Aseptic film improves safety of bag-in-box packaging

The packaging system is aimed at increasing the amount of high viscosity fluids that can be extracted from bag-in-box packages. This latest development enables greater efficiency and cost savings, according to the New York company. "The aseptic process enables longer shelf life for products and better manufacturing efficiencies for producers,"​ said Mike Brunhuber, vice president of Arena Products. "We have expanded our successful Air-Evac system in response to this growing demand and in keeping with our strategy of providing holistic systems for safe, productive filling; and productive and complete product discharge." ​​Aseptic addition ​​Arena said the use of aseptic packaging is growing in the industry as a result of the market's demand for better product safety. The company said it can meet various customer needs by providing a variety of barrier films for the aseptic bags. They are designed to work with existing fitments provided by the company, and are compatible with Arena's range of specialty pumping systems from Arena that help reduce residual waste when discharging more viscous products. They bags are available in both the Starfish Air-Evac, providing top discharge, and the Blowfish Air Evac, providing bottom discharge. There have been a number of recent packaging launches with aseptic capabilities amid this growing trend. Earlier this month, SIG Combibloc unveiled two new aseptic filling machines to reduce the processing time required by dairy manufacturers for using multiple small-volume carton packages. And at the end of last year, International Dispensing Corporation created new flexible aseptic packaging designed to dispense shelf-stable beverages and liquid foods repeatedly over extended time without the need for refrigeration, preservatives, or power. Bag-in-box ​ The hands-free Air-Evac system was specially developed for increasing the effectiveness of bag-in-box packaging for products such as fruit fillings, diced tomatoes and sauces. It works by replacing the volume of liquid pumped out of the inner chamber of the liners with new air introduced to chambers outside the bag. The inflating air chambers push the liquid towards the bag outlet. Arena claims its Air-Evac system, introduced in 2006, reduces residual levels by over 50 per cent and virtually eliminating waste. Arena Products designs, manufactures, and markets large, reusable structural plastic products for storage and transportation of food and chemical products.