Media
Press Release 08-24-07
PTI Inspection Systems – Leak Testing of Coffee Packaging
Challenge: Coffee manufacturers are always seeking reliable inspection methods for coffee packaging, especially for new production lines or start-up projects that require new and improved inspection methods for both offline and online testing. The growth of the coffee industry has put pressure on manufacturers to source more reliable inspection technologies for quality and process control to replace destructive test methods, for example, the commonly used water bath method. For many companies, the focus and goal is also to find solutions and source equipment ideally through one supplier if the right technology and machine configurations can be achieved.
PTI has manufactured and installed inspection systems for the following types of coffee packaging:
- Bag/Pouch with one-way valve containing coffee beans or ground coffee
- Coffee can: metal with peelable foil seal for ground coffee (multiple size containers)
- Coffee can: plastic with peelable foil seal for ground coffee (multiple size containers)
Non-Destructive Leak Testing Offline: PTI Inspection Systems has completed installations of VeriPac Model 325 leak testers for bag/pouch and coffee can (metal and plastic) offline leak testing applications. The VeriPac 325 utilizes non-destructive vacuum decay leak testing technology and follows the ASTM-F2338 test method that was developed using PTI VeriPac instruments. This test method is also recognized by the FDA as a standard for package integrity testing.
Principles of VeriPac Technology
VeriPac leak testers connect to a test chamber that is designed to contain the package to be tested. Testing chambers can be automatic, semi-automatic or manual. The package is placed inside the test chamber to which vacuum is applied. An absolute or differential vacuum transducer is used to monitor the test chamber for both the level of vacuum as well as the change in vacuum over a predetermined test time. The changes in vacuum correlate to the presence of leaks and defects within the package. The test cycle takes only a few seconds, is non-invasive and non-destructive to both product and package. No sample preparation is required.
This inspection method is suitable for both laboratory offline testing as well as online testing in production settings. VeriPac leak testers feature a small footprint, and are designed for use at the plant level, with minimal training and technical experience required to operate the tester.
PTI VeriPac 325 leak testers have successfully replaced many destructive testing methods for leak testing coffee packaging. Destructive test methods are time consuming and unreliable, producing results that are dependent on technique, sample preparation and operator variability.
The VeriPac 325 is able to reliably detect down to a 10 micron leak rate for coffee bags, pouches, plastic and metal cans.
Additional VeriPac benefits include:
- The advantage of test results that are both qualitative (pass/fail) and quantitative (statistical data with each test result).
- Repeatable test results demonstrate the reliability of the instrument and test data.
- Ability to reliably detect down to a 10 micron leak rate.
- Cost Savings - Eliminates product loss, waste and mess of both packaging and coffee that results from using destructive testing methods.
- Better Process Control – Switching to a non-destructive leak test method allows an increase in the number of product samples tested.
- Small footprint, turn-key installation, modular design.
- Rapid test cycle and minimal training required to operate tester.
- Rapid ROI - Six months or less due to substantial cost savings and elimination of product loss.
100% Online and SPC Installations: Coffee manufacturers often need to achieve high capacity production and to automate their inspection process, particularly for new production lines. Online inspection methods are needed for quality control to detect catastrophic seal failures such as an incomplete seal or broken seal as well as inline methods for SPC Batch Testing (Statistical Process Control) to detect smaller leak rates.
PTI has several successful installations for online inspection of ground coffee in plastic cans:
- VeriPac 330 – This fully automated leak tester utilizes the same vacuum decay technology as the VeriPac 325. The VeriPac 330 is an SPC (Statistical Process Control) system to leak test plastic coffee cans right on the production line, detecting leaks down to a 10 micron leak rate. Batch samplings of product are programmed to pass through the VeriPac 330 for leak testing. An automatic reject function eliminates leakers immediately from the production line, while good/pass cans are conveyed back into the mainstream production line. The 330 also incorporates a convenient product changeover feature to enable leak testing of different size coffee cans.
- VeriPac 235 is a 100% online leak detector for gross leaks/large leaks such as broken seals or incomplete seals. This tester utilizes roller/force leak test technology to detect these catastrophic package failures.
Conclusion: The installations of VeriPac 325, VeriPac 330 and 235 successfully achieved the goals of several coffee manufacturers. In fact, the performance and reliability of the PTI leak testers exceeded all expectations. PTI has provided multiple inspection solutions for coffee packaging to insure quality output by reliably detecting both small leaks non-destructively as well as catastrophic seal failures.
Packaging Technologies & Inspection (PTI) is a leading manufacturer of non-destructive inspection technologies for the pharmaceutical, medical device, food and container industries. Recognized as a thought leader in new delivery systems for seal, package and container integrity testing, PTI has set the standard for inspection systems that provide repeatable, reliable results. Having a PTI inspection solution in place for QA/QC process control guarantees that your package is “fit for purpose” from manufacturing through distribution.
Please contact Sanjeet Saxena for further information.
Tel: 914.337.2005
Fax: 914.337.8519
Email: s.saxena@ptiusa.com