Tray sealing specialist Proseal says the tray sealing format is providing the ideal packaging solution for the increasing number of online and home delivery services, now being introduced for both food and non-food applications.

As well as the growth in foods – everything from snacks and health food selections to fresh meat and complete ready-to-cook meals – Proseal says it is receiving enquiries from companies with products for online supply as diverse as prescriptions, home health and personal care kits, pet foods, confectionery and novelty items. “The variety of tray designs – in terms of shape, depth and the availability of multi-cavity formats – means a solution can be found to safely package most types of products,” explained Eddie Holmes, Project Manager, Proseal.

“Tray sealing provides very effective product protection and security, and latest reclose film options mean food can be further preserved after opening. Just as important, the majority of trays are fully recyclable, unlike some alternatives such as pouches and bags which can also cause food waste by not sufficiently protecting product from damage, such as squashing, throughout the supply chain. Some trays are also now manufactured in new materials made from renewable or recycled board, and this offers an added sustainability benefit.”

Proseal’s extensive range of tray sealing equipment – from semi-automatic models, for start-up operations, to fully automated systems for sophisticated high speed production facilities – enables any company to devise a suitable solution for its needs. Two-minute tool changes allow fast changeovers and mean companies can use the flexibility of the tray format and the different designs available to meet individual product requirements.

Furthermore, the company’s bespoke range of innovative conveyor systems, including a range of chain conveyors (OC), belt conveyors (SC), and single line to twin diverging (slipstream), can be fully integrated into the production line, offering additional automated solutions to meet demanding production conditions.

Proseal is also able to design and install fully-integrated turnkey production lines for mass customisation solutions, allowing businesses to maximise opportunities in the growing online sector while tailoring products to individual customer requirements.

For food items in particular, the wide choice of seal formats, including gas flush, vacuum and skin pack, will help to deliver the required levels of product preservation to maintain freshness and quality throughout the distribution process.

Proseal’s unique Test Kitchen facilities are also available for customers to carry out trials and create samples to ensure that their chosen format is able to deliver the required levels of protection, presentation and shelf-life. Proseal’s extensive experience in devising bespoke solutions has proved invaluable for the many different requirements of these new specialist applications. A recent example involved the supply of a tray sealer for stackable trays that are used to pack fully prepared, cut and portioned ready-to-cook ingredients, which are then placed inside a climate-controlled reusable shipping container.

“The coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly seen even more consumers going online for their shopping needs,” concluded Eddie Holmes. “A sealed tray can provide a flexible and cost-effective solution to enable companies to maximise the opportunities that this now offers.” Founded in 1998, Proseal designs and manufactures high quality tray sealing machines, conveyor systems and sealing tools for food industry markets worldwide. Proseal is part of the JBT family, a leading global technology solutions provider to high value segments of the food and beverages industry, committed to continually supporting customers’ needs.