Quality Control in Food Processing and Packaging Industries

September was “National Food Safety Month” in the U.S. This 30-day event reminds us of the importance of food safety in more than one way. Although the food itself is of the utmost importance, quality control in the food processing and packaging are of the same rank. National Food Safety Month reinforces the message that effective quality control measures are needed to ensure food safety.

Now that we’ve hit October, it’s important to remember that food safety and quality control are necessary throughout the year, and here at Mark-10 we’d like to remind folks that we can help out on the quality control side. In recent months, the topic of food safety has been at the forefront of the industry and customers alike, with widely publicized recalls related to food packaging malfunctions, contamination, and other safety issues. One example is last month’s recall of cheese slices. Another example is the recall of ice cream products earlier this year.

The topic of food safety needs to be addressed on an ongoing basis. What specific steps can

professionals within the food industries take now? Food industry professionals are advised to review food safety strategies to ensure compliance with food safety regulations. Additional advice suggests that food safety professionals take the time to create “a written food safety plan that identifies and evaluates known or reasonably foreseeable hazards for each type of food manufactured, processed, packed or held at the facility.”

Quality control should be at the heart of any safety plan. It can be achieved and maintained in food processing and packaging by implementing preventive controls to monitor and perform verification activities, confirming controls are working properly. A few examples of preventive controls would be process controls, recall plans, and testing.

On the testing side, Mark-10 can help with a range of force and torque measurement solutions for applications including food ripeness and hardness, package peel testing, bottle cap torque testing, tensile testing of packaging materials, and many others. From handheld force and torque gauges to complete PC-controlled motorized systems, Mark-10 products are at home in laboratories as well as production lines. Click here to learn how Mark-10 can help you in your food and beverage testing applications.

Responsive Packaging to Reduce Food Waste

Food shortage and food waste is a sensitive problem. Over the past few years, the US has wasted close to 31% of all the food it produces, and typically consumers in the U.S. throw away about 80 billion pounds of food each year. Improper or poor food packaging can be the cause of this waste in many situations as the food inside can spoil or discolor if it is not sealed and packaged properly. In an effort to cut back on the amount of food wasted and disposed, intelligent food packaging solutions are being developed which will change the way food is packaged and transported.

How Responsive and Intelligent Packaging Can be a Game Changer:

While still in the research and development stage, the basic concept driving responsive packaging is the ability of the containers in which units of consumables are stored and transported to react to external stimuli.

Food might be affected by five kinds of chemical reactions – oxidation, moisture seeps, enzymatic browning, non-enzymatic browning and microbial activity. Responsive packages are specially created to:

• Change color if any of these reactions trigger so that the “sniff” test is replaced by real and accurate indicators 
• Release counter chemicals that inhibit these reactions (like the release of BHT/BHA to act as preservative) to extend shelf life 
• Give visual indicators for items that must be consumed immediately on opening to remind buyers of the time gone by 

Ideally responsive packaging will increase food safety by using preservatives only, and the goal is to cut back on food waste by meeting all FDA guidelines.

Mark-10 Complements Responsive Packaging:

Mark-10’s force and torque measurement products can assist the responsive packaging industry in multiple ways:

90° peel testing of foil seal

• Our products can help test the ability of the packaging to withstand the pressure of containers that might be stacked in transit to ensure that bursting at the seams and squashing do not damage the edible items inside.
• Our products can be used by the manufacturers of responsive packaging to develop products that maintain integrity yet can be easily opened by consumers so that the intelligent properties of the cartons, packets and bottles are not accidentally compromised because of ripping and tugging. 

At Mark-10 we have been designing and manufacturing force and torque measurement products for over 35 years. Our products help new and innovative technologies go through the testing process to make sure they are ready for release. To learn more about how our products can help the packaging and many other industries contact us.

A Recap of Common Force and Torque Measurement Applications

Force and torque measurement systems are used to assess and ensure product quality in almost every industry.  At Mark-10 we engineer and manufacture a variety of force and torque measurement products that are used for a range of applications in these industries. We’re focused on engineering and innovation, and keep a pulse on the market, designing products that fit the needs of these industries.

