ILPRA Tray Sealers offer several advantages over drum seal machines, particularly in the context of food packaging and industrial tray sealing operations. Here’s a clear breakdown of the benefits:
1. Versatility in Packaging Formats
- ILPRA Tray Sealers: Can handle a wide variety of tray shapes, sizes, and materials, including MAP (Modified Atmosphere Packaging), vacuum skin, and simple sealing.
- Drum Seal Machines: Typically limited to square or rectangular containers to prevent poor appearance of excess film, due to the inability to “cut to shape”.
2. Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) Capabilities
- ILPRA: Many models support MAP and vacuum sealing, which extends shelf life and improves food preservation due to low oxygen residual levels achieved.
- Drum Sealers: Usually don’t support MAP. They’re more basic in sealing, not focused on shelf-life extension. NOTE: Purging is often advertised. This is wasteful and often provides no benefit for extended shelf life.
3. Integration with Production Lines
- ILPRA: Easily integrated into larger automated packaging systems (e.g., conveyor belts, filling stations, labeling).
- Drum Sealers: Less adaptable to integration, generally more standalone and manual.
4. Precision and Consistency
- ILPRA: Offers precise temperature and pressure control, ensuring consistent seals. Ideal for industries with high-quality standards like fresh food or ready meals.
- Drum Sealers: Can be less consistent, especially under continuous use or if not regularly calibrated.
5. Cleanliness and Hygiene Standards
- ILPRA: Built to meet food-grade hygiene standards with easy-to-clean surfaces and components. Machines are IP65 (or more) wash-down Rated and built for 304/316 Stainless Steel. For cleaning tooling (seal head), there is one compact station.
- Drum Sealers: May not meet stringent food packaging hygiene standards due to design. These often use 30+ carrier plates that can be a lengthly process to clean and maintain.
Use Case Summary
| Feature | ILPRA Tray Sealer | Drum Seal Machine |
|---|---|---|
| Handling of various shapes | ✅ | ❌ |
| MAP/Vacuum Options | ✅ | ❌ |
| Automation | High | Low |
| Shelf-life Extension | ✅ | ❌ |
| Retail Presentation | ✅ | ❌ |
Conclusion
If your priority is retail-ready, hygienic, efficiency and the need to the greatest shelf life, especially for food, ILPRA Tray Sealers offer a more advanced and scalable solution than drum seal machines. Drum sealers still have their place in packaging, but truly excel in applications that are limited to square and rectangular tray designs, and sealing only (non-MAP/VSP)- Examples being, Meals on Wheels and Schools.