Stora Enso Packaging Boards
Consumer Boards
55800 Imatra, FINLAND
Tel. +358 2046 121
Fax +358 2046 24716
PRESS RELEASE
April 22, 2005
'Stora Enso AT Master' enables tightness verification of airtight packages
Stora Enso is introducing a new food packaging solution at Interpack: an airtight cup made from non-foil paperboard. Tightness, which is achieved through a combination of specially developed paperboard, heat-sealed raw-edge taping and innovative lid sealing, can be tested and verified with the unique 'Stora Enso AT Master' tightness-testing equipment, based on tracer gas.
The new cup lends itself to far more than drinks and has high potential in areas where innovative design and user-friendliness are key objectives. Airtight cups developed by Stora Enso take food packaging opportunities to a completely new level. Made from a special paperboard with high barrier coating, the airtight cups are ideal for snacks, cereals, confectionery, biscuits, tea and regular and instant coffee, for example.
Safe, reliable and cost-effective tracer gas test
The airtight cups must pass a wide range of quality inspections, including a 'Stora Enso AT Master' tightness test. The equipment uses hydrogen as a tracer gas, which is easy and safe, cost-effective and 100% reliable. "In the tracer gas test, the sample cup is filled with a gas compound containing hydrogen and nitrogen, and a detector sensor is used to scan potential leakage points. In the detecting station, the tracer gas hydrogen is forced out of the cup in the event of a leak. The results guide fine-tuning of the cup-making process in order to eliminate any defects," says Jalliina Järvinen, Manager of Food Solutions at Stora Enso.
"Airtight cup provides prolonged shelf-life for packaged food, without altering the taste, odor or nutritional value of its contents. With its gas-mixture-modified atmosphere, it keeps the contents safe during long shelf-life, preventing the aromas from evaporating and fats from turning rancid," Järvinen says.
Cupforma AT has oxygen and moisture barriers
Stora Enso has developed a special non-foil paperboard Cupforma AT for the airtight cups. Its water-vapor barrier protects the contents against caking, loss of crispiness, mold growth, softening of texture and change in color, taste and odor. Oxygen barrier protects the packaged food against rancidity, loss of vitamins, growth of microbes, oxidation of lipids and change in color, taste and odor. Stora Enso's Silver Barr coating provides maximum light, oxygen, humidity and aroma protection for light-sensitive products.
"Raw edge taping is essential to the tightness of the cup's side seam in airtight applications. The side seam is sealed and the bottom is attached in heating stations, where optimization of the heating temperature and the amount of air ensures that the seams become tight and leakage-proof. The rim of the cup is flattened to ensure tight sealing of the lid. The lid sealing is conducted with specially designed heated tools," Järvinen explains.
Direct link to picture: http://bmt.storaenso.com/storaensolink.jsp?imageid=ATMaster
For further information
Stora Enso Packaging Boards
Consumer Boards, New Business Innovations Jalliina Järvinen, Manager, Food Solutions E-mail jalliina.jarvinen@storaenso.com Tel. +358 2046 26789
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