Vacuum Skin Packaging (VSP):
Whereas MAP Packaging modifies the atmosphere, Vacuum Skin Packaging (VSP) removes all the air within the packaging for a skin-tight presentation. Vacuum Skin Packaging is often used in the following markets – Seafood, Meat/Poultry, and Meal Prep. During this process on the ILPRA Tray Sealer, the trays are filled with the desired product and brought into the automatic or semi-automatic machine. From there, the cycle begins by the chamber closing, and the “skin film” is vacuum stretched to the upper teflon coated domed. Once that film is heated and stretched, it is pulled by vacuum down to the product to the precise millibar set point. When the vacuum cycle is complete, the knife comes down and cuts the film, in profile to the tray.
The advantages to this style of packaging are:
- Excellent retail appearance with vertical presentation
- Vacuum seal meal prep enjoys the greatest result in shelf life
- HPP Stable
- Higher reduction of food loss
- Puncture resistant
- Ideal for distribution and shipping via general carriers.
- Self-venting for even heat distribution during microwaving.
Which is better, MAP or VSP?….
In short, it depends. You should speak to your equipment expert who can help guide you in making the right decision for your application.
Here are general points for each.
- MAP is much more versatile than VSP from an application standpoint as not all applications perform well under vacuum.
- MAP provides faster production rates than VSP.
- MAP Machines are less costly.
- VSP applications can typically withstand HPP Processes better then MAP
- VSP often can achieve a longer shelf life
- VSP applications withstand shipping better than a standard seal. Allows for less movement of product.
- VSP Applications often take up less space than MAP, therefore producing greater shipping efficiency.
VSP Packaging for Different Products
Vacuum skin packaging is used frequently in the food industry, primarily to provide skintight seals for goods that may easily spoil, like meat, fish, and prepared meals. If you specialize in producing food that need to be vacuum sealed to ensure freshness, you’ll find that we offer a wide range of VSP packaging machines to support production.
These include solutions like the FP 400 VSP, which is a tabletop vacuum skin packaging machine designed for ready meals and things like sliced meat and charcuterie, the FoodPack SPEEDY, which greatly improves output and allows you to reduce costs while supporting numerous types of vacuum-sealed products, and the FP 1485, a much larger model designed for maximizing sealing capacity for single lane production, and one that is versatile across different product types as well. If your focus is on VSP packaging, RTG Packaging ensures you have access to the equipment you need to successfully support your company’s packaging processes.
Our Vacuum Skin Packaging Process
How does RTG Packaging support you with vacuum skin packaging? Our VSP packaging process consists of:
- Providing you with further guidance to ensure you’ve chosen the right vacuum skin packaging equipment for your production needs.
- Installing the equipment to guarantee operability and supporting you with further insights into how you can optimize your processes for effective output.
- Troubleshooting issues you’re having with your VSP packaging after installation for continued support.
RTG Packaging goes beyond just selling you VSP packaging, supporting you through every step of the process from searching for equipment to troubleshooting issues for best results. If you’re ready to begin finding the right vacuum skin packaging equipment for your company, get in touch with us now.
