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Most powder dairy products (milk powders, infant formula, protein-based powders, etc.) require process monitoring, production control and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) to retain their quality throughout its shelf-life or until it reaches the end-user. However, products that use MAP often have high risks of deficiencies in package quality control. Most MAP applications use Nitrogen flushing, and testing package quality involves sampling package gas content days after the product has been packaged. The protein based content of many products will allow bacteria to consume the majority of the O2 content before the increase in O2 is detected by gas testing equipment. Leaks as small as 10-20 microns will only increase the oxygen content to levels below 3%, the typical pass/fail threshold, passing defective product. Although packaging integrity testing can be conducted using traditional methods like water bath, they are only sensitive to 25-micron leaks at best. Therefore, dairy product manufacturers should use testing methods that offer highly sensitive leak testing along with the highest level of quality assurance.

Package Testing using VeriPac Test System

Vacuum Decay has been verified as the most practical and sensitive vacuum based leak test method. It is capable of creating reliable and accurate quantitative results and a pass or fail determination. The standard Vacuum Decay leak test method (ASTM F2338), developed using PTI's VeriPac instruments, is recognized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a consensus standard for container closure integrity (CCI) testing. The test method is listed in ISO 11607 and referenced in the United States Pharmacopeia Chapter on CCI (USP Chapter 1207). VeriPac series are a practical alternative to destructive testing methods that provide subjective test results and variable test standards.

PTI brings a tradition of excellence and performance reliability to our line of VeriPac non-destructive package testing equipment. PTI's VeriPac Series has the capability to non-destructively test packages at the production line with high levels of accuracy and sensitivity. Non-destructive testing not only reduces wastage, but it also allows operators to have a greater understanding of package quality. Moreover, it can accommodate multiple package formats and requires non changeover when testing different size packages.

Technology Overview

Under this technique, the VeriPac leak tester is connected to a test chamber that contains sample packages. Vacuum is applied to these packages and a dual transducer technology is used to monitor the test chamber for both the level of vacuum as well as the change in vacuum over a predetermined test time. The changes in absolute and differential vacuum indicate the presence of leaks and defects within the package. The test cycle takes only a few seconds, results are non-subjective, and testing is non-destructive to both product and package.

VeriPac Inspection system:

• Non-destructive, non-subjective, no sample preparation.
• Deterministic, quantitative test method.
• Defect detection down to 0.2 ccm.
• High level of sensitivity, repeatability and accuracy.
• Short cycle time provides operator with PASS/FAIL result.
• Small footprint and modular portable design.
• ASTM test method and FDA standard.
• Referenced in USP 1207 guidance.