The packaging film and equipment supplier said its new Pour & Lok for form-fill-seal applications is the newest member of the Inno-Lok pre-zippered roll stock family.
Jeanette Long, Hudson Sharp marketing manger, explained that the Pour & Lok pre-zippered roll stock runs on a form-fill-seal machine with slight modification to the forming collar, the side gusset pre-zippered film requires one extra step of an additional vertical seal, and a perforation blade is required which can easily mount on the form-fill-seal seal bar.
Efficiency
“When the package is opened and the gusset pulled out, this creates an easy pouring spout. The package is then resealed easily for future product use,” she continued.
Long maintains that pre-zippered roll stock runs more efficiently than in-line zipper stock with less scrap and downtime incurred in the production:
“In-line zipper systems require cutting, positioning, placing and heat sealing in-line - all difficult and complex.
“Pre-zippered roll stock has been shown to be at least 30 per cent more efficient than in-line zipper application, while pre-zippered roll stock can save up to 50 per cent in zipper material and up to 15 per cent in packaging material.”
Food applications
She told FoodProductionDaily.com that the reclosable packaging is ideally suited to products such as confectionery, snack foods, frozen foods, dried beans, pasta and rice.
The benefits of resealable packaging in terms of food are manifold, claims Long. She said it allows product protection before and after opening as well as easy access to the product and good portability.
Moreover, she said, there is less packaging waste as the product does not have to be transferred into a rigid storage container.
Long added that the Pour & Lok resealable packaging also appeals to food manufacturers through the product differentiation and continued brand exposure it provides.
Packaging study
Franklin Associates looked at the life cycle inventory (LCI) of flexible re-sealable packaging as compared to rigid alternatives. The study looked at eight packaging systems - six for deli meats and two for breakfast cereals. The researchers found that products packaged in flexible pouches with re-sealable closures had lower energy consumption, solid waste generation and greenhouse gas emissions than rigid packaging. The findings are remarkable since rigid packaging is often re-usable, which can give it a higher perception of sustainability in consumers' eyes. Moreover, transportation energy requirements were less for the flexible packs than for rigid alternatives. Overall, the researchers concluded that flexible packaging is, on balance, the most sustainable option of the two.