum keeps up with high-speed lines without the need to remove the package for manual, destructive testing, Kejlhof adds.
MAP Check 3 Vacuum continuously measures gas content of the packages before they are sealed.
The operator can create individual programs for each product through a touch-screen.
As the packaging machine is running, MAP Check 3 Vacuum takes a gas sample directly from the sealing die and gives an average reading of the residual oxygen (and optional carbon dioxide) for every cycle.
If the gas levels approach the preset limit, MAP Check 3 Vacuum will notify the operator.
If the limits are exceeded, the packaging machine will be automatically stopped, minimising the chance of a future recall.
Dansensor states that labour, product waste and repackaging are reduced when compared with destructive, manual off-line testing.
The launch of MAP Check 3 Vacuum means that Dansensor can supply precision analysers for all major MAP techniques on the same MAP Check 3 platform.
The new unit replaces Dansensor’s previous vacuum and gas flush analyser, the CMV-2, and it can also be seamlessly integrated with the company’s compact MAP Mix Provectus gas mixer.
