Periodic Reporting for period 2 - CleanPack (UltraCLEAN thermoforming equipment for food PACKaging, a cost-effective alternative to clean rooms)
Reporting period: 2018-08-01 to 2019-07-31
CleanPack goes beyond clean rooms in terms of shelf-life extension of foods. This goal could be achieved through a new packaging technique, which combines different patented technologies: sterile thermoforming and packaging, filling with surface decontamination of perishable fresh foods and ultraclean cutting of trays. The integration of these techniques in a whole CleanPack machine will allow SME-packaging to maintain the same level of food safety as clean rooms and extend shelf-life and freshness of their packed foods even more than big producers.
The industry sector of preparation and packaging of solid refrigerated foods such as dairy products, meat, fish, ready meals and salads or cut fruits and vegetables, is demanding increased levels of hygiene to package products with minimal microbial contamination or commercial sterility conditions (aseptically). CleanPack extends food shelf-live, preserving fresh-like characteristics of food as a clean label since there is no need for addition of further chemical preservatives. The implementation of this milder technology also has the potential of reducing energy consumption and the dependence on cold-chain logistics, which enables decentralized production for a more sustainable and economic distribution-chain. Therefore, a huge array of SME food industries would achieve better products with extended shelf-life thanks to CleanPack, improving the competitiveness of the sector.
CleanPack information has been published in TECSELOR website, social media networks and specialised media. Several demonstration actions have been developed in events related to food-industry and in meetings with potential clients. Moreover, an exhibition-truck containing the manufactured prototype was developed to facilitate the transportation of the machine for several project tasks, such as the on-site validations or the demonstration and marketing activities. The preliminary results during year 1 were positive, where several commercial contacts were established with potential customers and distributors within the food-packaging technology industry.
Summary and Overview for Year 2: During the second period of the project, and according to the implementation of the Project Work Packages, the industrial validation was finalised: obtaining positive results regarding microbiological control, as well as sensory and self-life preservation of food products [WP3]. The internal and external validations were also successfully developed and pre-commercial activities, such as further dissemination, extension international of the industrial protection (Patent), certifications and documentation for market deployment, were carried out [WP4]. Thus,positive preliminary results were obtained, establishing – pre-commercial agreements with potential clients and distributors interested in the acquisition and installation of CleanPack equipment. [WP5]
The results derived from the CleanPack project; following the successful implementation of the work packages during year 2 enabled TECSELOR to bring to the RTE (ready-to-eat) food packaging market a thermoforming machine for in-situ production of aseptic trays, which enables to reduce foodborne diseases and food waste, and increases shelf-life of RTE food, mainly fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, sliced food (meat, fish, poultry) and other RTE prepared meals. Moreover, such results have provided significant technological advantages over TECSELOR’s competitors.