Cutting-edge solutions in meat packaging, from sustainable practices to automated systems, ensuring efficiency and visual appeal for your products
Meat packers today are encountering unprecedented challenges, navigating a landscape where labor constraints and cost pressures are affecting the productivity and profitability of their businesses. According to Melanie Bandari, senior marketing manager for Amcor, based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable packaging, without being willing to pay extra. In response, packers must rethink strategies to address challenges related to bone-in products while maintaining performance, durability, and shelf-life.
Ryan Spencer, product marketing manager for Multivac Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri, highlighted the shift towards Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) trays for bone-in steaks. This transition minimizes contact between sharp bones and film, reducing the likelihood of leaks. For whole muscle products, the use of thicker bone guard bags and advanced bone protection sheets has become the industry norm. Material science advancements have led to shrink bags with enhanced transparency, superior shrink properties, and increased puncture resistance.
In the ever-evolving meat packaging industry, staying ahead of trends is crucial. Rob Taylor, director of strategic marketing for TC Transcontinental Packaging in Chicago, emphasized the need to balance bone puncture protection and barrier attributes with an appealing product presentation on retail shelves. Clearshield shrink bags and tubestock from TC Transcontinental Packaging have been fine-tuned to offer a range of bone-in specifications, providing optimal optics, shrinkage, barrier protection, and puncture resistance for diverse applications.
To address the evolving demands, TC Transcontinental Packaging introduced the TC AB490 In Line Autobagger machines. These machines empower customers to create Clearshield bone-in bags on demand, directly on their packing lines. This customization allows for precise bag sizing, reducing on-hand inventories and providing greater control over packaging processes.
Amcor Flexibles North America, in June 2023, announced the acquisition of an advanced, turnkey protein automated packaging solution – Amcor Moda Packaging. This solution offers an end-to-end packaging approach, including primary packaging, equipment, onsite technical service, and parts. The open control system of the equipment enables seamless integration into existing plant maintenance systems for remote monitoring.
The Amcor Moda Bag, a key component of the solution, produces bags on-demand with variable length and print capabilities. This innovation significantly reduces packaging costs by consolidating inventory into a single rollstock width. The flexibility to customize length and grade on demand further reduces inventory requirements by up to 40%.
Collaboration between Amcor and packers ensures the selection of the right packaging type and size to optimize cost and production efficiencies. High abuse bone-in tubestock products are offered to complement on-demand solutions, simplifying inventory management and allowing operational flexibility. Utilizing bone-in tubestock can result in a 30% reduction in packaging costs, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and efficiency.
Reiser, based in Canton, Massachusetts, provides a range of packaging solutions, including thermoform/fill/seal machines, tray sealers, stretch film wrapping machines, and vacuum chamber packaging machines. Mike McCann, a packaging specialist at Reiser, highlighted the importance of offering various packaging formats to meet diverse product and business needs. Skin packaging, in particular, stands out in high-end applications, enhancing product visibility and shelf appeal.
Skin packaging offers the longest shelf life for fresh meat and poultry, nearly double that of conventional MAP packaging. The clear skin film adhering tightly to the product shape presents an attractive visual, influencing consumer choices. The extended shelf life benefits retailers by reducing shrink, consumers by minimizing food waste, and processors by opening doors to new markets.
In conclusion, the meat packaging industry is navigating challenges by embracing innovative solutions. From advanced automated packaging solutions like Amcor Moda Packaging to the flexibility of on-demand bag creation with TC AB490 In Line Autobagger machines, the focus is on sustainability, cost efficiency, and visual appeal. As the industry evolves, collaboration between packaging providers and meat packers remains crucial to adapting to changing consumer demands and market trends.
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