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The role of packaging in the secure delivery of nutritional products to the end-user can never be overlooked. Packaging determines the quality and safety of the contents that reach the customer. Most nutritional products are oxygen-sensitive in nature, therefore package performance is a common cause of concern. Defects in packaging can allow air, moisture, and microorganisms to enter the products, making it unfit for consumption. This is why manufacturers stress package integrity testing of nutritional products before they are dispatched. For testing the integrity of nutritional packages, PTI has developed two technologies: Vacuum Decay and Airborne Ultrasound.

Package Inspection Techniques Offered by PTI

1. Airborne Ultrasound Technology

Airborne Ultrasound is a non-destructive seal quality inspection test method used primarily for evaluating seal quality. Such tests offer enhanced seal quality inspection of pouches, flexible packages and tray seals. Airborne Ultrasound technology has proven capability of providing deterministic, reliable and accurate test results across a wide range of packaging materials including Tyvek, paper, foil, film, aluminum, plastic and poly. It is an ASTM Test Method F3004 and FDA Recognized Standard for seal quality testing.

Airborne Ultrasound technology utilizes ultrasound waves to detect defects in package seals. As the package seal moves along the sensor head, ultrasound waves are passed through the package seal, causing reflections of sound wave. If there is any defect in the package, the signal strength is reduced or even eliminated. Such variations are closely observed to identify defects in the seal.

Benefits of Airborne Ultrasound Technology:

• Deterministic seal quality inspection technique that assures quantitative and reliable results.
• Creates a visual image of seal quality.
• Applicable for multiple material types and combinations regardless of color, transparency, print, surface finish or porosity.
• Eliminates subjective manual inspection methods.
• Non-destructive, non-subjective, no sample preparation
• Technology can be integrated for 100% online defect detection of the final pouch seal.

2. Vacuum Deacy Technology

Vacuum Decay is a Container Closure Integrity test (CCIT) method, proven over decades to ensure package integrity at the production line with unmatched reliability and sensitivity. Being a non-destructive test method, it allows a greater understanding of package quality and reduces waste compared to destructive test methods. The standard vacuum decay leak test method (ASTM F2338), developed using PTI's VeriPac instruments, is recognized by the 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).

With the next generation of VeriPac test systems, PTI brings a tradition of excellence and performance reliability to its line of non-destructive package testing equipment. VeriPac test systems have undergone technological advancements across the product line, improving each model to better perform for their respective applications.

Primary areas of focus in terms of innovations in the field of vacuum decay have been improving the practicality and sensitivity of the test method. PTI's VeriPac test systems combine both technological innovation and practical adjustments to current technology to make it the most sensitive and versatile vacuum-based leak detection technology to date. Features like unique test cycles, pneumatic controls and processing algorithms make VeriPac technology the foremost vacuum-based leak detection technology.

Benefits of Vacuum Decay Technology:

• Non-destructive technology.
• ASTM Test Method F2338, FDA Consensus Standard and referenced in USP 1207 Guidelines.
• Accurate, repeatable results.
• Eliminates destructive, subjective testing methods.
• Pass/fail results backed by quantitative test data.