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Inline and offline MAP gas checks

29-Nov-2018 - Last updated on 30-Nov-2018 at 13:52 GMT

Trinity College Dublin’s new system accurately checks the modified atmosphere gas mix inside any sort of gas-flushed pack

A system for accurately checking the modified atmosphere gas mix inside any sort of gas-flushed pack, both inline immediately after sealing or offline at a later stage in the supply chain, has been pioneered by researchers at Trinity College Dublin.

The technology combines a print matrix – which is barely visible to the human eye but acutely sensitive to the in-pack atmosphere – with a bespoke vision system that measures the optical output of the sensor, even at the highest line speeds. The print is sandwiched behind a permeable layer in the flexible laminate.

Due for commercial launch

The system is due for commercial launch later this year by Senoptica Technologies, its chief executive Brendan Rice (pictured) told Food Manufacture.

“One estimate puts the proportion of defective modified atmosphere packs in UK fresh meat at 3% of the total.” This alone equates to some 150 million packs a year, he added.

The technology was co-developed by Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research, and the School of Chemistry, both located at Trinity College.