New co-extruded bottom web targets convenience range, says Cryovac

The company said that the Cryovac Simple Steps FDE93X60 is the new generation of Simple Steps flexible bottom webs.

The web has a thickness of 150 microns, is microwaveable and heat treatable and is designed for use in the flex-tray-flex and flex-flex range of the Darfresh VSP system, according to Sealed Air.

Barbara Guzzo, Product Manager, Cryovac Food Solutions told FoodProductionDaily.com that the bottom film is used in combination with the Darfresh TC201 and TH301 top films to produce extended shelf-life and enhanced organoleptic properties.

Ready meals​

She said that the FDE93X60 bottom web, allied with the Darfresh top webs, is geared towards chilled and frozen ready meals and meal components as well as ready to heat and ready to cook products.

Sealed Air’s Cryovac Simple Steps line of packaging is a ‘heat and serve’ microwavable package, which uses a self-venting technology. According to the firm, this helps make meal preparation convenient and safe.

“The self-venting is the result of the composition of the top and bottom webs that under the action of the pressure of the steam released during the cooking become weak and open on one side of the pack, eliminating the need for pre-perforation of the film,” ​said Guzzo.

The use of top and bottom webs ensures a leakproof package for the flex-flex applications:

“The packaging process together with the chemical properties of the sealing layer of the top and bottom webs guarantee a total seal around the product,” ​said Guzzo.​

Vacuum packaging ​

The vacuum skin packaging reduces the time needed to cook, reheat or defrost products, while requiring minimal consumer effort, the company claims.

Vacuum skin packaging is increasingly used in the European food industry, with estimated annual growth in demand of more than 10 per cent, according to Cryovac.

It has become popular with growing concerns about food safety and especially contamination of meat products. It is most widely used for processed meat products.

The company said that the FDE93X60 bottom web has a maximum forming depth of 40 mm and can run on the Cryovac VS26 and Multivac CD and RCD range.

Convenience​

The Simple Steps line of packaging taps into an increased demand for convenience products that trickles down from the consumer market into the food packaging arena.

A recent report from the Freedonia group forecasts that the increasing popularity of convenience and prepared foods will play a large part in the growth of converted flexible food packing.

Demographic changes such as greater numbers of single-person households and older consumers will support the demand for more convenient prepared foods and single-serving portions, sometimes in multi-packs.

They said that this will increase material consumption as smaller portions tend to use more packaging relative to their size.

Convenience-orientated or processed foods also often use more costly, higher barrier packaging materials for extended shelf life, claim the analysts.