The Re 228 and Re 171 Comfort Trays from RPC Bebo are being marketed for the food retailers and producers who are interested in upgrading or expanding their ready meal products, said the company.
Various companies have been attempting to design more convenience into their packaging, such as materials that conduct less heat. Such products are designed for on-the-go, hot food and beverage and could lead to more innovative foods being developed for the convenience market.
"Re 228 and Re 171 Comfort represent the next generation in ready meal packaging, offering an innovative solution to the issue of safe handling whilst maintaining the high standard of functionality of RPC Bebo Nederland's range," said RPC'sspokesperson Arjan van Es.
The tray is composed of polypropylene, which makes freezable, sealable and safe for food packaging. The tray is fully microwave resistant and can handle temperatures up to 110 degrees Celcius in a conventional oven.
The recyclable polypropylene is formed with two notch-like handles at either end of the tray, which allows the consumer to easily handle the package while removing it from the microwave and peeling off the film seal.
The tray uses standard dimensions currently used by ready-to-eat products, however the height of the packaging can be customised to cater to varying portion sizes. This allows producers to easily make the switch to the RPC trays without modifying their industrial fillers and filling lines.
This also benefits supermarkets where shelf layouts will not have to be altered to adjust to the new packaging, said the company.
The packaging will also be adaptable to different product needs by offering single and multi-compartment options. Initial production will include trays with one, two and three compartments.
The company told FoodProductionDaily.com that orders have been received from a number of unspecified producers and that production of the tray will begin mid-September.
Netherlands-based RPC Bebo is worldwide supplier of plastics packaging to the food industry. The company made headway into the market 30 years ago when it developed the thermoforming of polypropylene.