Below are some examples of the applications our products are used for:

Series TT01 Cap Torque Tester

• Aerospace: Applications from bearing torque testing to bend strength of materials to seatbelt release force are important in quantifying the performance of these components and materials. When the ultimate goal is a safe aircraft, the important of such testing cannot be understated. Our force and torque measurement systems produce the measurements aircraft manufacturers and their suppliers use to be confident in the performance of their products.
• Automotive:  In the automotive industry, vehicle components must work together in harmony, with the ultimate goal of driver and passenger safety. Our Spring Testers can measure force, torque, and deflection to address the numerous types of springs employed in automobiles. Other important applications include ignition switch torque measurement, rotary dial torque, and many others.
• Food and Beverage: Freshness is very important in the food and beverage industry.  Containers must be sealed well enough to keep the food or liquid product inside fresh, but easy enough to open by the user.  Torque testers such as our Series TT01 Cap Torque Testers determine the removal torque necessary for threaded bottle caps, helping packaging lines ensure a balance between ease of opening and preservation of contents.   
• Medical Device and Pharmaceutical:  In an industry where force and torque data can have an impact on the wellbeing of a patient, it’s important to take testing very seriously. From measuring tablet crush force to syringe plunger force, the measurements from force and torque testing can be instrumental in determining whether the medical device is suitable for use.  An example is our ISO 7886-1 Syringe Compression Fixture, which helps ensure that the plunger produces an appropriate amount of resistance during use. 

At Mark-10 we’ve been serving the above industries and many others with our range of products since 1979.  We are continually developing new solutions to meet our customers’ exacting standards. Contact us to learn more about the products we offer to meet your specific force and torque measurement needs.  

New Packaging Made of Both Rigid and Flexible Materials

Ana’s Food of Austin recently became the first commercial customer in North America to use both rigid and flexible material. The container features a square, injection-molded tub with flared sides that are made from rigid polypropylene posts. Then four panels of flexible and printable PP material are fused to the posts to create the sides of the container.

The company’s main objective in reformatting its packaging was to improve the sustainability and the new container uses up to 50% less plastic than regular salsa tubs. The polypropylene container is also 100% recyclable and the new design allows for easy stacking which can help reduce costs in shipping and stocking.

The trend for more sustainable packaging seems to be continuing to grow as we previously wrote a blog post about the market, which is predicted to reach $244 billion by 2018. Food manufacturers and packaging companies must ensure that the lighter packaging will still meet quality regulations as well as customers’ expectations. At Mark-10 we manufacture force and torque measurement products that not only test to ensure that the packaging will securely hold the contents but also that consumers will be able to easily open the package.

To learn more about our packaging testing solutions or to configure your own measurement system, visit our website. We also post more packaging industry news on our Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn pages.

The Rise of Smart Wearables

The wearable technology market is one of the fastest growing global industries. Intelligent watches allow you to read emails without checking a mobile phone display, while fitness monitoring bands keep track of the steps walked and the calories burned, seamlessly connecting with a smartphone app.

Smart wearables are not just an extension of smart devices. They are marketed as an invaluable extension of oneself in ways that a smartphone alone cannot do. 

Smart wearables are a key component of the rapidly expanding web that is the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT is hyped for its ability to improve our health, lifestyle, finances, and many other areas. 

The Healthcare Sector: 

The healthcare sector has identified the potential of using smart wearables to take pre-emptive action. The cost of healthcare in the US is mounting every day and, but it is predicted that mass use of wearable technology can mitigate these increases. Wearable watches can allow people to monitor their key health metrics and give healthcare providers remote access to health data, leading to reduced doctor and emergency room visits and better health outcomes. 

Smart wearables geared towards the healthcare sector are set to grow at an annualized rate of 13.6%. Venture capitalists are betting their money on this hot niche, pouring in $2.1 billion over the last three years. 

From parameters like heartbeat and breathing rate to ECG, EEG, EMG, blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring, a great deal is possible, leading to more accurate and timely diagnosis. 

Mark 10’s Contribution to Smart Wearables: 

Smart wearables, like mobile phones, are designed with relatively simple interfaces and ease of use, masking the massive amount of engineering required to develop them. From the materials sourced for the housing and strap, to the torsion- and impact-resistance of the case, to the touchscreen itself, proper testing by device manufacturers is essential in ensuring a successful product.  

Mark-10 equipment can characterize the quality of the strap by measuring tensile and elongation properties, measure the force required to activate the touchscreen, and measure how much force is required to shatter the glass. With a legacy that spans almost 40 years, turn to Mark-10 for testing solutions in the packaging, food and beverage, healthcare, electronics, springs, aerospace, and many other industries. Contact us for more information.