FDBusiness.com

At the European Seafood Exposition, which takes place in Brussels from 23 to 25 April 2013, the packaging specialist MULTIVAC is showing machine models, which make it easy for speciality businesses to automatically pack both fresh and frozen fish and seafood as well as ready-to-eat fish meals. High-pressure processing of food (HPP) will also be shown.

The trend towards more healthy eating is promoting the demand worldwide for fish, fish meals and seafood. Consumers are increasingly demanding fresh and high-quality products. The interest in products from sustainable fishing is also increasing. “The demands of the fish industry on its processing and packaging procedures have continued to grow in recent years: greater cost and energy efficiency is demanded. At the same time manufacturers want to offer fresh products in their natural state”, says Valeska Haux, Marketing Manager at MULTIVAC.

The German packaging machine manufacturer is presenting at European Seafood 2013 a range of different exhibits, which simplify the automated processing of fresh, frozen or (pre) cooked fish and seafood. MULTIVAC is also showing sustainable concepts and solutions for packaging products in as natural a state as possible.

Entry into automatic packing in trays

With the T 300 MULTIVAC will be showing a traysealer model, which enables smaller speciality businesses and service companies to make the entry into the automatic packing of fish meals and seafood in trays. Its lifting units are electrically driven, which optimises the energy efficiency of the machine.

With the R 175 CD MULTIVAC will be showing an economical thermoforming packaging machine, which is designed for small to medium-sized batches. The machine model is suitable for the production of Darfresh vacuum skin packs – an innovative application from MULTIVAC, by which manufacturers and packers can give their high value fish products the maximum shelf life. “With this process we use special skin films, which enclose the fish, portions of fish or seafood without tension like a second skin, and which seal to the full surface of the lower web. Shape and structure of the sensitive products are maintained, and a first-class pack presentation is also ensured at the point of sale”, explains Valeska Haux.

Packing long products

With the C 370 chamber machine MULTIVAC will be showing a cost-effective solution for packing particularly long fish. The chamber width of 900 millimetres on the C 370 is twice as large as that of the other chamber machines in the C 3xx series. The sealing bars are arranged on the right and left.

Extending shelf life without preservatives

In addition to this, MULTIVAC will also be presenting its range of solutions for the high-pressure processing of food, which include machines, patented technologies and aHPPTestCenter. “High-pressure processing is the technology of choice for packing fish and seafood with as few chemical preservatives as possible: It deactivates microorganisms, such as salmonella or listeria, without the original nutritional value or the taste of the product being lost”, says Valeska Haux.