Food processing seals play a dynamic role in the food processing industry since it makes sure the safety of the packed food and beverages. It also avoids the contamination and leakage of packaged food during storage and transport. There is an increasing demand for poultry, dairy, bakery, and confectionery products resulting in the increasing demand for Food Processing Seals. The increase in production of baked products, the rise in the demand for packaged items, increasing population, and rapid urbanization are some of the factors that are growing the demand for the Food Processing Seals.
What does Food Processing Seal mean?
Food Processing Seal is a step in the packaging and processing of food items. The packed food is sealed to avoid contamination and leakage of the food. There are various environmental factors that can cause damage, decay, or contamination of packed food items during transport and storage. Food processing seals play a vital role in the food processing industry since it ensures the safety of the packed food and beverages. It prevents entry of oxygen thereby reduces the chance of growth of bacteria and fungi.
Application of Food Processing Seals
Food Processing Seals are commonly used in bakery & confectionery, dairy products, beverages, meat poultry & seafood, etc.
Bakery & Confectionery: For packing bakery products like bread, buns, muffins, brownies, cookies, etc. and confectionary products like jellies, candies, fudge, etc. need to have such packaging and sealing that protects them from moisture and leakage.
Beverages: The sealing process of beverages need to face high temperature and pressure. Any error in sealing may cause leakage and contamination of the products. Oils, acids, salts, and sugars all need to withstand chemical compatibility. To improve the shelf life of the products, proper sealing is a must.
Dairy Products: For better preservation and handling of dairy items such as milk, yogurt, curd, etc., it is very important to have proper sealing of the packaged products. In most of the cases, induction heat sealing is used. Appropriate sealing of these dairy products protects them from leakage and improves the shelf-life.
Meat, Poultry & Seafood: For safe and secure delivery of these items, effective packaging and sealing are important. Since these products are highly susceptible to microbial contamination, it is very important to keep in mind the type of material and process used for packaging and sealing of these items.
The material used in Food Processing Seals.
The most commonly used materials in food processing seals include metals, face materials, and elastomers.
Elastomers
Elastomers are synthetic or natural polymers, they can reform themselves even after any deformation due to compression and tension. Elastomers are extensively used for sealing due to their wide range of chemical compatibility, temperature range, excellent aging characteristics, and highest replacement rate as compared to other materials.
Face Materials
Face Materials are made up of carbon-graphite that is impregnated with resins, metals, or ceramics to improve their physical and chemical properties. Metal impregnated carbon is highly strong and can bear mechanical pressure to a larger extent. They are also resistant to thermal shock and are a better option when used for sealing food items as it is highly efficient in preventing leakage.
Metal
Metals like gold, silver, aluminium, steel, and indium can be used in making the metals seals. For those products that need to have a long service life, high radiation loads, and low permeation rate, metals seals are used instead of elastomers or face materials. These types of seals require high contact pressure. Steel seals are used for cans, caps, and containers. It bears good formability and ductility.
Advantages of Food Processing Seals
Proper sealing of the processed and packaged food prevents it from leakage.
The sealer can avoid contamination of the packed food.
It also ensures the safe and secure transportation of the food.
It improves the shelf-life of the packaged food items.
Processing Seals also minimizes the chance of material loss.
The sealing of food products makes them able to bear extreme temperatures and pressures.
It also helps in maintaining preserving food in the right condition.
The bigger picture
The Food Processing Seals Market has been witnessing swift growth due to the rapid expansion of poultry, dairy, bakery, and confectionery products manufacturing industries. The increasing population, urbanization, and busy lifestyle of the working people have resulted in the increasing number of customers who rely on packaged food, thereby the demand for Food Processing Seals is also continuously rising.
The changing living standard of the people and increase in disposable income are another factors that are boosting the demand for Food Processing Seals in the market. There is also an increase in the investment for the development of new food & beverage processing seals in the food and beverage industry, and it is driving the market.
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